Totoro Cream Puffs

Fans of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki’s works who visit Tokyo often mistakenly think that the Ghibli Museum is the only Ghibli-related attraction in the area (well, at least until the proposed Studio Ghibli theme park opens in 2022).

They’re wrong. Tucked away near Setagaya-Daita station is Shiro-hige’s Cream Puff Factory – a whimsical bakery/coffee shop that makes Totoro cream puffs. The shop itself sports a variety of Ghibli-themed decor and sells both Totoro-themes cookies and cream puffs. The cream puffs come in a variety of flavors, from custard to strawberry to matcha, although the flavors available vary depending on the month and more popular flavors often sell out by midday, especially on weekends.

With a vaguely Ghibli-esque style and being slightly off the beaten track, Shiro-hige’s is a great place to take a load off and enjoy the surroundings while slowly biting off Totoro’s head and enjoying its sweet, gooey insides.