Kyo Baum and Tsubuan Iri Nama Yatsuhashi Otabe are very popular at Fa-So-La AKIHABARA duty-free shops in Narita Airport.In this article, we would like to introduce the “house of confectionery” of these two products in Kyoto.

atelier Kyo Baum Opened in November 2023, and having one of the largest confectionery museums in Kyoto, atelier Kyo Baum is a shopping/dining facility where you can taste, learn, and experience.

It has been attracting visitors as a “house of confectionery delivering tastiness and bringing happiness.” There you can enjoy Kyo Baum in various ways as not only does it let you observe the production process, but it also has a café/restaurant as well as a shop with a wide range of products available only at this location. As you walk through the curtain with a Kyo Baum-inspired illustration, you’ll be welcomed by a symbolic Japanese horse chestnut tree.

The Japanese-style entrance with an elegant and quintessentially Kyoto look

The first thing you see as you enter is a Japanese horse chestnut tree standing over eight meter tall. It symbolizes the company’s unwavering philosophy that never changes with the times.

First floor: A shop and a brand experience area On the spacious first floor, the structural elements and fixtures such as ceiling, walls, and displays feature circular shapes that resemble Baumkuchen. A wide variety of products, including ones with atelier Kyo Baum’s exclusive packaging and ones available only at this location, are sold here, and just looking at them is fun. Moreover, at Tamago No Okashiya (meaning “egg confectionery shop”), you can purchase super delicious Baumkuchen, cream puffs, and other products that are made with 100% domestically produced chicken eggs called Sakura Tamago.

The interior that lets you immerse yourself in the world of Kyo Baum

As you go further into the back, there is a tiny cooking area where you can enjoy a whole mini matcha Baumkuchen baking experience. Reservation is required for the experience, but you may be able to participate anyway if the reservations are not fully booked on the day. Don’t forget to try it because baking Baumkuchen is not something you get to do often! (Fee: ¥5,000 including tax) Book your experience here! https://kyobaum.com/atelier/reserve/

Kazu of course joined in on the fun. You need some technique to bake it nicely.

Second floor: Factory observation and a library area On the second floor, you can learn how Kyo Baum is made. Not only does it have an exhibit, which concisely describes the production process, but it also lets you observe the production process for yourself.

You can see how the Baumkuchen is made one by one by the experienced staff.

The view of the neatly-lined Baumkuchen in the aging room is truly impressive!

Third floor: A café/restaurant On the third floor, which you can access through a stylish staircase, you can enjoy a variety of sweets and limited seasonal menu items featuring Kyo Baum. Enjoy a relaxing time in the sophisticated space.

The wooden interior gives the café a relaxing atmosphere that provides a sense of warmth.

Savor the exquisite tastes that you can enjoy only here.

Otabe Flagship Shop Otabe is one of the famous classic sweets of Kyoto that is characterized by sweet red bean paste wrapped in fragrant, no-bake yatsuhashi (rice cake sheet). Otabe Flagship Shop, where you can gain a deep understanding of Otabe, is located right next to atelier Kyo Baum. Let’s go dive into the world of Otabe, a classic taste of Kyoto!

Otabe Flagship Shop has a factory inside. In addition to the popular Otabe, it also carries other products including seasonal baked confections that are available only here.

On the second floor, you can observe the production process and participate in the Otabe making experience (reservation required). You get to see how no-bake yatsuhashi are shaped into triangles, individually packaged, and packed into boxes. You will never get tired of watching the accurate and nimble movements of the robots! It is really amazing to see the ingenuity and technology of the manufacturing world.

Although the production process has been mechanized, experienced staff inspect the products scrupulously to ensure quality.

At the Otabe making experience space, you can choose from two experience options: Otegaru Otabe Taiken (casual Otabe making experience) that can be enjoyed even by small kids, and Otabe Taiken Dojo (Otabe experience dojo) for a full experience beginning from dough making. If you are interested in Japanese confection making, why not make a reservation and try your hand at the Kyoto confection making experience? https://airrsv.net/otabe-honkan-taiken/calendar

The two facilities are both free to enter (certain experiences require a fee). You do not need to make a reservation to observe the factories. Highly recommended for fans of Japanese confectionery.

■DATA atelier Kyobaum Address: 1 Nishi-Kujo Takabatake-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, 10 minutes walk from Jujo Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line Opening hours: [1st floor shop] 10:00-18:00 [2nd Floor Library / Factory Tour] 10:00-18:00 [3rd Floor Cafe & Restaurant ] Weekdays 11:00-18:00 (Last order at 17:30) Weekends and holidays 10:00-18:00 (Last order at 17:30) Open 365days Official website: https://kyobaum.com/atelier/ Otabe Honkan Address: 35-2, Nishi-Kujo Takabatake-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, 10 minutes walk from Jujo Station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line Opening hours: 10:00 - 18:00 Open 365days Kyoto famous confectionery “Otabe” brand official website: https://www.otabe.kyoto.jp/ (Information as of January 2025)

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