Tokyo's Shibuya is a bustling area with many people coming and going. Within Shibuya Ward, the area from JR Harajuku Station to Omotesando is known as the "Harajuku area."
Harajuku is one of Japan's premier shopping districts and a trendsetting hub where the latest brands and items gather. It's also a dream destination for young people. As the birthplace of the "Kawaii" culture, represented by world-famous characters like Hello Kitty, you'll encounter plenty of "Kawaii" as you walk through the streets.
While Harajuku has a strong youth image, the Omotesando area is characterized by a more mature and sophisticated atmosphere, with many high-end brand stores.
The Harajuku area is enjoyable for all ages. In this article, we'll introduce TOTTI CANDY FACTORY, a crepe shop popular among tourists that embodies the essence of "Kawaii."
If you are interested in Harajuku's pop culture, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy them as much as possible.
Takashi Nakadomari
If you are interested in "Kawaii" Photogenic Sweets & Eats in Harajuku, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy them as much as possible.
Takashi Nakadomari
The Sweets Scene in Harajuku
While Harajuku has a strong image as a fashion district with many apparel stores, it also boasts numerous cafes and restaurants due to its popularity.
From the late 1970s, shops selling easy-to-eat street sweets began to appear. Buying a crepe on Takeshita Street and eating it while walking became a standard part of exploring Harajuku. Since then, the number of cafes and street sweet shops has increased, and recently, photogenic shops that embody Harajuku's representative "Kawaii" culture have become popular.
TOTTI CANDY FACTORY, which we're introducing today, is one such shop. Here, you can encounter "Kawaii" sweets in a space surrounded by "Kawaii."
What kind of shop is TOTTI CANDY FACTORY?
TOTTI CANDY FACTORY is a sweets shop that deals with cotton candy, as well as other candies and chocolates. The shop's signature item is the "Harajuku Rainbow," a colorful, umbrella-sized cotton candy that's extremely popular among tourists.
The large, fluffy cotton candy in beautiful pastel colors, resembling a cloud, is loved by a wide range of ages, from adults to children. This cotton candy, which seems to embody "Kawaii," is photogenic and has become a topic of conversation on social media. Many customers from both Japan and abroad visit the store seeking "Kawaii" sweets, including the "Harajuku Rainbow."
TOTTI CANDY FACTORY is truly a representative shop of Harajuku, the birthplace of "Kawaii" culture.
What exactly is "cotton candy"?
In Japan, cotton candy has long been a staple product sold at festival stalls. The colorful and fluffy cotton candy, resembling a cloud, is especially popular among children.
Cotton candy is made from coarse sugar called "zarame." The zarame is put into a machine, turned into threads, and then collected on a stick. While it's the same as the cotton candy sold in America, Japanese cotton candy is sensitive to moisture and heat, quickly hardening in Japan's humid climate. Therefore, freshness is crucial for Japanese cotton candy. To enjoy it in its fluffy state, it's common to eat it immediately after purchase.
Recommended points of TOTTI CANDY FACTORY
Colorful interior
One of the attractions of TOTTI CANDY FACTORY is its cute interior that screams "This is Harajuku!" The colorful store interior, reminiscent of a toy box, is exciting just to be in. The cute polka dot wallpaper in red, the many bubble-like balls on the ceiling, and the displayed products like cotton candy, candies, and chocolates are all very cute.
Being in the store feels like you're in a sea of candy. Combined with neon light sources, it creates an emotional and fantastical atmosphere.
I, who love photogenic and cute things, was also very excited. You can't help but want to take pictures. In front of the store, you can see many customers taking photos with their purchased cotton candy.
Photogenic cotton candy
source：Tabelog
The "Harajuku Rainbow," the shop's signature and popular menu item, is a colorful cotton candy. The colorful cotton candy, larger than a face, is reminiscent of an umbrella in size.
The five pastel colors are adorable and perfect for photos. Each color has a different fruit flavor, such as strawberry, grape, and lemon, so you won't get tired of eating it.
Although it's large, the calorie count is only 160 kcal even if you eat it all! It's a healthy sweet that even I, who am on a diet, can confidently recommend.
For those worried about eating it all, I recommend the smaller 3-color cotton candy. You can choose your favorite colors from three patterns, so it's very cute to buy with friends and take pictures of many lined up together.
Made right in front of you
source：Tabelog
At TOTTI CANDY FACTORY, they make the cotton candy right in front of you when you order. It's like watching a show. You can enjoy the cotton candy even before eating it, feeling like you're at an attraction.
First, they prepare vivid, colorfully dyed zarame sugar. When set in the machine, the zarame melts and comes out as pastel-colored threads. These are then wrapped around a stick using centrifugal force. It's like magic to see the small amount of zarame turn into cotton candy larger than a face!
The process looks like they're freely manipulating clouds, and it's exciting just to watch.
I've made cotton candy with a machine before, but it's very difficult to make it in a beautiful shape. Such dynamic cotton candy is possible only because of the skilled staff's expertise. The excellence of their technique is impressive.
Perfect for souvenirs! Cotton candy in a bucket
source：Tabelog
TOTTI CANDY FACTORY also sells take-away cotton candy for souvenirs. They have products in bags where you can choose from one color, and 3-color cotton candy in cups. The most popular among these is the cotton candy in a bucket. The bucket cotton candy has a longer shelf life than other products, lasting up to a month.
It's a recommended product for friends and family souvenirs, or for those who want to eat TOTTI CANDY FACTORY's cotton candy even after returning to their home country.
While it's less fluffy than the cotton candy eaten on the spot due to being designed for longer shelf life, the taste is the same as what you eat at the location. Another attractive point of the bucket product is that you don't need to eat it all at once, so you can enjoy it at your preferred timing.
Points to be careful about
No eat-in space
TOTTI CANDY FACTORY doesn't have an eat-in space. Therefore, you need to eat outside the shop, such as in front of the store or along Takeshita Street. However, on hot summer days, the cotton candy melts easily, so you need to be careful while eating as the handle can become sticky.
The store provides wet wipes for when your hands or mouth area becomes sticky, so make sure to get some if you're worried. Also, there's a trash can provided, so please make sure to throw away any garbage from the cotton candy, such as tissues or sticks, in the store's trash can rather than on the street.
Be careful of color transfer to clothes
Food coloring is used in the cotton candy. When you open your mouth, your tongue might be colored, becoming a colorful tongue. While children might be delighted by their dinosaur-like blue or green tongues, be careful as the melted coloring can also transfer to skin or clothes.
This is especially important on hot summer days when humidity is high and the cotton candy melts easily. Sometimes people get so focused on taking photos that the cotton candy melts and drops onto their clothes, causing color transfer. Please don't visit wearing clothes that would be problematic if stained.
Also, while many people eat in front of the store or along Takeshita Street, please be mindful of other passersby to avoid getting cotton candy on them.
Numbered tickets may be distributed during busy times
As the shop is popular both domestically and internationally, there might be a line extending outside the store. Also, since they carefully make and serve each cotton candy one by one after ordering, it may take time for your order to be ready when it's crowded. Therefore, it's recommended to visit with plenty of time to spare.
On weekends and holidays, when there are many customers, numbered entry tickets may be distributed to ease congestion inside the store. On days when tickets are distributed, you might not be able to enter if you come late due to the day's entry being closed.
If you really want to visit the store, it's recommended to come early in the morning or on relatively less crowded weekdays.
Access to TOTTI CANDY FACTORY
・Address: 2F RYU Apartment, 1-16-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
2 minutes walk from Harajuku Station on the JR Yamanote Line, via Takeshita Exit and along Takeshita Street
7 minutes walk from Meiji-jingumae Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, from Exit 2
Basic information about TOTTI CANDY FACTORY
<Basic Information>
・Business hours: Mon-Fri 11:00-20:00, Sat/Sun/Holidays 10:00-20:00
・Closed: None
・Phone number: 03-3403-7007
・website
・Instagram
If you are interested in Kawaii Sweets Special in Harajuku, check the article below! I summarized how and where you can enjoy them as much as possible.
sena kanda