Baby Castella

Tucked into a residential pocket of Tenjin in Nagaokakyo, Baby Castella is a casual stop for made-to-order takeaway sweets. The wait while your mini sponge cakes bake is part of the appeal. The owner also works as a wild game hunter, and conversations about mountain life and hunting outings make the time slip by quickly.

Beyond sweet snacks, the shop sets itself apart by selling cuts of wild game over the counter. With its swift takeout format, it serves just as well for grabbing a warm bite on a stroll as it does for picking up intriguing game ingredients.