Asterisque

In the center of Tokyo, but far enough from the hustle and bustle of the city, this patisserie opened up in the quiet neighborhood of Yoyogi Uehara in 2012. Asterisque is owned by the famous Koichi Izumi, a patissier with incredible sweet-making credentials. The cakes taste just as beautiful as they are decorated and presented — even better, some might argue. Classics like strawberry cheesecake are always offered all year round, as well as some other original flavors like the Parfumee which is made of raw ginger, orange mousse, strawberry mousse, and framboise sauce that's transformed into a sponge cake with a biscuit base. Other seasonal treats are offered too. In winter, the sour cherry cake is available, and in summer the seasonal sweet is switched to the Hanabi — a minty cake made with yuzu lime mousse, strawberry, and praline crunch. The inside of this humble patisserie has only a handful of seats and there is usually a crowd who are eager to grab some sweet bites for themselves. Getting one of these seats can sometimes be an issue, but once you manage it, all your troubles will melt away.