Hirosaki, Aomori, Tsugaru (Aomori)
Local Guide
Must-Try! Must-Buy! 4 Recommended Sweets from Aomori and Hirosaki

Hirosaki City is home to numerous Western-style and traditional Japanese confectionery shops, and sweets are deeply ingrained in the daily lives of its residents.
We’ll introduce four recommended shops—from stylish cake shops with dine-in options to baked goods and traditional Japanese sweets perfect for souvenirs—that will satisfy even the most discerning local palates.

The “Escalgo Choux”—a Sweet Treat That Brings Happiness

Escalgo Choux
Escalgo Choux

Located in a residential area, "Dessert Shop" is a house with impressive white walls and red doors. Red is also used effectively in the interior, creating a bright and cute atmosphere.
The signature product is the "Eskarugo Puff," which sells more than 300 units a day on weekends. The puff pastry dough is slightly hard to prevent the snail-shell-shaped swirls from collapsing. The inside is filled with rich custard cream and whipped cream, and the sweet aroma of the thick cream and vanilla beans fills the mouth. Freshly baked items are lined up right after the store opens, so why not taste the crispy dough at the eat-in counter?

Local Guide
Supporters

The "Esukarugo Puff" is a perfect combination of custard cream and crispy puff pastry! It makes a great souvenir.

Cakes that make you smile

Inside the store with a homey atmosphere.
Inside the store with a homey atmosphere.

In the open kitchen behind the display case, cakes and baked goods are made fresh every day. Processes such as filling with cream and cutting the cake layers are all done by hand—without the use of machines—so you can always enjoy cakes that are fresh out of the oven.The cakes feature plenty of fruit and have a light texture; they’re known for being so light that even women can enjoy two or three pieces. Among them, the crepe-based cakes are particularly noteworthy. We recommend the mille-crêpe—layers of crepe, whipped cream, and strawberries—and the mille-crêpe fruité, which wraps kiwi, banana, strawberries, and cream in a pouch-like shape.

Dessert Shop
  • Address 3-17-1 Miyagawa, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 7 min. drive from JR Hirosaki Stn.
  • Business hours 11:00-18:00
  • Closed Monday
  • TEL 0172-37-0188
  • Parking Free of charge

A lineup of beautiful cakes that look like jewels

In the foreground: Opera Tsugaru, Vert et Rouge, and Café Latte
In the foreground: Opera Tsugaru, Vert et Rouge, and Café Latte

The chic monotone interior has the feel of a stylish jewelry store. The sophisticated space accentuates the colorful cakes that line the showcase. In addition to the regular cakes, new items using seasonal ingredients are released every month, so you can enjoy a different flavor every time you visit. Along with the store's signature apple pie, the Opera Tsugaru, with its impressive Tsugaru lacquer pattern, is also popular. It is richly layered with milk chocolate ganache, butter cream, sponge, and savory nuts.
On the second floor, there is a café space with a red and black color scheme, and the latte art created by a barista is also well known.

Many sweets made in collaboration with local flavors

In the foreground is “Tsugaru Kaka-O,” and in the background is “Tsugaru Kanesami Pie”
In the foreground is “Tsugaru Kaka-O,” and in the background is “Tsugaru Kanesami Pie”

Like the Opera Tsugaru, the Tsugaru Kakao chocolates are decorated with Tsugaru lacquerware patterns, making them ideal as souvenirs. The secret of its popularity is not only the impact it makes when you open the package, but also the taste of its light, mouth-watering cookie coated with milk chocolate, which is loved by everyone. Also, "Tsugaru Kaneasa Miso Pie," a collaboration with Aomori City miso maker Kaneasa, is a pie baked with miso-flavored syrup on the dough, featuring a crispy dough and a subtle sweetness reminiscent of caramel. Another must-try item is the cake soaked in Aomori's famous sake, "Tasake.

Local Guide
Supporters

The appearance of "Tsugaru Kagaeru" looks like Tsugaru lacquer ware itself. The milk chocolate is not too sweet and goes well with the cookies inside.

GRAND MERCI
  • Address 1-3-16 Noda, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori-ken MAP
  • Direction 5 min. drive from JR Hirosaki Stn.
  • Bus Direction 12 min. ride on the Konan Bus bound for Miyazono 5-chome Kenrei Jutaku-mae (Miyazono Danchi Line), a short walk from the Noda 1-chome stop.
  • Business Hours 9:30 AM–6:00 PM
  • Closed Days Tuesdays, the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month
  • TEL 0172-35-9894
  • Parking Free of charge

Satisfying cakes with moderate sweetness

Caramel Chocolate and “Archaic,” made with mascarpone cheese
Caramel Chocolate and “Archaic,” made with mascarpone cheese

Located in Waseda, Hirosaki City, "Patisserie Fool" is a confectionery store with a colorful array of cakes. There is also a café space, and if you choose to eat in, you can have the cakes served with berries on a plate.
Although the cakes are all large in size, they do not feel heavy because they are not too sweet and are made with fresh cream that is light on the palate.
All cakes and baked goods are made daily in the store's kitchen. Cute cakes in the shape of panda and bear faces are also available, which are recommended for families.

A wide variety of reasonably priced baked goods

Rusk Baum, Macarons
Rusk Baum, Macarons

In addition to fresh cakes, there is a wide selection of baked goods. There are 12 kinds of macarons, including pistachio, orange, and blackcurrant. Not only are they colorful enough to make you want to buy them in all colors, but their moist texture and fruity flavor are addictive. The baumkuchen, carefully baked in the store's kitchen, is a long seller. Don't miss the "Rusk Baum," a rusk made by slicing the baumkuchen into round slices and topping them with chocolate, nuts, dried fruits, and other ingredients. The crispy rusks go well with the rich chocolate.

Local Guide
Supporters

The "Waseda Apple Pie" is filled with apples and is very satisfying. The cute character decorations are recommended for small children's birthdays.

PÂTISSERIE FOUR
  • Address 2-8-2 Waseda, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori-ken MAP
  • Direction 7 min. drive from Hirosaki Station
  • Bus Direction From Hirosaki Bus Terminal, take Konan Bus 100-yen bus "Joto Kanjou for Wadokuri", about 22 minutes, get off at "Kita Waseda" bus stop, walk shortly.
  • Hours of Operation 9:00-20:00
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0172-29-4578
  • Parking Free of charge

One of the best places for Japanese sweets lovers

From right: Yocchi’s Cheek, Karinto Black Manju, Fukkurī
From right: Yocchi’s Cheek, Karinto Black Manju, Fukkurī

A good place to stop by during a drive is Sweets Garden Hiroya, located along the bypass.
The store's top-selling product is the "Karint Kuro Manju" (black manju). The manju is made with Okinawan brown sugar and deep-fried, so the surface is crispy like a karinto, but inside is moist red bean paste, and is sold frozen to preserve its unique texture. Also, Yotchi no Hoppe is a fluffy steamed sponge cake filled with sweet potato red bean paste. Fukuguri," filled with large chestnuts and milk red bean paste, is perfect with coffee or tea as well as Japanese tea.

Local Guide
Supporters

The "Carinto-Kuro-manju" has an exquisite texture! You will want to eat another one as soon as you try it.

A sweet hall of fame with more than 100 kinds of sweets

A full lineup of sweets perfect for souvenirs
A full lineup of sweets perfect for souvenirs

There are four Hiroya confectionery stores in Hirosaki City. Since the store originally started out as a Japanese confectionery, some stores sell only Japanese confectioneries, but "Sweets Garden Hiroya" also sells Western confectioneries, cakes, and breads, so you can browse and compare all kinds of sweets, regardless of genre, and find something you like, Soft ice cream and coffee are also available.

sweets garden hiroya (hiroya horikoshi store of sweets)
  • Address 5-1 Asada, Kawai, Hirosaki-shi, Aomori MAP
  • Direction Approx. 10 min. by car from JR Hirosaki Stn.
  • Business Hours 9:30 AM–7:00 PM　
  • Closed No holidays
  • TEL 0172-55-8611
  • Parking Free of charge

MAP

Hoshino Resorts facilities nearby
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