
Meitō at Ikebukuro PARCO
Location: 1 Chome-28-2 Minamiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan
Ikebukuro PARCO
Taiwan castella specialist from Tainan, baking fluffy meringue-textured cakes at its Ikebukuro branch by PARCO.
Taiwan castella specialist from Tainan, baking fluffy meringue-textured cakes at its Ikebukuro branch by PARCO.
Meito is a Taiwan castella specialist that began in the southern Taiwanese city of Tainan in 2009, where owner Mr Guo's soft, airy recipe soon drew daily queues. The brand crossed to Japan in 2022 with a first store in Kichijoji, and its Ikebukuro branch opened on 28 June 2023 as the country's second, taking a spot right by PARCO on the east side of the station. The shop's calling card is a distinctive shuwa-shuwa texture: bakers fold in plenty of meringue and adjust the method to the day's humidity and temperature, trapping large bubbles that fizz away on the tongue. The classic Original castella is available daily, while a rotating line-up brings in pumpkin and cheese, chocolate, angel lemon and seasonal specials such as June cold cacao and the much-talked-about Dubai chocolate collaboration. Bakers make each cake by hand in the shop, so the scent of fresh baking drifts out onto the street, and a daily selling calendar lists which varieties appear on which day. Opening hours run from 10:00 to 21:00, and the location beside PARCO, Seibu and Big Camera makes it an easy stop on any Ikebukuro shopping loop. For anyone curious about the Taiwanese castella craze that has swept across Japan, this bright yellow storefront is a genuine taste of the original rather than a copy. The queues that form on weekends speak to the cake's loyal following, and the single-cake format makes it a simple souvenir or a treat to share. A short detour from the station delivers a slice of Tainan's most famous export, baked fresh in front of you.Operating Hours
Overall Rating
Based on 49 Google reviews
Negative Reviews
No negative reviews yet.
Positive Reviews
No positive reviews yet.
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience!
Write a Review
Photo Gallery

Meitō

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store - Meido
A storefront with a yellow signboard displaying '台湾カステラ専門店' and '名東'. The shop features a menu board outside, showcasing various castella cake products like strawberry, chocolate, and red bean flavors. There is also an ice cream cone display in front of the entrance.

Taiwan Castella Ichikado Ikebukuro Store
Storefront of Taiwan Castella Ichikado at Ikebukuro, featuring illuminated signage with product images and prices. Visible items include chocolate cake (¥1,700), cheese cake (¥1,340), and seasonal limited-time products like 'Tobiko' and 'Sunrise'. A yellow sign indicates operating hours from 10:00 to 21:00.

Custard Menu Shop Front
A shop front with a yellow signboard displaying 'Custard Menu' and 'Original ¥1,080 to ¥1,166'. A large poster on the door lists 'Taiwan Custard Name East' with a schedule of custards for June and July. The window shows an 'OPEN' sign dated June 28, AM 10:00.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store Exterior
Nighttime exterior of a shop with yellow signage and illuminated menu boards displaying castella cake products. A staff member in uniform is visible inside the counter area. Vertical banners and horizontal signs feature Japanese text promoting Taiwan-style castella.

Taiwan Kastera Specialty Store Sign
Vertical yellow banner with brown Japanese and Chinese characters reading '台湾カステラ専門店' (Taiwan Castella Specialty Store), hanging at the entrance of a shop in an urban street setting.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store
A storefront with a bright yellow sign displaying Japanese and Chinese characters, featuring an illustration of a person and the name 'Meido' (名東). The shop sells castella cake, as indicated by the signage. There are people standing in front of the store.

Cafe Counter with Menu Display
A person stands at a cafe counter, facing the service window. Above the window is a menu board displaying three cake items with prices in yen. The interior behind the counter has yellow tiled walls and glass display cases.

Storefront with Open Signs and Price Banners
The image shows the exterior of a shop entrance with glass doors. Yellow signs above the door display prices in Japanese Yen, including 'Original' at ¥1,080 (tax included ¥1,166) and 'Kobachi Cheese' at ¥1,380 (tax included ¥1,490). Below, yellow posters indicate opening hours: June 28, 2023, from AM10:00 to AM10:00.

Nakamura Caramel Shop Front
A storefront with yellow and brown exterior, featuring a menu board above the entrance displaying caramel products like 'Orange' and 'Strawberry'. A cartoon character sticker is on the door, along with a schedule poster. Inside, staff in yellow uniforms are visible behind the counter.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store Exterior
A yellow vertical banner with Japanese and Chinese characters hangs on the storefront, indicating a specialized shop for Taiwan-style castella cake. The entrance features glass doors with 'OPEN' signs and dates displayed above them. Inside, yellow tiled walls are visible along with stacked cardboard boxes near the entrance.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store - Meido
A brightly lit storefront with a large yellow sign reading '台湾カステラ専門店 名東' (Taiwan Castella Specialty Store Meido) and '現烤蛋糕 Since 2009'. Below, three customers stand at the counter ordering from behind glass. A vertical menu board is visible on the left door.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store - Meido
A storefront with a yellow sign displaying '台湾カステラ専門店 名東' and '現烤蛋糕 Since 2009'. A circular logo is mounted on the wall. Below, there are menu boards showing castella cake products. People are standing in line at the entrance.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store Front
A street-level view of a shop front with yellow signage and banners advertising Taiwan-style castella cake. A vertical banner reads '台湾カステラ専門店' (Taiwan Castella Specialty Shop). The storefront features glass windows displaying baked goods, including layered cakes and sandwiches. People are walking by on the sidewalk in an urban setting.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store - Meido
A street-level view of a shop front with a bright yellow sign reading '台湾カステラ専門店 名東' (Taiwan Castella Specialty Store Meido). The storefront features glass windows displaying baked goods, including layered cakes and cream puffs. A queue of customers is visible outside, waiting to enter or purchase items. Posters advertise purple-layered castella cakes. The building facade includes modern architectural elements like horizontal slats and a large PARCO sign in the background.

名東 環烤蛋糕
A brightly lit storefront with a yellow sign displaying '名東 環烤蛋糕' and 'Since 2009'. The entrance features glass doors, a menu board outside showing cake slices, and vertical banners hanging on the sides. Adjacent is another shop with signage.

Taiwan Castera Specialty Store Exterior
A street-level view of a shop with yellow signage reading '台湾カステラ専門店' (Taiwan Castera Specialty Store). A vertical banner hangs on the left, and a circular sign is mounted above the entrance. The storefront features glass windows displaying 'OPEN' signs inside. A green shopping cart filled with white bags sits near the entrance. Pedestrians walk by in the background.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store
A street-level view of a shop with a yellow sign reading '台湾カステラ専門店' (Taiwan Castella Specialty Store). The storefront features a counter with a display of castella cake and other baked goods. A person holding an umbrella stands nearby, and another individual is partially visible on the left side.

Nagano Kastastra January Sales Calendar
A printed sales calendar poster displayed on a black surface, likely in a store or cafe setting. The poster features Japanese text and lists daily specials from Monday to Sunday with original items and seasonal additions like cheese, chocolate, and fruit flavors.

Nobei Castella Flavor Schedule Sign
A sign displaying the daily rotating flavors of Nobei Castella at Ikebata Store, with a separate notice about door opening and closing times.

Nagano Castella Serving Instructions
A printed instruction card showing how to serve Nagano-style castella cake, with icons and Japanese text detailing serving methods like eating warm, chilling in the fridge, or reheating in a microwave.

Cheesecake Advertisement Sign
A freestanding A-frame sign advertising a new baked cheesecake at the Ikebukuro store, open Wednesday through Sunday. The poster features images of sliced cheesecakes and mentions using three types of cheese for a creamy texture. Price is listed as ¥1,800.

Cake Advertisement Poster
A promotional poster featuring a sliced cake with a lattice top, likely a custard or sponge cake. The text is in Japanese, highlighting the dessert's creamy and soft texture. Below the image, there is a monthly sales calendar for August, listing various cake flavors and prices.

Taiwan Castella Specialty Store - Namest
Interior view of a Taiwanese castella cake shop with promotional posters, price lists, and product displays visible through the glass window.

Taiwan Castella Cake Package
A close-up of a yellow paper bag or packaging featuring printed Japanese and Chinese characters. The text reads '台湾カステラ' (Taiwan Castella) in dark brown, followed by '現烤蛋糕' (Freshly Baked Cake) inside oval shapes below.

Cake Box Packaging
A yellow cardboard box with red accents, featuring a handle cutout at the top. The box displays Chinese characters and Japanese text indicating it is a freshly baked cake product from Taiwan since 2009.

Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone
A hand holding a soft serve ice cream in a waffle cone with a plastic spoon inserted, against the backdrop of a shop door featuring signage and posters.

Slice of Yellow Cake
Close-up view of a slice of yellow cake with a golden-brown crust, placed on a dark plate.

Cake in box
A rectangular sponge cake with golden-brown surface, placed inside a white cardboard box lined with parchment paper.

Manjaro Banistera Castella Advertisement
A promotional poster featuring a slice of castella cake with mango and banana flavors, priced at ¥1,280 (tax included). The ad highlights the product's cooling properties during summer and mentions availability on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Taiwan Castella Ice Cream Cone
A hand holding a soft-serve ice cream cone with light yellow castella flavor, in front of a yellow banner reading '台湾カステラ専門' (Specialist in Taiwan Castella). The cup has 'TOMI SIJAMURA SHAKU ACE' printed on it.

Cake in Bowl
A close-up of a piece of yellow sponge cake being held by a fork over a red bowl.

名東現烤蛋糕
A yellow box with a cartoon character and Japanese characters, indicating it is a product packaging for freshly baked cakes from Taiwan.

Purple Cake in Box
A rectangular cake with a vibrant purple top layer and golden-brown base, wrapped in white paper inside an open cardboard box.

Cake in Box
A golden-brown sponge cake with a crisscross pattern on top, placed inside a white box lined with parchment paper.

Sesame Seed Cake Slice
A close-up of a sliced cake with sesame seeds on top, showing a soft yellow sponge interior and a filling layer.

Sliced Cake on Plate
A single slice of yellow cake with a smooth, slightly cracked top surface rests on a dark blue ceramic plate with a speckled texture. The plate sits on an orange fabric surface with partial visible text including 'two raisins' and 'jus.' The lighting is warm, highlighting the cake's golden hue.

Street Scene with Pedestrians and Storefront
A busy street scene featuring pedestrians walking on a tiled sidewalk in front of various storefronts. One prominent shop has a yellow sign with Japanese characters and an illustration, while another shop displays a menu board with food items and prices. People are dressed casually, some carrying umbrellas or bags, suggesting a typical urban environment.

Pumpkin Seed Omelette in Takeout Box
A rectangular omelette topped with pumpkin seeds, served in a white cardboard takeout container lined with parchment paper. The dish is placed on a clear plastic bag atop a beige surface.

Sesame Topped Cake Slice
A rectangular slice of golden-yellow sponge cake, topped with scattered white sesame seeds, resting in a white paper-lined box.

Yellow Cake in Paper Liner
A rectangular sheet cake with golden-yellow sponge texture, resting on white parchment paper inside a container. The surface shows slight cracks and glossy sheen from glaze or syrup.

Yellow Cake Box with Japanese Text
A close-up of a yellow cardboard box wrapped in clear plastic, featuring red and black Japanese characters and English text including 'TAIWAN CASTILLA' and 'Since 2009'. A cartoon illustration of a person is visible on the left side.

Taiwan Castella Box
A yellow box with a cartoon character and Japanese/Chinese text, indicating it is a product packaging for Taiwan-style castella cake.

Cake in Packaging
A rectangular sponge cake with a golden-brown surface, featuring decorative swirls and a glossy glaze, wrapped in white paper.

Layered Cake Slice
A close-up of a sliced layered cake with visible yellow and white sponge layers, topped with chopped nuts on a golden-brown crust. The cake rests on white parchment paper.

Sponge Cake Slice
A close-up view of a slice of yellow sponge cake, showing its porous texture and golden-brown crust. The cake is placed on white parchment paper inside a box.

Yellow food box with cartoon character and Chinese characters
A bright yellow cardboard takeout box with a brown handle cutout on top. The side features a line drawing of a smiling man in glasses, vertical text reading 'TAIWAN CASTLE', large stylized red Chinese characters (likely '名東'), and smaller Japanese-style text. At the bottom left, small text says 'Since 2009'. The box rests on a metallic surface.

Street Scene with Shop Front and Person Lying Down
A sunny street scene featuring a shop with yellow awnings and signage. A person is lying on the ground near the entrance, while pedestrians walk by in the background.

Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone
A hand holding a soft serve ice cream cone with a yellowish flavor, in front of a shop door featuring signage and menus.





