Bakery Protea

The rich aroma of yomogi opens up with the first bite, followed by a satisfyingly chewy dough. At Bakery Protea, near Sengawa and Benten Bridge in Midorigaoka, Chofu, the breads are simple, with the character of their ingredients coming through clearly. The signature yomogi anpan pairs the herb’s distinctive fragrance with gently sweet bean paste, leaving a pleasing finish alongside the springy dough.

The bakery’s approach centres on ingredients such as Japanese wheat and natural yeast, as well as rapeseed oil made without chemical treatment, natural salt and eggs from free-range hens. Its loaves are also popular for everyday meals. The whole-wheat loaf is moist when eaten fresh; toasting it gives the surface a crisp, fragrant finish and brings out the flavour of the wheat.

Bagels make a satisfying choice for a meal or snack, with a well-browned, crisp crust and a dense, chewy centre. Options include a savoury cheese bagel and one wrapped around rich chocolate, both generously filled. Other tempting choices include Margherita bread with the savoury depth of sun-dried tomatoes, olive bread and walnut bread, alongside other savoury and sweet breads to suit the day.

The small shop is mainly geared towards takeaway. It accepts credit cards as well as cashless payments including PayPay and Rakuten Pay. It is a pleasant stop on a walk if you feel like taking home a favourite.