5 brunch worth the trip across Japan, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Japan guides.

Fuglen Tokyo ★ 4.5 · Tokyo

1-16-11 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0063

Fuglen Tokyo in Tokyo's Tomigaya runs Norwegian filter coffee, croissants and brown-cheese toasts from 07:00. The morning crowd before the bar shift takes over.

Tip: Weekday mornings calm; weekends queue from 09:00. The brown-cheese toast is the local order.

Centre The Bakery brunch counter ★ 4.5 · Tokyo

1-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061

Centre The Bakery in Tokyo's Ginza runs the shokupan toast flight that put the city's milk bread on the map. Three loaves, three preparations, side-by-side.

Tip: Cafe side seats a 50-minute toast brunch; takeaway counter sells loaves whole. Queue from 10:30 most days.

Ain Soph Journey Shinjuku ★ 4.4 · Tokyo

3-8-9 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0022

Ain Soph Journey in Tokyo's Shinjuku-Sanchome serves the souffle-style vegan pancake brunch that built its reputation. All-plant menu, English staff.

Tip: Saturday brunch queues from 11:00; arrive by opening or reserve. The pancakes serve two comfortably.

Blue Bottle Coffee Kiyosumi-Shirakawa ★ 4.3 · Tokyo

1-4-8 Hirano, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0023

Blue Bottle Kiyosumi-Shirakawa in Tokyo opens at 08:00 daily for pour-over coffee, waffles and breakfast pastries inside its converted-factory flagship.

Tip: Weekend queues from 09:00. The drip flight reads three single-origins side by side; the Belgian waffle is the food order.

Viron Shibuya brasserie ★ 4.3 · Tokyo

Tsukada Bldg 1-2F, 33-8 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042

Viron Shibuya in Tokyo's Shibuya is the French boulangerie-brasserie open from 09:00 for breakfasts of Retrodor baguette, croissants, and croque-monsieur with wine.

Tip: Bakery counter downstairs, brasserie upstairs. The morning queue is for the takeaway window.