I got some pastries to go from Patisserie Yamakawa in Iseta, Uji City, Kyoto Prefecture. The cookies had a subtle buttery aroma and a delicate sweetness. I also tried the fruit pastry, which had a hint of rum flavor and was moist and delicious. It's great to be able to enjoy the legendary flavors created by the same person who launched Antenor and Marbland. I hope to try their fresh cakes again someday.

Before 2 o'clock on Saturday. Located at the intersection of Namiki Main Street and the road to Kugayama Pool. When it comes to Yamakawa-san, there is now a cake shop called Yuuji in front of Uji Station, but it used to be Yamakawa-san's shop here. When you look into his background, he is an amazing person who founded Maalbranche in Kitayama and Antenor in Kobe. Thank you for opening a shop in Uji City. When I entered the shop, the owner was there, but he quickly retreated to the back, and the lady was in charge of the customer service from start to finish. This time, I chose three types to take home. I tried the Chocola Fig and Amande Chocola, both of which had a gentle, fluffy taste. However, they were also truly strong baked sweets that follow the traditional path of Western confectionery. Looking back at the images taken, the Matcha Chocola and Gateau Chocola also looked good, and I want to go back to buy more.

Kobe Antenor's first pastry chef, who also helped launch Kyoto Kitayama Marublanche, is an amazing figure. He is now over 70 years old and quietly sells baked goods in a residential area in Uji. I made a reservation to try his whole cakes, and finally placed an order by phone. You can choose between a "White Cake" and a "Chocolate Cake," and I chose the White Cake. It was a 15-size cake for 3,300 yen. When I went to pick it up on the day, they were worried that it might collapse because I arrived too early. The cake had a chocolate plate on top with the words "Patissier Yamakawa." I had asked them to write the name of the shop when I made the reservation, even though it wasn't anyone's birthday. The decoration of the whipped cream was so beautiful... and upon closer inspection, I noticed that even the chocolate plate was drawn with whipped cream. Now, it's time to eat! Finally, the day to try the legendary cake has come! I took a bite... the sponge is completely different! It's so moist and delicious! The whipped cream is fluffy and smooth, with just the right amount of sweetness that enhances the strawberry flavor. And it has a refreshing scent that is quite strong. Orange peel? Where is that coming from? There's a hint of it on top of the strawberries, but I can also sense it elsewhere! Ah! It must be mixed into the cream between the sponge layers. The cream on top and the cream between the sponge layers are different. How delicious... eating them together is just amazing. I want to be this legendary chef's grandchild! Oh, how I've always wanted to try the legendary chef's cake. Enjoyed it with a longtime friend who is leaving Uji, at the home of our mutual friend. It's sad, but I'm glad we got to eat together one last time.

Happy New Year! Thank you for your continued support this year! I hope that this year will be a better one for everyone. This is my first review of 2022, based on a visit in November 2021. I came across a shop called Pâtissier Yamakawa on Google Maps and decided to look it up on Tabelog. With only four reviews, I was surprised to find out that the owner, Chef Yamakawa, was the former head chef of Antenor and Marbranche. I was intrigued by the idea of such a renowned pastry chef having a shop in a quiet residential area in Uji. When I arrived at the shop, I was greeted by a friendly staff member who I assume was Chef Yamakawa's wife. I purchased several items including their famous Matcha Friand, Apricot Gateau, Hojicha Friand, and Almond Chocolate. The Matcha Friand was particularly impressive with its delicate matcha flavor and moist texture. I also learned from the staff that they take great care to protect their products from UV rays to preserve the vibrant green color of the matcha. Overall, I was very impressed with the quality and attention to detail at Pâtissier Yamakawa.

During the day, the couple went shopping in Uji City, aiming for a popular outlet store. It took 57 minutes by local roads. They found a few good deals and were somewhat satisfied. Since they had come all the way to Uji City, they didn't want to just go back home. They decided to visit a legendary pastry shop run by renowned patissier Yoshinobu Yamakawa, who also started Kobe Antenor and Kyoto Kitayama Marublanche. The shop mainly offers baked goods like Friand. They also sell birthday cakes by reservation. They arrived before 1 pm and there were no other customers. Some popular items were already sold out, so they bought two each of the Rich Gateau Chocolat, Amande Chocolat, and Chocola Fig Friands, as well as Leaf Pie and Sabre Onoa. The pastries had a delicate melt-in-your-mouth texture and a delightful aroma. The flavors were so refined and delicious, especially considering the reasonable price of 240 yen. It seems like it's best to visit early for popular items like Matcha Friand and Hojicha Friand. Uji City has many other famous dessert shops to explore. Delicious and enjoyable!

Visited for the first time and this is my third visit now, after a month. This shop was opened by the first pastry chef of Antenor. They opened at 11 am and I was the second customer. Some items were already sold out by the time I arrived (sorry to the next person). My main target this time was the peach jelly for 350 yen. The transparent, beautiful packaging made of Japanese paper looks like peach jelly from the world of the gods. The expiration date is until October, so it lasts quite long. Let's try it. It's delicious. It was so delicious that I felt overwhelmed after just one bite... The sweet and gentle peach juice spreads throughout the mouth. Did they pick these peaches from heaven? Moreover, a different peach sweetness reaches the taste buds a moment later. Just like the last time with the chocolate cake, the taste changes after putting it in your mouth... It's amazing. And the peach-flavored jelly that envelops that peach is even more gentle. It's so delicious that you can only eat it slowly... I get immersed in awe with each bite... Truly a legend... Amazing. It lasts long, so I decided to buy a large quantity and eat it until autumn. On that day, I took a photo with the legendary pastry chef. Overwhelmed with emotions.

I heard that the first-generation pastry chef of the famous department store's basement, Antinor, opened a shop, so I went to visit! It's Chef Yamakawa♪ He also helped out with the opening of the Kyoto Marublanche in Kitayama! He's a legendary pastry chef! It's about a 10-minute walk from Kintetsu Iseda Station. Inside, there are about 10 types of baked goods lined up. I talked to the pastry chef's wife. The pastry chef is 73 years old! After retiring from the company, he opened a shop in Ujibashi Shotengai to make his favorite sweets. Although that shop closed and he retired, he felt down and lacked energy, so he was encouraged by those around him to open his current shop. Making sweets really makes him happy. I passed by the pastry chef, and he exuded a dignified artisan presence, almost like Takakura Ken. Even now, you can reserve whole cakes if you want. There are two sizes: 10 servings (for 4 adults) and 18 servings. Reservations fill up quickly, so it's recommended to book early. When I mentioned that I had heard the cakes at Ujibashi Shotengai were delicious, the wife said, "The best was during the Antinor era. It was several levels above the shop in Ujibashi. It was wonderful! Being in your 30s is amazing!" She seemed happy as she spoke. When I told her I was in my 30s, she said, "It goes by in the blink of an eye, so live life to the fullest. Both he and I have had a good life. Truly a happy life." I want to live in a way that I can say the same when I turn 70. Just from this conversation, my heart was full, but when I got home, I savored each item. ◯ Gâteau Apricot Airy: A single bite changes the air in your mouth! Sweet and elegant, not overly refined. Loved by both children and the elderly. The apricot scent is light, and there are fruit chunks inside. ◯ Hojicha Briand: Initially, it tastes like light hojicha, but as you eat, the hojicha flavor intensifies! The faint bitterness of hojicha makes you want to enjoy it with Japanese tea. ◯ Matcha Friand: The matcha flavor is intense! It feels like you're eating pure matcha! Moist and delicious, as expected from a shop in Uji. ◯ Almond Chocolat: The chocolate is milk chocolate, so the chocolate flavor is very subtle. The crispy almond powder on the outside is like white sugar. Despite containing chocolate, the taste is so gentle. ◯ Gâteau Chocolat: The outer layer is fluffy, but inside, there's a rich cocoa bitterness in the chocolate flavor. Although it looks uniform, the taste changes from the inside. It's amazing. Truly a legend. Enjoy each piece and feel lost in a world of flavors after finishing. It's like seeing Machu Picchu... This is the perfect gift for adults. The Gâteau Chocolat is so amazing that I ended up going back three times in a row.

In the past, there was a shop called Yamakawa on a corner of the Ujihashi Street shopping district. It was a renowned shop that closed down, but it has finally reopened in the same location after a few years. I was able to visit at last. I purchased baked sweets such as Matcha Franche Chocolat Fig from their signboard. I thoroughly enjoyed the matured skills of the shop.

I always go to buy sandwiches. Delicious.

Nankai Iseda Station, go south and cross the signal, then head west for a while into a residential area where you will find a shop. There is parking space for 3 cars next to the shop. When you park and walk towards the entrance, it feels more like visiting a lovely home than a store. Inside, there are white walls, a white wooden counter, and a clean setup. The counter displays several types of baked goods. It is a take-out only shop, no seating available. It is likely run by the wife who handles customer service and the husband, Mr. Yamakawa, who is a pastry chef. Here are the items I ordered: - Matcha financier for 240 yen: Rich matcha flavor and buttery taste, very elegant. - Chocolat fig for 240 yen: Intensely flavorful chocolate with a topping of semi-dried fig. - Gateau apricot for 240 yen: A butter cake topped with semi-dried apricot for a unique texture. - Amande chocolat for 240 yen: A chocolate cake with almond powder, a great combination of flavors. - Hojicha financier for 240 yen: Enjoy the fragrant roasted green tea flavor. - Sable au amande for 80 yen: A crispy almond cookie. - Sable au noix for 80 yen: Another crispy cookie to enjoy. Mr. Yamakawa has worked as a pastry chef at various prestigious places, and it's no wonder the baked goods are all delicious. Lastly, the wife mentioned that it has been a busy year since they opened on May 18, 2017. I look forward to visiting again, and I wonder why they don't make fresh confectionery... I would love to try that. However, they do accept reservations for birthday cakes. Thank you for the wonderful treats.