Ginza Tairaku Tanggao, a Taiwanese castella specialty shop known for its fluffy texture and long queues, is bringing its popular cakes to Mito. The shop will operate a temporary pop-up at Mito Keisei Department Store's Taiwan Fair from February 6 to 12, 2026.
A Tokyo Sensation Comes to Mito
Tairaku Tanggao opened at Tokyo Plaza Ginza on March 12, 2021, during the pandemic, creating massive queues that extended to Ginza Station. The shop has since become a fixture in Tokyo's food scene, appearing on major TV shows including Nippon TV's ZIP, Hirunandesu, and 1 Oku 3000 Man-nin no SHOW Channel, as well as Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV and BS Asahi's Teiban Times. The shop has also been featured in Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun, GINGER magazine, Hanako, and various travel guidebooks.
Authentic Taiwanese Method with Premium Japanese Ingredients
Taiwanese castella, known locally as "xiankao dangao" (freshly baked cake), is a beloved homestyle dessert in Taiwan. The cakes are cut into large portions and feature a fluffy texture with gentle sweetness, making them suitable not just for dessert but also for breakfast.
Tairaku Tanggao's castella uses fresh egg yolks, milk, and carefully selected flour, mixed with cloud-like meringue made from egg whites, then slowly baked to achieve a souffle-like "fuwa shua" (soft and moist) texture. The combination of moist cake with egg and milk flavors creates a satisfying taste experience. Despite the generous size that overflows from both hands, the melting texture keeps customers coming back for more.
The shop's products were developed with guidance from Taiwanese specialists who came to Japan, faithfully reproducing the authentic methods and flavors from Taiwan while using premium Japanese ingredients.
Pop-Up Shop Details
Period: February 6 (Friday) to February 12 (Thursday), 2026
Location: Mito Keisei Department Store, 7th Floor Event Space
1-6-1 Izumicho, Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture
Hours: 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM (until 5:00 PM on final day)
*Hours follow department store schedule
Open daily during event period
*May be closed temporarily due to natural disasters, maintenance, etc.
Product Lineup
Limited Edition
Premium Maple Syrup Castella
Maple syrup, a natural sweetener made from sugar maple tree sap, delivers a rich sweet aroma the moment it enters the mouth. The fluffy cake releases maple syrup as you bite into it. Experience the comforting, nostalgic taste of maple syrup castella.
Premium Castella Series
Tairaku Tanggao offers exclusive flavors made with premium Japanese ingredients.
Premium Plain
Slowly baked in a dedicated oven, this plain castella delivers a fluffy, mild flavor that appeals to all ages.
Half & Half Sets
These sets combine premium plain with various flavors in half-and-half portions.
Premium Cheese & Premium Plain
This set pairs cheese with plain castella. The premium cheese castella features rich cheddar cheese layered in the cake with Parmesan powder on top for a savory aroma and texture. The combination of cheese's milky flavor with castella's gentle sweetness creates a unique taste found nowhere else in Japan.
Premium Uji Matcha & Premium Plain
This set combines Uji matcha with plain castella. The unique baking method preserves the matcha's aroma, allowing the authentic flavor to shine through. Traditional Japanese matcha flavor meets Taiwanese castella technique for a melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Premium Chocolate & Premium Plain
This pairing features chocolate and plain castella. The premium chocolate castella incorporates cocoa powder into the batter and is topped with chocolate chips. Experience the rich chocolate sweetness and slight bitterness within the cocoa aroma.
Premium Earl Grey & Premium Plain
This set matches Earl Grey with plain castella. The premium Earl Grey castella generously incorporates tea leaves flavored with bergamot citrus fragrance, creating a luxurious product with rich Earl Grey aroma.
Premium Caramelized Butter Vanilla Sugar & Premium Plain
This combination features caramelized butter vanilla sugar and plain castella. The premium caramelized butter vanilla sugar castella concentrates butter flavor into the classic plain base, with rich, sweet caramelized butter accents. The vanilla sugar topping adds a sophisticated aroma.
Premium Quarter Series
In response to customer requests for smaller portions and variety, Tairaku Tanggao offers quarter series with four different flavors in one box.
Premium Quarter
Plain / Cheese / Chocolate / Uji Matcha
Taiwanese Castella Pudding
A new sensation combining fluffy Taiwanese castella with pudding.
- Plain
- Uji Matcha
- Chocolate
*Product lineup may change due to pop-up nature of the event.
About Ginza Tairaku Tanggao
Flagship Store: Tairaku Tanggao Tokyo Plaza Ginza
Address: Tokyo Plaza Ginza B2F, 5-2-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Phone: 03-6822-6188
Website: https://www.taiwancastella.com/
Hours: 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Last order 9:30 PM, closes when sold out)
Current Locations:
Tokyo Plaza Ginza Store (flagship): Manufacturing and sales
Kawaguchi Factory: Manufacturing and sales
Online Shop
For those who can't visit the pop-up or flagship store, Tairaku Tanggao offers online ordering at https://www.taiwancastella.shop/
