My favorite part of living in Tokyo is definitely the gorgeous cakes. I had some time to spare before my dentist appointment and wandered into a patisserie by the name of ASTERISQUE. This elegant cake shop is a short 3-minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara station. It was mid-summer and the sun was beating down on me.
I stepped into the store and it felt good to be welcomed by the friendly staff and the air conditioning. The display case was full of gorgeous little cakes that are like little art pieces for consumption. It was hard to choose from the variety of cakes, but I finally settled on one called “Hanabi”, which means firework in Japanese. This cake had a lovely yuzu flavor with the main being vanilla and whipped cream. I’m assuming this cake is seasonal and only served in the summer, judging by the name, as fireworks are a big deal in Japan during this hot season.
I sat down at one of the three café tables. Each table has two chairs and the other tables were already taken by the time I was seated so it’s good to come with just one friend or a small group. This place is quite popular as I saw many people come and go as they purchased cakes to bring home. There is also a retail section selling pre-packaged items such as gifts and chocolate bars with chic packaging. My cake was 580 yen and together with an iced coffee, the total was just under 2,000 yen. The “Hanabi” cake had the right amount of yuzu flavor, with fresh whipped cream and a crunchy wafer-like disc at the bottom. By the time I left, there were no more “Hanabi” cakes left, but they were replaced with another equally enticing flavor. If you are in the area and want to satisfy that sweet tooth, don’t settle for an ordinary sweet treat from a chain coffee shop. Go out of your way just a little and enjoy tea time.
