Shirohige's Cream Puff Factory

I absolutely LOVED this cafe and it exceeded my expectations in the best possible way. When you step inside, there is a small takeaway shop on your left and when you go upstairs, you will find the cafe where you can sit and have a coffee and Totoro cream puff (amongst other baked goods). We got seated right away at the most charming table overlooking the entryway staircase and service was prompt and excellent throughout our visit. The cream puffs themselves were so delicious!! Sometimes with themed foods, it can be underwhelming when you actually try it. At this cafe however, you can tell the bakers take pride in crafting their pastries. We had a custard cream puff and a blueberry one with a coffee and both were divine (see pics of disassembled totoros for reference lol). It is such a happy, uplifting place to visit and it was also nice to see how happy these cute totoros made everyone, from young to old. I dream of returning here one day.

This place was so cute! I loved all of the little decorations on the shelves and adorable framed posters on the walls. It’s a small shop but there isn’t really much need for a lot of space anyway, so it’s not a big issue. The cream puffs are so cute that I almost didn’t want to eat mine at first, but when I finally took a bite I couldn’t stop because it was so delicious. I highly recommend going here if you are a Studio Gibli fan, or even if you aren’t and just happen to be in the area. Either way, you won’t regret it!

Stepping into Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory in Setagaya City feels like wandering straight into a Studio Ghibli film! As someone looking for an interesting and different lunch spot, this place delivered pure magic. The Totoro cream puffs are every bit as adorable as they look in the pictures, almost too cute to eat. I had the Custard flavor (just like the one pictured!) and it was not only incredibly charming but also deliciously light and creamy. The entire cafe upstairs exudes a whimsical Ghibli charm, making it a truly unique and delightful place to enjoy a sweet and savory lunch. A must-visit for Ghibli fans and anyone seeking a truly special experience! Please note, arrive early if you want as table as there can be a queue to enter. There's no queue for takeaways though.

Sweet place in a BEAUTIFUL and quiet neighbourhood. There was a wait for the dine-in cafe, so I purchased two buddies to go. The bachan behind the counter was super sweet, helpful, and had a wonderful smile. I had the Raspberry & Cream Cheese Totoro and the Custard Cream Totoro. Both were fantastic. The pastry was a good crunch and not sweet, which balanced the much sweeter insides well. The raspberry one had a strong cheesecake flavuor, which I like, but some may not. The custard was fantastic. I would recommend for a sweet solo or couples date, friends meet up, and a treat to spoil oneself.

A place catering to fans of Ghibli films, Shiro-Hige's Cream Puff Factory provides cute, photo worthy delicacies but with standard tasting profiles. If you aren't fans of Totoro or anything Ghibli, then it's best to skip this one. But if you are fans, I'd recommend just getting take out and going through the omiyage they have for sell because the food options and dining area isn't anything special. I arrived 30 minutes before opening and ended up second in line. By opening time the line had grown to over capacity and not everyone would be seated. There is only seating for around 20 people. I ordered one of each flavor of Totoro Cream Puff and a cappuccino. The flavors at the time (they are seasonal) were custard, blueberry, mango, and chocolate. The problem with these puffs is that they aren't made fresh. Which is understandable considering how they are decorated but they certainly taste like they've been in storage for awhile. It has that "refrigerator" character and aftertaste to it. But as far as the fillings go, I'd say the blueberry and mango are better tasting than the custard and chocolate. The clarity of the fruit flavor was very strong and you get bits of pulp as well. It is also slightly sweeter than the custard and chocolate ones. The custard one I'd say is pretty standard issue with it being slightly sweeter than the average cream puff in Japan. Now the chocolate one was the least sweet and the most average/standard issue one out of all of them. I'd skip this one even if you are a chocolate lover. There was no distinct or unique chocolate flavors coming out of this. Just double up on another flavor if you are considering multiple puffs. The cappuccino is below average here. It was slightly bitter with no natural sweetness and was overloaded with milk. I do not recommend getting one. The dining area is nothing special either. It's small/cozy but it is not themed or anything like that. The regular food options for breakfast was also limited to two other things, neither one I wanted to try. Shiro-Hige’s Cream Puff Factory should only be a visit for Ghibli fans. And for fans, it is recommended to just get take-out. There is also a selection of omiyage that you only get to see if you are ordering take-out. Dining in is not really worth it here. For anyone else looking for good coffee or pastries, there are many other places to choose from in Tokyo.