Levain — Restaurant in Tokyo

天然酵母の名店「ルヴァン富ヶ谷店」へ。40年愛され続ける東京発ナチュラルブレッドの聖地

代々木八幡駅から徒歩5分、富ヶ谷の静かな住宅街の一角にある「ルヴァン富ヶ谷店」は、1984年創業の天然酵母パン専門店です。 日本におけるナチュラルブレッドの草分け的存在であり、今もなお多くのパン好きを魅了し続けています。

お店は木造の小さな建物で、店内に入るとすぐ、香ばしい焼きたてパンの香りが包み込んでくれます。 特徴は、すべてのパンが天然酵母（ルヴァン種）と国産小麦を使用し、昔ながらの量り売りスタイル。 自分で好きなパンを選び、必要な分だけ購入できるのも魅力です。

この日は、看板商品の「カンパーニュ」と、ライ麦にレーズンとくるみを練り込んだハードブレッドを購入。 カンパーニュは外はしっかり焼き込まれ香ばしく、中はむっちりもっちり。 咀嚼するほどに小麦の旨味と酵母の酸味が感じられ、パンそのものの生命力を感じるような味わいでした。

また、タルトやキッシュ、クッキーなどの焼き菓子系も豊富で、自然派スイーツとしても完成度が高いです。

富ヶ谷本店のほか、長野県上田市に「ルヴァン信州上田店」があり、そちらでは古民家を活かしたイートインも可能。 富ヶ谷店はテイクアウト専門で、近くの代々木公園でのピクニックや、ホームパーティー用のパンにも最適です。

店員さんは物腰が柔らかく、静かにパンの説明をしてくださるスタイル。 観光客よりも地元のファンが日常的に通う「生活に根ざした名店」という印象を強く持ちました。

代々木八幡〜富ヶ谷エリアを訪れる機会がある方には、ぜひ一度立ち寄ってほしい、東京屈指のパン屋です。

Levain Tomigaya is a true hidden gem nestled in a quiet residential neighborhood just a 5-minute walk from Yoyogi-Hachiman Station. Founded in 1984, this bakery is one of Japan’s pioneers of natural leavened bread, using wild yeast (levain), domestic wheat, and no artificial additives.

The first thing that hits you when you enter is the incredible aroma of freshly baked bread. The interior is rustic, warm, and compact—lined with wood and filled with baskets of crusty loaves. The atmosphere is peaceful, and the pace is unhurried. It feels like a European village bakery, right in the heart of Tokyo.

Levain sells all its bread by weight, which is great for sampling several types or buying just what you need. On this visit, I tried their signature pain de campagne (country sourdough) and a rye bread with raisins and walnuts. The crust was deeply baked and crisp, the interior dense and chewy, with a tangy depth that only natural fermentation can achieve. Every bite felt nourishing and full of character.

In addition to their artisan breads, they offer baked goods like quiches, scones, cookies, and tarts, all made with the same natural ingredients and philosophy. While there is no café seating at the Tomigaya store, many locals take their bread to nearby Yoyogi Park for an open-air picnic.

Levain’s bread philosophy is simple and sincere: use traditional methods, let the dough ferment slowly, and highlight the natural flavor of the grain. It’s a place that believes in craft over convenience—and it shows in every product.

There is also a sister location in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, called “Levain Shinshu Ueda,” which offers a larger space and a full eat-in café with a similar product lineup. But Tomigaya remains the spiritual home of Levain and continues to draw regulars from around Tokyo and beyond.

Pros ✓ Wild yeast, long fermentation breads ✓ Bread sold by weight—customizable portions ✓ Exceptional crusts and chewy interiors ✓ Humble and friendly staff ✓ Close to Yoyogi Park, perfect for a picnic

Cons – No café seating – Sells out quickly on weekends – Cash only (as of last visit)

If you're a fan of sourdough or natural baking, Levain Tomigaya is a must-visit destination in Tokyo. It's not just a bakery—it's a reminder that food made with care and time still has a place in the...

I was looking at a “best bakeries of Tokyo” list and this place came up, so went to try it out. It’s truly outstanding from the small sample I had and I’m certainly going back to try new things. I went with the cashew and cherry bread which was served warm and they slice it for you, asking how big of a piece you want (they charge by the gram). It was soooooo good. And then I got the cheese bread which I ate later and it was probably the best one I’ve had. The service was great and they even have a little cafe attached where you can sit and enjoy a beverage with your bread....

If I could give 0 stars I would. I went with my friend; the cafe was crowded so we put down our names and very respectfully waited outside. Everyone else was called (even those behind us) and we saw that our names had been crossed out. When we confronted the cafe staff, we were told that they had called our names already - when they didn’t! We sat down and was told to “be quiet” when we were talking no louder than the rest of the guests at the cafe. I will never visit again. Disappointed because I heard such good...