Takaido, near Kichijoji, is far from where I live and is a quiet residential area with not much going on, so it is not somewhere you would go out of your way for, but I heard a rumor about a workshop selling Totoro cream puffs and made time to visit on the weekend.
Shirohige’s Cream Puff Shop
I made a reservation and showed up a little late. The place has a cozy, charming atmosphere. I heard it is run by the younger sister of director Hayao Miyazaki, which is why it is the only place in the world allowed to sell Ghibli character products.
Three Totoros
They are even cuter in person. Worth the long trip out here.
Cookies
While I was there I picked up some cookies too, and they are pretty good. The cuteness of the characters is something other dessert shops would have a hard time imitating.
Set up at home
It felt like such a shame to eat them, but I could not just throw them away either, so I set them up and dug in right away.
Strawberry cross-section
Cutting into the cute Totoro was not easy T.T Anyway, I cut it neatly and ate it. The outside tastes more like a Danish than the fluffy shell of a regular cream puff. The cream inside was a nice mix of fresh strawberry tartness and mellow sweetness, very satisfying.
Chocolate cross-section
Each flavor has its own distinct character. Good thing I bought one of each.
Custard cross-section
The custard suited my taste best. I did enjoy some delicious cream puffs, but with the long distance and how mentally painful it is to cut a Totoro in half, I doubt I will be going back. (I should have just eaten it without using a knife..)