Arashiyama is one of our favourite areas of Kyoto because it is just full of beautiful temples to visit. On our visit this April, we found ourselves with a bit of time to kill in Arashiyama while waiting for a bus, and were excited to see an all-vegan dessert spot listed on Happy Cow. It’s just across the bridge from the main drag, which meant it was less crowded than other spots, which was good news for us.

Musubi Sweets Factory had quite a bit of choice in the dessert counter – several different cakes and tarts on display, as well as butter sands promoted. Mother HH chose the strawberry milk butter sand/cookie sandwich, which had a strawberry ice cream sandwiched between two buttery biscuits. She loved it, and was especially pleased with the amount of fruit in the ice cream. This is another one of those classic Japanese dishes, so I’m glad she got to try it.

Dr HH tried the lemon yoghurt cheesecake. It was really rich, but also zingy and fresh from the lemon. He loved it, except that he wished the base had been baked instead of raw. (The classic vegan cheesecake problem, in my experience.)

I had the chocolate tofu cake, and it was incredible! The sponge base was light, and the tofu layer was extremely rich and delicious. It was really well balanced and delightful.

While the dessert options were quite extensive and all tempting, it was a different story with the drinks menu. There were a couple of teas and some coffee, but no milky drinks like any kind of latte, or fun soft drinks. More drinks options would really elevate it, in my opinion.

Service was fast and friendly. We ordered at the counter and paid upfront, then the staff brought everything over when it was ready. It was quite a spacious place with big windows, and was much quieter and more relaxed than the places we walked by on the other side of the bridge which were absolutely bustling. Definitely recommended if you’re in this area with time to kill or a sweet tooth to satisfy!