Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory — Restaurant in Tokyo

As a ghibli lover… I hate to write this review.

My boyfriend and I traveled all the way to the factory because we love totoro. Although getting there wasn’t super hard, it’s completely out of the way when you’re in Tokyo. We also got there over an hour just to be sure we could get a spot. Honestly people didn’t show up until 30 minutes before opening. So coming at opening time you will wait but you should get all the flavors. This is assuming it’s a weekday.

Anyways, we were finally escorted up and it was super super small upstairs, which isn’t odd for a lot of Japanese places. The vibes were really homey. It’s not as ghibli themed as you would think, there’s not a lot of merch or stuff around besides the entrance.

I think the most disappointing part was the cream puffs. I read a lot of Google reviews and people said they were the best they have had. I have to disagree. I’ve had cream puffs all over Japan and each was better than this. It was just super simple… not too sweet which is fine but the bread part wasn’t flaky or tasty and the cream was alright. They are super filled which is nice. And of course they are so freaking cute!

We were disappointed after using our entire morning to travel there, wait, eat there for like 10 minutes, then come back.

Another thing, you have to order a drink if you sit and eat in. The drinks are all pricey too and nothing special.

Unless you’re a die heart totoro fan and you could care less about flavor and time, I would give this a skip on your...

I visited this pastry shop after seeing it on Instagram, drawn in by the adorable Studio Ghibli theme and it definitely delivered on the cuteness. The outside decor was charming and photogenic, and walking in felt magical. Once inside, you go upstairs to the café area, and on your way out (or if you’re just passing through), there’s a shop section downstairs where you can grab some takeaway treats or the pastries themselves.

I tried the mango cream pastry, and overall, I’d give it a 4 out of 5. The outer shell was surprisingly hard, which knocked off a star for me. It caught me off guard and made the texture a little less enjoyable. That said, the inside was perfect—light, airy, and had a refreshing, delicate flavor that didn’t overwhelm the palate. It felt like the kind of dessert you could slowly savor.

The staff were lovely, super friendly and welcoming. As for payment, both card and cash are accepted, but a few things to know:

If you’re paying with card, you’ll need to register it online.

The menu is online, so be ready to browse and order from your phone.

They do not split bills, so if you're with friends, bring cash or be ready to sort out payment yourselves.

Overall, it’s a cute experience with a cozy atmosphere, solid pastries (even if a bit firm on the outside), and totally worth a stop if you’re a Ghibli fan or just want a whimsical...

This review is for a dining out experience. Overall impressions are: pastries are adorable, but taste for me was lacking in both the custard and pastry texture; not worth the train ride in my book.

Food: the pastries are adorable; was fortunate enough try 4 flavors, but overall custard and texture was subpar. Best flavor was the chocolate one.

Service: Staff was very friendly and spoke limited English.

Atmosphere: it is very small shop with the lower level for dining out and upper level for dining in. Can't speak to the dining in experience. I purchased the pastries and went around the block an outdoor cafe hub to enjoy the pastries.

A few things to know: Cash only. Each was 520-560Yen There are two lines outside; generally the line on the left side of the store are for dining out and right side for dining in. There is an outdoor market spot around the corner with cafes and small eats that you can go sit and enjoy the pastries. Closest address: 2-chōme-36 Daita, Setagaya City, Tokyo 155-0033, Japan. Shop is small with corridors wide enough for 1 person.

Came around 12PM on a Sunday and waited 18 minutes to order for...