January 2023. A gift from a friend. My friend was going to Yushima Tenjin, so I asked them to bring back something from Tsuruse, a café and confectionery shop in Yushima. They brought back the following items: - Musubi Ume (300 yen): A lucky charm named after an old tree called Musubi Ume in Yushima Tenjin. It contains white steamed rice, kelp, soybeans, and small plums (with seeds in the plums). - Mame Daifuku (200 yen): A traditional treat from the shop, made with mochi, red beans, and crushed sweet bean paste. - Fuku Ume (240 yen): A confection offered at the Yushima Tenjin Millennium Festival in 2002, representing the white plum blossoms that bloom for the deity. It contains white sweet bean paste and plum-flavored rice cake (with seeds in the plums). I enjoyed them all, but especially loved the Mame Daifuku for its perfect balance of saltiness. I definitely want to buy it again. The Musubi Ume and Fuku Ume were also delicious, with the Musubi Ume standing out for its combination of soybeans, kelp, and plums. I would love to visit Tsuruse in person next time I'm in the Yushima area. Thank you for the treats!

Located a 5-minute walk from Yushima Tenjin, I visited "Tsuruse Yushima Honten." My friend who was in Tokyo brought back souvenirs for me, as their activity range is around Ueno and Okachimachi. This time, I had them buy "Mame Daifuku" and "Dorayaki" from Tsuruse. Let's try them out. First, the Mame Daifuku: Best consumed on the same day, the mochi is delightfully chewy with a surprising hint of saltiness. The ample amount of beans adds a nice salty flavor, while the red bean paste is more like sweet potato, giving a fluffy texture. I believe this is a high-quality Mame Daifuku. Although I have yet to try the three famous Mame Daifuku in Tokyo, if this one doesn't make the cut, then the level in Tokyo must be quite high. Thank you for the meal. *Review for Dorayaki will be added later! ~September 24th Update~ Regarding the Dorayaki: A fairly large dorayaki, the skin is unexpectedly dry, but still moist compared to others. It lacks a distinctive feature and is a slightly higher quality normal dorayaki. It's tasty, but I don't think it's worth buying specifically. Stick to the Mame Daifuku.

The items I bought from the selected top 100 stores were a cream-filled cake, a red bean mochi, and a plum-flavored snack. I think the taste is good, but not exceptionally delicious. As I always say, I believe you can find equally good options in department store food halls. If you have a reason to eat traditional Japanese sweets and want to try them out, it's totally fine to visit these stores. However, if you have to take multiple trains to go around trying different sweets, I feel like it's a waste of time. Personally, I think people who go out of their way to visit these top 100 stores just for the sake of it are either really bored or just contributing to the world's trash... It makes me want to cry, haha.

Rating: 3.7 [Eat-in: Yes, Takeout: Yes] Located 1-2 minutes walk from Yushima Station and Yushima Tenjin, and 11 minutes walk from Ueno Station. Established in 1930, this traditional Japanese sweets shop caught my eye on a hot summer day with its refreshing menu. I ordered the "Nagomi" (680 yen), which is a trio of warabi mochi, sweet red bean paste, and matcha ice cream. The sweet red bean paste goes perfectly with the chewy warabi mochi, and the matcha ice cream with its strong tea flavor and bitterness was a deliciously cool treat. My companion's "Wa Parfait" (700 yen) also looked very appetizing. This place is perfect for relaxing and cooling down after strolling around Yushima Tenjin and Ueno Park. I later found out that their specialty is bean mochi and bean daifuku, so I'll definitely try those for takeout next time. Thank you for the meal!

I don't particularly like sweets, but dorayaki is exceptional. Today, I didn't have anything to refresh my mouth after eating something spicy, so I bought dorayaki here. It's a small size that is easy to eat, and one costs 200 yen. It has plenty of red beans with just the right amount of saltiness and sweetness. Among the dorayaki I've had, the one from Asakusa's Momotaro is a bit higher in my ranking.

Daifuku with red bean paste... The elegant texture of the red bean paste is amazing. This is a red bean paste to enjoy with soybeans. The rice cake, of course, gets harder as time passes, but the richness of flavor when you chew on it is delightful. The seasoning is also well-balanced, making it delicious. Ume musubi... A rice ball with pickled plum, reminiscent of a plum rice ball. Inside, there is also kombu seaweed, with soybeans adding a nice touch. A taste that no one could dislike. It reminds me of Japanese cuisine. Thank you for the meal!

"Established in 1930, Tsuruse Yushima Honten is a traditional Japanese sweets shop and dessert shop located in Yushima/Ueno. It has been selected as one of the top 100 restaurants on Tabelog. The Mitarashi dango and warabi mochi were incredibly delicious! Their signature item is the bean daifuku, so be sure to try it if you love bean daifuku. In addition to takeout, they also have a cafe space inside the shop. Located close to Ueno Park, it's a great place to take a break when visiting Ueno/Yushima. #Tsuruse #TsuruseYushimaHonten #Yushima #Ueno #YushimaDate #UenoDate #UenoPark #JapaneseSweets #SweetsShop #Desserts #Daifuku #BeanDaifuku #Mochi #Manju #Yokan #MizuYokan #Dorayaki #WarabiMochi #MitarashiDango #ShavedIce"

I took a walk from Hongo to Yushima and my destination was "Tsuruse Yushima Honten", where I bought some Azuki bean daifuku. This shop always has a variety of traditional Japanese sweets and it's always busy with people placing orders. During New Year's, it gets so crowded that you can't even reach the counter. The Azuki bean daifuku is small in size but has a nice texture from the beans and a hint of saltiness in the sweet red bean paste, making it light and delicious. I also bought some Mizu yokan, which was refreshing and tasty. One great thing about this shop is that you can easily catch the Chiyoda Line right after making a purchase.

I received Fukuume, Daifuku with beans, and a limited-time Honey Lemon Ukishima♪ Fukuume has a subtle sourness of plum and the sweetness of Daifuku dough is good (*｀･ω･)ゞ Daifuku with beans is a supreme dish (*＾▽＾*) The sweetness is already happy from the first bite, the chewy texture, and the sweetness of red beans are really good! This will definitely become the most popular, it was amazing♪ Honey Lemon has a sweetness and lemon flavor, and the pulp spreads throughout the body, giving a happiness that can only be tasted in summer (*^▽^)/★*☆♪

I felt like eating daifuku, so I thought about getting takeout, but I wanted to eat it right away (lol) so I ended up dining in. Matcha and daifuku are the best ❤️ The smooth and creamy red bean paste is delicious. I'm glad there are still some left. By the way, the dango was sold out.

At the corner of the intersection in Yushima, there is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop. I really enjoyed the elegantly expressed sweetness of their wagashi. ■Order Details - Mame Daifuku (Bean Daifuku) 200 yen A famous confectionery that has inherited the taste from when the shop was first established. It has red bean paste with whole red beans for a satisfying texture. A hint of saltiness adds to the flavor. - Fuku Ume (Good Fortune Plum) 240 yen A confectionery that was once offered at the Yushima Tenjin Shrine's millennium festival. It represents the white plum blossoms at the shrine. It is a delicate pink-colored white bean paste wrapped in thin mochi. The subtle fragrance of plum and the saltiness of the plum in the center enhance the sweetness. - Kogiku Mochi (Small Chrysanthemum Mochi) 280 yen A mizuyokan with chrysanthemum petals. It was so beautiful that I ended up buying more. The texture of the mizuyokan is distinct, and the sweet red bean paste inside is elegantly sweet. ■Miscellaneous Established in 1930 as "Owariya," the shop was renamed "Tsuruse" in 1950. They are known for their Mame Daifuku and Mame Mochi. However, their other colorful confections were also lovely. I will definitely visit again. The taste was great and the visually appealing wagashi would be perfect for serving guests. In addition to takeout, they also offer dining in their tea room.

The popular item at the traditional Japanese sweets shop "Hyakumeiten" in 2023 is the "Mame Daifuku". I love Japanese sweets, so I think it's a sin that they have such delicious treats at the new top 100 list. I bought two Mame Daifuku and two Dorayaki for 200 yen each. They were beautifully packed in a box. The Mame Daifuku had a nice balance of saltiness and sweetness from the beans, making it delicious and perfect to enjoy with tea. I can see why it's the number one popular item. The Dorayaki was sweet and rich, but not outstanding. Thank you for the meal.

This is an excellent traditional Japanese confectionery shop that also offers a cozy spot for tea breaks. I don't visit frequently, but I love their morning fresh mochi for takeout, and their anmitsu and azuki sweet red bean soup in winter are top-notch. The honwara mochi I had today was the ultimate waramochi, with a great texture and amazing flavor. They use carefully selected ingredients and put in a lot of effort. The prices are reasonable for the quality you get.

I came to Tsuruse Yushima Honten located right by Yushima Station. In the evening, there were many people seeking sweets, so I took my time to decide on what to order. The most popular item is the bean daifuku, so I bought one. It had a slight saltiness, but the red bean paste had a gentle sweetness. I can see why this elegant bean daifuku is so popular. Thank you for the meal!

Arrived on Friday morning around 11:40 AM. There was no wait, so I was able to choose easily. I bought a white plum daifuku for 190 yen. You can buy them individually, which is great for trying out. I enjoyed it on a bench in Ueno Park - it was sweet and delicious. It's perfect for men who want a small, sweet treat. Thank you for the meal! I will definitely go again.

This is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Yushima. You can dine in, but the soybean daifuku is only available for takeout, as it wasn't on the dine-in menu. I wanted to try the dango, but unfortunately, it was sold out, so I ended up getting the recommended fresh warabimochi instead. It had a nice chewy texture and was delicious with kinako (soybean flour) and black honey.

Tsuruse Yushima Main Store Today, on my way back from eating curry in Akihabara, I found out that Tsuruse Yushima Main Store was nearby, so I decided to stop by. I bought their popular item, the Bean Daifuku for ¥200 (tax included), and brought it home. The expiration date was the same day, so I ate it as soon as I got home. With one big bite, I could taste a hint of saltiness. The sweet red bean paste was just right in sweetness, and I could understand why it's their No. 1 item.

I visited the shop at the corner of the Tenjinbashi intersection near Yushima Station during the middle of the Bon holiday at around 12 o'clock. This time, I ordered takeout. The shop also has an eat-in corner, so I would like to try dining in next time. The exterior of the shop has an old-fashioned Japanese confectionery store feel, with a beautiful traditional design. The showcase filled with various Japanese sweets makes my heart leap with joy. - Bean Daifuku (200 yen): A heavy and satisfying bean daifuku. The mochi is soft and the red bean paste is packed inside. It's not too sweet and delicious. You can taste the beans well, and it's a superb delicacy that you can eat as much as you want. - White Mochi (120 yen): I bought this as a trial, and it's an unsweetened freshly made mochi. Maybe it's meant for grilling at home or putting in zoni (soup with mochi). I ate it as it is, and it's incredibly soft. If you buy this, you can enjoy authentic mochi at home. I'll buy it when I want to do something at home. - Plum Dumplings with Mitarashi and Anko (180 yen per piece): The mitarashi dumplings are soft and delicious. The mitarashi sauce is tasty, and the anko (sweet red bean paste) is superb. The mugwort flavor is also present and excellent. It's really delicious. - Musubi Ume (300 yen): A kombu, plum, and soybean rice ball that has been featured in the media. It's not sweet, more like a light meal. It might be perfect for dinner, late-night snack, or travel companion. The taste is excellent, and the size and texture are good. It seems like it would be filling too. I don't eat rice balls often, but this was really delicious. It's great for eating on your own, as well as for souvenirs or gifts. I definitely want to visit again.

My husband bought some treats: Mame Daifuku, Mitarashi Dango, An Dango, and Dorayaki. The Mame Daifuku has a strong salty taste that really stands out, but it's not overpowering. The red beans are chunky and flavorful. The sweet bean paste is not too sweet, complementing the salty taste and the beans. The mochi was a bit less chewy due to being bought in the evening, but still had a nice texture. This was the first time I tried a Daifuku with such a salty flavor, and it was delicious. My daughter claimed the Mitarashi Dango all for herself, as she loves them. My husband and I only had a taste of the sauce (laughs). The sauce has a good balance of sweetness and soy sauce flavor. The An Dango (not sure of the official name) has a strong mugwort flavor. The mochi is chewy, and the sweet bean paste is smooth and sweet. It was tasty, but I wished the mugwort flavor was a bit more pronounced. The Dorayaki has a fluffy texture that melts in your mouth. The red bean flavor is intense and the cake has a rich taste. It's not too sweet but has a satisfying sweetness. It was delicious. The flavors at this shop are not trying to please everyone, but rather seem to be focused on offering a specific taste. Many sweets these days are elegant and delicate, providing a soothing experience, but these treats had a strong and robust flavor that felt like a boost of energy. They were delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Located above Yushima Station, this traditional Japanese sweets shop in Okachimachi was a bit quiet with a takeout option. I ordered Tokoroten and paid in cash, with an additional charge for a plastic bag. The packaging was carefully done in a paper box, and there was a sticker on the paper covering the box that said, "Please refrigerate immediately after purchase and consume as soon as possible." I followed the instructions and had it for dessert after dinner. The vinegar was mild, but the mustard had a kick to it. There was a generous amount of seaweed, which added a touch of luxury to the dish.

I visited a long-established sweet shop. I arrived an hour before closing time, so the shiratama (rice flour dumplings) were sold out, and I bought anmitsu instead. It wasn't too sweet and was delicious. Next time, I would like to try shiratama anmitsu or shiratama cream.