Hello! Today, I visited PAPER MOON, a stylish café located in Yamanakako Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. Surrounded by lush forests and offering stunning views of Lake Yamanaka, this café is famous for its handmade cakes and desserts. Let me share my experience enjoying their most popular sweets, like their signature apple pie, in this serene, elegant setting.

About PAPER MOON Café

Nestled by Lake Yamanaka, PAPER MOON is a tranquil café surrounded by 2,600 tsubo (approx. 8,600 square meters) of beautiful gardens and forests. Designed with adults in mind, this café focuses on creating a calm and sophisticated atmosphere. From the cozy interiors to the carefully maintained greenery, every detail here exudes charm.

The café only welcomes guests aged 10 and older, ensuring a serene and relaxed ambiance. For those traveling with pets, good news: the terrace seating is pet-friendly and offers stunning views of the lake and forest.

Be Prepared – It’s Popular!

PAPER MOON is incredibly popular, even on weekdays. When I visited on a Sunday, I arrived 40 minutes before opening, and there were already about eight groups ahead of me! To enjoy the best experience, plan to visit early, especially if you want their famous apple pie before it sells out.

What to Expect: Sweets and Drinks
PAPER MOON serves a variety of handmade cakes, pies, and seasonal tarts, all crafted fresh in-house. They also offer an extensive drink menu, from teas to rich café lattes. Here’s how it works: upon entering, you’ll order at the counter, then be seated while your sweets and drinks are prepared.

We couldn’t decide what to get (everything looked amazing), so we ended up ordering three different cakes to share. Each slice was generous in size and beautifully presented.

The Sweets We Tried

Apple Pie (¥1,100)

This is PAPER MOON’s signature dessert! Warm, flaky American-style pie crust filled with sweet and tart stewed apples, served with creamy vanilla ice cream. The combination of hot pie and cold ice cream was heavenly. It’s such a popular item that it often sells out in the morning—don’t miss it!

Banana Custard Pie (¥1,100)

A delightful pie filled with sweet, ripe bananas, creamy custard, and a generous dollop of whipped cream. The natural sweetness of the banana and the smoothness of the custard were perfectly balanced, making it an indulgent yet light treat.

Apricot Cheesecake (¥972)
A rich and creamy cheesecake topped with apricot jam for a refreshing twist. The cheesecake was dense yet smooth, with the apricot adding a perfect sweet-and-sour complement.

To accompany the sweets, I ordered a fragrant café au lait (¥700), which was the perfect pairing for a relaxing afternoon.

More Than Just Sweets

PAPER MOON also sells delightful baked goods and charming small gifts, making it an excellent spot for souvenirs. I picked up some cookies as a memento of my trip to Yamanakako.

Final Thoughts

If you’re visiting Yamanakako in Yamanashi Prefecture, don’t miss PAPER MOON! This café offers a peaceful escape with its stunning natural surroundings, delicious handmade sweets, and relaxing ambiance. Whether you’re enjoying their iconic apple pie or sipping tea on the terrace, it’s a perfect spot to unwind and recharge.