Andersen

Quick Facts

Last checked against official information: 2026-11-09.

What it is

Andersen (アンデルセン), founded in Hiroshima in 1948 by baking visionary Shunsuke Takaki, holds an extraordinary place in culinary history as the pioneer that introduced authentic Danish pastries to Japan in 1962. Inspired by a transformative trip to Copenhagen, Takaki named the bakery after Denmark's fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen and introduced the Danish concept of "Hygge" (cozy, warm, shared contentment) to Japanese everyday life. Andersen is revered nationwide for its flaky, multi-layered butter Danish pastries topped with plump dark cherries, sweet custard, and marzipan, alongside artisan stone-hearth sourdough breads naturally fermented with house cultures, and elegant department store bakery cafes serving European open-faced sandwiches (Smørrebrød).

How to order

Dining or shopping at Andersen is graceful, aesthetic, and delightful:

1. Pick up a tray and tongs: Walk in through the elegant bakery entrance. Take a clean wooden tray and a pair of tongs.
2. NO Otoshi cover charge: Enjoy honest dining—Andersen charges strictly zero table fee and zero cover charge (¥0 Otoshi).
3. Select your artisan pastries & breads: Browse the beautifully lit wooden display cases:
   • Dark Cherry Danish (ダークチェリーデニッシュ): Andersen's timeless #1 icon; flaky buttery pastry filled with rich almond cream and succulent sweet dark cherries.
   • Heart Danish (ハートデニッシュ): Sweet heart-shaped pastries dusted with pearl sugar.
   • Danish Custard & Apple Pastries: Delicate, crisp, and golden.
   • Stone-Oven Fermented Bread (石窯食パン・カンパーニュ): Rustic sourdough loaves baked with wild fermentation starters.
   • European Open-Faced Sandwiches (Smørrebrød): Smoked salmon, roast beef, and egg salad.
4. Take your tray to the checkout register: Proceed to the cashier counter.
5. Declare Eat-In or Takeout:
   • Eat-In (店内 - Tennai): If visiting a location with an integrated cafe, tell the cashier "Eat-in" (10% tax). Order an espresso coffee, organic tea, or a bowl of hot seasonal soup.
   • Takeout (お持ち帰り - Omochikaeri): Tell the cashier "Takeout" (8% tax) to have your pastries placed into elegant branded Andersen paper bags.
6. Pay at the register: Tap your credit card, Suica transit card, or pay via cash/QR code.
7. Take your seat in the "Hygge" Cafe: Settle into Scandinavian wooden chairs surrounded by gentle floral bouquets and natural sunlight.
8. Enjoy the shatteringly crisp pastry: Take a bite of your Danish pastry—the dozens of micro-thin butter layers shatter delicately with a light, airy crunch, perfectly complementing the sweet dark cherries and rich custard.
9. Return your tray: Carry your tray and dishes to the return station (Henkyakuguchi).

What to order first

Dishes below reflect core brand staples officially featured on the Andersen Official Website:

• Signature Dark Cherry Danish (ダークチェリーデニッシュ): The historic 1962 icon; dozens of buttery, flaky pastry layers filled with silky almond cream and plump, juicy dark cherries (~¥320–¥380 tax-included).
• Danish Apple & Custard (デニッシュアップル): Flaky golden pastry filled with cinnamon-spiced stewed apples and vanilla bean pastry cream (~¥300–¥360).
• Stone-Hearth Country Campagne (石窯 カンパーニュ): Naturally fermented sourdough bread baked on stone hearths with a blistered crust and chewy, moist crumb (~¥420–¥650).
• Hiroshima Andersen Heart Pastry (ハートのデニッシュ): Symbolic heart-shaped pastry celebrating Danish-Japanese cultural friendship (~¥240–¥280).
• Seasonal Vegetable Potage Soup & Bread Set (本日のスープセット): Steaming bowl of rich vegetable soup served with a basket of assorted freshly sliced artisan breads (~¥980–¥1,380).

Payment & practical info

Prices and details checked: October 2026.

• Pricing & Value: High-end European bakery pricing; artisan pastries cost around ¥300–¥400, and a luxurious sit-down cafe lunch with soup and fresh bread averages ¥1,100–¥1,800 with zero cover charge.
• Cover Charges: Strictly zero cover charge and zero seating fees (¥0 Otoshi).
• Accepted Payment Methods: Accepts Japanese Yen cash, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, Diners Club, UnionPay), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA), electronic money (iD, QUICPay), and mobile QR codes (PayPay, Rakuten Pay) conforming to department store terminal standards.
• Atmosphere: Peaceful, sophisticated, and warm. Scandinavian "Hygge" design featuring natural beechwood furniture, clean Nordic lines, fresh flowers, and classical European background music.
• Prestigious Locations: Prominently featured inside Japan's top luxury department store basements (Depachika) such as Isetan Shinjuku, Ginza Mitsukoshi, and Nihombashi Takashimaya, as well as the world-famous multi-story flagship Hiroshima Andersen in downtown Hiroshima.

Good to know / Common mistakes

• Eat Danish pastries the day of purchase: Authentic Danish pastries are laminated with real butter and contain zero artificial preservatives. The pastry is at its absolute peak crispness within a few hours of baking—enjoy it on the day you buy it.
• Hiroshima Andersen Flagship: If your Japan travel itinerary includes Hiroshima, visiting Hiroshima Andersen (Hondori) is a world-class experience—a multi-story culinary paradise featuring a bakery, European delicatessen, flower shop, and sit-down Scandinavian restaurant.
• Department store Depachika culture: Andersen's department store locations are located in the famous basement food halls (Depachika). It is an ideal spot to buy breakfast pastries for your morning hotel room.
• Bread slicing service: If you purchase whole sourdough loaves, baguettes, or sandwich breads, you can ask the staff at checkout to slice them for you (choose 4, 5, 6, or 8 slices).
• Tipping: Tipping is not customary in Japan, so there is no need to leave a tip. Pay the exact bill at the register.

Sources

• Andersen Official Website: https://www.andersen.co.jp/ (Verified: 2026-10-02)
• Andersen Group Corporate Portal: https://www.andersen-group.jp/ (Verified: 2026-10-02)