Next time I go to Sapporo, I was thinking of visiting "Agu Vive" in Otaru. It's about a 30-minute train ride from Sapporo, then a 20-30 minute bus ride from Otaru Station to Oshoro. Since the bus runs only about once an hour, I made sure to check the schedule and confirm the return bus as well. It seems like the best time to go is between 12:00 and 15:00, when they open, especially if you want to see the lineup of bread for the day. When I called to make a reservation, the staff was very polite and accommodating. They seem to be able to prepare the best croissant for you based on your arrival time. So far, it seems like croissants are baked twice a day. Based on reviews from other customers on Tabelog, I brought paper boxes, parchment paper, and plastic bags as it seems that a paper bag is necessary, and croissants tend to leak oil. From Oshoro bus stop, it's about a 7-8 minute walk to the shop. The shop is surrounded by greenery and has a quiet and chic atmosphere that feels like a bakery in a French countryside town. There were plenty of firewood stocked at the back of the building, so it seems they use a wood-fired oven. When I entered the dimly lit shop, I was greeted by the aroma of butter and bread, which made me feel happy. A female staff member was efficiently serving customers, and I noticed male customers who initially intended to buy only two croissants ended up adding more to their purchase. It seems like they are regular customers and couldn't resist buying the popular bread and quiche that are often sold out. I understand! I lost the receipt, but I spent 2,165 yen on 4 items. Here are my reviews: - Croissant: A must-try item that requires a reservation. It's a large size with perfect visuals. I wanted to enjoy it while warm, so I ate it standing outside the shop while looking at the coast. The butter oozed out beautifully, and the layers were impressive. It was a heavenly croissant that I didn't want to leave a single crumb of. The high-quality butter and skilled technique were evident in this croissant, making it the best croissant I've ever had. - Croissant Chocolat: The chocolate baton inside was slightly bitter and there was only one. The delicate surface made it crumble easily, so it's better to have a box to carry it home neatly. It was crunchy and satisfying, and the chocolate turned into a sauce, creating a blissful moment in my mouth. - Blueberry Bread: A simple hard bread with plenty of blueberries kneaded in. The blueberries are not visible on the surface, so there's no bitterness from burnt parts. The blueberries acted like jam, adding a subtle acidity that complemented the slightly sweet dough. Once I started eating it, I couldn't stop. - Fruit Rodeb (half size, sold by weight): Rodeb is a bread made with high hydration and a long fermentation process without touching the dough much. This one had a wonderfully moist and chewy texture. It was loaded with orange peel, walnuts, sultanas, raisins, and apples, allowing you to enjoy the flavor of the dough itself. The orange peel stood out in taste and aroma, while the raisins and apples added moistness, and the walnuts provided a nice crunch. Each bite felt like a reward. It also kept well, and I enjoyed the frozen ones later without any loss of quality. This, along with the croissant, is the best I've ever had. I would love to visit this amazing bakery again. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I stopped by because I was passing by, and to my surprise, it was just before opening time and I was the third in line. By the time they opened at 12 o'clock, there were about 15 groups waiting in line, so I could tell it was a super popular shop. I bought croissants, spinach cheese bread, and chestnut powder bread, and all of them were exceptional with the flavor of wheat, the aroma of butter, and perfect baking.

I went at 12 o'clock on a regular Friday! There were about 8 groups in line, but I was worried that the croissants might be sold out at the bakery, but there were plenty ヽ(´▽｀)/ All the bread was freshly made, and I ate the croissant outside. It was crispy on the outside and moist inside, just as I like it. It's famous for a reason, I immediately bought more! I want to go buy more anytime, but the fact that it's only open on weekdays and the location is a bit difficult to access makes it challenging. I did some research, but the days off and opening hours differ depending on the website... Do the stores themselves change their days off? When I visited this time, it was closed on weekends and holidays until autumn. I forgot to ask about the opening hours...

Driving along the beautiful coast of Otaru, we visited a pottery artist's studio and home, only to discover a lovely and delicious bakery next door! Apparently, there is usually a long line, but we were lucky to be able to shop right away. The bread was undeniably delicious. We will definitely visit this bakery again next time.

Eguviv in Hokkaido is undoubtedly the most famous bakery, but due to its location in Shinobu and irregular opening hours, it can be difficult to find the opportunity to purchase their bread. This time, on our way back from Niseko trip, we stopped by and fortunately they were open. The baker, Mr. Tanno, is a graduate of Hokkaido University and seems to have worked at Bulk Bakery, although I have never met him in the shop. The bread, mainly hard crust baked in a wood-fired oven, lives up to its popularity and reputation, drawing customers from outside the prefecture to visit. #Otaru #Hokkaido #gourmet #EnoLog #HokkaidoLove

On Monday, the store was supposed to open at 11:00, so I arrived at 10:30 expecting a long line. However, I was disappointed to see a sign saying the store would not open until 12:00. Many tourists who had come to visit gave up and left. I decided to wait, and luckily the store opened at 11:45. The croissants and pain au chocolat were delicious. You can only buy up to 6 pieces of these two types, so if you go with someone else, it's better to make separate purchases. I wanted to buy some souvenirs, so I lined up again. There were many other types of bread, but I'm not a fan of hard bread, so I passed on them this time.

It's been quite a while since my last visit. I finally got to buy the croissant I was looking for. I have visited a few times before but couldn't get it due to timing, so I was lucky this time. Of course, I enjoyed it while it was still warm in the parking lot.

I was curious because it was said to be the most delicious in Otaru! Especially the croissants♪ When I tried to go once, they were closed. Many cars came and left. So I decided to call in advance before visiting. I drove along the Fruit Road and arrived about 30 minutes before opening, already there were about four groups waiting in line. The location was right by the sea with lots of greenery, very pleasant. They opened a little earlier than the opening time. The interior of the store seemed to be no photography allowed, but there were no signs and the waitress was alone serving, so many people took photos when she went to the back. The people in line before me were also taking photos inside (I found out from somewhere other than Tabelog haha). I was planning to only buy croissants, but ended up buying four different types: croissants x3, pain au chocolat, blueberry, and olive. The brown paper bag and the tote bag seemed to be on an honor system. I thought they would put them in a regular brown bag, but everyone seemed to be regular customers and didn't say anything, so I was given two white bags. And when I looked inside, the croissant types were all put together and the surface of the bread was a bit damaged haha. Since they packed them at the back, I didn't know how they would wrap them... a bit unfriendly for beginners haha. Even if they charged for the bags, I wish they would separate and wrap them nicely. For hard bread, it's fine to put as many as you want, but for croissant types, I wish they wouldn't just put them in roughly. The most delicious part was the damaged part (^^)/ The croissants were unexpectedly reasonably priced! Still warm! The first bite had a mysterious scent, maybe because it was baked in a wood-fired oven? Crispy on the outside, moist inside, the butter oozes out when you bite into it! Delicious, but the scent might not be to everyone's taste. If you reheat and eat it the next day... hmmm... the inside becomes a bit chewy... and I feel a slight acidity. It's better to eat their croissants right after buying them. The pain au chocolat was delicious! The blueberry had unexpectedly lots of blueberries inside! Recommended for blueberry lovers. And it had a slightly mysterious scent? Soft inside. The olive one tasted good, especially when dipped in olive oil, it goes well with wine. It was just delicious. Maybe all of them had that wood scent? (But I do like wood-fired oven pizza though...) Personally, I was satisfied after trying them once. I love croissants, so I had high expectations, but it turned out to be quite ordinary. Maybe the hard bread types are more recommended here? It's also a hassle to check if they are open or not, and waiting in line again is a bit of a hassle...

In the outskirts but still popular and always sold out, the wood-fired bakery "La Maison du Pain Aigues Vives" in Otaru, Hokkaido. The bread is baked in a wood-fired oven by the bread artisan Danno, who also trained in Europe. You can also pre-order by phone a week in advance. On this day, the croissant was delicious, with a strong wheat aroma and not greasy, just crispy. The pain au chocolat and strawberry bread were also delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I finally visited the high-end bakery that I have always wanted to go to. It is located off the main road in a stylish space that exudes a grand atmosphere. I managed to stop by just 5 minutes before they opened, amidst the rain, as I had some business in the area. Despite being newly opened, the bakery was already attracting a steady stream of customers. The croissants were selling out quickly. I planned to enjoy the freshly baked croissant outside while taking in the lovely view, but it was raining, so I ended up eating it in the car. It was crispy, fluffy, and had a wonderful aroma. It was so delicious that even my mother, who came with me, declared it the best croissant she had ever eaten in her life. I will definitely be back. Thank you for the wonderful meal. ☺️

Just before entering Yoichi Town, there is a famous bakery in Otaru. The recommendation came from the head chef of a sushi restaurant in Sapporo, and I had heard rumors about it at SAGRA in Yoichi. I didn't know the opening days and hours, but this time I visited for the first time. I got some highly recommended croissants, pain au chocolat, and a delicious-looking blueberry bread, all still warm, packed in a paper bag. Some of the bread was eaten immediately in the car. Personally, the blueberry bread was incredibly delicious, I felt like I could eat as many as I wanted. The balance between the sweetness and flavor of the wheat and the chunky fruits inside is excellent.

Egu Vive "Croissant, Pain au Chocolat" A lovely bakery with a view of the sea just a little beyond Otaru!! The bread is baked in a wood-fired oven, so you can still smell the freshly baked aroma even if it's not hot!! The croissant is incredibly delicious, with a crispy texture that ranks among the top three in life!! The layers are fine, not burnt, with a strong buttery aroma and flavor!! They also have specialty bread like stollen with nuts and raisins!! If you love bread, you must visit at least once. If you're curious about bread baked in a wood-fired oven, be sure to check it out!! #HokkaidoGourmet #HokkaidoEats #OtaruDining #OtaruGourmet #EguVive #Bread #Bakery #Top80Eats #April20th

I stopped by because the pasta at Jijiyababayaya in Yoichi (which was delicious) didn't fill me up. There were cars lined up in front of the shop, and even crows were cheering for this shop to get some scraps. The "pain au chocolat" I had after a long time was exquisite. I was truly satisfied. When eating it in the car, I was amazed by the crumbly texture that made it fall apart. But to be blunt, I wonder if it has become a bit too clever? How many years has it been since I last had it? I suppose that's just how it is.

I visited Egvive for the first time, which I had been eyeing for a while. I ordered popular items like croissants, Roquefort cheese bread, palmier, and bostock to take home. When I tried them, they were all delicious with a crispy texture and a rich flavor. The buttery aroma in each bread was amazing, and I instantly fell in love with Egvive's bread! Thank you for the meal, I will definitely come back again!

Visited before 1 pm on Saturday. Located along the road but quietly standing. Excellent location with a view of the sea. There were about 2 customers ahead of me. I chose a croissant for 250 yen, a pain au chocolat for 290 yen, and a blueberry bread for 320 yen. The female staff (maybe the wife?) was putting the bread in the bag with her bare hands instead of using tongs, which might bother those who are sensitive about hygiene. All the bread was delicious. Especially the croissant was crispy with a sufficient buttery aroma. It's about a 1 hour and 20-minute drive from Sapporo. Considering the cost and time, I probably won't visit again. Thank you for the meal!

My daughter came home with a paper bag, saying it was for posting on a food review website. The bag was a lovely souvenir from her trip to Hokkaido, Japan. She likes hearty bread, and this one was packed with fruits, peels, raisins, and nuts. It was slightly warmed up and had a delicious mix of sweetness and a hint of sourness. We enjoyed it with leftover aioli and homemade lemon curd. It felt like spring at the dining table, so it's time to start cleaning up the house and tending to the garden. The sunlight revealed the dust and dirt that had accumulated over the winter, so it's time to get moving!

2022.11.18 (Thu) Revisit [Late Autumn Hokkaido Trip 2022 Day 6 Part 2] After visiting "Boulangerie JIN" in Makari Village, we headed to "Aigues Vives" in Otaru City, continuing our bakery hopping adventure. Both of these bakeries are our favorites in Hokkaido, so it felt like a dream come true to visit them back to back. As usual, we called ahead to reserve the bread we wanted. This time, I was especially excited about trying the Stollen that I had been longing for. (Although you can order online, I wanted to pick it up in person at the store.) We arrived around 12:30 PM, and the parking lot was nearly full due to the lunchtime rush. Local customers and tourists like us with rental cars kept arriving one after another. The items we purchased were: - Christmas Stollen: 4,200 yen - Chestnut Flour Bread: 580 yen - Blueberry Bread: 320 yen The Christmas Stollen, which I had been wanting to try for years, exceeded my expectations in terms of deliciousness. I love the idea of savoring it little by little as we approach Christmas. Although it's quite far from Nagoya, making it not an easy visit, I definitely want to plan another trip to keep coming back to this special bakery. Thank you for the wonderful experience.

I rented a car from Sapporo and on my way to Otaru, I came across this hidden gem called Eg-Viv. It is located along the coast with a beautiful view, nestled in the forest. Despite its remote location, there was a long line before the shop even opened. The most popular item, the croissant, was outstanding with a rich buttery flavor and a perfect crispy texture. It was unlike any other croissant I've had before. The other bread items were also of high quality, but the croissant stole the show. I recommend anyone who loves croissants to make the trip to Otaru and try this amazing croissant. It's definitely worth the visit!

Egu Vive A bakery in Otaru, Hokkaido. This bakery is known for its delicious croissants and other amazing breads that often have long lines of customers. The name of the bakery, Aigues Vives, is actually a place name in France, located at a similar latitude to where the bakery is situated. They bake their bread in a wood-fired oven. Although the location is a bit far from Sapporo, about an hour's drive, the owners were determined to offer bread baked in a wood-fired oven, which is why they chose this location. Wood-fired ovens in city centers like Sapporo are apparently difficult to set up. The croissants have a crunchy texture with a strong buttery flavor that is quite addictive. The pain au chocolat has a perfect balance between the crispy texture and the moist chocolate inside. I would love to try more varieties of bread from this bakery. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Title as well, I have been interested in it for a few years now, and I have ordered Stollen before. Whenever I passed by to go there, it always happened to be a regular holiday, so I couldn't go, but the other day, I saw a few cars parked nearby so I stopped by immediately. On this day, I bought croissants, pain au chocolat, and blueberry bread. The croissant had a delicious buttery layer and a crispy texture. The pain au chocolat had chocolate inside the croissant dough, so it was undeniably delicious. The blueberry bread had plenty of blueberries in it, with a tart flavor, and it was very tasty. When I told my acquaintance, they mentioned that they always used to go to this bakery. They had already been saying how incredibly delicious it was back then. I definitely want to go back again. The view from here was also a feast for the eyes! It's Hokkaido!

I was truly impressed by how delicious the croissants were. On the way to Otaru, I found a lunch spot and decided to try it out. There was a huge line forming just 10 minutes before the shop opened. I was surprised by the location of the shop and figured it must be delicious if so many people were lining up. I bought a croissant and a chocolate croissant, and ate them right away since they were freshly baked. I was amazed by how good they tasted. The prices were also surprisingly affordable. It was a shop that I would want to visit every day.