I recently celebrated a milestone—my 30th birthday.

Though I hustle around as the young dynamo of the Higo Journal, turning thirty makes me wonder how quickly time flies.

As a child, l imagined thirty-year-olds as completely perfect human beings who could do anything, but it still feels like I was in high school just yesterday.

But staying youthful in spirit is surely something to celebrate, right?! So I decided to throw my ideal “I Don’t Care How Hold I Am!” Party.

 Visiting Mori-no-Kumasan Bon Gateau in Hikari no Mori

What’s a birthday without cake?

For my special day, I ventured to Hikarinomori in pursuit of my ideal cake.

This is the cake shop, located near Youme Town Hikarinomori shopping center.

Parking is available behind the shop.

The sign for the parking lot has a cute bear illustration on it.

Inside you are greeted with an array of irresistible cakes.

Many of the cakes were made with plenty of the in-season strawberries.

As l get older I feel smaller cakes suffice, but for a real celebration, go big!

And the cakes here?

！！？！？！？

They’re spectacularly over-the-top!

Hearts, colorful candies, and other playful toppings make these cakes a visual feast that lifts your spirits just by looking.

I heard that when they first opened, they didn’t go this far, but they kept adding more and more, and this is the result.

Their baked goods are not only visually appealing but also irresistibly tasty. Despite it being a weekday morning, the bakery buzzed with patrons.

To ensure you get one of their fabulous decorative cakes, I recommend ordering in advance.

 A Celebration with Adorably Delightful Cakes

After snagging an enormous cake, I headed to the whimsical Aruru Studio to take photos.

Here’s the showstopper I chose:

Decorated Chiffon 18 cm 4000 yen (tax included)

It’s outrageously cute!

It features heart-shaped chocolates, macarons, and a generous array of fruits, with strawberries artfully arranged into hearts.

The cream on the side, resembling roses and sporting a delicate pink gradient, shows meticulous attention to detail.

The sides are festooned with cookies, flowers, and heart-shaped sweets—this cake is a masterpiece!

Of course, I made sure that the cake was adorned with a birthday message to myself.

And remember, it’s not a birthday cake without candles.

If I stuck as candles many as my age, the cake would be overloaded, so I went with these numeral ones.

The perfect environment to take selfies.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

Silence…..

Whoa, that was close-I might have cried if I hadn’t been in such a cute place with a cute cake.

Even alone, I’ll keep going strong.

Cuteness Reigns Supreme

The cake was too much for one, so I called in a friend to share the bounty.

The base of the cake is a light, fluffy chiffon, so it’s deceptively airy, making even this lavish treat easy to enjoy.

The sweetness of the cream and other components is restrained; it’s not just piled on but thoughtfully made to be enjoyable.

No matter my age or how others might see it, I’m committed to passionately doing what I love.

Why not break the mold and celebrate with a show-stopping cake, no matter your age? After all, cuteness reigns supreme!

Mori-no-Kumasan Bon Gateau