“Peacocks,” a Western confectionery shop in Kamishihoro, Hokkaido. This small shop, surrounded by birch trees, offers handmade cakes by 80-year-old Yukiko Tamaki. Each cake is priced around 200 yen. This time, we delve into the affordability of these handmade cakes and Tamaki’s commitment to using pure ingredients.
Related Photos: Here are four more images, including various handmade cakes offered by Peacocks and other related images.
The shop is a small store located on the side of Route 337, at the intersection of West Line 2. On the tourist route, Route 337, a large sign indicates where to turn. Following the side road, you will see a cowshed on the right and the shop surrounded by birch trees on the left. There is no train station in this area, and the only bus stop is about 8 kilometers away, so travel by car or motorcycle is essential. The parking lot can accommodate about 3 to 5 cars. Although the number of parked work vehicles varies daily, it rarely gets so crowded that you can’t find a spot. Inside the store, it tends to get hot due to baking, but stepping outside, you will find it well-ventilated and cool even in summer.
The interior is just the right size for two people to stand side by side, and Tamaki warmly welcomes you with a soothing “Welcome.” Many of those who stop by, from locals to tourists passing through on tours, become regulars. The majority of the customers come from Asahikawa and Sapporo, and locals often visit based on word-of-mouth recommendations. The shop is loved by a wide range of people, from families with small children to the elderly. Next door is a cowshed, which is her husband’s workplace. They raise beef cattle, and you can hear the lively sounds of the cows. Engaging in cheerful conversations with the friendly Tamaki while listening to the cows and enjoying palm-sized cakes creates a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere, allowing you to take a break without worrying about others.
The most popular item at the shop is the “Grison” (259 yen including tax), which is filled with plenty of walnuts. Other affordable options include “Cream Puffs” at 205 yen, “Apple Tart” and “Rhubarb Tart” at 227 yen each. What is the secret to keeping the prices so low? Owner Tamaki answers:
“If you use pure ingredients, my labor costs naturally don’t come out. But because there are people who want to eat what I make, I don’t think of making money from it. My husband told me to do what I love at my own responsibility.”
The secret to the affordability lies not in the consideration of raw materials or profit, but in mutual trust, respect, and support. The shop owner Tamaki started it “because she loves it,” and her farmer husband said, “I want to respect that feeling.” This price was made possible by these two people.
The commitment to raw materials is to “use pure ingredients.” Margarine, shortening, and plant-based cream are never used.
The ingredients are mainly sourced from Tokachi and Obihiro. If there are no materials nearby, they go as far as Sapporo. During the winter break from January 1 to March 31, they gather ingredients that can be stored for a long time, and fresh cream and other perishables are bought on Thursdays. Tamaki answers with a smile, “Thursday’s shopping trip, our day off, is like a date.” While they don’t receive raw materials from her husband, who works with beef cattle, it’s clear that she receives a lot of the most important thing: the feeling of mutual respect and support.
Regarding raw materials, domestic walnuts for confectionery are almost gone, so they inevitably use imports. However, they always use Tokachi-produced red beans. Tokachi, even within Hokkaido, produces a large volume of beans, accounting for 70% of the region’s production. Tamaki also answers with a smile, “Tokachi’s red beans are the best.” The only product at the shop using red beans is “Koyuki,” which has anko (sweet red bean paste) inside and is a confectionery with marzipan dissolved in rum on the outside.
The shop offers cakes that you won’t find in city centers or station buildings. The most popular “Grison” is a cake with a crispy texture, plenty of walnuts, and caramel that go perfectly together. The caramel flavor is not too strong, making it easy to eat one bite after another. It’s palm-sized, so you can enjoy the flavor and texture quickly. When you think of sweets with nuts, you might imagine thin and crunchy ones like Florentines, but this shop incorporates them into cakes, providing a satisfying bite.
The “Cream Puffs” are of the type where the choux pastry is cut in half and filled with cream. This is the same style of traditional cream puffs that Tamaki ate as a child. Instead of mixing the fresh cream and custard cream, they are placed as is, which she explains with a smile, “You can enjoy two different flavors.”
The “Rhubarb Tart” and “Apple Tart” use fruits harvested from their own orchard. Both are made into jam and placed between the tart crust and cream. In addition to rhubarb and apples, they grow raspberries, currants, mountain grapes, and honeyberries.
The “Savarin” is a cake with syrup-soaked bread dough. It’s soaked with more syrup than you’d expect, so a gentle press releases a bit of syrup from the top. Typically, Savarin is soaked in brandy, but since many people dislike it, the shop uses a simple syrup with only sugar. The top of the dough is decorated with a bite-sized amount of cream and finely chopped dried fruits.
All products are available for takeout only. They also accept phone orders and can ship anywhere in Japan. However, to prevent miscommunication, they require the address to be sent by fax even if the order is placed over the phone.
Peacocks
Address: 261 Kamiono Kitaru 3 Line, Kamishihoro Town, Kato District, Hokkaido
Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Closed: Thursdays, January 1 – March 31 (open until December 25 within the year)
Phone: 01564-2-4074 (landline, also for fax)
Report, Photography, and Writing by: yume
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