If you’re a big fan of Studio Ghibli, chances are, you’ve always wondered what it would be like to live in one of Hayao Miyazaki’s films. Well, Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory has got you covered. Shiro-Hige, literally translating to “White Beard,” creates a novel experience with their peculiar cream puff factory that’s actually hidden up in the trees of a quiet neighborhood in Japan.
And for those of you who haven’t heard of Studio Ghibli, it’s a highly acclaimed animation studio famous for their sensational films such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle. Most of their films seek to capture the essence of what it means to grow up, and they also never fail to include a grand spark of imagination, fantasy, and wonder– which Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory perfectly emulates in their little hideaway not too far from Tokyo.
And as a huge Ghibli fan myself, the moment I found out about these Totoro cream puffs, I immediately decided that I had to go and eat every single flavor. So that’s exactly what I did.
If you’re also planning on making a visit, when you first arrive at the destination you might be a little confused because all that’s really there is a ginormous tree and not much else. No worries though, all you have to do is look up! You’ll finally see a quaint house floating up in the trees, just like something Hayao Miyazaki would have probably illustrated. And once you enter, it gets even better.
Take a steep, narrow staircase up to the second floor, and the entire cafe will open up in front of your eyes, just like magic. Up in a beautiful treehouse cafe, you’ll be seated and given a delicate menu stocked with delicious Western foods and drinks– seriously, the pasta is just as mind-blowing as the cream puffs. And since the cafe is attached to a bakery, I always loved the smell of fresh baked bread as it wafted through the entire house.
So now that you’ve indulged in a fantastic main course, it’s time for what everyone’s been waiting for. Dessert. And not only do the cream puffs visually talk-the-talk, but the flavors definitely walk-the-walk. With careful attention to detail, Shiro-Hige changes their cream puff menu with each season. In the Fall and Winter, they offer flavors like Chestnut and Blackberry, and in the Spring and Summer, they serve flavors such as Strawberry and Peach. And after making several treks to Shiro-Hige’s over the past few years, I can finally say that I have tasted every flavor, and can honestly attest that the Original Custard Cream Puff is a definite staple in my year-round diet.
Even now, I still can’t wrap my head around how they are able to get choux pastry to bake in the form of Totoro, so I’m convinced that this cafe must truly be using a little bit of Studio Ghibli magic.