Sweets Top 100 Stores! Just a 2-minute walk from Kitahama Station, there is a building that stands as a "100-year-old tangible cultural property bank site", and that is here, "Gokan Kitahama Main Building". The atmosphere is amazing! The interior is spacious with a high ceiling that you wouldn't imagine from the outside, super spacious! The 1st floor is a shop space, and the 2nd floor is a cafe space. Get a numbered ticket at the ticket machine in front of the stairs to go up to the 2nd floor. I visited on a holiday afternoon, and there was a wait of about 40 minutes for 10 groups! You can read the numbered ticket on your smartphone and check the waiting time, so it's okay to kill time outside! It's a lifesaver! [Food Received] - "Printemps" (April dessert): ¥1,320. This dessert changes monthly and is served from 2:00 pm. You can enjoy a Danbal Elize with plenty of seasonal strawberries. The crispy texture of the langue de chat and the creamy strawberry cream are delicious with a good balance. The caramel on top is crispy as it looks, so you can enjoy the beautiful appearance and texture! Truly enjoy with all five senses. I also had the cherry blossom-scented strawberry milk tea for ¥880 and the hot coffee for ¥770. The tea is a seasonal limited edition, and in April, it was cherry blossoms. Imagine a slightly sweet hot strawberry milk taste! It has a cherry blossom scent... it smells like cherry blossom mochi, I personally love it! The coffee was strong and had a subtle sweetness, with a deep richness. It's a very popular store, so I waited a bit, but I was very satisfied with being able to have a relaxing and delicious tea time in a private room! [Atmosphere Inside the Store] - Relaxing in a private room! - Clean and stylish decorations - Very polite customer service - Enjoy a Western-style and elegant tea time The interior of the store is very nice, and the private room is very relaxing. All the staff members were beautiful women and very polite. The shop has many sweets from "Gokan" that you often see in department stores. The shortcake looked extremely delicious, so I want to try it next time! When there was a long wait with the numbered ticket, I'm sorry to mention another store, but there is also a bakery called "Manpuku Bakery", another top 100 store, about a 5-minute walk away. I bought bread there and spent time there. Please consider this as a reference! Enjoy your meal!

Arrived on Sunday, September 24, 2023 at 10:05 AM. The second-floor cafe had a 20-minute wait, but takeaway orders could be made quickly, according to the staff. Five Senses Cheesecake = 400 yen, Sakura Egg Creme Brulee = 500 yen, Spoon fee = 10 yen, Consumption tax = 73 yen, Total = 983 yen.

I visited the shop just before 5 pm on a regular day, and there were about 20 people inside. Around 10 people were waiting for the cream puffs that go on sale at 5 pm. I bought cream puffs, fig and vanilla chiboust, and Shine Muscat mousse. The cream puffs had a slightly harder crust, but it was a unique taste that I had never experienced before. I understand why there was a line. All of the desserts were not too sweet and had a perfect balance, making them delicious.

The taste of everything was very delicious. The sesame sablé was crispy and had just the right amount of sesame flavor. The mini cake in the front had a substantial weight to it and melted in the mouth when eaten. Everything is simple yet has the highest quality taste, making it outstanding.

The first floor has a shop with high ceilings and a large open atrium. On the second floor, there is a retro cafe with an old Western-style atmosphere. I had a cake set at the cafe. I got to choose a cake from a tray. The seasonal fruits were muscat grapes and figs, and I chose the fig tart with hot coffee. The coffee came in a pot, and the cake was served with yuzu sorbet. The fig tart was moist and rich in sweetness all the way to the bottom.

The impact is outstanding, and of course, the delicious Gokan Kitahama Main Store limited sweets! Gokan Manma. It is a castella cake made with rice flour. It is made with rice flour from Niigata and Kyushu, with a buttery flavor that is very delicious. It is a size that can be shared with a large group, so everyone can enjoy it together. When you open it, you will find a castella cake in its original shape. You can also purchase it online. Of course, they also have a variety of individually wrapped baked goods.

Osaka, Kitahama, 1 minute walk from Kitahama Station [Gokan Kitahama Main Store] Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture, Imabashi 2-1-1 Arai Building. Visit time on Tabelog 3.68. Kitahama Main Store Limited Gokan Cream Puff 249 yen (no reservation, limited quantity). Sales time: Weekdays 17:00~/Holidays 14:00~. A luxurious limited cream puff with cookie choux pastry filled with custard cream made from Sakura eggs from Miki-cho, Kagawa Prefecture, and Tahitian vanilla beans from Indonesia. The crispy and fragrant cookie choux pastry made with Hokkaido butter is also delicious. It was incredibly delicious! It's a shame that it's a limited product only available at Kitahama Main Store and not easily accessible from afar. Thank you for the delicious meal! Check out my Instagram [@zenryoku_ayapan] for more updates! Stories and more are posted daily.

On a leisurely afternoon stroll in Kitahama, I decided to take a break at a cafe. The cafe had a calming atmosphere with its old-fashioned Western-style architecture. There was a reception area at the back of the store, and the staff were attentive. Although there were two groups waiting, I was soon seated. Inside the air-conditioned cafe, I enjoyed a hot coffee and chose a white peach pie to savor the late summer. The coffee was mild with a nice hint of bitterness. The peach pie had a juicy peach flavor that spread in my mouth, complemented perfectly by the pastry and cream's sweetness. It truly is a great cafe.

Located in Kitahama, Osaka, "Gokan Kitahama Honten" is a sweets shop that has been selected as one of the top 100 sweets shops for four consecutive years. They are known for their high-quality Western sweets made with carefully selected ingredients. I recently visited this somewhat intriguing shop that I had heard mixed reviews about. I visited on a weekday afternoon around 3 pm, and the shop was bustling with customers, including some foreign visitors. The shop itself is housed in a historic building that is also a cultural property, adding to its charm. The staff's service was polite and refined, leaving a positive impression. I purchased the "Ripe Mango Pudding" and the "Mizumizukata (Yamakou Budou & Pione)" jelly during this visit. The mango pudding, although a bit pricey, was said to be delicious and sweet. However, when I tried it, I found it to be overly sweet and lacking the natural sweetness of mangoes. It felt a bit artificial, which was disappointing. On the other hand, the grape jelly was extremely sweet and had a strong grape flavor throughout. While some may enjoy this intense flavor, others may find it monotonous. Overall, the sweets were not bad, but they didn't stand out as exceptionally delicious. The shop's unique location within a historic building and cultural property adds to its appeal, and it is highly regarded for this. However, the taste of the sweets seemed to have declined slightly, and I hope they can focus more on enhancing the deliciousness of their sweets. Despite the decrease in my overall rating compared to my previous visit, I still believe that Gokan is a wonderful sweets shop that has the potential to regain its former glory.

I visited a shop with a very appealing appearance that had a spacious interior with a high ceiling. The first floor had a selection of takeout sweets for sale, while the second floor was a cafe space with a few rooms. I was seated in a large room, and although the atmosphere was calm, the sound of chatter from the first floor made it lively enough. I ordered a cake set and ended up getting two cakes because I was hungry. There were about 10 different cakes available, all of which were delicious, but the best one was actually a jelly that I bought as a souvenir. The jelly that they sell is usually more about the filling than the jelly itself, but this one had such delicious jelly that it became the star of the show. If I ever visit again, I might just buy the jelly on its own.

I visited the café around 10 a.m. on a weekday, which is about a 3-minute walk from Kitahama Station. The retro interior of the café was charming, and I opted for a cake set. I chose a cake made with a whole peach and a refreshing drink called Matcha and Lemon Tea Squash, made with 100% Kyoto Prefecture's finest tea. The cake was delightful for peach lovers, and the Matcha and Lemon Tea Squash was perfect for a hot summer day. The total cost was 1,540 yen. Thank you for the delicious meal.

At 1:30 pm, the second group ordered peach jelly for 730 yen and selected black tea for 880 yen (cake set is 100 yen off). The taste, atmosphere, and service are all top-notch at this place. You'll feel like a sophisticated lady ✨ If it's crowded, there's a 90-minute time limit. Luckily, we only had to wait for one group ahead of us, so we went shopping downstairs and were seated right away. They also serve lunch until 2:00 pm.

When I went to Osaka this time, the one thing I absolutely wanted to buy was this delicious treat. The only downside is that it doesn't last long. When you order it, you get a lot and end up eating it all in a hurry (laughs). So, I'll just have to buy as much as I can eat while in Osaka. I saw this treat everywhere, it seems to be a popular favorite.

The building, reminiscent of old bank architecture, had a lovely atmosphere inside the shop. Both the staff and customers were quiet, creating a very calming environment. I had morning tea with cake, and the cake was incredibly delicious. I would like to try the French toast for lunch next time.

I had lunch at the "Gokan Main Store" in Kitahama, Osaka. I lined up before opening because it's always crowded. The croissant had cuts so you could put cheese or ham inside. Everything I tried was delicious. The matcha and lemon tea squash was refreshing and easy to drink in hot weather. They use domestic lemons, so I even ate the lemon peel.

"Shoe Cream with All Five Senses ¥249. Available only at Kitahama Main Store. Sold on weekdays from 5 pm, but if you go before 6 pm, there was only one left. The cream is lightly sweetened and the cream puff is so light that you could easily eat 2 or 3 in one go. I would like to try eating in next time."

It can be difficult to evaluate as there are mixed opinions, but the souvenirs sold at Shin-Osaka are average, with some hits and misses depending on personal taste. It might be better to use them for eating in, but the cakes made with fruits are delicious. I will definitely use them for birthdays.

I tried the Madeline and it was really good, just as it said on the label. It was very fluffy and soft. There was also a seasonal limited edition Madeline with plenty of citrus fruit at the bottom, which was delicious.

Visited before 2pm on a Sunday. The building has a historic atmosphere. The cafe had a wait of 4 groups. We were seated after about 20 minutes. The interior was a bit cold due to the strong air conditioning. I was interested in the monthly dessert, but this time I ordered the cake set. They brought a tray with all the cake varieties and explained them carefully. I ordered the smooth mango pudding. I actually chose it while waiting by looking at the showcase. The mango pudding and coffee were delicious and I was very satisfied. I would like to visit this place again.

Located near Kitahama Station, in Imahashi, is a Western confectionery shop called "Gokan" with the concept of "sweets that resonate with the hearts of Japanese people." The main building of "Gokan" expands its presence in the Osaka area, offering a variety of confectionery items. The space is renovated from a cultural property, and on the second floor, you can enjoy desserts and lunch. The shop opened in May 2005 and has 7 stores affiliated with it, including Kakao Tiogokan and souvenir sales areas in JR and Kansai airports. The location is about 1-2 minutes from exits 2 or 3 of Kitahama Station. The first and second floors of the Arai Building (formerly the Hokuto Bank Osaka Branch), a registered tangible cultural property from the Taisho era, house the shop. One of the signature products, "Eemon (black bean madeleine)," was purchased at the JR Shin-Osaka Station souvenir sales area in October 2012. On the other hand, I had missed the opportunity to enter the main building just by passing by. I visited in the morning. The shop is spacious and elegant. The product lineup is extensive, with long-lasting baked goods near the entrance and freshly made confectionery (petit gateau, roll cake, etc.) and baked goods (pies, etc.) made in the in-store workshop placed towards the back. The customer service is polite and pleasant. Due to carrying them around, I chose sweets with a longer shelf life. The items I purchased are as follows (prices include tax). ● Eemon Sablé (110 yen) - A crispy cookie with black beans and almonds. Crispy and fragrant, with a crunchy texture from the black beans and almonds as accents. The sweetness is moderate, with a lingering fragrant aftertaste of black beans. A delicious treat that doesn't get boring, highly recommended. Shelf life is 45 days. ● Eemon (Black Bean Madeleine) (180 yen) - A madeleine with black beans using rice flour. The sponge-like texture is fine and fluffy, with a buttery aroma. The chewy texture of large black beans adds an accent. It's tasty, but it's hard to tell if the black beans go well with the dough. Shelf life is 5 days. ● Eemon (Mandarin Orange Madeleine) (200 yen) - A madeleine with mandarin orange marmalade using rice flour. The sponge-like texture is fine and fluffy, with a buttery aroma. It goes well with the marmalade. Shelf life is 4 days. Seasonal limited edition. ● Kazeiro Fig (270 yen) - A fig-shaped baked confection with almond dough and fig liqueur. When you bite into it, the scent of liqueur gently wafts, offering an elegant taste. Shelf life is 24 days. ● Financier (180 yen) - A financier with a burnt butter aroma and good melt-in-your-mouth texture. Shelf life is approximately 3 weeks. ● Madeleine (180 yen) - Shell-shaped. The moist dough has a refreshing lemon acidity. Shelf life is approximately 3 weeks.

Gokan, a cake shop located in Kitahama along Sakaisuji Street. They have a main store here. They also have a store in Hankyu Department Store, and I have bought cakes from there many times, but this is my first time visiting the main store. The building was built in 1922 and is designated as a tangible cultural property by the government. The first floor has a shop and a waiting area, while the second floor is a cafe. The third floor and above are currently closed to customers. I visited in the afternoon with a friend and ordered a cake set. The cakes were presented on a cart and explained one by one. We ordered Miyazaki mango and wasanbon mousse (¥650 excluding tax), Japanese lemon and matcha mousse (¥500), cafe cream (¥800), and tea cream (¥800). We received a discount on the cake set (¥100 off each). The mango and wasanbon mousse had a natural sweetness from the fresh fruit and was so delicious we could have eaten more. The lemon and matcha mousse was a bit on the sweeter side. We enjoyed our cakes in a relaxing atmosphere. We also bought two of the limited edition cream puffs (¥230 each) to take home. They were rich and creamy, and the puff pastry was delicious too. I would love to come back again.