Gransta Tokyo, B1 floor, Gin no Suzu area. On weekends, before the store opens at 8am, there is a whirl of people buying souvenirs in front of Gin no Suzu. As soon as the shutter is halfway up, people bend down to peek inside and confirm the location of the store. Ignoring other shops, a line suddenly forms. The only shop with a line was a rice cracker shop that has been in business for over 60 years with its main store in Aoto. The sought-after item was a rice cracker with sweet red bean paste sandwiched in between. This was actually a souvenir I received from my drinking buddies before. I had never heard of it before, but when I took it home and tried it with my family, everyone loved the sweet and salty flavor that all Japanese people seem to enjoy. It's a Tokyo-style souvenir that's not too mainstream, and because it's a rice cracker, it lasts a long time even in the middle of summer. I was sure that anyone would be delighted to receive it, so before heading to Osaka, I bought some boxed ones for my favorite izakaya and my friend's family, as well as for my own family. There was a limit on the number of pieces you could buy, showing how popular it is. You can buy them individually, but where do you distribute them? Everyone was carrying multiple boxed ones. It may seem simple, but I thought it was a great idea.

This is a gift from an acquaintance. When I opened the wrapping paper, a splendid paper box appeared, tied with a string in the center and with a seal that says "Fujimidou". After removing the seal and untying the string to open the box, there were many rice crackers inside, each wrapped in plastic. I picked one up and tasted it - it had a light texture, a good amount of salt, and was delicious.

Niigata-style rice crackers sandwiched with a mysterious, gritty and smooth red bean paste. The rice cracker is quite thick, like a hamburger, and requires a big bite. It has a crispy texture with a strong salty flavor. The contrast between the salty and sweet flavors is quite noticeable. Personally, I didn't think that rice crackers and red bean paste would go well together, but they surprisingly complement each other. I'm not a fan of this type of red bean paste, so I ended up eating them separately. There are many other products available, but the rice crackers are delicious. It's a unique snack, but since I used to eat the Niigata-style rice crackers from Sanko Seika, it didn't feel particularly special to me. Thank you for the meal!

Inside Tokyo Station, there is a commercial facility called Gransta Tokyo, which connects Marunouchi and Yaesu areas and houses around 150 shops. One of the shops here is a branch of the long-established rice cracker shop "Fujimidou," founded in 1950 in Katsushika, Tokyo. They sell a popular rice cracker called "Anko Tenmai," which leaves rice grains intact, creating a crispy texture, and sandwiches sweet bean paste between them. The combination of the savory rice cracker and the sweet bean paste creates an exquisite flavor that is addictive once you try it. I purchased "Anko Tenmai" as a gift and for personal consumption this time. The package contains 10 bags of Anko Tenmai. When you eat Anko Tenmai, you can feel the crispy fragrance of the rice cracker with rice grains, followed by the sweet bean paste that melts in your mouth, creating an indescribable deliciousness. With only four stores in Tokyo, "Fujimidou" offers a unique taste with Anko Tenmai that will surely be appreciated as a gift. If you are interested, please give it a try.

On August 15, 2022, around 4:00 PM, I visited Gransta for a walk during Obon. I received this rice cracker from my workplace. The saltiness of the rice cracker enhances the sweetness of the red bean paste, and it's really delicious. I came to buy more. It's still delicious. Sometimes they sell out by the evening, so be careful!

Platto, today's takeout adventure took me to explore Tokyo Station. Inside JR Tokyo Station, in the Gransta Tokyo underground floor 1, there is a shop called "Fujimidou Gransta Store" that I visited today. Fujimidou was established in 1950. On Sunday at 8:40 am, there were already two men and two women waiting in line in front of the counter, so I joined the queue. After a 5-minute wait, it was my turn. I was there to get the "Anko Tenmai", which I bought in both boxed and loose forms. Back home, I tried the Anko Tenmai. It consists of crispy rice crackers with sweet red bean paste filling made from Hokkaido red beans. The combination of the salty rice cracker and sweet red bean paste was exquisite, creating a delicious sweet and salty snack. The crunchy texture of the rice cracker paired perfectly with the smooth red bean paste. I was impressed by the well-thought-out fusion of flavors. Today, I thoroughly enjoyed this new sensation of Anko Tenmai. It was a delightful meal. Thank you!

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Suica, Suica Penguin sweets are being sold at various locations like Ecute. I purchased "Suica Penguin senbei" at Fujimidou in Gransta for 520 yen (including 8% tax). It includes 4 different designs with 2 pieces each. The senbei is curry flavored.

The rice cracker has a thin and crispy texture with visible grains of rice, and is filled with red bean paste made from Hokkaido red beans. The combination of the crispy texture of the rice cracker and the smooth texture of the red bean paste is interesting. The balance of saltiness and sweetness is well done, keeping it enjoyable until the end. The packaging is also new, and the taste feels both familiar and innovative. As a Japanese person, I hope they continue to strive for new possibilities in traditional Japanese sweets.

This is a traditional rice cracker shop in Katsushika Aoto, a Tokyo downtown area established in 1950. They are known for their commitment to handmade products using domestically produced rice, making everything from dough to packaging in a single workshop. I purchased a set of Edo origami rice crackers, which come in a cute box reminiscent of Edo Komon patterns. The set includes 11 pieces of 5 different flavors, such as soy sauce-flavored round crackers in the shape of daruma dolls, seaweed, bonito with seven spices, black rice crackers, and sesame seed crackers. It's a perfect souvenir from Tokyo or a small gift for any occasion. Delicious!

I strolled around Gransta looking for souvenirs to give away. The shelves were dominated by sweet snacks, but I was looking for something different. I found "Tokyo Suzumochi" from Fujimidou. I tried it and it was not too salty, not too sweet, just right. A pack of 40 pieces for 3,150 yen. This is it. I like the stylish packaging too.

I explored Gundam-themed gourmet options and ended up at Fujimido after much deliberation. They offer Gundam quote senbei, limited to 100 bags per day, priced at 972 yen. The cost-performance ratio is questionable, but recommended for Gundam fans. I arrived around 7 PM and was able to buy 5 bags from the storefront. ^_^

The shop, which has been featured on TV shows like "Hirunandesu," is known for its deep-fried rice crackers called "Shirohooboru." I tried a sample and it was delicious. The staff were friendly and welcoming. I purchased a container of small rice crackers, which came in a beautiful bamboo basket that looked like it had been smoked with charcoal. It would be perfect for storing stationery. The container, called "Tokyo Biyori," costs 3500 yen and comes with around 50 small rice crackers in six different flavors. It's quite impressive. They mentioned that in the summer, the container changes from black to white. They even covered it with plastic to protect it from the rain. It's a shop that provides a pleasant shopping experience.

The red bean tempura rice bowl is addictive. The curry salt is also good, and the black rice tempura was delicious too!

Located in Gransta at Tokyo Station, this senbei shop offers takeout only. I used it for souvenirs during my Tokyo business trip. The service was friendly. I purchased the White Hoobari for 598 yen and the White Hoobari Salt for 598 yen this time. These simple fried senbei have a quite mild flavor. When eaten with the accompanying sansho pepper salt, the taste becomes complete.

My wife was engrossed in shopping at Gransta, so I took a break at Gin no Suzu. While resting, I spotted my wife coming back with paper bags from the sweets area. I decided to go over and help her carry the bags. She had bought some Senbei from a shop called Fujimi Michi, which sells Senbei shaped like bells. She bought four packs of Senbei, each containing around 12 pieces, for about 1000 yen each. Senbei is light, making it an easy souvenir to carry back home. The Senbei with a flavorful soy sauce taste left a lasting impression on me. Overall, it was a delicious and convenient souvenir option.

They raised the price. 12 pieces for 599 yen. The soy sauce flavor is refreshing and addictive. Light and crispy texture! It's so good. I might end up eating too much, haha.

The rice cracker shop, the main store is in Aoto. It is located underground at Tokyo Station, making it easy to stop by. The soy sauce flavor has minimal additives and preservatives, with a simple taste that doesn't get boring. When I shared my feedback with the staff during a return visit, they confirmed that they pay attention to the ingredients. I think it has a gentle taste that is not overpowering.

I bought the limited edition salt senbei mini and Kusaka senbei at the Gransta store (^_^)