There are a few dishes that may be considered the norm in Japan but seen as a bit unusual from people in other countries.
One of those is the fruit sandwich.
To many Japanese people, the fruit sandwich may seem like a treat born overseas, but it appears to often be more commonly found in Japan.
We had Steven, a member of the Umami bites editorial team, describe just what is the appeal of Japanese fruit sandwiches.
To a lot of travelers from abroad, the combination of fresh cream, fruit, and bread in the form of a sandwich seems unusual.
But when I first came to Japan and tried a fruit sandwich, I was surprised at how delicious it was!
For starters, the bread used for fruit sandwiches is different than the bread I expect in a usual sandwich. In Japan, they use chewy, fluffy bread that goes well with the fruit.
Beautiful fruit sandwich slices that’ll have you smacking your lips
The Futaba Fruits Parlor opened in the Shinjuku Marui Main Building shopping complex in 2018.
Fitted with 72 seats, the restaurant has a colorful and pop interior
The shop is a collaboration with Futaba Fruit, a fruit store established over 80 years ago in Nakano Ward, Tokyo. Here you can enjoy the “ごろっとフルーツミックスサンド,” or the Chunky Mixed Fruit Sandwich, a fruit sandwich made with the finest ingredients.
“ごろっとフルーツミックスサンド,” Chunky Mixed Fruit Sandwich 1,320 JPY (tax included)
In addition to fruit sandwiches, there are also parfaits made using seasonal fruits, anmitsu (a traditional Japanese dessert), and a variety of other sweets, making it hard to choose just one.
It’s said that a lot of travelers from abroad come to the restaurant to try out the unique Japanese fruit sandwiches, as well as fruit-filled parfaits.
Outside the store, you can see a sample display of the restaurant’s sweets
The standout feature of the Chunky Mixed Fruit Sandwich is the use of fresh whipped cream made with soy milk and custard cream, which is made from soy milk as well.
So those who are avoiding dairy products and eggs can enjoy it.
The bread is so fluffy and easy to eat. The soy milk cream isn’t as sweet as typical whipped cream so it doesn’t overpower the taste of the fruit!
The Chunky Mixed Fruit Sandwich uses strawberries, kiwis, mangoes, and a variety of other colorful fruits. The beautifully sliced appearance of the fruits in the middle is perfect for social media photos, and is sure to be a sight to behold.
Fruits such as strawberries and kiwi are lined up right in the middle
The fruit-loaded parfait is also a huge hit!
The Chunky Mixed Fruit Sandwich isn’t the only recommended item on the menu at Futaba Fruits Parlor.
The “Fruit Mix” parfait, named フルーツバスケット furūtsu basuketto (fruit basket) in Japanese, a parfait made with an abundance of fruit, is also popular among tourists from overseas.
“フルーツバスケット,” Fruit Mix parfait 1,518 JPY (tax included)
The parfait’s fruit fillings consist of nine different fruits: strawberry, banana, orange, kiwi, grapefruit, pink grapefruit, grape, pineapple, and mango.
There’s so much fruit you don’t know where to start
Lemon-flavored fruit jelly and nata de coco, a coconut gel, are layered under the parfait, giving it a delightful texture.
The rich soft-serve ice cream and refreshing fruit jelly are a perfect match you can savor to the very end.
First off, I was surprised by the size of the parfait. I got to enjoy a ton of different fruits.
The parfait’s thick soft-serve ice cream tasted even better when mixed with the fruit and had a luxurious feeling to it.
The restaurant’s focus on fruits means that sometimes parfaits with seasonal fruits are available for a limited time.
Strawberries and peaches are particularly popular among the limited-time menu options!
Since there are times when the restaurant offers seasonal fruits as part of limited-time menus, why not try them out if the timing lines up with your trip to Japan?
How about anmitsu, a dessert that offers the taste of Japanese sweets?
Of Futaba Fruits Parlor’s many sweets, one highlight is the “ANMITSU (boiled beans, agar gelatin, bean jam, Ice Cream) with Matcha Syrup,” named “和を楽しむ大人のクリームあんみつ” wa wo tanoshimu otona no kurīmu anmitsu (cream anmitsu for adults who enjoy the taste of Japan) in Japanese.
“和を楽しむ大人のクリームあんみつ” Cream Anmitsu 858 JPY (tax included)
It’s a voluminous anmitsu topped with not just matcha jelly and anko red bean paste, but Japanese dango dumplings as well.
The anmitsu was the perfect dessert for those who enjoy Japanese sweets.
The matcha jelly had a wonderful texture and rich flavor, and the anko was a perfect match for the soft-serve ice cream!
I think foreigners visiting Japan would enjoy it a lot.
For an additional 110 JPY (tax included), the soft-serve ice cream used in the parfait and anmitsu can be replaced with soy milk ice cream.
Additionally, there are vegan-friendly meal options, as well as for those who are allergic to dairy products or eggs.
Futaba Fruits Parlor was originally started with the concept of “a fruit parlor that children with dairy or egg allergies can enjoy together.”
Of course, not just children, but many adults also have allergy and dietary concerns.
The appeal of Futaba Fruits Parlor is that everyone can enjoy a meal together regardless of that.
Information
| Store name | フタバフルーツパーラー 新宿マルイ本館店 Futaba Fruits Parlor Shinjuku Marui Honkan |
|---|---|
| Address | Shinjuku Marui Honkan 5F, 3-30-13 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Shinjuku-Sanchōme Station Short walk from Shinjuku Sanchōme Station Exit A4
Shinjuku Station（SJK）6-minute walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit
|
| Phone numbe | 03-6709-9848 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 11:00-20:00 (last order 19:00) |
| Closed | Japanese New Year’s holidays (1/1-1/3) excluding Shinjuku Marui Honkan holidays |
| Seating | 72 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://www.cafecompany.co.jp |
| Other information |
|
※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of September 2023.
