Fukuda Bakery

Featured on the TV program "Himitsu no Kenmin SHOW," Fukuda Pan is a bakery company headquartered in Morioka City, Iwate Prefecture. It produces and sells about 10,000 breads per day within Iwate, and because so many Morioka locals grew up eating its products, its koppe-pan sandwiches are widely known as "Morioka’s soul food" and a beloved local staple. These koppe-pan sandwiches are made by filling a soft French-style roll with cream pastes, savory deli items, and many other fillings. Each shop offers more than 50 different filling options, and customers can freely choose what they want; staff then prepare the sandwich on the spot in a face-to-face ordering style. You can also choose two different creams or fillings, and there are toppings too—creating thousands of possible combinations. Popular choices are said to include anko butter, peanut butter, jam butter, and matcha anko. Among the multiple locations in Iwate, the main store is easy to find: exit JR Morioka Station’s East Exit, go left, turn right just before the elevated track you’ll see right away, then continue straight until you spot the sign. It is about a 15-minute walk from the station, making it a nice option for a casual stroll while sightseeing.