Nakagawa Bakery (中川ベーカリー) is a neighbourhood cake shop in Kuwana, Mie, that has been baking for 80 years. Its baumkuchen won a top prize at Japan’s national confectionery expo. It’s takeaway only, with two car parks, so it makes an easy sugar stop if you’re driving. We called in on our drive home from Ise in October 2026. Most slices of cake cost ¥420–630.
Not every stop has to be a long lunch. On the drive back from Ise we wanted something sweet, and Nakagawa Bakery was on the way in Kuwana, a short detour off the main road. It was the three of us: me, my son Kayne and our guide Misae.
From the outside it looks like a small-town cake shop: a cream building, a red awning and arched windows upstairs. The banner out front gives you the two facts that matter. The shop has been going for 80 years (創業80年の伝統), and its baumkuchen, which the banner calls “the king of cakes” (お菓子の王様), won the 総裁賞 at the national confectionery expo (全国菓子博).
What’s in the case
The cake case is the reason to stop, and in late October it was all autumn:
- Japanese chestnut mont blanc (和栗のモンブラン, ¥630). Made with Japanese chestnuts, with a whole candied chestnut inside.
- Anno sweet potato tart (安納芋のタルト, ¥550). Anno-imo is a very sweet, creamy sweet potato from Kagoshima.
- Purple sweet potato mont blanc (紫芋のモンブラン, ¥500) and matcha mont blanc (抹茶モンブラン, ¥500).
- Fig tart (いちじくのタルト, ¥530). The label says there’s a whole fig inside.
There were also Halloween cakes decorated with ghosts, pumpkins and little monsters, plus year-round favourites: strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, tiramisu and chocolate cakes. Cream puffs (シュークリーム) are ¥250.
What we had
Chocolat Chocolat (ショコラ・ショコラ, ¥480). Layers of chocolate mousse and sponge under a glossy chocolate glaze, finished with a raspberry, gold dust and a chocolate plaque.
Fig shortcake. We didn’t catch its name or price. Light sponge, fresh cream and fig layered inside, topped with a slice of fresh fig and a little purple Halloween monster.
The verdict: the decoration is lovely, and both cakes were delicious. They hit the spot on the drive home. My only wish was to sit down with a drink and enjoy them properly, but it’s takeaway only.
Good for families?
Yes, especially if anyone in your family has food allergies. Every price card in the case has a printed allergen grid, with a tick for each one the cake contains: wheat (小麦), dairy (乳), egg (卵), peanut (落花生), buckwheat (そば), prawn (えび), crab (かに) and alcohol (お酒). That’s unusual for a small shop, and very useful if you can’t read the descriptions. Our ordering cards include an allergy card if you need to ask.
It’s takeaway only. There’s nowhere to sit, so plan to eat in the car or somewhere nearby.
When to go
It was busy while we were there, with a steady turnover of customers. Around 3 pm it got quieter. Because everything is takeaway, the car parks empty quickly, but if both are full the shop is likely to be very busy.
The autumn cakes in this post are seasonal. The baumkuchen and the classic cakes are on sale all year.
Taking some home
The baumkuchen comes in gift boxes and makes a good souvenir (omiyage):
- Assorted, 5 pieces (アラカルト, ¥1,370): lemon, green tea, kinako (roasted soybean flour), Earl Grey and mango
- Plain, 10 pieces (¥2,470)
- Plain, 15 pieces (¥3,670)
A handwritten note on the thin-roll baumkuchen (細巻きバームクーヘン) says it keeps for 10 days.
Visiting Nakagawa Bakery
| Name | Nakagawa Bakery · ケーキ工房 中川ベーカリー |
| Address | 〒511-0043 三重県桑名市新屋敷45 (45 Shinyashiki, Kuwana, Mie) |
| Phone | 0594-22-0487 |
| Hours | Closes 19:00 (per Google Maps). Check opening time and closed days before you go |
| Service | Takeaway only. No dine-in |
| Parking | Two car parks for customers |
| Getting there | We drove, on the way home from Ise |
| Allergens | Printed on every cake label (Japanese) |
| We visited | October 2026, mid-afternoon |
How to order
Point at the cake and say how many.
- これを一つください。
Kore o hitotsu kudasai.: One of these, please. - 持ち帰りです。
Mochikaeri desu.: It’s for takeaway. (Everything is, here.) - 保冷剤をお願いします。
Horeizai o onegaishimasu.: An ice pack, please. Useful if you have a long drive.
FAQ
Is Nakagawa Bakery in Kuwana dine-in?
No. It’s takeaway only.
Does Nakagawa Bakery have parking?
Yes, it has two car parks.
What is Nakagawa Bakery known for?
Its baumkuchen, which won the 総裁賞 at the national confectionery expo (全国菓子博), and its seasonal cakes.
How much are the cakes?
Most slices are ¥420–630 (October 2026).
Is it good for people with food allergies?
Every cake label shows allergens with ticks, including wheat, dairy, egg, peanut, buckwheat, prawn and crab. The labels are in Japanese.
Related: Mie · Autumn · Winter · Spring · Summer · Kawaichi, Kuwana · Akafuku, Ise · Tsutaya, Ise · Ordering cards
