Gâteau des Bois Laboratoire: A Café Stop near Heijō Palace
Visit Gâteau des Bois' second cake shop and salon by bus or a walk from Amagatsuji, with on-site parking.
Verified site photographs are being prepared.Discover Gâteau des Bois Laboratoire: A Café Stop near Heijō Palace
Laboratoire is the second public shop of the Nara pâtisserie Gâteau des Bois, in Shijo-oji rather than by Saidaiji Station. Despite the name, the operator lists a retail counter and non-smoking salon here, so this is a place for a cake break, not an advertised hands-on baking class or a public production tour. Its useful difference for a traveller is location: the Sanjo-oji 4-chome bus stop is just outside, the Amagatsuji Station walk is about 13 minutes, and the operator lists parking. Check the specific shop's calendar and collection before choosing between this branch and À La Maison.
Ask what is actually at the Laboratoire counter
The operator's collection lists its chocolate-pistachio-raspberry Ambroise among the brand's signature cakes, but warns that the website shows only part of the range and that stock depends on shop and season. Two examples labelled for this side of the business are Chamonix, a bitter-chocolate, raspberry and rose cake, and the Laboratoire-only Savarin, a brioche steeped in tea syrup and orange spirit with orange jam and cream. These descriptions guide a choice; they do not prove either item is available today. The Savarin contains alcohol, and other cakes may contain nuts, wheat, egg or dairy. Ask the store about exact ingredients and possible cross-contact.
Use the new shop and salon hours
The operator's 2026 update opened Laboratoire retail at 10:00 on weekdays from 17 September, matching its 10:00–18:00 weekend and holiday shop hours. Its weekday salon begins later, at 11:00, and the weekend or holiday salon opens at 10:00. Both salon schedules end at 17:30, with last orders at 17:00; all salon seats are non-smoking. Consult the closure calendar before setting out. Third-party restaurant profiles still show the old 11:00 weekday retail opening and 12:00 weekday cafe opening, so they cannot settle the present schedule.
Reserve cakes through this pickup shop
If you want a decorated whole cake, the brand's collection lists a 12 cm Chantilly Fraise at ¥3,780 including tax as a dated example, but warns that selection differs by shop and season. Confirm this branch can make the product before paying or planning a celebration. The company says to place a decorated-cake order at least three days ahead by telephone or in person at the pickup branch, not by email; festive seasons can be booked out. Call Laboratoire at 0742-93-8016. A single-slice cafe bill, table reservation and current payment options are not established by that whole-cake figure.
Make the Shijo-oji trip deliberately
The operator places Laboratoire at 3-4-54 Shijo-oji, about 13 minutes on foot from the east exit of Kintetsu Amagatsuji Station. It also says the Sanjo-oji 4-chome bus stop is immediately by the shop, but does not supply a durable route number or timetable; look up the current Nara Kotsu service from your origin. The operator lists an on-site car park and points motorcyclists away from its parking-poor main shop toward this branch. Capacity, step-free entry, specific motorcycle bays and salon table booking should be checked with staff rather than inferred from the map or car-park symbol.
What to look for
Laboratoire-labelled cakes, including a spirit-containing Savarin
Non-smoking cake salon with a later weekday opening than the shop
Operator-listed parking and a nearby bus stop
Photo notes
MyNara has no licensed branch, pastry, staff or salon photos. The company's website and review images cannot be reused here without permission. Ask the shop before making interior pictures and obtain written permission for any MyNara feature photography.
Make a day of it
Explore guides close to this map point, then check the actual route before travelling. Distances below are straight lines, not walking distances or travel times; map points may not be entrances.
Sources & editorial status
Original MyNara draft based on the linked sources. Sources reviewed 19 October 2026. Opening arrangements, prices and offers may change; use the operator's current information before travelling.
- Gâteau des Bois operator — separate Laboratoire location, route, hours, parking and closure calendar
- Gâteau des Bois operator — 17 September 2026 weekday opening change
- Gâteau des Bois operator — collection, exclusive cakes and decorated-cake terms
- Gâteau des Bois operator — branch phone and no email cake reservations
- JR Central — independent identification of the Saidaiji main shop and Shijo-oji lab shop