Michelin-Tier Chef's Limited Blueberry Parfait Launches at Hakuba Iwatake

TL;DR: Tokyo chef Tetsuo Ota debuts a limited weekend parfait at Iwatake using organic Hakuba blueberries starting July 12, 2026.

Tetsuo Ota, the chef behind LA CASA DI Tetsuo Ota—one of Tokyo's most notoriously difficult reservations—has designed a summer parfait for &Deli, the restaurant inside B&D HAKUBA IWATAKE. Starting July 12, the parfait will be sold on weekends only, featuring fresh blueberries from FARM HAKUBA Blueberry Garden, a 40-year-old organic operation that supplied the 2020 Tokyo Olympics athletes' village.

Ota, who was born in Hakuba Iwatake, built the dish around raw blueberries paired with 70% cacao chocolate. The blueberries aren't cooked or processed—they're served whole to preserve the pop of the skin and the temperature contrast between the cold fruit and the other layers. The farm is certified organic JAS, and the berries benefit from Hakuba's day-night temperature swings, which concentrate sugars and acids in each berry.

&Deli is part of the B&D HAKUBA IWATAKE complex, which Ota has been overseeing since its opening. The space includes accommodation, mountain bike access, and dining. This parfait marks the first time Ota has designed a dessert menu item specifically around Hakuba-grown produce available to walk-in guests.

Key Facts

• Sale starts: July 12, 2026, weekends only, limited period (end date not specified in the source)
• Chef: Tetsuo Ota, owner-chef of LA CASA DI Tetsuo Ota (Tokyo), native of Hakuba Iwatake
• Location: &Deli restaurant, B&D HAKUBA IWATAKE
• Blueberries: Supplied by FARM HAKUBA Blueberry Garden, organic JAS certified, 40+ year history, same farm that supplied the Tokyo 2020 Olympic village
• Design: Raw blueberries with 70% cacao chocolate base; no cooking or processing to retain texture and freshness
• Farm activity: The blueberry farm also runs a popular summer U-pick operation

What This Means for International Visitors

I've watched Hakuba's summer food scene grow slowly, and this is one of the sharper examples of a Tokyo-level chef bringing his reputation back to the valley in a way that doesn't require a ¥20,000 tasting menu. If you're visiting Hakuba in mid-to-late July or August and you're staying near Iwatake, this is a weekend-specific reason to stop at B&D rather than just pass through. Ota's name carries weight—LA CASA DI is genuinely hard to book in Tokyo—so the fact that he's designing a walk-in dessert using Hakuba fruit is unusual.

For buyers or long-term residents, the broader pattern matters more than one parfait. Hakuba is slowly building a year-round food identity beyond Echoland izakayas and hotel buffets. When a chef of Ota's profile ties his name to a Hakuba supplier and a specific ingredient, it signals that the valley's agriculture and summer tourism are becoming economically viable enough to support high-end, seasonally driven menus. That's a long-term amenity shift that affects property desirability outside of ski season.

Background

FARM HAKUBA (also known as Hakuba Nōjō) has been growing blueberries in the valley for over 40 years. The farm holds organic JAS certification and gained national visibility when its berries were selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. They also sell branded products under "Hakuba Sodachi" (白馬そだち), including jams and juices distributed nationally. The farm runs a blueberry-picking event each summer, part of Hakuba's expanding warm-weather activity calendar that now includes mountain biking, trail running, and farm visits.

Ota's involvement with B&D HAKUBA IWATAKE reflects a wider trend of Tokyo chefs and hospitality operators investing in or partnering with Hakuba properties. &Deli opened as part of the B&D complex, which includes lodging and direct access to Iwatake's gondola and bike park.

Editorial note: HakubaHub is an independent blog. We report on publicly available Japanese-language announcements and data, translated and contextualized for English-speaking buyers, investors, and residents. We are not affiliated with any developer, agency, or government body. All figures and claims are sourced; where uncertainty exists, we say so.