I had some errands in Morishita, so I bought some treats for myself and for souvenirs again this time. For the souvenir, I bought a grilled chicken skewer for 250 yen (no photo as I already gave it away). For myself, I got a grilled sweetfish skewer for 260 yen. The grilled chicken skewer was well received by my acquaintance who loves sweet bean paste, as it was dense and delicious. The grilled sweetfish skewer had a moist and chewy skin, combined with the chewy texture of the sweet bean paste, creating a gentle sweetness that was delicious.

I think it is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop. The grandmother was very kind and polite. I bought some manju and dorayaki (I gave them away as souvenirs so I don't have any left for myself) as gifts and they were delicious with the gentle sweetness of the red bean paste.

This branch is located along Harumi Street. The main store is in front of the Kira residence nearby. The specialty here is traditional Japanese sweets inspired by the setting of popular stories like "Onihei Hankacho" and the "47 Ronin". ◆ Sumida River Monaka (filled wafer cake) with sweet bean paste - 170 yen The texture of the sweet bean paste is amazing! The sweetness is mild and the wafer cake doesn't stick to your mouth at all. Delicious!

On the way back home from Spoon, I stopped by a traditional Japanese sweets shop called Okawaya. I bought some Kira Manju (200 yen - a unique manju with sweet bean paste and kinako), Anju (280 yen - a tangy apricot-flavored sweet), and Kippei Dango (250 yen - a dango covered in nori seaweed with white bean paste, and another covered in black sesame with coarse sweet bean paste).

Sumida River Monaka, Hinachidori at 170 yen, Daifuku at 180 yen. The Monaka has a very fragrant skin and the sweet bean paste is on the sweeter side. I prefer sweets with a stronger sweetness, so I really liked this. However, the Daifuku from Daikawaya was on the softer side, which is not my preference as I like firmer textures. Daikawaya is located near the Kira Residence, but I wonder if it is the same management or a separate entity.

Before the sun set, I visited "Ookawaya Branch" next to the bank. I had missed the chance to visit for many years due to conflicting schedules. I heard that the main store is located in Ryogoku. This time, I bought "Hokusai", "Kanzuki", and "Momoyama". They all have a shelf life of a few days, so there's no need to rush to eat them, which is nice. I regret not buying the famous "Sumida River Monaka" that was written on the noren, but I will definitely get it next time I visit. They also had products related to the Kira Kozuke-no-Suke residence nearby. The elderly lady working there reminded me of a character from NHK's "Today's Cooking Beginners" - she was very friendly and cute. The interior with prominent dark green colors gives off a sense of history.

I am a resident of Yokozuna Yokochō! Located along Kiyosumi Street, this is a branch of the Ryōgoku Ōkawa-ya store. The main store is located across from the Kira Residence Site in Ryōgoku Sanchōme. They offer classic Japanese sweets such as Daifuku, Dōmyōji, Kashiwa Mochi, Dorayaki, as well as seasonal fresh sweets. Their specialty sweets include the famous Sumida River Monaka (220 yen), Kira Manjū from the Chūshingura story (200 yen), Onihira Dango (230 yen), and Matsuzaka Mochi (600 yen for 4 pieces, limited to the Genroku Market once a year). I purchased the Sumida River Monaka and Onihira Dango this time, as I had already tried the Kira Manjū at the main store. The Sumida River Monaka has both red bean paste and white bean paste, with the former having a brown skin and the latter a white skin. The skin is thin and filled generously with bean paste. The Onihira Dango comes with two pieces on a skewer, topped with plenty of seaweed and sesame seeds. The dango itself is very soft. By the way, the Hasegawa Heizaburō and Tōyama Kinshirō Residences are located south from here along Shin-Ōhashi Street.

While taking a stroll along Kiyosumi Street towards Ryogoku, I came across a quaint Japanese confectionery shop with a charming atmosphere. Curious to see what they had to offer, I entered the shop to find it empty. It was a rare opportunity to leisurely browse through the selection, which I found quite enjoyable. As I explored the shop, two items caught my eye: "Oni Hei Dango" and "Kiwamama." The Oni Hei Dango, a green and black dumpling, piqued my interest - I wondered if it was inspired by the character Onihei from the series "Onihei Hankacho." The Kiwamama, on the other hand, was described as a confection with plenty of beans inside a castella cake. Just as I was contemplating my choices, the shopkeeper noticed me and kindly assisted me. I learned that Kiwamama is a castella cake filled with azuki beans. In the end, I purchased Oni Hei Dango, Kiwamama, and Torayaki. While they were being wrapped, we engaged in casual conversation about the weather, fully immersing in the traditional atmosphere of the downtown Japanese confectionery shop. Once home, I eagerly sampled the treats. The green Oni Hei Dango was coated with finely ground green tea, exuding a refreshing aroma and delicious taste. The black one contained black sesame seeds and sweet red bean paste. As I savored it, I noticed a hint of another aromatic ingredient, but couldn't quite place it. It was a delightful and enjoyable dumpling experience. Next, the Kiwamama. It was a moist and dense castella cake filled generously with azuki beans, offering a mouthful of flavor. The milky taste of the castella complemented the beans perfectly. Lastly, the Torayaki. This soft and moist cake had a firm texture and was filled with chunky sweet red bean paste. It was a top-quality dorayaki. Overall, I was impressed by the craftsmanship of this long-standing establishment founded in the second year of the Meiji era.

In the area around Ryogoku, there is a long-established traditional Japanese sweets shop called Okawa-ya. Although it may seem a bit upscale for everyday use, locals always say "Okawa-ya's sweets are truly delicious" during seasonal events. Established since the Meiji era in Honjo Matsuzaka-cho, the shop has been dedicated to making traditional Edo sweets for generations. Their seasonal sweets, designed to capture the feeling of each season, are also highly praised. Located near the Kira Residence, the setting of the Akō incident, the main store is known for its specialty sweets related to the historical event. This review specifically mentions their Sakura Mochi, which is a crepe-wrapped type of cherry blossom rice cake. The appearance is elegant with a thin color, and the salted cherry blossom leaf wrapping adds a subtle flavor. The crepe-like thin outer layer is elastic and slightly chewy, complementing the smooth red bean paste inside. The red bean paste is not too sweet and has a refined finish. The shop also offers a variety of fresh sweets, which tend to sell out quickly. The staff, mainly women, are known for their straightforward and somewhat blunt manner of speaking, which may not be to everyone's liking. However, the quality of the traditional Japanese sweets is undeniable. It is recommended to reserve the desired seasonal sweets in advance as they tend to sell out quickly.

This is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop located along Kiyosumi Street. I happened to pass by and decided to stop in. The items I purchased here were Kurikuri, Shigure, and Sasamochi. Kurikuri is a sweet shaped like a chestnut, although it doesn't actually contain chestnut. The texture is chewy and sticky on the outside, with smooth red bean paste inside. It has a unique flavor that might become addictive. Shigure is moist and elegant, with a soft and crumbly exterior and smooth red bean paste inside. It's delicious. Sasamochi has a lovely scent of bamboo leaves, and the sticky rice is chewy with visible grains, wrapped around red bean paste and chestnuts. The red bean paste has some bean skins left for added flavor. Overall, the craftsmanship is meticulous, and each item is individually wrapped in plastic. When I entered the shop, nobody was there, and I stood around aimlessly for about 5 minutes until the staff finally appeared. As an apology, they gave me a thick and crispy green onion rice cracker, which was tasty and perfect for a snack.

★Kira Manju★★ has been spotted! Ad-machi Tengoku★