Photos by Erica Earl ()
There is a cheery, sky-blue building right outside the Fussa Station near Yokota Air Base, Tokyo, that stands out for how whimsical and cartoonish it is.
The narrow house, painted to look like a skyscape, has drawn my attention since I arrived in Japan two years ago for how starkly it stands in contrast to the rest of the industrial looking storefronts on the block.
I finally made it in one Friday afternoon with a friend to discover it is a delightful crepe shop.
Sorairo Crepe is a tiny shop offering a dozen different types of sweet crepes. Other than a tiny bar that seats two people, the shop is take-out only. Guests are immediately greeted by a pastel interior and floating cloud décor, making the inside just as fanciful as the exterior and a welcome little boost of serotonin. Plus the café was playing French music, and any place playing Carla Bruni and Edith Piaf is a good vibe in my book.
The owners also operate a French patisserie across the street.
At Sorairo, we ordered an original butter and brown sugar crepe and a chocolate one. The crepes had a cakey aftertaste and texture, not at all elastic like some crepes in Japan tend to be.
My crepe companion, who used to live in France, also approved.
“Not to be crass, but some crepes here have the elasticity and texture of what feels like it might be like to eat skin,” she said. “But these are great. The crepes are cooked to perfection but don’t take away any of the star power of the fillings.”
We also had the café’s seasonal floral soda, a purple concoction that Is as fun to photograph as it is to sip.
It tasted like an elderflower cola, a blend of unique rose and flowery notes with the familiar taste of dark cola. It looked like a magic potion or elixir, especially coming from that imaginative shop.
Crepes range from about $4 to $7, and drinks are in the same price range.
Other crepe flavors include banana, berry and caramel, and Sorairo also offers a variety of tapioca drinks.
Their menu is all in Japanese but includes photos.
My only gripe is that Sorairo does not offer savory crepes, something I used to enjoy in Europe but have been hard-pressed to find in Japan. Savory crepes are still thin pancakes but have fillings like vegetables, cheeses, and eggs. But if you want a sweet treat on the go, Sorairo is a pleasant choice, and I’m glad I cured my curiosity by stopping in.
SORAIRO CREPE
Address: 123 Honcho, Fussa, Tokyo 197-0022, behind Fussa Station across form Daiso
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, closed Mondays
Attire: Casual
Prices: $4-$7
Contact: 042-513-3995
