Located in northern Okayama Prefecture, Kagamino Town is blessed with abundant nature and pristine water. Here, there is a shop that showcases the charm of the region through its sweets. It is the Western-style confectionery shop "WAKANA." We will introduce the shop and its commitment to using local ingredients and bringing out their deliciousness.
Written by
Okayama Prefecture is located in the Center of Western Japan and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It's conveniently located halfway between famous tourist destinations like Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima! It's also the gateway to Shikoku via the Seto. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Okayama," and the fruits that are sun-drenched in the warm climate of the Setouchi are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-class tourist spots, including Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which boasts history, culture, and art!
"WAKANA," a Western-style confectionery shop in Kagamino Town, enjoys immense trust from locals who say, "For souvenirs, these are the ones to bring!" The adorable "White Peach Cake" is a baked good that luxuriously uses Okayama Prefecture-grown wheat "Tsuyama no Tsuyama " and puree of Shimizu White Peach , a premium peach variety that Okayama is proud of. Take a bite and you'll be surprised! Despite being a baked good, the fresh taste of fruit spreads throughout your mouth. The " White Peach Cake," which will impress you with its moist texture and elegant peach aroma, has been featured on popular information programs, selected as a "business gift" by a current secretary, and chosen as a tea snack for JAL domestic first class in-flight meals.
"Kagamino Horori" is a chocolate cookie with a delightful texture that melts in your mouth. Made with Tsuyama-grown wheat "Tsuyama no Hohoemi" and Belgian couverture chocolate, every detail from ingredient selection to baking is carefully considered. It features a rich chocolate flavor and a smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture unlike any other cookie. It comes in five flavors: sweet, white milk, strawberry, mango, and matcha. It has won the gold medal for five consecutive years in the "OMOTENASHI Selection" project, which aims to spread excellent Japanese products and services to the world, and was also adopted for in-flight sales on ANA domestic flights in 2017.
"Niwaka ni Koi" is a chocolate cookie made with "Hime Togarashi," an ancient Japanese variety of chili pepper that has been cultivated in the Okutsu district of Kagamino Town for centuries. The moment you put it in your mouth, the mellow sweetness of the chocolate spreads, followed by a gentle spiciness from the Hime Togarashi. The unexpected combination of ingredients and the lingering deliciousness will make you crave more.
These are " Okayama Ring" baked donuts made with 100% Tsuyama-grown wheat, "Tsuyama no Hohoemi." They boast a wonderfully fluffy texture. Available in four flavors: plain, mocha, sesame, and almond chocolate. Perfect for a light snack.
"Gelatinna" is a jelly that perfectly captures the charm of Shimizu White Peach, Pione Grape , and fruit tomatoes from Kagamino Town . All the fruits used are sourced directly from producers whose faces you can see. We are showcasing the passion of farmers by transforming their produce into delicious sweets. The texture of the fruit pulp and the smoothness of the jelly combine to fill your mouth with a luxurious feeling!
"Le Terroir" is inspired by the climate and culture of Okayama. It uses locally sourced ingredients such as Hime Togarashi peppers from Kagamino Town, wildflower honey and yuzu from Tsuyama City , and Misaki ginger from Misaki Town , each processed using methods tailored to its unique characteristics. Not only are the unexpected and delicious combinations intriguing, but the jewel-like beauty of the chocolates makes them a popular gift for occasions like Valentine's Day.
This "fresh milk pudding" is made with milk from Ikeda Farm in Kagamino Town . The freshly squeezed raw milk is directly sourced and pasteurized at low temperature in the shop. This carefully crafted pudding is characterized by its refreshing texture and gentle sweetness. Incidentally, the raw milk from Ikeda Farm is also used in the sponge cakes.
The display case is filled with colorful cakes made with seasonal fruits. There are always about 15 kinds of fresh cakes available, including shortcakes, whole cakes, roll cakes, and tarts. Orders for birthday cakes and other memorial cakes are also accepted.
There were also sweets associated with the Mimasaka region in northern Okayama Prefecture . The swirling cookie, inspired by "Naruto," is a collaboration product with the popular manga "NARUTO" by Masashi Kishimoto, who hails from Nagi Town , Okayama Prefecture . Another intriguing item is "Yōan Chocolat," which recreates a recipe for making chocolate from cacao beans, translated from Western books by Udagawa Yōan , a scholar of Western learning in the Tsuyama Domain during the Edo period.
"WAKANA" showcases the charm of the region through various approaches, including local producers, specialty products, history, and culture. In the kitchen, sweets embodying this philosophy are being made one after another, filling the air with a sweet, warm aroma.
Yoshiyuki Otsuka began his career as a Western-style confectioner at the age of 25. After five years of training in Kobe, he joined the wholesale business of Japanese and Western confectionery run by his predecessor. Then, in 2010, he opened his own patisserie, "WAKANA," in his Kagamino Town . His diverse range of sweets are born from his proactive approach of meeting people, listening to their stories, and collaborating with them. He has particularly strong ties with farmers in the prefecture, and continues to develop and promote delicious sweets using agricultural products.
【WAKANA】
Location: 695-2 Yoshihara , Tomata County Kagamino Town, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 0868-54-3721
Opening hours: 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM *Sundays and public holidays: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Closed on Tuesdays
Parking: Available
![[Tokyo, Shinjuku] Buy Matcha Here! 2 Long-established Japanese Tea Shops Where You Can Get the Authentic Taste!](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2025/09/24-245090.webp)
![[Approximately 2 hours from Tokyo ] Stunning autumn scenery in Hokuto City , Yamanashi Prefecture ! A itinerary for visiting Kiyosato leaves without a car.](https://resources.matcha-jp.com/resize/720x2000/2026/08/06-268460.webp)
