After coming across a mention of their store by chance, I've had Higuma Doughnuts on my radar for many a month now. The owner had lived in Canada for a few years and his story about returning to Japan to open up a doughnut store using ingredients reflective of his Hokkaido roots was a compelling one. I knew I had to visit.
Interestingly, Higuma Doughnuts' three stores aren't in Hokkaido but in central Tokyo. The main store can be found in Gakugei-daigaku, in Meguro City Ward, the second, in Higashi-Ikebukuro is akin to a pop-up store while the store in Omotesando is a collaboration with Coffee Wrights. This store's open design layout, floor-to-ceiling windows and simple but extremely contemporary ambience, really becomes the perfect little backstreet spot to enjoy good coffee and fresh doughnuts.
Arriving just prior to the store's 11am opening time, my family and I found ourselves in a short queue before entering. The morning sun at this time of the day is quite lovely and the shower of light it cast throughout the store this visit left us feeling buoyant. Nice work mother nature, we were off to a good start.
Along with some coffee, we ordered the plain, the chocolate (real chocolate, by the way), and the roasted soybean powdered kinako doughnuts. The raspberry-filled doughnuts that I had been eagerly anticipating, were, alas, not available that morning but no fear, the other choices were enough to make up for it.
Now, I must say this about the doughnuts - they are completely and utterly understated in their quality. Doughnuts often leave a sweet aftertaste, one that is cheap and nasty but not at Higuma. No way. I cannot consider them to be junk food, not in the slightest. Subdued, gentle and full of depth, I love them. I seriously do.
If you are like most visitors to Tokyo and end up in Omotesando, do yourself a favour and drop by Higuma Doughnuts. The good start to your day is guaranteed to only get better.
