[Tenjin Cafe] A must-see for sweets lovers! Seasonal parfaits by a designer-turned-patissier

Hello. I'm Shou Fujita, a gourmet writer whose hobby is visiting cafes.

This time, we will introduce a popular patisserie that continues to attract many sweets lovers in Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, and opened its first store in Fukuoka in June 2023.

The first store outside of Tokyo! The popular patisserie "ASAKO IWAYANAGI FUKUOKA"

ASAKO IWAYANAGI FUKUOKA is located on the second floor of the Fukuoka Daimyo Garden City complex, about a three-minute walk from Tenjin Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Airport Line, in a corner of Bio Square, a collection of trendy shops.

This is a noteworthy Western-style confectionery shop that is the first store outside of Tokyo of the popular Tokyo-based patisserie "PATISSERIE ASAKO IWAYANAGI."
*The official name of the store is "PATISSERIE"with a circumflex accent above the "A."

Image: Sho Fujita

Chef patissier Iwayanagi Asako has an unusual background as a former textile designer.

Currently, she utilizes her sensibilities at PATISSERIE ASAKO IWAYANAGI, creating sweets that combine flavor and beauty, from delicate and beautiful parfaits that are like art to traditional baked goods.

Image: Sho Fujita

The interior of the restaurant has a chic and sophisticated design, with large windows overlooking the Tenjin streetscape.

The space is modern yet comfortable, with ample space to further highlight the colors and details of the sweets.

Image: Sho Fujita

In the salon at the back, you can enjoy sweets such as parfaits and crepes, lunch sets with a choice of main dish, and drinks such as specialty coffee in a relaxed atmosphere.

Image: Sho Fujita

You can use the salon without making a reservation, but we recommend making a reservation in advance as reservations are given priority.

The attached shop area is beautifully lined with a wide range of products, from gift items such as baked goods, fresh sweets, and chocolates to take-out items such as bread and gelato.

Image: Sho Fujita

Introducing the popular items at "ASAKO IWAYANAGI FUKUOKA," including a Fukuoka store exclusive menu!

The most popular takeout items are the cakes and tarts lined up in the display case.

In addition to the classic "Touge Mont Blanc" (810 yen) and "Two-layer semi-baked cheesecake" (810 yen), there are also sweets that are perfect as gifts or as a treat for yourself, such as "Seasonal Shortcake" (864 yen) and "Seasonal Fruit Tart" (918 yen), which are made with a generous amount of seasonal fruits.

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In addition, products exclusive to the Fukuoka store include "Yaki Kurean" (2 bags for 972 yen, 6 boxes for 2,786 yen), which is homemade bean paste, walnuts, and gyuhi (rice cake) wrapped in pie dough, and the tropical-flavored "Cake Daimyo" (497 yen), which are must-sees for fans from outside the prefecture.

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The homemade gelato can be ordered in 1-3 scoops (1 scoop 605 yen, 2 scoops 825 yen, 3 scoops 990 yen *eat-in price), and there are usually around 8 different flavors to choose from, including the classic "pistachio" and "olive oil" flavors, as well as unique flavors made with seasonal ingredients.

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A representative eat-in menu item is the "Parfait Bambi" (2,970 yen), which is only available at the Fukuoka store and uses a generous amount of seasonal fruits and ingredients, allowing you to enjoy a variety of flavors from the gelato on top to the last bite.

On this day, customers could choose from two flavors: "Parfait Bambi Fruit Saison Grape," which uses plenty of seasonal Kyoho, Pione, and Nagano Purple grapes, and "Parfait Bambi Fruit Saison Fig," which is served with Camembert and fig gelato, both of which are only available until October 27, 2025. From October 28, two more flavors will be available: "Parfait Bambi Fruit Saison Shine Muscat and Chestnut" and "Parfait Bambi Fruit Saison Automne."

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The "Select Lunch Set" (2,310 yen on weekdays, 2,530 yen on weekends *includes appetizer) allows you to choose your main course, dessert, and drink according to your preferences and mood. For the main course, you can choose from "quiche," "galette" (+1,430 yen), or "tartine" (+550 yen), and for dessert, you can choose from "cake," "gelato" (2 scoops), "crepe" (+770 yen), or "Parfait Bambi" (+1,870 yen).

Image: Sho Fujita

In addition, you can leisurely enjoy galettes, which are only available for eat-in, as well as a wide variety of crepes, cakes and gelato selected in the shop area, all in the salon.

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Drinks include specialty coffees and black teas from carefully selected regions, as well as herbal teas and special sencha teas, all of which are special drinks that complement the aftertaste of sweets.

Beautiful like art! Try the seasonal parfait "Parfait Bambi Fruit Saison Fig"

On this day, I tried the limited-edition "Parfait Bambi Fruit Saison Fig" (2,970 yen) and "Grape Sansho Herbal Tea" (935 yen).

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The parfaits are made with great care for their "beauty of composition," and by layering fruit, gelato, cream, and accents in the glass, they create a dish with depth that allows you to enjoy the changing flavors as you eat it.

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Another feature is that they use only the most delicious seasonal ingredients at that time, and they use a generous amount of "Toyomitsuhime" and "Dauphine" figs from Fukuoka Prefecture.

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The topping is topped with "Camembert Fig Gelato," which is made with plenty of fig pulp soaked in rum and melts in your mouth, "Fig Tuile," which is garnished with fresh figs with soft skin and a fragrant sweetness, and "Cheese Herb Pretz," which has an exquisite balance of saltiness and richness.

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Beneath the gelato are layers of carefully selected ingredients, including the smoky-smelling "Kyoto Bancha Chai Klaclan," "Cinnamon Basil Jelly" made with basil from Shizuoka Prefecture, "Fig Compote Syrup Warabimochi" made with syrup from figs simmered in red wine, and "Spiced Japanese Black Tea Crémeux" with a complex aroma.

In addition, there were a variety of dishes that allowed visitors to discover new charms of figs, such as "Oven-baked Figs" covered in herb-flavored honey and "Grenassion Fig Compote" that was simmered until tender.

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Each part is meticulously constructed, maintaining the harmony of the parfait while still providing a fresh surprise, and with each layer a beautiful gradation of flavor, aroma, and texture emerges.

The pairing we chose was "Grape Sansho Herbal Tea," an original tea with Wakayama Prefecture-grown grape sansho as the main flavor, with lemongrass and chamomile added.

Image: Sho Fujita

The vivid, refreshing aroma and clear taste are a perfect match for the rich flavor of the parfait.

Image: Sho Fujita

At ASAKO IWAYANAGI FUKUOKA, you can immerse yourself in a peaceful dialogue with artistic sweets that reflect the changing seasons in a sophisticated and beautiful space.

This pastry shop offers a unique experience that brings out the best in ingredients and inspires your everyday life. (Text by Sho Fujita)