Baikal, a Western-style confectionery shop founded in Shimogamo, Kyoto, in 1955, will sell a Christmas cake exclusive to its Shimogamo main store. The cake uses figs from Joyo, Kyoto, and takes its simple, refined design from karesansui, the dry landscape gardens that symbolize Kyoto's sense of beauty.
Details of the Shimogamo main store-exclusive Christmas cake are available on the official product page.
A Snow-Ripple Christmas Cake with Spreading Circles of Happiness
The Shimogamo main store is rooted in traditional French pastry, and it makes new kinds of sweets using the culture and ingredients of its home, Kyoto. It carries many main store-exclusive sweets under the theme "Kyoto-style Western confectionery."
This year's main store-exclusive Christmas cake is designed after "setsumon" (snow ripples), the patterns formed when snow settles on a Kyoto rock garden (karesansui). Beautiful ripples express a "circle of happiness," the idea of connections between people spreading outward.
The cake starts with a pistachio dacquoise base topped with Joyo, Kyoto figs simmered in Tamba red wine. Over it are layers of berry mousse and jelly made with strawberries, raspberries, wild strawberries and blackcurrant, and the whole cake is wrapped in white chocolate mousse.
Il Neige Kyo Setsumon: Product Details
- Product name: Il Neige Kyo Setsumon (イル ネージュ 京雪紋)
- Price: ¥8,000 (tax included)
- Size: About 17 cm in diameter
- Allergens (29 specified ingredients): Contains wheat, egg, milk, soy, gelatin and pistachio
Reservations and Pickup
- Reservation deadline (in store or by phone): Saturday, December 19, 2026, during store business hours
- Reservation deadline (online): Saturday, December 19, 2026, 11:59 PM (credit card payment only)
- Pickup location: Baikal Shimogamo main store only
- Over-the-counter sales period: Wednesday, December 23 to Friday, December 25, 2026
- Reserved-only pickup: From Saturday, December 19 to Tuesday, December 22, 2026, cakes are handed over only to customers who have reserved.
- Note: Over-the-counter sales may be suspended once reservations reach the planned quantity.
Online reservations are available here.
Early Reservation Discount at the Store
Anyone who reserves and pays for a Christmas whole cake priced at ¥3,500 (tax included) or more at any Baikal store by Monday, November 30, 2026, gets 10% off the listed price. Online reservations are not eligible for the discount.
The day of Christmas product pickup is expected to be very crowded, so the shop asks customers to reserve and pay in advance.
An Advent Calendar to Enjoy the Days Until Christmas
An advent calendar is a calendar that originated in Europe for counting the days until Christmas. From Friday, November 20, 2026, the Shimogamo main store will sell a limited quantity of advent calendars meant to make Christmas at home feel more special.
It is a large calendar shaped like a Christmas tree, and just displaying it in a room is meant to build the excitement of Christmas. Its 24 drawers hold Baikal's standard sweets as well as special sweets not usually sold in the store, so each day until Christmas can be counted down with a treat.
Advent Calendar: Product Details
- Product name: Advent Calendar
- Price: ¥13,000 (tax included)
- Size: 54 x 48 x 10 cm (depth)
- Best-before date: December 25, 2026
- Storage: Store in a cool place, away from direct sunlight, high temperatures and humidity
- Pickup location: Baikal Shimogamo main store only
- Over-the-counter sales period: From Friday, November 20 to around Thursday, December 10, 2026. Quantities are limited, and sales end when they run out.
