Aigues Vives
At this celebrated bakery in Otaru, Hokkaido, the owner trained in France and bakes bread in a wood-fired oven, a reputation that draws a devoted following. Fans are especially smitten with the croissants, wonderfully crisp on the outside and soft and airy within. The fig and walnut bread invites a more grown-up way of enjoying it, paired with cheese and wine. The shop is popular enough that cars with local plates arrive one after another, and loaves can sell out almost as quickly as they come out of the oven. Some call it the finest in all of Hokkaido, and regulars agree that whatever you pick up here is delicious.