Rue Sainte-Anne — Paris's Japan Town, 5 min away

Rue Sainte-Anne, in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, has been known since the 1980s as the Parisian Japan Town — the main address for Japanese dining in Paris, with places like Higuma (no. 32, ramen), Aki Boulangerie (no. 16, Japanese pastries) and Kioko (no. 46, Japanese supermarket). A 5-minute walk from the You Rêve institute, 7 rue d'Argenteuil.

The Parisian Japan town

Since the 1980s, rue Sainte-Anne has been the main address for Japanese dining in Paris. It runs parallel to rue d'Argenteuil, one block to the east, over a few hundred metres between avenue de l'Opéra and the area around place des Petits-Pères. Inside that tight perimeter sit about a dozen ramen-yas, several izakayas, patisseries, a large Japanese supermarket, and a handful of bookshops — to the point that the neighbourhood is often called the Parisian Japan town.

The area is dense and lively at lunchtime, quieter after five in the afternoon, and takes on another life in the evening with the izakayas. It is one of the corners of Paris where, in just a few metres, you really feel as though you have changed city.

How to walk to rue Sainte-Anne from 7 rue d'Argenteuil?

From 7 rue d'Argenteuil, it is five minutes on foot. We reach rue Sainte-Anne from the south (rue Saint-Honoré then rue Sainte-Anne) or from the north (avenue de l'Opéra then rue Sainte-Anne).

By metro: Pyramides (lines 7 and 14) for the southern stretch, or Quatre-Septembre (line 3) for the northern stretch, towards the Bourse — that side is often a little quieter at lunchtime.

The addresses

At no. 32, Higuma (a ramen institution) is a fixture of the neighbourhood. The house serves ramen at the counter or in the dining room in a simple, consistent format — one of the oldest addresses on the street, and one of the busiest at lunchtime. Expect to wait outside between noon and 1 p.m. on weekdays.

At no. 16, Aki Boulangerie brings out its Japanese pastries and melon-pan in the morning — rarely much left after eleven on busy days. To taste the authentic format (crisp sweet crust, soft inside), this is the address to aim at early.

At no. 46, Kioko is the most complete Japanese supermarket in the neighbourhood — proper dry ramen, cooking matcha, sauces, pickles, rice, sake. The place for anyone who likes to cook Japanese, or wants to take home enough to extend the experience.

Sapporo is also among the better-known addresses on the street for its tonkotsu ramen. The street has several other ramen-yas of comparable quality, as well as izakayas that only open in the evening — the offer is dense and turns over regularly.

Our favourite

To avoid the lunchtime queues, aim for 1:30 or 2 p.m. rather than noon sharp — by then the local offices have largely cleared out. For Aki the bakery, before eleven if you want the choice. And if you leave with a "Japanese cooking at home" project in mind, Kioko at no. 46 is the stop to plan for cooking matcha, fresh noodles and spices.

If you are leaving a ramen lunch — hands still scented with broth, stiff from holding chopsticks — know that we are a 5-minute walk away. A 20-minute warm-oil hand massage, and your hands recover their suppleness — ready for the rest of the day.