Sweets from Kobe’s Kitano district are coming to Himeji. Kobe Kitano NOSTA, a food complex in a renovated former elementary school, will take part in the “Nippon Retto Zeppin Umai-mono Taikai” food fair at Sanyo Department Store in Himeji, Hyogo, from Wednesday, November 4 to Monday, November 9, 2026. Its signature item sold out by around 4 p.m. every day at its April appearance, and now it returns.
The “NOSTA Pancake Sandwich” returns in larger quantities
The NOSTA Pancake Sandwich has sold more than 30,000 pieces at Kobe Kitano NOSTA. It pairs fluffy pancake layers with lightly sweetened whipped cream, and is known for its gentle flavor. Because the April run sold out daily around 4 p.m., the stall will bring more this time.
The autumn limited flavor in Himeji is “Oimo-san”: a large piece of sweet potato yokan (a sweet bean-jelly-style confection) and fresh cream sandwiched in pancakes, for ¥486 (tax included). It blends Japanese and Western sweets around the star ingredient of the season. If you missed out last time, going early in the day looks like the safe bet.
The Gâteau Brothers, a baked-sweets brand by three chefs, debuts in Himeji
The other highlight is “The Gâteau Brothers”, making its first appearance in Himeji. It was created in Kobe’s Kitano by Hiromichi Tsujiguchi of LE CHOCOLAT DE H, Edelweiss Co., Ltd., which carries on the spirit of the late Takeshi Hiyane, founder of Antenor (born in Kitano in 1978), and Susumu Koyama of es koyama. The name comes from the wish to be “like brothers who together weave the future of Western-style confectionery”.
The first collection, “NOSTALGIA”, rebuilds the memories and origins of Japan’s Western-style confectionery with modern ingredients and techniques. All items below are exclusive to the brand.
- LE CHOCOLAT DE H: Kabosu Caramel, Earl Grey Sablé, Financier Chocolat Abricot
- es koyama: Walnut and Wheat-Bran Cookies, Cacao Fruit and Passion Fruit Meringue, Butterkuchen
- Antenor: Old-Fashioned Chocolat, Galette Bretonne Macadamia, Galette Bretonne Chocolat
Koyama’s Butterkuchen was inspired by memories of his mentor from his training days.
100 limited “HIMEJI” stickers as a gift
During the fair, shoppers who buy eligible Gâteau Brothers items receive an original Himeji-only sticker with the word “HIMEJI” (limited to 100; one per person). It is part of a series of local stickers imagining the chefs traveling from Kobe across Japan. Once they run out, they are gone.
About Kobe Kitano NOSTA
Kobe Kitano NOSTA opened in 2024 in a school building completed in 1931. Kitano is known for its historic foreign residences and a long mix of cultures, and the complex shares the area’s appeal through sweets, cafés, food and shops. The fair is part of an effort to introduce Kobe and Kitano through products, and to invite people to visit Kobe someday.
Event details
- Dates: Wednesday, November 4 – Monday, November 9, 2026
- Venue: Sanyo Department Store, Main Building 6F event space (Himeji, Hyogo)
- On sale: NOSTA Pancake Sandwich; The Gâteau Brothers “NOSTALGIA”
- Special offer: an original Himeji sticker for the first 100 customers buying eligible The Gâteau Brothers items
- Kobe Kitano NOSTA: 3-17-1 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe; about 12 minutes on foot from Sannomiya or Motomachi Station; 9:00–19:00 (varies by shop)
- Website (Japanese): https://kobekitano-nosta.jp/
- Note: items and offers may change without notice. Products and giveaways are limited and end when sold out
