"My Neighbor Totoro", directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Ghibli Studios in 1988, has made its way onto the list of anime classics. The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka city is a must-see pilgrimage site for anime fans.
But what die-hard Ghibli fans want to keep secret is Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory in Setagaya! The shop sells super cute and delicious Totoro cream puffs and cookies. In fact, the snacks produced there are the only ones officially approved by Hayao Miyazaki himself to use the Totoro image!
Image Source: 白髭のシュークリーム工房 (http://www.shiro-hige.net)
How to get to the Totoro Cream Puff Factory!
Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory is tucked away in a quiet residential area about a three-minute walk from Setagaya-Daita station on the Odayu Odawara Line. There are plenty of signs along the way, so you’ll be able to find the shop quickly and easily.
Originally a small shop located in Suginami, it moved to its current location surrounded by a beautiful green forest to accommodate its large number of customers. They also opened another shop near Kichijoji Station.
The store is located in a two-storey Western-style building that blends in perfectly with the surrounding greenery and makes it adorably unique, like something out of a fairy tale.
Follow the cute hand-painted Totoro signs and you’ll be on their doorstep in no time. On the first floor there are countless Totoro decorations and even pictures hand-painted by Hayao Miyazaki himself! The cream puffs will certainly catch your eye and you may even want to order one of each type!
Totoro Cream Puffs: 9 Varieties of Cute Custard!
The store offers nine cream puff varieties. Two – custard and chocolate – are sold year-round, and the other flavors feature different seasonal fruits including caramel banana (Jan. – March), strawberry (Jan. – June), matcha (April – June), mango, peach (July – Sept.), chestnut and raspberry cheesecake (Oct. – Dec.).
Creating the familiar Totoro shape for each cream puff is a complicated process, so they can’t be mass-produced. To ensure taste and appearance quality, each is hand made on site. Limited quantities are made fresh every day, so if you don’t want to miss out, it’s best to be there early!
Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory generally sells its wares for take-out, but if you do want to sit down to enjoy your purchase, there’s a small outdoor seating area surrounded by greenery.
The second floor is home to Tolo Coffee & Bakery, operated by different shopkeepers. They sell a variety of breads, drinks, and light food. Their dining space is small and seats are limited, but in every corner you c…
