Ochanomizu, Kanda & Jimbocho zone is the holy area for kissaten lovers. So it will not be a big surprise for you to know that I’m spending a bunch of time there!

Few years ago one of my dear friend brought me to Omiya and since then this place became a classic for me. Recently I started to think about which birthday cake I would like this year… And while thinking about delicious and traditional cakes, Omiya came straight to my mind… So I felt like introducing this place I love so much here!

Omiya Yogashiten / Omiya confectionery  (近江屋洋菓子店) 

Since 1884  (Meiji 17) - Building has been renewed in 1966 (Showa 41)
Non-smoking 
No Wi-Fi, no power outlets 
Popular and can be crowded 
Recommendation: strawberry shortcake, apple pie, chou cream, ice cream
Japanese Menu  
Alone, couple, friends
We love: the atmosphere, how the cakes are just so simple and authentic
Special points: self-service drink bar (including homemade juices)
Drinks prices: drinks only coming in a set with cakes (+648 yen)
Kissa-meter:  Deliciously sixties 

Closest train station: ogawamachi station / awajicho station

Overview 

• The Omiya confectionery was founded in 1884 (Meiji 17) but Kanda shop opened in 1947 (showa 22) and the building was renewed in 1966 (Showa 41). It didn’t change since then.
• The first-generation owners of Omiya started to sell bread, confectionery but also karinto (a kind of wagashi) and dorayaki as it was very popular during Meiji era. Their son went to US (where he worked in a milk bar) and when he came back, he decided to make more elaborated cakes using fruits as well. Omiya business has been running in the family since then and the fourth-generation owners kept the desire to make delicious and affordable (but not cheap!) cakes and confectioneries.
• The atmosphere is deliciously retro. They kept it simple and cute but it reminds the beginning of the sixties. It’s spacious with a counter but they don’t have that much seats actually so it can get crowded easily. 
• The prices are extremely reasonable. I don’t think it’s possible to find such a high quality for this kind of prices anywhere else in Tokyo. 
• Cakes here are not fancy and they are definitely not the ones you should be after if you want to take the most breathtaking instagram picture. Sweets are simple, authentic… They are just like the cakes your grand-mom would make for you but with a little “je-ne-sais-quoi” making you feel special and elegant.
  No showing off here, only the classics.
• The place is famous for the fruits they are carefully choosing and using in their sweets. 
• Your cake will come on a green plastic tray with a cute polystyrene-like cup for drinks. Nothing fancy here but still very cute according to me. 

• Apple pie and strawberry shortcake are their most famous cakes and I’m not gonna lie, they are really good! But I’m a chou creme person so… But honestly all cakes are delicious! And if you love fruits, this place is for you!
• You should definitely get your cake with the drink bar! They have a self-service drinks system, you can get anything you want: coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk… But also a soup and, the most important, homemade juices!!! The strawberry juice and the banana one are the most popular.
  The drink bar is 648 yen. They will just add it to the price of your cake. 
• Please note that you can’t get only a drink without ordering a cake, the drink bar system is only coming in a cake set. You’re not obliged to get it though, you can order only cakes without any drink if you want.
• During summer I highly recommend to try their ice cream, it’s so rich and creamy but simple at the same time. I really do love it and sometimes I’m just stopping by to get a takeaway ice cream while I’m wandering around.
• There is a bakery corner as well, so it’s perfect to get a combo of bread with a drink and then a dessert. 
• It’s not the kind of place you can stay for hours and nest. It’s the kind of places where you can have a kind of small time slip for an hour or so, just the time to enjoy your cake and drink set, filling yourself with the nice retro atmosphere and then buying one last takeaway thing before leaving.
• Don’t expect a lot of service, no one will come and refill your glass of water (first you’ll not have one ahahaha) and you’ll not get a oshibori (hot towel) with your food. But that’s also why the place is so charming, everything is very simple.
• Their fruits in syrup are coming in a glass jar and are a very popular omiyage.
• The apple pie is so famous that you can buy a whole one for 2730 yen. When I have people visiting, I buy one and serve it at home, hot, with vanilla ice cream and clotted cream, always a success!
• Cakes can be order-made! You can get your birthday cake of course, but they can make wedding cakes as well! I heard that few years ago they made a beautiful strawberry shortcake-like wedding cake for 60 people and used more than 240 strawberries!
• More seriously, if you want the best strawberry shortcake ever, GET ONE HERE! Really!
  

Omiya Yogashiten / Omiya confectionery  (近江屋洋菓子店) 
Address:  2-4 Kanda Awajicho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo
(東京都千代田区神田淡路町2-4)
Phone: 03-3251-1088
Monday 〜 Saturday 09:00 – 19:00
Sunday 10:00 – 17:30 (Eat-in until 5pm)
Omiya’s website
Omiya’s Instagram