Strawberry tart (680 yen) ⭐4.0 The tart base has a rich almond flavor with a strong buttery taste. The custard is not too sweet. Chocolardan (620 yen) ⭐3.8 The sponge is light and fluffy. The milk chocolate cream is sweet but not overwhelming, making the whole chocolate cake light and refreshing. Cream puff (320 yen) ⭐4.2 The creamy custard has a good balance of milk and egg flavors, with just the right amount of sweetness. The puff pastry is crispy. Linzer torte (500 yen) ⭐4.3 The slightly moist dough is filled with nuts, creating a great combination with the sweetness of the chocolate dough and the nutty aroma. The apricot jam is subtle, allowing the dough to shine as the star of the dish.

This year, I am determined to conquer Tokyo, so I visited the number one shop in Inagi City. In a quiet residential area, there was a European-style building, which was very cute. Inside, there was a chef-like person working alone. The smell of the exquisite baked goods in the shop made me want to say, "Please give me the ones you are baking right now!" The chef mentioned that if I decided on something, I should let him know, and then he went back to work. This allowed me to carefully check out the pastries. Although I was tempted by the fresh cakes, I didn't have much time and there was no seating, so I chose some baked goods. I couldn't resist and just bought a cream puff. I thought I could eat it quickly outside, but before I could say anything, it was already neatly packed in a box. I felt a bit sorry about that. I purchased financiers, madeleines, and four shell-shaped cookies, but I forgot the name of the cookies. The total was 1080 yen, with the breakdown being 300 yen for the cream puff, 280 yen for the cookies, 260 yen for the financiers, and 240 yen for the madeleines. I think the cream puff was 300 yen, the cookies were 280 yen, the financiers were 260 yen, and the madeleines were 240 yen. There was a bench on the sidewalk in front of the shop, so I sat there and enjoyed half of the cream puff and half of the shell-shaped cookies. They were not too sweet and delicious. The shell-shaped cookies were crispy and had a nice white chocolate filling. I enjoyed the financiers and madeleines at home later on. I would like to try the fresh cakes, but I have not revisited the shop yet. I will plan to do so after exploring other towns and cities in Tokyo next year.

Married for over 20 years. Although there are no presents for birthdays at this point, it has become a tradition to buy a meal and cake somewhere every year. On the morning of the birthday, I headed to "Penzwick" to buy a cake. I had visited this place last year for my wife's birthday and the cake was delicious, so I decided to go back. According to Tabelog, the opening time was 10:00. I walked for about 15 minutes to get there, only to find out that they actually opened at 10:30. It was too hot to wait around for 30 minutes, so I ended up returning home. I decided to buy the cake the next day. Since I would be traveling by car the next day, I chose to visit a different shop that I couldn't walk to, "HohesLob" in Komaday. I arrived at the shop around 2:00 PM and easily found parking in the back. The shop is located in a residential area on a hill, not in a bustling area near the station. It seemed like a popular shop and there were only a few items left at that time. I bought a strawberry cake and a blueberry tart based on previous reviews. I don't have a wide range of vocabulary to describe sweets like I do for fried rice. But what caught my attention was the quality of sweetness. I like the kind that blends into the tongue and disappears smoothly, and this shop's desserts had that quality. The balance with the fruits was also very good, and I could see why this shop is popular. In Inagi, there are "Penzwick," "Cake Factory Whip," and this shop. It's nice to have three high-quality dessert shops in this quiet town. While I have gone to Chitose-Karasuyama and Akitsu to buy delicious cakes for my wife's birthday, it seems like I can easily get something tasty nearby now.

Hohes Lob is a popular patisserie located in Inagi City, Komayodai. The shop is known for its tarts, and the owner is rumored to be from Lilienberg. The location is a bit inconvenient, about a 20-minute walk from Minamitama Station or a bus ride from Inagi Station. The shop is situated in a residential area with a European fairytale-like exterior. When I visited, there were a few local customers, and the chef was handling everything from production to serving. The showcase mainly featured tarts, with a few shortcakes and birthday cakes. I tried the Cherry Tart, Banana Tart, Strawberry and Blueberry Tart, and Linzer Torte. The Cherry Tart had a nice balance of custard and cherries, while the Banana Tart had a delicious mix of ripe bananas, cream, and custard. The Strawberry and Blueberry Tart was similar to the Cherry Tart, with strawberries as the main ingredient and occasional blueberries. Overall, it was a pleasant experience, but the location makes it difficult for me to revisit.

- Banana Tart: 560 yen (tax included) - Pudding: 400 yen (tax included) - Fig Truffle: 230 yen (tax included) - Dragee (260 yen: tax included) for guests I had some errands nearby and decided to visit this rumored shop right after it opened. I couldn't find the parking lot, so I had to walk from another one. The shop has a beautiful exterior that fits well with the lush greenery of the surroundings. Since it was early in the day, there were many cakes on display. After some hesitation, I ended up buying a banana tart, pudding, fig truffle, and dragee. The pudding was caramelized on the spot. The chef wasn't very friendly, and they only accepted cash payments. Once back home, I tried the desserts. Despite accidentally flipping the tart in the car, the combination of banana, cream, and tart crust was delicious. The subtle sweetness of the cream and tart crust was just to my liking. The pudding was rich, with the bitterness of the caramelization adding a lingering deliciousness. The fig truffle had a perfect blend of cocoa and fig flavors, making it seem like a good match for wine. As someone who doesn't eat sweets often, I found myself wanting to come back for more. I wonder when I'll be able to visit again...

Hoher Slope is a Vienna confectionery shop located about a 20-minute walk from Minamitama Station on the Nanbu Line. Although it has not been selected as one of the top 100 stores, inside the shop, there is a paper decoration that says "Selected as Best Sweets 2014 on Tabelog". - Strawberry and Blueberry Tart (482 yen) ☆4.0 The custard cream under the fruit pulp is fluffy and moist, harmonizing naturally with the fruit juice and adding warmth from the eggs to satisfy the heart. The perfect balance of moisture in the custard cream is excellent. The nutty aroma from the tart base is also easy to understand. - Banana Tart (482 yen) ☆3.9 The custard cream around the banana has a fruity cream with a banana scent, and the sweetness is just right. The nutty aroma from the tart base. The top chocolate powder is just enough to tighten it up. Thanks to this banana-flavored custard cream, I was able to enjoy the banana flavor much more than expected. It's rich but refreshing, which is unique to bananas! Although it looks heavy, it's not at all heavy, which shows the skill of the chef. - Linzertorte (370 yen) ☆3.4 The chocolate dough has a gentle impression with a mild bitterness, and crushed nuts are scattered throughout. Cinnamon has a moderate fragrance. While Linzertorte often uses red currant jam, this one uses apricot jam. The apricot jam gave a somewhat subdued impression. The owner chef seems to be from Lilienberg, but the impression is slightly different from Lilienberg, showing skill in utilizing fruits. The service is straightforward. When I opened the box I took home, I was surprised that there was no ice pack, but when I tasted it, I felt the love. I walked from Minamitama Station, which was a tough uphill road. If I were to revisit, I would probably take a bus from Inagi Station.

The gift and home delivery of baked goods are subject to additional shipping charges. I purchased a set of assorted baked goods for around 5,000 yen and 9 pieces of baked goods, totaling nearly 8,000 yen. They told me to let them know when I decided, but didn't seem too happy when I said I wanted to send sweets. They said they had already closed for the day, so it would be shipped on Thursday as they have the next two days off. The visit was in the early afternoon, but it was still daytime. After purchasing, there was no "thank you" and I left the store. Upon trying the sweets at home, I found that they tasted like homemade treats. They were far from the quality of baked goods from a cake shop that cost over 200 yen each. It may be because it's in the countryside, but I felt that convenience store sweets were much tastier, and I am sure I won't visit this place again.

In this current social situation, it is risky to visit a shop without a website or social media presence due to shortened hours or temporary closures, but it is a fixed frame of spring. The season seems to be fixed, as the product variety is almost the same, with about 15 types of simple cakes available. Purchased items (tax included): - Herren Torte (480 yen) ☆×3.8 Composition: Chocolate cream sponge cake with Griotte cherry and whipped cream. The chocolate cream is solid with a refreshing taste and smooth texture, leaving a light aftertaste. The moist Griotte cherry in syrup adds smoothness, while the whipped cream is sweet and light, complementing the sweetness of the chocolate sponge. - Linzertorte (380 yen) ☆×3.8 This shop's signature Linzertorte has a gentle flavor with a hint of spice in the dough. The nutty aroma is prominent at first bite but does not linger, making it easy to eat. The red currant jam is subtly present, with the focus on the dough. - Other items: Strawberry tart (480 yen) ☆×4.6 Cherry tart (480 yen) ☆×4.3 Strawberry and blueberry tart (480 yen) ☆×4.1 Banana tart (480 yen) ☆×3.8 Sachertorte (520 yen) ☆×3.8 Chocolate nut cookies (720 yen) ☆×4.0 Coconut cookies (720 yen) ☆×3.9 This shop used to be in my top 3 for tarts, but there have been slight changes in the recipe, which is disappointing. Nevertheless, the tarts and baked goods are delicious, so I will visit again. Overall rating: 4.1 → 4.1 (no change) / Review from April 2020 visit.

- Strawberry and blueberry tart 3.5 A tart with a crispy cookie crust, almond filling, sweet-scented custard, topped with strawberries and blueberries in jelly. A simple but delicious flat tart. - Strawberry tart 3.5 Same as above. - Chocolate cake 3.0 A cake with chocolate cream and sponge, soft and smooth. - Cream puff 3.5 Nothing special, but just what you need. - Shortcake 3.0 Soft and delicious sponge. - Financier 3.0 - Butter cookie 3.0 - Breton galette 3.0 - Florentine 3.0 A basic lineup of Western-style sweets with a neat appearance, carefully made and reliably delicious. Children will definitely enjoy them.

Cream puff for 250 yen. There is no seating area, so I had to enjoy it on a bench outside. They had other tempting items like tarts and shortcakes, but I went with the cream puff. The pastry was crispy and the custard filling was delicious. Although the cream puff was small, the quality was top-notch.

A cake shop in Inagi City, Tokyo. I purchased a Christmas cake in 2020. I didn't make a reservation in advance, but called on the day and they kindly made one for me. It seemed like they had already sold out of Christmas cakes, so they probably gave me a standard strawberry shortcake. I paid 3980 yen for a 15cm whole cake. The fine Genoise sponge was impressive. The cream was a bit sweet, but maybe that's just right for a shop in a residential area. I'm grateful for their kindness in accommodating my last-minute request. I'd like to try other cakes next time. Thank you for the meal.

After a long time, I visited Hohe's Rope. I bought strawberry tart, ripe pineapple tart, banana tart, and strawberry cake. The custard, whipped cream, and tart crust were all light and delicious, making it easy to eat multiple pieces. The strawberries, pineapples, and bananas were large and satisfying. The cost performance is also excellent, truly the best and strongest cake shop.

This shop located in a residential area on a high plateau gives the illusion of being in Karuizawa. The interior is surrounded by wooden walls and has a fairytale-like atmosphere with charming decorations. The owner-patissier trained at the renowned "Lilienberg" in Shin-Yurigaoka, which explains the ambiance of the shop. Personally, I found this shop to be just as good as, if not better than, Lilienberg. I purchased three items: "Strawberry Tart" (¥480), "Strawberry and Blueberry Tart" (¥480), and "Peach Cake" (¥460). The cakes are a decent size and have a traditional triangular shape. The strawberries on top of the tarts are surprisingly large and have a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavor that goes well with the not overly sweet cream. The tart crust is deliciously crispy! The peaches, in season now, are juicy and sweet, showing that high-quality ingredients are used. The fluffy sponge and cream complement each other perfectly. In terms of cake quality, size, price, and atmosphere, this shop ranks highly among those I have visited. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

During the self-restraint period due to going out, the opportunity for eating out has decreased, and frustration has been building up, but this is a time to endure. I found out that there is a highly-rated cake shop near the supermarket where I usually go for grocery shopping, so I decided to visit to relieve my frustration. I arrived there on a Saturday after 11:00. I didn't realize it was a cake shop from the outside, so I passed by and then finally noticed the existence of the shop. It had a fairy-tale-like exterior that seemed to jump out from a picture book. Various small items outside the shop added to the fairy-tale atmosphere, and peering through the small window of the not-so-large door, it was indeed a cake shop. Due to the current situation, it seemed like only one group could enter at a time, and if there were customers inside, it was written to wait outside, so I waited on the terrace-like entrance of the shop for a while. After about 10 minutes of waiting, I entered the shop, and inside, there was a fairy-tale-like atmosphere. The person who seemed to be the owner was busy making cakes in the kitchen. Just from this atmosphere alone, I couldn't help but think that the cakes would be delicious. I visited with the intention of getting a cream puff, but it wasn't displayed in the showcase. I ended up choosing the Creme Brulee (352 yen), Banana Tart using ripe bananas (445 yen), and Chocolate Cake called Chocoladen (408 yen). I enjoyed them as dessert after lunch at home. My sons had the Banana Tart and Chocoladen, while I had the Creme Brulee. The Creme Brulee had a wonderful contrast between the bitterness of the caramelized sugar and the delightful sweetness of the cream, making it very delicious. My sons also found the cakes they had quite delicious, and they were making sounds of approval. The deliciousness did not disappoint the expectation I felt in the shop, and I would like to try other cakes as well. Thank you for the meal.

I visited for lunch. The shop is located quite far from the station, about a 30-minute walk uphill, so it's better to take a car or bus. The shop is small, with a selection of about 10 types of wagashi (Japanese sweets) and a slightly wider variety of baked goods. Items purchased (including tax): - Strawberry Tart (480 yen) - Rating: 4.7 - Banana Tart (480 yen) - Rating: 4.4 - Strawberry and Blueberry Tart (480 yen) - Rating: 4.0 - Truffle (480 yen) - Rating: 3.8 - Cheesecake (450 yen) - Rating: 3.8 - Smooth Pudding (300 yen) - Rating: 3.5 - Chocolate Nut Cookie (720 yen) - Rating: 4.0 - Nero (720 yen) - Rating: 3.8 - Other items: Blackberry Tart (480 yen), Sachertorte (520 yen), Chocolarden (440 yen), Coconut Cookie (720 yen) Overall, the shop specializes in tarts and offers a simple yet delicious selection of Viennese pastries. The service may be lacking compared to other shops, but the quality of the tarts is exceptional. I plan to revisit sooner next time. Overall rating: 3.8 to 4.1 (+0.3)

In both Wakaba-dai and Koyo-dai, there are many cake shops. I thought I had tried most of them, but there was one shop I hadn't tried yet. When I parked my car in the parking lot behind the shop and walked in, I was greeted by a wonderful buttery smell. They had a variety of baked goods, but I was there for the cakes. This time, I ordered a strawberry tart with large strawberries on top, a banana tart, a chocolate cake, and a fresh cream roll. It seemed like they were running out of some items, so I thought I should come earlier next time. All the cakes were delicious. The tarts were a bit firm, but the fresh cream roll was especially recommended, both in terms of taste and price.

Hohes Lob, a cake shop located on the sunny terrace park street in downtown residential area, was chosen as the best sweets in 2009 & 2014 on Tabelog. It has been about a year and a half since my last visit. All the cakes looked delicious and it was hard to decide. Overall, the sweetness is mild and the cakes are light and easy to eat. I chose the banana tart for 430 yen and the chocolate cake for 380 yen. The chocolate cake had plenty of cream chocolate, which I really liked.

After waiting for one month, I finally tried Mont Blanc. It was definitely worth the wait. Truly amazing!

I found a rare Mont Blanc cake and was lucky to get it! As always, all the cakes had light cream and you can eat as many as you want. They are really delicious. This shop still ranks number one for cakes.

"I said that not many cake shops sell Crème Brûlée, right?" With my friend's comment, we searched for a shop. Setting the address on the navigation brought us right in front of the shop, but the parking lot was actually at the back of the store, so be careful. It was a lovely, cozy shop with a woody atmosphere, and as soon as we opened the door, we were greeted by the sweet smell of happiness. Last time, they were sold out of Crème Brûlée, so we bought the Strawberry Tart and Cheesecake instead, which were delicious, so we had high expectations. Yay, they had it, the last two Crème Brûlées! After ordering, the pastry chef sprinkled sugar and caramelized the surface to make it crispy. - Crème Brûlée: There are no cake shops nearby that sell Crème Brûlée, so I ended up eating about four bites. I should have savored it a bit more... It was delicious, of course. - Strawberry Tart: I bought it again because it was delicious last time. I highly recommend this! The large strawberries that are not sold in supermarkets are delicious! Sweet custard, a tart with a restrained sweetness... The balance of acidity, sweetness, and saltiness is exquisite. I want you to take a big bite. They also have visually stunning cream puffs and other cakes, making it a cake shop that suits my taste."