Vegetarian's Japan Guide

Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji and the Totoro Puff

If you are a Ghibli fan and plan to visit Tokyo, stop by Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji (白髭のシュークリーム工房 吉祥寺店) for the Totoro Cream Puff (トトロのシュークリーム). Not only does it have a really cute appearance, but the puff tastes amazing, too! The shop is decorated with many Ghibli decorations. It is a space dedicated to all Ghibli fans. It is the only shop in the world that has signed a contract with Ghibli to use the characters to create its desserts!

About Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji

You might not think much about a Totoro-shaped puff, but apparently, it isn’t easy to make. It took the pastry chef three years to get Totoro’s ears right. After that, it took another two years to turn it into a sellable product and get Ghibli’s permission to sell!

As making the puff into a Totoro shape is hard, the number of Totoro Cream Puffs is limited and sold out fast. All products in the shop are made using raw ingredients without food addictiveness. Thus, they aren’t only delicious but healthier for us, too!

Custard and chocolate flavors are available all year around. Seasonal flavors, such as chestnut and mango are also available. Each flavor has a different decoration on Totoro’s head.

Apart from the Totoro Cream Puff, other desserts are also inspired by the film’s characters, such as Ponyo’s jelly.

Tip: You can call to reserve their products. If you don’t want to call, arrive slightly before the store’s opening time to ensure that nothing is sold out before your arrival.

Our Visit to Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji

We visited Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji on a rainy day after having lunch at Hattifnatt. It was already past 2 pm when we got there, so only a few Totoro puffs were in the display fridge. Although the limited edition Strawberry Cream Totoro Puff was already sold out, at least the Custard Cream, Chocolate Cream, and Matcha Cream Totoro Puff were still there!

We settled on the custard cream and matcha cream Totoro puff. Both tasted incredible, with cream overflowing as we bit into the pastry.

The shop owner resembled Ghibli Studio’s founder, Miuyazaki Hayao. His white hair, white beard, and black glasses made us think they were related!

Before packing the Totoro Puff into a paper box, he reminded us that the Totoro that wore a green leaf was the Custard Cream Puff. Most people would intuitively think the one with a green leaf is the matcha-flavored puff. This confusing situation is because when the matcha-flavored puff was made available, the green leaf was already given to the custard cream puff that was first introduced to the market.

We were also given two Totoro stickers!

The guy treasures the Totoro Puff. Wanting to be more eco-friendly, we didn’t want to pay for another plastic bag. But when he realized that we were going to put the pastry box into a bigger bag that already had other food in it, he insisted on packing the pastry box for us. He didn’t want the puff crushed or the box drenched from the rain.

Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji’s Business Hours and Access Information

  • Shirohige’s Cream Puff Factory Kichijōji is open from 11 am to 5 pm or until sold out from Wednesday to Monday.
    • If Tuesday is a public holiday, it will close on the next business day.
  • The shop is a 5-minute walk from Kichijoji Station’s south/park exit.

Other Must-Visit & Unique Cafés in Kichijōji

Click the photo for the unique cafes in Kichijōji!

While Kichijōji is in Tokyo, it has a different vibe. Hidden in the urban jungle are many unique cafés and dessert places that we highly recommend. Stop by any of the spots mentioned in the article and take a rest from your exploration of the area. We are sure you will be pleasantly surprised by the food and dining experience that any of them provides!

For more information, refer to our article on The Best Guide to the Must-Visit & Unique Cafés in Kichijōji

Discover the Attractions in Kichijōji

Now that you know where to find the Totoro cream puff, it is time to discover the attractions in Kichijōji. The neighborhood rated “The Most Desirable Area to Live in Tokyo” is also great for almost everything else. It is also where the famous Ghibli Museum is located!

So for more ideas of what to do in the area, refer to our Kichijōji article!

Inokashira-Park-Cherry-Blossom-and-Swan-Boats-Kichijoji-Tokyo-Japan
Click the photo for the attractions to visit in Kichijōji!

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