Making affordable, healthy, and hassle free bread is easier than you think. A bread machine in Japan or home bakery has something for everyone. Our best overall selection will make everything from standard bread to rice bread, soy scone dough, and even fruit compote. It also ferments natural yeast and makes natural yeast bread. Other picks will cater to your budget or special needs including gluten free and salt free bread, or making mochi. Two of our featured models* are parallel imports with English language interfaces.
See our short guide for Owning a Home Bakery in Japan
Table of Contents
Preview Our Top Picks
- Best overall : Panasonic SD-BH1001 Home Bakery
One of the easiest to use and best quality home bakeries for a one pound loaf. Integrated dispenser for fruits and nuts, and another for yeast. Compact, quiet, and worth the price:
Read More - Best for on a budget : High Rose One Pound Home Bakery
A versatile and well-priced machine with Japanese favorites such as mochi, rice flour bread, rice bread, kiritanpo, mochi, pound cake and more. Compact, easy to store away, and quiet:
Read More - Best foreign import model : Hamilton Beach Bread Maker*
One of the best internationally selling machines. It bakes medium sized to large loaves, as well as gluten free bread. You can also get an express loaf done in 58 minutes:
Read More - Best two pound baker : Sorica SHB-712 Home Bakery
A good all rounder with 28 different functions including, rye, gluten free rice flour, and French sale savory bread. It also makes butter, caramel, yogurt, and mochi:
Read More - Best for gluten free : T Fal Actibread*
One of the best bread makers for the health conscious. Three gluten free and salt free bread settings in addition to standard bread options. An affordable and popular import:
Read More - Best for baguettes : T Fal Home and Baguette
A unique design with an additional double story bread pan that makes up to four baguettes at a time within two hours. It also bakes gluten free and other health breads:
Read More
Panasonic 1-Pound Home Bakery – Best Bread Machine in Japan
- Pan De Mie
- Regular and soft white
- Mixed flour breads
- Sandwich and whole wheat
- Baking powder quick bread
- Wild yeast bread
- Natural yeast fermenter
- Cake and soy scones
- Chocolate and jam
- Fruit compote maker
- Fruit and nut dispenser
- Yeast dispenser
- 3 crust settings
- Delay start
- NO MOCHI FUNCTION
No home bakery review in Japan would be complete without featuring one of these Panasonic one pounders. They cost a bit of a premium, but are top quality and last a long time. There are quite a few models, but this SD-BH1001 series is the best and comes with quite a lot of features.
A key feature are the automatic dispensers: one for fruits, seeds, and nuts; and the other for yeast. This allows you to make specialty breads on automatic mode without having to manually add ingredients. Adding yeast at the optional time is also one reason why these machines produce such good quality bread.
This Panasonic Home Bakery and the manual are only available in the Japanese language. All models work in a similar way, with key differences in the menu options. You can, therefore, browse an English manual to a similar model to learn the basic operations or use the included recipes.
Menu Guide to The Panasonic SD-BH1001
- Pan de Mie (#1) is a soft white sandwich loaf similar to a Pullman loaf.
- Shokupan (#2) is the standard fluffy Japanese milk bread.
- Soft White (#3) requires longer rising and kneading times, and more butter compared to (#2).
- Gohan Pan (#6) uses leftover rice to make bread and there’s a soft French bread version (#7).
- Artisan Bread (#10) has a recipe for melon bread using cookie dough.
- Rice / Wheat mix (#11) recommends using 福盛シトギ20A (price link) flour mix.
- Rice flour (#12) is standard rice flour bread not mixed with wheat.
- The quick bread (#18) uses baking powder and yogurt instead of yeast.
- Japanese soy scones (#19) uses ingredients such as kinoko flour and soy milk to make soy scone dough.
- Fruit compote (#23) comes with five recipes.
How to Use The Panasonic SD-BH1001 Bread Machine
How to Use The Panasonic SD-BH1001 Bread Machine
- Step 1
Load the pan with ingredients and place it securely into the machine. Close the lower lid and plug-in the machine.
- Step 2
Add the yeast into the small round yeast dispenser.
- Step 3
To add dried fruit, nuts, or other tidbits to your bread, using the raison [レーズン] button on the top left next to the LCD screen. The default choice is [なし] meaning nothing will be added in. To change this, press the raison [レーズン] button to change the option to [あり] on the screen. Then, you select with the orange start [スタート] button.
- Step 4
Close the upper lid and, using the menu [メニュー] button, select your baking course.
- Step 5
Select the crust setting with [焼き色], and your bake time will appear on the screen. If you wish to use a delay start, you set it just before starting. To do this, press the [予定] button, adjust the hours [時] and minutes [分], then press [スタート]. To cancel the process, press the [取消] cancel button.
- Summary
Menu → (Raison) → Crust → (Delay Timer) → Start
メニュー → [レーズン] → 焼き色 → [予定] → スタート
You can put in up to 60g of dried fruits and nuts (5 mm), green peas, olives, bacon and ham (10 mm). Things that cannot go inside are pickled fruits, onion, chopped veggies, cheese, chocolate, and sesame seeds. These you can add separately before the second kneading.
User Tips and Views
Reviews for this Panasonic bread machine in Japan are overwhelmingly positive with virtually no qualms about the quality of the bread— and it’s quiet enough for a small apartment. Some people find removing the kneading paddle from the bread difficult, but it’s best to douse it with non stick spray before you add the ingredients
If your bread isn’t turning out great, then check if you’ve made the necessary seasonal adjustments for the amount of yeast. Most recipes call for room temperature water (25℃) to be mixed with 5 ml -10 ml of cold (5℃) water.
Hi-Rose One Pound Home Bakery – Best Budget Bread Machine in Japan
- Standard White Shokupan
- Rice flour bread
- Whole wheat bread
- Fast bake
- Sweet bread
- Rice bread
- Gluten free rice flour
- Pizza and dough setting
- Kiritanpo and mochi
- Noodle dough
- Cake and jam
- Independent bake function
- Delay bake timer
This High Rose home bakery is the product of a small Japanese electronics maker, but that’s not why we chose it. For this budget category, this bread machine meets three important criteria: it’s easily affordable, bakes fast, and is quiet. It’s a good home bakery for a small apartment, or a couple of busy people. It also has some nice functions including gluten free rice flour bread, kiritanpo, mochi, and pound cake.
Menu Guide: Hi-Rose HB
How To Use The Hi-Rose Bread Machine
This home bakery only makes a small one pound loaf which guarantees no waste and is also a nice size to give to a friend. There are three crust settings and you can select by using the [焼い色] button. You can also stop the cycle at any time, and then continue by pressing the pause button [一時停止]. If you wish to cancel or end a bake cycle, just hold the Start/ Cancel [開始 / 取消] button for 3 seconds.
The instructions are only available in Japanese from their homepage, but it’s pretty straightforward and easy to use:
- Secure the paddle and load your ingredients in the pan in the correct order.
- Put the pan back in, plug in the device, and switch on.
- The #1 basic white menu will appear: baking time of 2:40 minutes, and a medium crust [ふつう].
- For other options scroll through the menu [メニュー] to select your choice.
- Choose the crust level with the yakiiro [焼い色] button. The time of your baking course will adjust.
- Enter a delay start time if need be with the timer [タイマー].
- Press Start [開始 / 取消] and you’re done.
User Tips and Views
People love the compact size of this home bakery, how easy it is to store away, and how comparatively quiet it is. Most are happy with the quality of the bread, however, some feel the kneading function could be better— but for mochi there are no complaints. On the downside, spare parts are rather expensive and the occasional operational beep is kind of loud.
This home bakery also comes with a small recipe book edited by the celebrity blogger Nakanishi Saori San.
Hamilton Beach Home Bakery* – Best Imported Bread Machine
- English interface
- 12 settings
- Gluten free
- Quick bread 58 min
- 1.5 and 2 lb loaves
- 3 crust settings
- Non slip feet
- Spare paddle included
- Pizza dough
- Flatbread dough
- Jams and cake
- Keep warm and Delay Bake
If you’re looking for a no fuss bread machine with an English UI, this Hamilton Beach (homepage) is a good, affordable option. It’s one of the most popular bread machines internationally, and although it isn’t as multi-functional as a Japanese home bakery, it does stand out in other ways.
One key feature is Express Bake which uses rapid rising yeast and can get a loaf ready in 58 minutes— the standard set by the popular Oster bread maker. This machine only does 1.5 and 2 pound loaves and is a little bigger than most Japanese home bakeries.
A nice design extra are the non slip feet so it’s more secure than other machines that sometimes walk off the counter while kneading. They also include an extra kneading paddle which is very thoughtful.
The warranty doesn’t apply outside of the US and Canada, so you have to rely on the support or warranty of your distributor. Shipping may take one to three weeks and orders can be canceled if no stock is available. All these bread machines are inspected by the local Japan seller before forwarding to you. You can see the English manual here.
User Tips and Views
Reviews across forums are overwhelmingly positive for this Hamilton Beach. Most people find the noise levels to be okay, but compared to most of our bread machines in Japan reviewed, it may be a little louder. If a bread machine is excessively loud while kneading, it’s often the case that the dough is too dry, or you’re using the wrong type of four.
Siroca SBH-712 Home Bakery – Best 2-Pound Bread Maker
- Soft and hard crust white
- Fast bake
- Rye and whole wheat
- Gluten free rice flour bread
- Natural yeast fermenter
- Natural yeast dough & bread
- Udon and soba dough
- Cakes and jam
- Savory cake sale
- Mochi maker
- 3 sizes and crusts
- Independent bake, ferment, knead
The best pick for a large two pound bread maker was a tough one between this Sorica and the popular TwinBird PY-E631 (price link). Although the price is similar, the Sorica had less negative reviews concerning noise, and it has more versatile functions. Even so, this bread machine is not ideal for a small apartment or thin walled house if you run the machine at night.
Bigger machines typically make taller 2 lb loaves (23 cm) which are also not the most convenient. A medium sized 1.5 lb loaf (15 cm) is not too tall and a decent size for a household of four. The smallest 1 lb loaf (12 cm) is great for when you don’t need a lot of bread or prefer to eat fresh baked bread more often.
Sorica has an English language website with basic information on their Japanese products. Instructions and details on how to use come complex appliances such as bread machines are only in Japanese (!). The manual is well designed and with some basic knowledge of Japanese keywords, it’s not too difficult to use.
Menu Guide: Sorica SBH-712 HB
Menu item #14 can knead any dough from 5 to 25 min. Item #15 for general fermentation is 5 min to 1h50 min only. The stand alone bake function #16 is from 10 min to 1h30min. The dough functions of #17 and #18 are for yeast doughs. Jam and caramel have a mixing or stirring function [攪拌] and heating [加熱]. Fresh cheese uses heating [加熱] and cooling [さまし].
Sorica SBH-712 Display and Manual Guide
The user interface has operational buttons on the outside, with settings and status indicators in the LCD display:
1. LCD display 2. Menu 3. Start 4. Silent Mode 5. Crust 6. Timer 7. Size 8. Cancel
The inner LCD display shows the following functions and selections:
- Top across – loaf sizes: 1斤/1.5斤/2 斤 sizes in pounds
- Below across – crust types: うすい – light / ふつう – medium / こい – dark
- Left side functions: マナー Mute / タイマー Timer / 加熱 Heating / こねる Kneading / ねかす Resting
- Right side functions: 作業 Action Required / 発酵 Fermenting–Rising / 焼く / Baking / 保温 Warming / 終了 Complete
Each menu course has a clear progression of usable functions and required actions:
The first menu [メニュー] item for soft white ‘shokupan’ takes 4 hours to complete [所要時間]. The usable functions [使える機能] for this course are the crust level [焼き色選択], delay bake [タイマー], (–) no action is required [作業], add-ins are after 30 min [具入れ], keep warm after baking for 60 min [保温].
The length and progression of each stage is also clearly illustrated on the right:
Knead → Rest → Knead → Proof / Gas Release → Proof / Shape → Rise → Bake
こね → ねかし → こね → 発酵・ガス抜き → 発酵・成形 → 発酵 → 焼き
Each recipe will show with check mark ✓ if you can use the delay timer, and a melody note for the add-in [具入れ] alarm for raisins or nuts etc.
How to Use the Sorica SBH-712 Home Bakery
- Twist the pan slightly to the left and pull to remove.
- Make sure the paddle is secure and load the ingredients.
- Reinsert the pan and twist to the right to lock into place.
- When you plug-in, the machine will beep and menu #1 displays by default.
- Choose the bread size (default 1斤), and the time will automatically adjust.
- Choose the crust setting (default ふつう), and the time will automatically adjust.
- Set the delay bake timer if you need it.
- Press start and the buzzer will sound.
User tips and Views
The nice things about this machine are the buzzer mute, the natural yeast options, the rye bread option, and the unique French savory sale menu. For more cake sale recipes, you can search ケークサレ HB on the popular blog Cookpad.
T Fal Acti – Best Gluten Free Bread Machine
- English UI and manual
- 15 presets
- Gluten free breads
- Gluten free cake
- Salt free bread
- Rapid wholewheat bread
- 3 loaf sizes & 3 crust selections
- 15 hour delay start
- Dough kneading
- Noodle dough setting
- Cake and jam setting
You won’t find a bread machine in Japan more dedicated to gluten free bread than this T Fal ActiBread (homepage). Gluten free baking requires a little work on your part. The yeast needs to be sifted with the flour into a bowl, and you may need to open up the machine during kneading to scrape in dough caught to the sides. You cannot use the delay bake timer with gluten-free breads.
Additional health options include a setting for salt free bread, but the other key feature is the choice of three rapid bake breads: rapid wholewheat, rapid sweat, and super rapid bread which takes 1h:25 to 1h:35. The other functions are pretty standard, and while it doesn’t have any Japanese presets of course, it does have cake setting with a number of recipes (PDF) included.
User Tips and Views
The only beef about this machine is the manual. It’s poorly produced and there are not a lot of recipes, but there are online resources. For a machine so specialized for the gluten free market, they could’ve done a better job. Also, kneading can be a little noisy when doing the tougher gluten-free doughs, so best not to make those breads late at night.
T Fal Home and Baguette – Best Specialized Bread Machine in Japan
- Unique baguette baking pans
- Guten and salt free breads
- Cheese and sweet breads
- Rapid bake 1h35‒1h453
- 3 loaf sizes & crust settings
- Jam and Cakes
- Pasta and udon
- Pizza dough with fermentation
- 2 kneading paddles
This T Fal Home and Baguette can make a range of specialty breads besides baguettes. This includes healthy options such as salt free, gluten free, and breads made from bean or other flours. It has the usual pastry dough, jam, pizza and noodle settings. This bread machine is distributed by T Fal Japan, and their customer service is quite good.
Menu Guide: T-Fal Home and Baguette
This model has a Japanese language interface with Japanese instructions. Information on how to use this bread machine can be gleaned from the English language manual for non-Japanese markets. The Japanese menu settings, however, are slightly different. To know more about how to make your own baguettes, you can have a look at their official English language video:
User Tips and Views
The vast majority of reviewers are really happy with how their baguettes come out, and most people buy this machine because it’s the only baguette maker on the market. Other people appreciate this home bakery for the heavier types of bread it can make, rather than the typical light and airy loaves.
This is a relatively large machine so it’s not really suited for a small apartment, especially if you want to run it late at night.
Compared to other machines, many standard recipes bake up to an hour faster. On the downside, the machine does get pretty hot, so you have to be very careful around it. Some people also feel that it overcooks the outside a bit, so you will need to experiment with crust settings.
Best Home Bakery Bread Machine Brands in Japan
When shopping for a bread machine in Japan, you’re likely to come across the following brands. If you would like to know more about these, here is some useful profile information and accompanying links:
Panasonic: Panasonic is the most popular bread machine for the Japan domestic market. They have a few popular models marketed internationally, but their Japanese range is far superior.
Zojirushi : Zojirushi also makes high quality competitive machines comparable to Panasonic’s bread machines in Japan. Their machines focus more on the international market, and their Virtuoso Home Bakery is probably the most popular and highly reviewed of all bread machines. It’ pricey but available through parallel import.
Sorica : Siroca is an up-and-coming Japanese appliance maker established in the year 2000. They have a growing range of select products and their goal is to focus on affordable high quality appliances with elegant design.
Hi-Rose : Hi-Rose is the in-house brand name of Hirose Wireless Company. They are a wholesale distributor for big name brands amongst other business activities, with a small range of in-house kitchen appliances.
TwinBird : TwinBird is a Niigata company based in the city of Tsubame. They make a wide range of small kitchen and home devices, but are most famous for their leading development of free piston stirling coolers.
Tiger Corporation: This Osaka company is most famous for its innovation of the vacuum thermos flask, and their products have also supported the international space program. Apart from just two bread machines in Japan, they make a wide range of small kitchen appliances.
Best International Bread Machines
T Fal: T Fal is a French company well-known for their non-stick, anodized titanium, and ceramic coated cookware. They also have products for the Japanese market.
Cuisinart: One of the most famous brands in American kitchenware. Their lead bread machine the CBK-200 is the only machine that has a convection fan, and it’s quite a popular model. Their non-convection model the CBK-100 is also available in Japan, but both bread machines are rather bulky and pricey for the Japan market.
Hamilton Beach: A well known household and commercial brand, Hamilton Beach is now the largest maker of small kitchen appliances in the US.
Oster: Oster Sunbeam Corporation is another well known American household brand. Their leading bread machine is one of the more compact and affordable models on the US market, and it can bake a rapid loaf in under an hour. Unfortunately, only their gluten free bread machine is easily available in Japan and it’s somewhat pricey.