1. What is Cybele?

Cybele is a company that sells sweets and baked confectioneries, a representative of goods from Yamagata Prefecture.

In particular, the Rusk France is famous and I often buy it for snacks at home or as gifts (^-^).

The crispy texture and flavor are truly addictive!

We also recommend the wide variety of products, including standard flavors and seasonal limited products.

This time, I would like to introduce two shops in the Cybele Factory Park, [1] the confectionery and bakery Factory Maison and [2] the Cybele Café where you can enjoy exquisite Italian food. (^- ^)

In addition to these two shop, the Cybele Factory Park also hosts a Rusk France Factory where you can look at the manufacturing process of this popular goods, the Cybele Arena where concerts are held and the Chihisudo Bunko Yamagata Library designed for parents and children.

Please come visit (^-^)

2. Factory Maison

Introducing the Factory Maison, a confectionery and bakery.

We asked the staff about their recommended products ~ (^-^)

① Inside the shop

First, the confectionery section on the right hand side from the entrance.

The bakery corner is on the left side but you will be surrounded by the sweet smell of the baked goods as soon as you pass the entrance.（>-<）

This is my favorite part, besides eating.

This is the corner where you will find Cybele most known item, the France Rusk.

The classic flavors are recommended, but check out seasonal seasonal products!

This time it was the Valentine season, so chocolate rusks were lined up (≧-≦)

You can also sample it, so please try it.

In the back, there are baked sweets such as cookies and Baumkuchen…

A showcase with many types of cakes awaits.

The bakery corner is on the left hand side from the entrance.

This was also a wonderful scene (> <)

As Setsubun (the day before the beginning of Spring) is close, there are red and blue melon melons in the middle…

There were quite a variety of items including the product shelves in the back (^-^)

Every item looks so delicious and I can’t decide. （><）

But this is part of the fun.

This is an enjoyable moment.（^-^）

② Top 3 confectionery recommendations

This time, I asked the staff about the top 3 recommended confectionery sweets!

[No. 3 Strawberry shortcake]

The third place was strawberry shortcake, which can be called a classic cake!

Shortcakes are 10% off on the 22nd of every month (up to two only).（^-^）

It was the 22 the day of my visit so there were lots of shortcakes in the showcase.

[No.2 Assorted Batons]

We at home often buy this.

The outside is crunchy while the inside is fluffy!

There are 4 flavors (plain, black tea, chocolate, caramel). The stick shape is recommended as snacks for children.

[No.1 Rusk France Plain]

No.1 was obviously this!

It won the 2018 Monde Selection Gold Award!

It is a gem carefully made by hand using carefully selected materials such as special flour, Yamagata’s delicious water, and Hokkaido fresh butter.

It seems that the “coupe” applied on the dough before baking is the secret of its taste. It creates a hole in the surface of the bread and brings out its crunchy texture.

③ Top 3 bakery recommendations

Of course, we also heard recommendations for bread (^-^)

[No. 3 The Shokupan]

The third place is Cybele specialty bread, a standard yet recommendable item.

It is egg free, so allergic children can feel safe.

Everyone loves this and won’t get tired of its delicious taste.

[No. 2 Yakisoba roll]

Yakisoba in a wrap.

It is a forever classic item.

The more you look at it the more you’ll want it (^-^)

[No. 1 Zao Anpan]

It is anko (red bean paste) made from high quality red beans from Hokkaido! And wrapped!

Try this rich texture!

3. Cybele Café

The Cybele Café attached to the Factory Maison offers exquisite Italian dishes such as pasta and salads, as well as pizzas baked in a stone kiln.

You can also buy products at Factory Maison, so it is recommended for gluttons who want to eat freshly baked bread and fresh sweets (^-^)

① Inside the shop

Inside it looks like this.

The windows are large and bright, giving a great open feeling.

The lighting is also fashionable (^-^)

On sunny days, you can enjoy the wonderful view of the blue sky and the Zao mountain range.

There were table seats in the back, where there are large windows and an open space.

② Cybele Café menu

Here is a part of the café menu!
* The menu is as of January 2020.

[Pasta]
・ Kuroge wagyu beef and eggplant meat sauce 1,100 yen
・ Shonai pork bacon and mushroom peperoncino 900 yen
・ Shrimp tomato cream 950 yen
・ Cybele Café Napolitan 880 yen
・ Baked Napolitan 1,000 yen

[Pizza]
・ Margherita 900 yen
・ Fresh tomato and mozzarella pizza 1,000 yen
・ Mixed pizza 1,300 yen

[Salad]
・ Vegetable salad (S size) 380 yen
・ Prosciutto ham salad 540 yen
・ Tandoori chicken and homemade pickles 600 yen
・ 5 kinds of sausages and homemade pickles 600 yen
・ Sausage and tandoori chicken platter 1,000 yen

・ Child set half size Hayashi rice + juice 500 yen

・ Berry parfait 820 yen
・ Green tea parfait 820 yen
・ Chocolate parfait 820 yen

③ Food report

This time, I got these three items which were recommended by the staff!

(1) Baked Napolitan
(2) Margherita pizza
(3) Jumbo parfait

(1) Baked Napolitan

The first item is the baked Napolitan coming from the kiln of the shop.

Freshly baked and still hot!

This is delicious (≧-≦)

The combination of texture and flavor of the Napolitan, creamy sauce and grilled cheese is outstanding!

The children were also excited.

The pasta is cut into bite-sized pieces, so it is recommended that you use a spoon and fork for this too.

(2) Margherita pizza

Next is a classic pizza, the Margherita.

One of the appeals of Cybele Café is that they knead the dough and bake the pizza in the kiln after the order is placed.

This time we had a wonderful performance in front of us (^-^)

Freshly baked pizza is so good!（>0<）

The pizza was well baked yet soft and springy all the way to the crust.

My second son only wanted to eat the crust.（^^；）

The 25cm wide pizza is quite large and the tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil sauce are exquisite. It was gone in no time!

(3) Jumbo parfait

And the last one is the limited-time only Jumbo Parfait!

I put a cup next to it, but can you see how big it is! ?

This is definitely Instagram material.

At first I wondered if we (2 adults and 2 children) could eat all that!

The contents are substantial with four kinds of ice cream (chocolate chips, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry), chocolate cake, chocolate & banana, chocolate flakes, rusk, macadamias and raspberries!

④ For children

This time, I took my two children (preschool children) and the services for them were substantial.

Here is what they found.

You can borrow toys and bring them to your table. (^-^)

There is a variety of them too.

Of course there are also chairs and cutlery for children.

And what impressed me personally is this diaper stand!

A café with a baby changing room is rare, but please see this message!

It is often an inconvenience to other customers to bring an infant to a restaurant, but such a message is reassuring.

In addition, there is a bucket for the diapers…

It is a recommended place for moms and dads with babies (^-^)

4. Factory tour

You can observe the manufacturing process of rusk.

It is truly spectacular, with about 20,000 baguettes lined up on many days!

There is a touch panel to enjoy the manufacturing process, so it is recommended for children (^-^)

5. Basic information

① Opening hours

Hours
・Factory Maison 9:00~19:00
・Cybele Café 11:00~20:30
　※ Last entrance for the café is at 20:00
　※ The café closes at 19:00 during the winter season (last order at 18:00) 

Closed
none
* Opening hours and days may be different due to COVID-19. Please inquire directly with the shop before visiting.

Contact
・Confectionery: 023-689-1136
・Bakery: 023-689-1134
・Cybele Café: 023-689-1137

② Access

Address
990-2338
2-1-3 Zao Matsugaoka, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture

Access
Car: About 1 minute from Tohoku Chuo Expressway Yamagata-Kaminoyama IC. Inside Zao Industrial Park.
Bus: About 20 minutes from JR Yamagata Station by Yamako Bus bound for Takamatsu-Hayama, get off at Omote Zao-guchi, about 8 minutes on foot. 
Train: About 15 minutes by car from Kaminoyama Onsen Station on JR Ou Main Line.

Parking
There are plenty of parking places so I doubt it should be an issue.

6. Recommended sightseeing nearby

① Gutto Yamagata

Gutto Yamagata is the largest souvenir shop in Yamagata Prefecture.

The scale and assortment are exactly the best in the prefecture!

This is one of the places you should definitely visit when visiting Yamagata.

② Zao Onsen

The hot spring was discovered over 1900 years ago.

It is a strong acid sulfur spring that has a rejuvenating effect on the skin, as well as a rejuvenating effect on rejuvenation and blood circulation.

Greenery in Spring, hiking in summer, autumn leaves in autumn, and winter sports, there is plenty to be enjoyed all year round.

➂ Lina World

This is the largest amusement park in Tohoku.

It is a recommended spot that my family and I visit every year (^-^)