La Collina Omihachiman
La Collina Omihachiman, located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, is the flagship store of Taneya and Club Harie, which opened in 2015.
Taneya, a traditional Japanese confectionery brand founded in 1872, is headquartered in Shiga Prefecture and has stores mainly in major department stores across the Kansai and Kanto regions. It is well known for its products such as chestnut manju, dorayaki, and Fukumi Tenpei.
Meanwhile, Club Harie, a Western-style confectionery brand established in 1951, is especially famous for its Baumkuchen and is often one of the first names that comes to mind when people think of Baumkuchen in Japan. In addition to Baumkuchen, cakes and pies are also among its popular products.
Taneya and Club Harie operate under the Taneya Group, each specializing in Japanese and Western confectionery respectively.
La Collina Omihachiman is a place where visitors can see, taste, and experience the world of both Taneya and Club Harie. The concept of La Collina is “Learning from Nature,” and the space is designed around the harmony between confectionery making and nature, with various thoughtful details that allow visitors to enjoy the experience through all five senses.
Store Information
●Location
〒523-8533 滋賀県近江八幡市北之庄町615-1
(615-1 Kitanosho-cho, Omihachiman-shi, Shiga 523-8533)
There is a bus stop within a 10-minute walk.
●Phone
+81 748-33-6666
●Business Hours
09:00–18:00
(Food court: 10:00–17:00)
●Notes
Business hours may change, or operations may be suspended, due to the effects of typhoons, heavy snowfall, or other severe weather conditions. When a special weather warning is issued, temporary closure may occur without prior notice.
La Collina Main Shop
This is the La Collina Main Shop at La Collina Omihachiman.
At first glance, it is hard to tell whether it is a mountain or a building, as the roof is covered with lush green grass and the overall shape resembles the outline of a mountain.
As you walk toward the main shop, fields and open green spaces spread out on both sides of the path, giving the impression of walking deep into the mountains.
The La Collina Main Shop consists of two floors.
The first floor houses the Taneya and Club Harie shops, while the second floor features a café where dorayaki and other items are served.
La Collina Main Shop 2nd Floor Café
The café on the second floor of the La Collina Main Shop was more spacious than expected and had plenty of seating, making it a comfortable place to relax. Even though I visited in the afternoon, there were enough available seats, which made the experience even more pleasant.
In line with the concept of “Learning from Nature,” the interior of the café is mainly made of wood, and the large and small potted plants placed throughout the space left a strong impression.
The menu at the café on the second floor of the La Collina Main Shop is very simple. It consists only of fresh dorayaki, dora cake, drinks, and alcoholic beverages.
Fresh dorayaki is made with whipped cream and sweet red bean paste, and at the time of my visit, a seasonal fresh dorayaki citrus set was available for a limited time.
Unfortunately, the café’s recommended item, the dora cake, was already sold out. Please note that the dora cake takes about 20 minutes to prepare after ordering.
This is the fresh dorayaki set and coffee that I ordered.
Although I have tried dorayaki at many different places, the fresh dorayaki at La Collina gave me a slightly different impression from the usual kind. The thick and soft batter was reminiscent of pancakes, and despite the use of whipped cream, the sweetness was well balanced and pleasantly light, allowing me to enjoy it until the very last bite.
It paired well with the coffee, making it a great menu choice for a short and relaxing break at the café.
La Collina Main Shop 1st Floor
On the first floor of the La Collina Main Shop, visitors can purchase products from both Taneya, a Japanese confectionery brand, and Club Harie, a Western-style confectionery brand, all in one place.
The store is much larger than a typical department store shop, and a wide variety of items that are not commonly seen elsewhere are displayed, making the area lively and crowded with visitors looking to buy sweets.
Taneya’s lineup, including chestnut manju, traditional Japanese sweets, dorayaki, and jellies, was displayed in a wide variety, offering a close look at Japanese confectionery culture. From sweets with a more traditional feel to lighter, easy-to-enjoy options, there was a well-balanced selection available.
Club Harie’s Baumkuchen also came in a range of sizes and assortments, making it easy to choose according to personal preference, whether for gifts or for oneself.
Baum Factory
The Baum Factory at La Collina Omihachiman, located in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, opened on January 11, 2023. The first floor houses the Baumkuchen production facility, while the second floor features a café where visitors can enjoy Baumkuchen.
The production area is enclosed entirely in glass, allowing a clear view of the interior. As it is a space where food is made, it appeared very clean and well maintained overall. Being able to observe the production process up close was also a distinctive feature of the facility.
Boxes filled with Baumkuchen in various sizes are stacked like towers, bringing to mind a Christmas tree and the gift boxes placed beneath it.
In addition to the Baumkuchen typically sold at department store shops, a variety of products that were new to me and unique to La Collina are also on display, making it easy to lose track of time while browsing.
Gift Shop
The gift shop at La Collina feels much like a large garage. A big bus reminiscent of a school bus is placed at the entrance, immediately catching the eye, and inside, cars and motorcycles are also on display, offering plenty to see and making the experience very enjoyable.
These are the items I purchased at the gift shop at La Collina Omihachiman.
With products featuring package designs inspired by the La Collina Main Shop, as well as limited items available only at La Collina, the experience felt even more special.
Tips for Visiting La Collina Omihachiman
1. Familiarize yourself with the layout in advance
La Collina Omihachiman is spread across a large site with various facilities. Checking the map beforehand and deciding which places you want to visit and in what order will make sightseeing more enjoyable.
2. Check the weather
As you will be moving between both indoor and outdoor areas, it is a good idea to check the weather in advance. Bringing an umbrella on rainy days and planning your outfit according to the season and temperature differences between indoors and outdoors will help ensure a more comfortable visit.
3. Spacious parking area
The parking lot at La Collina Omihachiman is very large, so it is unlikely that you will have trouble finding a parking space. Parking is also available free of charge.
4. Various tour programs
A variety of tours are offered, including the Baum Factory Tour, La Collina Tour, and forest-related programs. As each tour differs in capacity, duration, and participation fee, it is recommended to check the official website in advance.
■La Collina Omihachiman
Comments