Looking for a perfect loaf pan to bake Japanese Milk Bread called Shokupan? In this post, I’ll show you how to order a loaf pan from Japan, season it, and care for it after baking.

If you’re looking for a good Japanese loaf pan, this is the right place! Read on for my tips and resources to find the right pan for you. I also share how to season it and properly care for it after baking, so that your pan gets better with use.
Table of Contents
Where to Buy a Japanese Loaf Pan
If you don’t mind that your loaf is NOT a standard Japanese milk bread size, then get a loaf pan on Amazon US. Some molds that look good include:
- CHEFMADE Pullman Loaf Pan with Lid
- USA Pan Bakeware Pullman Loaf Pan With Cover (I have this)
- Tiger Crown 2397 Bread Mold (1 Kin)
- Tiger Crown 2396 Bread Mold (1.5 Kin) (I have this one)

However, if you’re like me and you really want to make true Japanese milk bread called shokupan, then you have to get an authentic Japanese loaf pan from Japan.

As you can tell, the Japanese loaf pan is much bigger than the typical ones you can buy here in the US.
The Loaf Pans I Recommend
The loaf size in Japan is measured in “kin (斤).” It is an old Japanese unit for measuring bread weight that is based on the traditional system of British Imperial units for weight based on pounds.
I love this 1.5 kin loaf pan and this 1 kin loaf pan from Asai Shoten (浅井商店), the famous kitchen equipment company in Kappabashi, Tokyo.

In recent years, they created their own line of “Ideal Shokupan Molds (理想の食パン型).” These pans produce loaves that are really close in size to the shokupan sold in bakeries and supermarkets across Japan. At this time, there is NO other company that makes these ideal-sized molds aside from Asai Shoten.

Here is more detailed information about these loaf pans:
- 1.5 Kin Loaf Pan
- Item #: AT-PB-200
- Shape: Rectangular
- Size: 1.5 kin (斤), 12 × 20 × 13 cm (4.7 in. x 7.8 in. x 5.1 in.)
- Volume: 3100 ml
- Material: Altite—see below
- 1 Kin Loaf Pan
- Item #: AT-PB-120
- Shape: Square
- Size: 1 kin (斤), 12 ×13.5 × 13 cm (4.7 in. x 5.3 in. x 5.1 in.)
- Volume: 2070 ml
- Material: Altite

What is an Altite Loaf Pan?
Altite (アルタイト) is steel plated with aluminum. Since the base is steel, it has good thermal conductivity and is very durable. One drawback is that it gets rusty with moisture. So, you have to make sure that the pan is completely dry at all times. Altite loaf pans are used both by professionals in the baking industry as well as home bakers.
Should I Get 1.5 or 1 Kin Size?
If the loaf you’re baking is for 1 to 2 persons, I recommend getting a 1 kin loaf pan. You can cut it into 5-6 slices and keep the leftovers in the freezer.
For a family, I definitely recommend a 1.5 kin loaf pan. You can cut it into 8-9 slices. My family usually finishes a loaf in 2 days.
My Suggestion: Buy 2 Loaf Pans
Since you’re ordering a loaf pan all the way from Japan, may I suggest buying TWO loaf pans?
After making Japanese milk bread almost weekly for a while, I find it worthwhile to make TWO loaves each time. If I spend 3.5 hours making just one loaf, why don’t I make two loaves at the same time?

How to Order a Loaf Pan from Japan
Unfortunately, this specific brand of loaf pan that I recommend is not available outside of Japan. At this time, there is the only way to order this specific pan.
Here’s how to proceed:
- Sign up for Rakuten Global Express (RGE). (This post is NOT sponsored by Rakuten, by any means). To get started, create a free Rakuten membership at the RGE website. You’ll register your user information such as your address, phone number, and password. Be sure to enter postal code “000-0000” and select prefecture “Other,” and then fill out your home address that matches your ID. Please see the image and my note below.
- RGE then assigns you a “personal address” in its Japan warehouse, like a mailbox. You can save this address in your RGE account and select it as your delivery address every time you order from Japanese e-commerce sites through Rakuten.
- You must complete the identification verification process before you can shop. When prompted, you’ll capture an image of your driver’s license or passport using your computer or mobile phone and send it instantly to RGE to confirm your identification and address. You’ll also capture and send an image of your face for verification. RGE states that the entire process takes 10 minutes, but it was very quick.
- Now, you’re ready to start shopping. Be sure to select “translate to English” on your Google Chrome browser, and select the assigned mailbox at RGE warehouse as your delivery address at checkout.
- RGE will send you an email when your purchase arrives at your mailbox. You can also sign into your account to check the arrival status. You can then select “request for packaging.” If you purchase items from different shops, you may want to wait until all the products have arrived at your mailbox.
- You will receive an email once RGE has packed your purchases into one box. Then, select and pay for one of three shipping options that RGE has calculated for your shipment. I’ve found that Super Express (1-3 days) is cheaper than Standard Express (5-10 days); I do not recommend Surface (60-90 days) shipping because it’s very unreliable, in my experience. Once you pay the shipping and service fees, your package(s) will be on the way!

Here’s the Tip: Some of you may have an issue with signing up. It’s because you missed this tiny “popup” instruction that is actually very important. Remember to put postal code 000-0000 and pick the prefecture Other (国外). Then fill out the rest of your home address that matches with your identification card. If you don’t do it correctly, you can’t sign up.
A few things to note…you will be paying the:
- price of the product(s) plus tax;
- shipping fee (if there is any) from the online store to your mailbox;
- Rakuten Global Express service fee; and
- shipping fee from Japan to your home.
A shokupan loaf pan in Japan is quite affordable ($13-15), but with shipping, it can get quite expensive. They revised the shipping fees recently due to the global spike in the price of shipping. See the shipping fee per weight for North America, Asia, and Europe, and more details on the Rakuten Global Express page.

How to Season a Japanese Loaf Pan
Once you receive your Japanese loaf pan, your next step is to season it. You may wonder why you need to season your brand new loaf pan. Can you skip it? The answer is “no” (sorry!) if your pan is the one I suggested.
First, we need to season it to burn off the smelly factory oil. We also want to develop a coating of clean oil and fat on the pan surfaces so a loaf of bread will release easily. Trust this process and you will not regret it:
- Once your loaf pan has safely arrived at your home, carefully inspect the condition of the pan. Check for any dents or scratches.
- Next, preheat your oven to 340ºF (170ºC). Thoroughly wash the pan and its lid with a soft sponge and dish soap and immediately wipe off any water with a kitchen towel. Bake the pan and lid separately in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.
- Take out the pan and let it cool completely. Meanwhile, increase the oven temperature to 450ºF (230ºC).
- Apply a thin layer of spray oil to the inside of the pan and the lid. Then, distribute it evenly with a paper towel, making sure to rub away any excess until the loaf pan looks dry. You want as thin a layer of oil as possible. Excess oil will leave you with a splotchy, sticky coating that can be difficult to fix.
- Bake the pan and lid separately again for 20 minutes. Turn on the kitchen vent as it can get smoky while you season the pan.
- Repeat this process (let cool, apply a thin layer of spray oil, and bake) 3 more times. Don’t cut this step short. With good seasoning, your bread will never stick to the pan.

Aftercare (After Baking)
After baking a loaf, all you have to do is wipe off any crumbs and leftover grease with paper towels before the pan cools down. DO NOT WASH the pan.
The only exception is when your pan gets really dirty and there is no way you can wipe it off. In this case, you can wash the pan with a tiny bit of dish soap, immediately dry it with a kitchen towel, and then further dry it completely with the remaining heat in the oven. However, it’s best to avoid this scenario as you’ve worked very hard to season your pan and don’t want to lose this coating.
The more you use the pan, the better it will get—just like well-seasoned cast iron and carbon steel pans!

FAQs
Can I order a loaf pan from Amazon and make your recipe?
Yes! Just be aware that your bread will be on the small side. I recommend these Japanese loaf pans because I want to help readers who want to make the standard-sized shokupan that we can get in Japan. I was very disappointed when I first made it with a smaller loaf pan, so I want to save everyone’s time and money by ordering the right loaf pan from the beginning.
Do I still need to season if I get a loaf pan from Amazon?
Please check the manufacturer’s instructions. If a pan is made with nonstick materials, for example, then you do not need to season it.
How do you like using Rakuten Global Express?
I am not technology savvy, so I was a bit intimidated to sign up and use this service. However, once I started the application form, I realized it was very easy to set up.
I find this service very useful and have been using it to shop for things that I can’t find here in the US. With the increase in shipping fees, be careful not to buy too many things! It can be quite costly to ship.

Japanese Milk Bread Recipe
Ready to make a delicious loaf of my Japanese Milk Bread (Shokupan)? Hop over to my recipe. Happy baking!
Wish to learn more about Japanese cooking? Sign up for our free newsletter to receive cooking tips and recipe updates! And stay in touch with me on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube, and Instagram.
I thought bakers might be interested to know that Asai Shoten pans are also available on E-bay and in three sizes: 1kin, 1.5kin, and 2 kin! I got a 2kin size and it arrived via FedEx in the USA six days after I ordered it! I seasoned my pan and lid exactly as you described (total of 4 “bakes” with thin films of vegetable oil). I doubled the ingredient weights for a 1kin loaf since I had the 2kin pan. I used a Bosch compact mixer and kneaded for 30 min, alternating between the 2 highest speeds possible with this mixer and it passed the “windowpane” test! I buttered the seasoned pan before putting the 3 shaped dough rolls in for the final rise. With your seasoning directions for the pan, NOTHING STUCK and my loaf came out perfectly shaped! THANK YOU!
Hello, JK-CO. Thank you for providing this information.
We’re glad you loved the Shokupan pans and Nami’s directions.🙂
Happy Baking!
Hey Nami! Wanted to let you know that it was a quick and easy process. Made my account on Sunday and waited to verify as my driver’s license expired and used the other verifying methods. I purchased the molds on Monday and they finally arrived to Victoria, BC Canada on Friday! Super amazed with how fast everything came together. I ordered 2 1.5 kin pans as the 1 kin were sold out. Now just have to season the pans and then I’ll be off to baking shokupan!
Hello, Anita! Thank you very much for reading Nami’s post and sharing your experience with us.
Nami and the rest of us at JOC are happy that the Shokupan loaf arrived successfully!
We hope you enjoy it for many years! Happy Baking!
Hi Anita! Do you mind me asking how much you paid in total? And how much was the shipping and customs/taxes? I live in Vancouver BC and I just want to gauge/estimate the cost. Thanks!
This is such a thoughtful post – thank you. Though I’m not ready to buy the pans, I’m fully confident that I could with the clear steps.
Hi Ozoz, Thank you so much for reading Nami’s post and for your feedback!
We hope you enjoy making Shokupan soon! Happy Baking!🙂
I ordered one of each size pan from Rakuten via my Buyee account (I suppose I could have registered for Rakuten then ship to my Tenso address in Japan too). The total cost** shipped to Canada was ¥8898 or about the same as buying 2 of the USA made Pullman pans, so I’m happy I was able to get the “official” pans.
breakdown of costs for reference (March 2023):
•1kin pan = ¥1364
•1.5kin pan = ¥1584
•domestic shipping = ¥790 (apparently would’ve been free if I spent approx. ¥2000 more, but the extra international shipping weight wouldn’t be worth it)
•Buyee fee = ¥300 + ¥500 (for the proxy buy, and [optional] item inspection/insurance)
•international air shipping (1910g parcel) = ¥4360 (I believe this will be FedEx or DHL, EMS was listed at ¥6700, and surface was ¥3100)
**I might have to pay some additional tax/duty for Canada upon arrival (approx. equivalent of ¥500), but we’ll see.
Hi T J, Thank you so much for sharing the information.
We hope you enjoy the Japanese Loaf Pans soon! Happy Baking!
Hi Nami,
I just received my pan from Japan, and I noticed a small scratch inside the pan. Would this cause any issues? I look forward to making my first Shokupan! Thanks for the great resource.
Hello, Mike! Thank you for taking the time to read Nami’s post and try her recipe!
After seasoning 3-4 times before use, the small scratch should not be a problem for baking. (I recommend using Nami’s method.) However, moisture or water may cause it to deteriorate over time.
So, we recommend contacting the seller to arrange for a replacement.
We hope this helps!
Hi Nami-san
Firstly, thanks so much for always being so detailed in all your tutorials. I absolutely love how you explain things with clarity and the reasons behind each step (esp with the shokupans!).
I wanted to share a few amazon links that I thought would be of interest. (US) amazon links that sell the 1 and 1.5 kin loaf pans!
Maybe someone else might’ve already found and shared these, but I felt it would still be worth posting here. It can still be pricey, but not as $$$ as it could get with Rakuten. Hope these link can help someone. Take care.
………………
◻️ Tiger Crown 2397 Bread Mold, Silver, 1 Loam, Baking Square Type, Lid Included
◻️ Tiger Crown 2396 Bread Mold, Silver, 1.5 Loaves, Baking Square Type, Lid Included
◻️ Tiger Crown Bread Pan Pan with Square Lid 2375
Hi Yurika! Thank you for sharing! I’ve included the link in the post (minus one of the square pans, which is a mini one). It’s great for those who don’t really care for the exact shokupan size. Thanks so much again! 🙂
Thank you for sharing! Just curious, did you happen to purchase these ones yourself? I’m curious about the quality as I’m considering purchasing these vs. the Asai Shoten pans. It’d be more convenient and affordable for to purchase via Amazon US 🙂
Hi Mary [Sorry I didn’t see your message sooner. I only saw this by chance when I was re-visiting this page]
To answer your question (belatedly), yes I did buy the both 1 & 1.5 kin. Seasoning was difficult for me and I had to restart several times. But overall, I’m quite happy with my purchase and use it on a (almost) weekly basis. Quality-wise, they feel good to me. But I’m looking at it very superficially. Does it make bread? Yes. Is anything flaking off? No. We’re good.
PS. Just checked the amazon price, and noticing that the price has gone up. My 2 cent is to not feel pressured to buy this loaf pan if you feel your wallet is tight. (Unless you already bought it, then please ignore this message)
You should be able to make a delicious bread in ANY decent loaf pans. Along with these Tiger Crown pans, I also got a Chefmade pan (bc it was cheaper and easier to clean when I added things like cheese). The bread that came out of this was just as beautiful and scrumptious 🙂
Hope this helps!
I ordered the shokupan bread molds from Japan just as Nami mentioned via Rakuten and they arrived yesterday. So I am going to make my bread soon. I love the taste of Japanese shokupan and want to make it in Canada too.
Hi Rohini! We are so happy to hear the Shokupan molds arrived from Japan!
We hope you enjoy making homemade Shokupan!
Enjoy!
Hi Nami, thanks for this great post. I’ve been on the lookout for good Japan-made loaf pans to make Shokupan. Just wondering, do you know if it’s possible to buy the pans from any physical shops in Japan itself? I’ll be visiting Japan soon (finally!!) and it would be perfect if I could hunt some down to carry back home to avoid shipping costs, if you could recommend any particular shops that sells them! Thank you!
Hi Felix! If you are visiting Tokyo, I highly recommend visiting Kappabashi Kitchen Town, and go to Asai Shoten. That’s where I get my loaf pans (online). They have that “ideal” shokupan mold size that’s very close to the true shokupan size. Other shokupan molds are slightly smaller compared to the actual shokupan we get at bakeries. If you’re visiting other cities, can you email us so I can give you some shops nearby that I can find? 🙂
Thank you for the reply, Nami! I just checked out the shop on Google Maps and seems like prices are higher in store as compared to buying on Rakuten (there were a few pictures showing prices of the pans). Perhaps I’ll order on Rakuten instead and have them deliver it to my hotel, although I’d still love to visit the store and the Kitchen Town in general. It looks amazing!
Hi Felix! Ok! Yeah visit the Kappabashi Kitchen Town. SO FUN!
https://www.justonecookbook.com/tokyo-kappabashi-kitchenware-town/
Oh wow you even have a post on it. Thank you! Also Nami, I just wanted to ask if I could trouble you to weigh the 1kin and 1.5kin loaf tins with their lids on and let me know the weight of each? I ordered both sizes on Rakuten and arranged for a freight forwarder to ship them to me but the total weight of the package seems too heavy for what I bought – total of ~3.67kg for 2x 1kin, 2x 1.5kin loaf tins and a plastic dough scrapper. I just wonder if the loaf tins are really that heavy due to the material used. If it’s too much of a trouble to weigh the tins, then it’s alright! I apologise in advance for disturbing and troubling you!
Hi Felix! Here’s the weight.
1 kin with lid – 667.9 g
1.5 kin with lid – 854.4 g
Thank you so much, Nami! I really appreciate you going through the trouble to help me with this!! And oh my, the pans are really pretty heavy, I can only imagine the quality. I’m so excited to receive my shipment and start using them!
You are very welcome! Have fun baking homemade Shokupan ❤️❤️
First time making this recipe, I only had a short bread tin so I improvised and used tin foil to build up the height of the tin 😛 The bread turned out soo soft and tasted amazing. I went online and bought the bread tins you recommended immediately, can’t wait to bake this again.
Hi Lisa! Your Shokupan looks gorgeous!!!
Thank you for reading Nami’s post and trying her recipe!
We are so happy to hear you enjoyed the texture and flavor of Shokupan. 🥰
Hello! I just bought 2 shokupan molds recently and am following your instructions on seasoning the molds. How often do you do this step? Is it after a few times of baking bread? I’m nervous but excited to finally bake some shokupan!
Hi Nancy! Just the first time. You grease the pan every time you bake, and there’s always leftover grease. Make sure to wipe off with a paper towel and away from the moisture. Good luck with your shokupan!
Hi! I went through the seasoning steps and wanted to mention – if the seasoning is sticky, that means the seasoning was not successfully set. This can be remedied by applying thinner layers of oil and/or by seasoning the pan in the oven for longer/hotter. For cast iron, you want to apply the layer of oil very thin* to the point where the pan looks dry in order to avoid that stickiness, and I used that technique successfully on the loaf pans as well. I was able to achieve the same nonstick coating desired without the stickiness.
*to do that, you would want to brush oil on and then take a paper towel and wipe the oil off to the point that it looks dry. Even though it looks dry, it is still enough oil to season.
Hi Sammy! Thank you for sharing your tip!
I found them on Amazon Japan so I ordered from Amazon Japan. The price was little higher but at the end I think it was pretty reasonable (I paid about $65 including shipping to get two 1.5 kin pans)
I ordered them about a week ago and they’re delivered yesterday! So exited to make Shokupan!!
Hi Juri! Great! HOpe you enjoy making Shokupan!
Hi Nami, great post! I have a question because there’s so many other Asai Shoten pans that seem to be 1.5 kin. For instance, the other one I saw was this one https://item.rakuten.co.jp/asai-tool/at-pb-215/ (model AT-PB-215) and the dimensions are different. So I guess my question is, what is the difference between the 1.5 kin you linked (AT-PB-200) and this one (AT-PB-215). Is the one you linked closer to commercial shokupan dimension-wise? Thanks!
Hi David! So sorry for my late response! The one I use from Asai Shoten is called “Ideal Shokupan Mold” (because it’s the closest size to real shokupan size). It’s their latest addition. They always have 1.5 kin or 1 kin size with different materials, but they are smaller than this “Ideal Shokupan Mold”. Make sure to use the link I provided as that’s the right one.
Thanks for the response! That’s what I figured from the page translating to “ideal close to bread we sell” for the ones you linked, but I wanted to confirm! Thank you
Just wanted to mention how much I appreciated this post. I am always endlessly searching for ways to find items just like this and this was extremely helpful. I am receiving my pans this Friday, and I am very exited to try them out. Anyone who is on the fence, Rakuten has an International shipping coupon for 15% off valid from Jul 13th to Jul 22nd. It is on their website somewhere, but you have to click the get coupon button and it’ll show up when u are submitting payment. If anyone has trouble finding it, let me know. Thanks again!
Hi Khan! Aww thank you for sharing that discount information! I’m so happy to hear you decided to buy the pans. You’ll be so happy! I truly wish I don’t have to figure out storing all the wrong-sized loaf pans!! Thank you again!