Ajari mochi is a shop in Kyoto. It doesn't last long, so even if you want to eat it, you can't. So whenever I see it, I make sure to buy it. I wanted to see the lion at the entrance of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, so I entered the store. The lion was bigger than I expected, and the lobby with its high ceiling had impressive sculptures and walls made of stones with ammonites embedded in them, as well as a piano with automatic play. The 7th-floor event was a Disney 100th-anniversary festival, which felt like a true department store experience. The children's lunch at the 7th-floor dining hall cost 5000 yen, so I enjoyed the rooftop garden and then headed to the basement food market. There, I unexpectedly came face to face with Ajari mochi. It was a great encounter to have made my way down to the basement. I bought some for home and ate it right away. The chewy texture of the mochi was delicious as always. The unexpected encounter made it even more enjoyable. However, the checkout was very crowded, so I realized the importance of allowing extra time when visiting the basement food market.

The wagashi section at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. There are other department stores as well, but this one sells wagashi from all over the country. They also have events that are enjoyable. This time, guess what! Ginza Tachino was operating at Tokyu Toyoko store's restaurant, but it closed down and had a shop in Kichijoji, which quickly disappeared... It seemed like they went out of business (・・;). They have recently been making an effort and are now operating in Jiyugaoka on weekends, and have started participating in events. They were at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi for a limited time of one week. Lucky me. I tried their shiratama and koshi anmitsu. I also tried their butter sandwich with sakura bean paste. I hope they open another shop soon ＼(^-^)／.

In the eyes, the blue-green leaves of Mount Aoyama, the Ho-oto-gisu is a pine fish. "Fuyugoe" In ancient China, the emperor of "Shu" was forced to abdicate due to misconduct, and although he wished to be reinstated, his wish was not granted. He passed away in despair and transformed into a Ho-oto-gisu, continuing to cry "I cannot return" and "until I vomit blood." On March 21, 2023, at "Kaguan," I purchased the "Hatsukatsuwo" half-oar. If you are familiar with the tea ceremony, you may know this confection. By twisting the cotton thread wrapped around the black characters and cutting the oar, it resembles the cross-section of bonito sashimi. Do not think of the hardness of good-quality steamed yokan. It is extremely soft. The subtly sweetness does not interfere with drinking tea. This is the Hatsukatsuwo steamed yokan made by Minotada. It is only made from early February to late May, but if hot days continue, the end of the sales period will also be earlier. At Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi's "Kaguan," it is only sold on Tuesdays. I think it is almost always sold out before noon on the Tuesday when it is sold for "3 days." You cannot make a phone reservation, but if you settle the payment in advance at the sales floor and say, "I will pick up the product delivered on which Tuesday at what time," it should be fine. It is unlikely to be placed at Isetan Shinjuku, and after the renewal at the end of March, they have even abolished the "Kyoto's long-established Japanese confectionery corner." I was told by an Isetan employee to go to Ginza or Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, so it seems like I will be visiting Kaguan more often. Thank you for the meal.

In January of the 5th year of Reiwa, there is a section in the basement of Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store that gathers traditional Japanese sweets from all over the country. Some of my favorite items to buy here are the "Chigo Mochi" from Sanjo Wakasaya in Kyoto, "Matsukaze" from Kameya Mutsu in Kyoto, "Tsukiyomimichi" from Matsubaya in Ishikawa, "Kurumi Yuzu Mochi" from Kan Sendou in Sendai, and "Otoshibumi" from Seigendo in Tokyo. Recently, I have been using Kawayuan in Ginza Mitsukoshi, but I found out that the Nagamochi from Sasaya in Mie Prefecture arrives on Sundays there, while it arrives on Mondays here, so I decided to try it. The Nagamochi from Sasaya in Mie Prefecture costs 701 yen (tax included) and comes in a pack of 7 individually wrapped pieces. It is a thin, flat mochi with a good balance of filling to mochi, which I personally like. This time, I enjoyed it both as is and after heating it in the microwave for 20 seconds.

My wife once bought it as a souvenir, but this time I went to the store myself. Various famous sweets from all over the country are available, and I had a hard time choosing, but I bought two. Satsuma Persimmon - Kyoto - 951 yen (tax included) I imagined a Japanese sweet like dried persimmons, but it was different. It is a confectionery with plenty of sweetness, with plenty of sugar sprinkled on top of sweet bean paste. It is like a lump of sweetness that surpasses the sweetness of persimmons. It will firmly grasp the hearts of those with a sweet tooth who want to eat sweet things. Ryotei's Chirimen Nuts - Kyoto - 1080 yen It has a seasoning like sweet soy sauce. It also contains chirimen and nuts, giving it a complex umami flavor. I like nuts, but this was a rare and delicious delicacy. There are too many choices. It's no wonder that Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, Japan's oldest department store, has good stores. Thank you for the meal.

My aunt bought several pieces at the Karyuan confectionery at Mitsukoshi Main Store, so I decided to buy some too. When my aunt asked the staff, "Do you have white ones?" they replied, "We only have black ones in stock. I'm sorry." The "Black Unryu" is incredibly delicious! I want to try the "White Unryu" next time.

There is a wide variety of representative sweets from all over Japan, perfect for gifts. Kyoto is particularly strong in this area, with offerings like Kinpaitou (gold leaf sugar) and matcha sweets. Kawatoyya's soba boro is a reliable choice. Osaka's Tenkachaya's rice crackers are also excellent. For a change from the stereotypical image of Osaka's greasy sauce-covered snacks, try their baked rice crackers. Kumamoto's Sonoda-ya's Korean candy is highly recommended if available. Visiting the main store near Fujisaki Shrine in Kumamoto is worth it for the atmosphere and unique products. Their Korean candy has a mochi-like flavor. In Takamatsu, Kagawa Prefecture, Kutsuwadou is worth a visit to the main store. The large, hard senbei crackers are recommended there. While they may not have them at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, they do sell thinner, easier-to-eat versions.

Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Main Store Basement 1st Floor Cash Register Settlement, a popular permanent event with long lines. Be prepared for the crowd! Today's purchase: Azuki Bean Rice Cakes (10 pieces) 1523 yen. It's hard to explain the unique texture of Azuki Bean Rice Cakes, but they are always delicious. The mysterious texture is like a mix of soft, chewy, and gooey, with a good amount of sweet red bean paste. They are so good that you won't even worry about the expiration date, you'll finish them quickly. Thank you for the meal!

Today's takeout adventure took me to the area around Mitsukoshimae Station. Exiting the Shibuya-bound exit of Tokyo Metro Ginza Line Mitsukoshimae Station, I walked straight ahead towards Mitsukoshimae Station on the Hanzomon Line. After a while, I spotted Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store on my right. I entered the store and took the escalator down to the basement floor. On the left side, I found the shop I was looking for today, called "Kagyoan." This shop specializes in only four types of traditional Japanese sweets: "Ajari Mochi," "Mangetsu," "Kyoto Namae," and "Nakam." The shop I visited, "Kagyoan," sells products from "Kyogashi Tsukasa Mangetsu," which was established in the late Edo period in 1856. At 2:55 PM on a weekday, I found the "Ajari Mochi" from "Kyogashi Tsukasa Mangetsu" being sold at the back of the shop. "Ajari" comes from a Sanskrit word meaning a high priest, and in Japan, it symbolizes a high-ranking priest in Tendai and Shingon Buddhism. It is said to have been created during a thousand-day training session on Mt. Hiei, where priests wore a net hat resembling Ajari and ate mochi to endure hunger. I purchased 10 pieces of "Ajari Mochi" for 141 yen each. When I got home and tried them, I found the mochi to be soft and chewy, with a sweet red bean paste filling. The combination of the chewy skin and rich bean paste was excellent and delicious. I quickly devoured two pieces. Today, I thoroughly enjoyed the "Ajari Mochi" from "Kyogashi Tsukasa Mangetsu." It was a delightful experience. Thank you for the meal.

You can purchase famous sweets from various regions of Japan here. Most department stores have a similar corner where you can find these sweets. It's great to be able to enjoy sweets from different regions while in Tokyo. I came across a Halloween limited edition and bought some nostalgic sweets. I bought the following: - Seigoin Yatsuhashi Main Store Marutsubo Yatsuhashi Halloween 540 yen It contains 3 pieces and there are 6 bags in total. Each bag has different designs, and I opened 2 bags which had different designs for the first and second/third pieces. Normally, there would be 12 different designs, but the photo on the package shows 13 pieces, so one bag must have all different designs. I enjoyed them at home with Japanese tea. They were crispy and quite hard, with a subtle sweetness. It had been a while since I had Yatsuhashi, and the traditional texture and taste brought back memories. On this day, I went to Nihonbashi to watch a live broadcast of the Takarazuka Revue Flower Troupe. The days before and after, I watched live performances in Yokohama, so I ended up watching the same show for 3 consecutive days. It was a very happy 3 days. Next month, I plan to go on a trip to Nagoya to follow the national tour.

My wife, who sells miso online, bought me a souvenir. She said that you can purchase products from a 200-year-old traditional Japanese confectionery store at our shop. I tried Kameya Yoshinaga Toba Tama (540 yen), which is a small Japanese confectionery that crumbles and melts in your mouth instantly, with a pleasant texture. It has a rich sweetness of black sugar that spreads throughout the mouth. Although there were only 6 small Japanese sweets, they disappeared quickly because they were so delicious. I found out that you can purchase various Japanese sweets online. I would love to try them again.

In the center of Tokyo, I enjoy looking at and trying various famous sweets from all over Japan. However, I usually end up buying the same thing every month - the soy sauce dango from Waraku Co., Ltd. in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture. It costs 206 yen (tax included) and has a shelf life of 2 days. In my family, we call it "Tochigi's mitarashi." It's often sold out by midday. The dango is chewy and the sauce is slightly sweet. It's well-made and worth the 200 yen. It used to be sold at Ginza Mitsukoshi and Isetan Shinjuku, but not anymore. Thank you for the free paper bag service at places like Taimiken and here. I appreciate it a lot. It may be an old-fashioned way of thinking, but department stores should be like this. Thank you as always.

Jelly within jelly. It's hot out, so I was looking for something that at least looks refreshing. I bought this at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. Time for jelly. Plum jelly, it might overflow vigorously on the film! It's definitely bursting at the seams. Oh, there's no acidity, it's a mild plum flavor. It's bouncy, almost like warabi (bracken starch). The green in the middle looks like plum pulp at first glance, but it's actually a jelly made from finely crushed plum pulp. Jelly within jelly. Oh, I see how it is.

I stopped by Kamakura Ogawaken to buy their Coffee Raisin Sandwich. I really love this one. The texture of the sablé is moist, which makes it really delicious. The coffee cream is also incredibly tasty. The subtle sweetness and coffee flavor go really well with the rum raisins. The crunchy sablé texture from Ogawaken and this Coffee Raisin Sandwich are a perfect match!

I was drawn to this product by its simple and straightforward name. It's about 13cm long and filled with sweet red bean paste. At first glance, it doesn't seem like there's a lot of filling, but when you take a bite, it's quite substantial. When baked, it tastes like freshly made sweet red bean paste mochi or eating zenzai. I recommend baking it, but be careful not to overdo it! I left it in the toaster for a bit too long and the important red bean paste fell out (T_T) Yes, that happened to me. Of course, it's delicious as it is too. Thank you for the meal.

Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi is a nationwide famous confectionery shop that specializes in gift items. I always buy the Yuzu pickles from Kagoshima, the Korean candy from Kumamoto's Sonoda-ya, and the soba baumkuchen from Kyoto's Kawado-ya. You can also get the tile senbei from Takamatsu's Kutsuwado, which is recommended as a tea accompaniment. The miso senbei from Gifu is also recommended as a snack. The pure Japanese sweets from Naruto Kintoki in Tokushima will impress those with a sweet tooth who love sweet potatoes. The elegant Japanese sweets with red bean flavor from Akita are also recommended. The arare from Tenmachaya in Osaka allows you to experience a sophisticated side of Osaka's food culture, different from the general image of Osaka. I recommend taking your time to leisurely browse the products on a less crowded day.

It's crowded because it's the end of the year. I bought the yuzu pickles from Kagoshima, Korean sweets from Kumamoto, and senbei from Kutsuwado in Sanuki Takamatsu. I missed out on getting Arare from Osaka and soba bolo from Kawadouya in Kyoto because I didn't want to wait in line again, so I gave up today. I sometimes buy miso senbei from Gifu as well. Our store offers a variety of famous sweets from all over the country, which is great. It's wonderful to be able to taste the flavors of prominent regional stores in parts. However, I recently visited the main store of Korenokan in Kumamoto. The lemon and persimmon flavored pieces in small bags, made from the scraps at the main store, were fantastic. By the way, Kutsuwado is famous in Takamatsu. It's located near Mitsukoshi Takamatsu in an arcade. Just by eating the senbei from Kutsuwado that you can buy at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, you won't fully appreciate the charm of Kutsuwado. I felt like going to the Japanese-style cafe corner at the main store of Kutsuwado in Takamatsu after a long time.

A famous national confectionery store. They have a wide variety of Kyoto sweets. I always buy Kyoto soba bolo and maru bolo. Today, I purchased two types of Satsuma mandarin peel from Kagoshima. The thick-cut version that had been missing for a while is back. Kumamoto's Korean candy is not always available, but if it is, I highly recommend it.

I purchased two types of water yokan introduced on a TV show called "Kenmin Show" in the past. There were no restrictions on lining up or purchasing multiple items, so I bought two varieties for my family. The winter water yokan from Fukui Prefecture, also known as "Decchi yokan," is a seasonal specialty available from November to March. After trying both types, I found that they both had a gentle sweetness and flavor. It was hard to tell the difference without paying close attention, but one had a stronger taste of brown sugar, while the other had a smoother texture that was enjoyable to savor.

Kurikinton sold at Mitsukoshi used to be Ena Suya, but since the merger with Isetan, you can now buy Kawakamiya's Kurikinton at Mitsukoshi as well. Compared to Ena Suya's Kurikinton, Kawakamiya's is less sweet and preferred in our household. We usually buy it at Nagoya Meitetsu Department Store, but today we bought it at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. Delicious.