Melon Pan

Melon Pan -メロンパン (めろんぱん) –

Table Of Contents

• The origin of melon bread
• Types of melon bread
• Recommended melon bread
• Melon bread from the convenience store

---

Melon bread (Melon Pan) is a type of sweet bread that is unique to Japan.
I like bread, but I usually only eat *savory-filled bread.

*Japanese savory bread ( Sōzai pan = 総菜パン )
Savory bread refers to bread that has various “side dishes” such as curry, eggs, tuna, or vegetables sandwiched or placed on top of it.

Normally, I only buy savory bread, but I really like melon bread, and sometimes I suddenly crave it.

The origin of melon bread

While there are several theories about its origins, it is believed that the round-shaped melon bread first appeared in the early Showa era, and the spindle-shaped version emerged either in 1936 or 1952.

“Melon pan (メロンパン)” is a Japanese-English word derived from the Portuguese word “pão” (bread).
This type of bread is made by baking a layer of biscuit dough on top of a bread dough, and there are several theories about its name, “Melonpan.” One theory suggests that it’s called “Melonpan” because the pattern on the outside resembles a melon, while another theory proposes that it originated from “meringue bread” because meringue is used in the cookie dough.

(´・ω・)Apparently, in some regions, it’s sometimes called “Sunrise (サンライズ).”
*Note: Many melon breads do not actually contain any melon.

Types Of Melon Pan

The texture of the outer cookie dough

Crispy, moist, with fruit, with chocolate chips, etc.

Cookie dough pattern

Grid patterns, radial patterns, mesh patterns, etc.

Taste

Melon flavor, matcha flavor, chocolate flavor, etc.

Presence or absence of stuffing

Whipped cream, chocolate, ice cream, etc. (Note: These are not usually included inside.)

Shape

Circular, rectangular, or shapes specific to the region, etc.

It varies depending on the store.

---

Apparently, thanks to the influence of Japanese manga, movies, and anime, you can now find round-shaped melon bread in Europe as well.
I’ve heard that many people from overseas have come to love melon bread after trying it in Japan, so I’d like to share my experiences with eating melon bread and other similar treats in Japan.
(;^ω^) As I’m an individual, the number I can contribute is small, but I hope to gradually increase it.

Me, melon, and the bakery. (ぼくとメロンとベーカリー。)

Joso Roadside Station 【Post your content here 】 “My Bakery and Me「ぼくとメロンとベーカリー。」” attempted to set a Guinness World Record on May 4, 2024, for “the most freshly baked pastries sold in 8 hours,” and successfully achieved a new record by selling 9,390 of their most popular item, the “My Custard Melon Bread.”
This initiative aims to promote the appeal of melons as a local specialty of Ibaraki Prefecture and revitalize the region.
I passed by the store and thought I’d try buying something, but the first time I went, there were so many people in line that I decided to give up.
(;・∀・)The second time, I researched it thoroughly before buying it.
*Sales will take place approximately at 9:00, 11:20, 13:20, and 15:20, for a total of 4 times.
It seems that they also sell them on weekends around 4:00 PM.
Please note that this information may be subject to change depending on the circumstances.
I bought these based on the information from the store, and they were very delicious.
(*’ω’*) The other breads also looked very delicious!
Please check the information at Joso Roadside Station. 

The texture—soft and fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside—was so appealing. And because the inside wasn’t overly sweet, it felt light and refreshing.

It had plenty of cream, but it wasn’t too sweet, and I’d love to have it again!

The images in the top banner show different types of bread. 

Asakusa, kagetudo (浅草 花月堂)

111-0032 7-13, 2-chome, Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Japan
 [Asakusa kagetudo Main Store (浅草 花月堂 本店)：Google Map ]

Asakusa, kagetudo:浅草 花月堂（official:instagram) ジャンボめろんぱん 

---

Melon Pan from the convenience store

There are still plenty of delicious melon bread varieties available in Japan, and I think it’s wonderful that you can easily buy them at convenience stores.
The fact that convenience stores in Japan continuously update and improve their melon bread offerings, and that you can still enjoy a delicious one for an average price of 143.52 yen (including tax) by late September 2025 (based on my own research) from four different retailers, is a great example of what makes Japan so wonderful.

From left to right: 7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart, and Ministop.
*The shelf life varies depending on the product, but it is generally around 3 to 5 days from the date of manufacture.

Seven-Eleven セブンイレブン 「サクふわメロンパン」

149.04 yen (tax included) Late September 2025
Seven-Eleven’s official website 

LAWSON ローソン 「ふわサクっ！メロンパン」

138 yen (tax included) Late September 2025
LAWSON｜Lawson official website 

FamilyMart ファミリーマート 「ファミマ・ザ・メロンパン」

138 yen (tax included) Late September 2025
FamilyMart Official Website 

MiniStop ミニストップ 「バターメロンパン」

149.04 yen (tax included) Late September 2025
Ministop Official Website 

---

In bakeries and bread shops, you can find various types of melon bread, including the traditional version, as well as varieties with generous amounts of custard cream filling or those made with locally grown melons.
I will also add entries when I try different types of melon bread.

Thank you for watching.