Le Musée de H. Takashi Tsujiguchi

Hironobu Tsujiguchi, a pastry chef from Nanao City, Ishikawa Prefecture, has the motto of "bringing smiles to people through sweets." He has represented Japan in numerous world pastry competitions and has experienced victory. In addition, he has gained fame as a chocolatier, winning the highest rating for six consecutive years from 2013 to 2018 at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris. Currently, he is active in a wide range of fields, including collaborating with companies, producing, giving lectures and TV appearances, and publishing books, while also managing various stores. His superb sweets that utilize local ingredients and innovative spaces that combine art have become popular tourist spots in Wakura Onsen.

While you may have seen photogenic "sweets fused with art," it's not often that you get to visit a facility where "art and sweets are fused." The modern building, with a black and silver color scheme, evokes the rugged Sea of Japan. The wide windows visible from the entrance provide a sense of unity with the sea. Along the way, you'll see innovative art pieces made from sweets. The free art museum features unexpectedly sharp art pieces. The sweets served at the adjoining cafe, enjoyed with your senses sharpened, offer an exceptional taste experience.

Although it's a bit small to be called a "museum," you can enjoy unique artwork made from sweets such as candy sculptures in a space where you can feel a distinct worldview. Chef Tsujiguchi has experience winning the candy sculpture division of the "Coupe du Monde de la Patisserie," known as the World Cup of Pastry Chefs in France, so the quality of these works is naturally superb. The pieces express the sea of Noto and the universe, among other things, and are illuminated by LED lights, creating a fantastic appearance.

This facility is located along the coast of Noto and boasts a stunning view of the Sea of Japan. Even without opening the windows, you can feel the power of the waves crashing against the shore. Upon entering the entrance, you'll find a chic monochrome space with large windows that seamlessly blend with the sea. In the distance, you can see Noto Island, creating a deep and picturesque scene. The cafe attached to the facility also offers a view of the sea from its windows, allowing you to enjoy sweets while taking in the scenery.

If the weather is good, we highly recommend using the terrace seating at the cafe. Spending time there while feeling the sea breeze and gazing at Notojima Island or fishing boats is exceptional. Moreover, the delicious sweets and drinks supervised by a world-renowned patissier make it even better. During busy times on weekends and holidays, it may be difficult to use the popular terrace seating, so we recommend coming early on weekdays and other times if possible.

Delicious cakes are displayed daily, but the most famous is "Seravi," which won the grand prize at a French confectionery competition sponsored by the French Embassy. This dessert, which is like a signature dish of Chef Tsujiguchi, is simple yet profound, with raspberries placed on top of a hexagonal white chocolate mousse. The perfect souvenir is the "Tsujiguchi Choux," which is made with plenty of milk and eggs from Noto. The crispy choux pastry and rich custard cream are truly delicious. "Jonnu," which is a jar of sparkling jelly and fruit, is also popular for its stylish appearance.

The café offers a wide selection of carefully crafted drink menus. These include a blend of coffee made with carefully selected beans that have been slowly roasted at low temperatures, as well as the Vienna-style café "Ein Schvenner," which features the patissier's famous whipped cream. In addition to authentic teas and herbal teas, there are also "Noto Milk" and fruit juices from the Noto region, so people of all ages can choose their favorite drink! One particularly popular drink is the "Wakutama O-le," which is a collaboration with Wakutama-kun, the official character of Wakura Onsen. It comes with a cute "Wakutama Marshmallow" and is said to soothe the soul as you watch it sway gently on top of your drink.

When it comes to souvenirs from hot springs, there are many with a Japanese-style taste, but sweets from "Le Musee de H" are also a staple souvenir of Wakura Onsen. In addition to photogenic cakes that showcase the skills of the pastry chef, there are also various baked goods that have a longer shelf life. Among them, the most popular among tourists is a baked good called "YUKIZURI," which is inspired by the snow hanging from trees in Kenrokuen Garden. It's an elegant sweet with a subtle plum flavor inside the sugar that resembles the snow on the hanging rope. Other recommended souvenirs include "Tsujiguchi Baum Maple," which uses plenty of eggs from Ishikawa Prefecture, and a set of seasonal recommended baked goods.

Surrounded by the sea and rich nature, Noto is overflowing with not only seafood, but also the blessings of the earth. At Lumiere d'Ash, we are committed not only to providing sweets from 7 brands such as Mont Saint-Claire, but also to using local ingredients in our original sweets. We use "Suzu Salt," which is made using a low-temperature hot air drying method without any additives. We also use "Wajima-produced germinated brown rice," which is made using Noto bamboo rice grown on bamboo fibers. We use fresh milk squeezed from cows that have not been fed genetically modified feed, called "Noto Milk." In addition, we use luxurious ingredients that are difficult to obtain outside the prefecture, such as Kaga stick tea, Noto Kinu, and Seiagri healthy eggs.