Local Guide
Delicious sweets stores around Yatsugatake, Kobuchizawa, and Hakushu

Yatsugatake is famous for its fresh milk and dairy products.
The surrounding area is one of Japan's leading fruit-growing areas and famous water villages.
Here are some recommended stores in and around Yatsugatake, a treasure trove of delicious sweets stores.

Even if you have to wait in line, you must try the peach parfait, the farm's specialty!

Winter-only peach and strawberry flower parfait 1,500 yen
Winter-only peach and strawberry flower parfait 1,500 yen

This café is directly managed by Nakanishi Farm, a peach farm that has been in operation for generations in Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki-shi, the largest peach-growing area in Japan. In summer, many people from all over Japan visit the cafe for parfaits and smoothies made with fresh peaches picked in the morning. Because peeling the skin causes the peaches to bruise faster, only peaches picked that day are used, and the peels are peeled only after receiving orders. Only a farm-direct operation can offer fresh peaches that are sweet and ripe, yet still have a nice firmness to them.
Yellow peach parfait and grape parfait are available from September, and parfait with peach compote and jellied peaches from October. You can also check the recommendations for the season on the website.

Local Guide Comment
You can taste the fresh crunch, flavor, and sweetness of freshly picked peaches.
Peach Cafe Nakanishi
  • Address 544-1 Sueki, Ichinomiya-cho, Fuefuki-shi, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. by car from JR Ishiwa Hot Spring Station
  • Business hours 10:00-17:30 (L.O.17:00) *Open from 11:00 in winter
  • Closed Closed for farm work in May and June, closed irregularly in July, August, and September, closed Tuesdays through Thursdays from October to April (open on different days depending on peach production that year).
    Temporarily closed from February 1 to March 14, 2019.
  • TEL 0553-47-1948
  • Parking Free of charge

Shiny fruit tarts that keep repeat customers coming back!

Fig Figaro (626 yen), Cheyenne Muscat Tart (702 yen), etc.
Fig Figaro (626 yen), Cheyenne Muscat Tart (702 yen), etc.

You can enjoy tarts made with seasonal fruits: strawberries and kiwi in winter and spring; peaches, melons, and grapefruits in early summer and summer; and figs, grapes, chestnuts, and pears in autumn. The showcase is always filled with about 20 kinds of tarts, but the annual lineup also includes tarts made with locally produced cherries, which are available for a limited time only, and tarts made with "Yuho" grapes, a miracle grape bred by the Shimura Grape Research Institute in Fuefuki-shi (some years it is not sold depending on the grape shipment). (Some years it may not be available depending on the grape shipment. The tarts are all exquisitely balanced with tart dough, cream, and fruit, and it is no wonder there are so many repeat customers.

Local Guide Comment
Just looking at the beautifully arranged fruit tarts will make you happy.
Annie's Cafe
  • Address 435-1 Kami-Imasuwa, Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 10 minutes drive from JR Ryuoh Station
  • Business Hours 11:00-19:00
  • Closed Mondays (open if Monday is a national holiday, closed the next day)
  • TEL 055-284-5232
  • Parking Free of charge

Enjoy local ingredients in a delicious and stylish way

Strawberry tart is 420 yen per cut, rhubarb pie is 300 yen per piece
Strawberry tart is 420 yen per cut, rhubarb pie is 300 yen per piece

A small confectionary store located in a residential area in Fujimi-cho, Suwa-gun, Nagano Prefecture. As the name of the store means "four seasons" in French, it uses seasonal ingredients purchased from local farmers as much as possible to create different cakes, pies, and baked goods for each season. The tart made with Suzuakane strawberries from Fuji is especially popular for its gorgeous appearance and fresh flavor that fills the mouth with sweetness and sourness. The pie made with local rhubarb is an addictive combination of the freshness of the rhubarb jam and the crunchy dough. The marron pie made with Obuse chestnuts simmered in astringent skin, and cookies made with buckwheat flour and buckwheat seeds ground on a millstone from buckwheat grown in Fuji, are also unique to this store.

Local Guide Comment
This confectionery store is adjacent to Soba-nishimura. The shop offers a variety of cakes depending on the season, as it places importance on "encountering the season's best.
Confectionery Workshop Le Cattle Saison
  • Address 3679-18 Fujimi, Fujimi-cho, Suwa-gun, Nagano MAP
  • Direction 4 minutes drive from JR Fujimi Station
  • Business hours 11:00-18:00
  • Closed Sundays and the 1st Monday of the month
  • TEL 0266-78-1708
  • Parking Free of charge

Enjoy bean-to-bar chocolates in a sweet treat

Leftmost
Leftmost "Soft Palais d'Or Rendez-Vous" 480 yen, transparent carbonated drink "Chocolat Nespa? 540 yen, etc.

Artisan Palais d'Or, located in Kiyosato, is the store of Shunsuke Saegusa, one of Japan's leading chocolatiers. The concept is "Bean to Bar," in which he handles the entire process from the selection of cacao beans to the completion of the chocolate. In addition to a wide variety of tablets (chocolate boards) made according to the origin of the cacao beans and their cacao content, the shop sells chocolate sweets and drinks. The shop also sells a wide variety of chocolate sweets and drinks, including cream-colored soft-serve ice cream that tastes like chocolate and "Chocolanespa," a transparent carbonated drink that tastes like chocolate. a transparent carbonated drink that tastes like chocolate, and other strange and fun sweets available only at the Kiyosato store. All of them are fragrant and deep in flavor, and showcase the insatiable passion of chocolate professionals.

Local Guide Comment
From around May, we recommend sitting on the terrace where you can feel the green and wind of Kiyosato. From the terrace, you can watch the chocolate being made in the workshop.
Artisan Palais d'Or
  • Address 3545 Kiyosato Asahigaoka, Takane-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 7 min. drive from JR Kiyosato Station
  • Business hours 10:30-18:30
  • Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
  • TEL 0551-48-5381
  • Parking Free of charge

Fluffy shaved ice made from pure natural ice

Shaved ice with fresh strawberries in syrup: 800 yen
Shaved ice with fresh strawberries in syrup: 800 yen

Kuragen Yatsugatake, which produces natural ice at the southern foot of Yatsugatake, opens a shaved ice store every summer only. Natural ice is made by slowly and carefully freezing spring water outdoors during the harsh winter months at natural temperatures alone, and boasts a high degree of clarity and crystal density. It is therefore hard and difficult to melt, and can be shaved as thin and fluffy as possible. The natural ice melts as if it disappears in the mouth, and is topped with 100% freshly mashed fruit syrups such as melon, mango, strawberry, and peach. For toppings, you can choose condensed milk made from Yatsugatake's milk, yogurt condensed milk, or mascarpone cheese condensed milk, allowing you to create a flavor to your own liking.

Local Guide Comment
The wide selection of handmade syrups makes it hard to decide which one to try. You will want to come back again and again.
Kuragen Yatsuyoshi (Yatsuyoshi) Shaved ice with natural ice Roadside Station Hakushu Eburi Mae Branch
  • Address Roadside Station Hakushu, 1319-1 Shirasu, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. from JR Nagasaka Station by car
  • Business hours 11:00-17:00 (from G.W. to the end of September)
  • Closed Closed Monday-Friday after G.W. through July 13, closed irregularly in September (open every day from G.W. and July 14 through August 31).
  • TEL 080-9689-8388
  • Parking Free of charge

Premium Japanese sweets available only in season and on certain days of the week

Water Shingenmochi
Water Shingenmochi" with tea is 500 yen

Sold only on Saturdays and Sundays from June to September every year, Kinseiken's "Mizu-Shingen Mochi" is a must-try summer confection. The town of Hakushu, where the Daigahara branch of Kinseiken is located, boasts the largest amount of mineral water in Japan. The mizu-shingenmochi is a simple confection made by hardening a small amount of the pure water with agar, and is popular not only for its cool appearance but also for its fresh texture that you can almost hear the sound of its chappu-chappu. Since it begins to return to water after about 30 minutes at room temperature, it is not available for take-out, pick-up, or reservation. Since they are often sold out by mid-morning, early arrival is recommended.

Local Guide Comment
The "mizu-shingenmochi" (water shingen cake), which can only be tasted on the spot, has a delicate texture that makes it melt in your mouth!
Daigahara Kinseiken Daigahara Store
  • Address 2211 Daigahara, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. from JR Nagasaka Station by car
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00
  • Closed Thursdays
  • TEL 0551-35-2246
  • Parking Free of charge

Exquisite cheesecakes perfect as souvenirs

A wide variety of individually wrapped cheesecakes
A wide variety of individually wrapped cheesecakes

Yatsugatake Farmer's Cake, located on Piment Street at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake, is known for its high-quality cheesecakes. Their baked cheesecakes, which spread the rich flavor of cream cheese, come in a wide variety of flavors. They are packaged one by one, making them ideal as souvenirs. The authentic room temperature cheesecakes made with butter are available in two types: a plain type accented with the flavor of lemon and a raspberry chocolate raspberry chocolate with the perfect sweet and sour taste of couverture chocolate and berries, both of which are addictively delicious. You can also eat in, and we recommend the 900 yen cake set or the 900 yen set that allows you to compare six different types of cheesecakes.

Local Guide Comment
The seasonal parfait is also served with cheesecake and is quite hearty!
Yatsugatake Farmer's Cake
  • Address Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Yatsugatake, 129-1 Kobuchizawa-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi MAP
  • Direction 5 min. drive from JR Kobuchizawa Station
  • Direction Free shuttle bus available
  • Business hours 9:00-18:00 (Sat., Sun., national holidays, Jan. 1-3: 18:30)
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0551-36-5298
  • Parking Free of charge
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.