- Order: Kuzu (arrowroot) water yokan for 324 yen. This yokan has arrowroot in it, giving it a smooth and thick texture. It has a delicate sweetness and elegant flavor. - Miscellaneous: A confectionery sales company of the Genshikichouan Group, founded in 1947 with its headquarters in Okayama Prefecture. I didn't know that Kashiya Seikanin is also part of this group. They used to release seasonal wagashi for each of the 24 solar terms throughout the year. I remember going to the Kagurazaka store regularly to collect stamps for each solar term.

I received a seasonal limited edition snack that made me feel the spring with its light pink packaging. When I opened it, I saw a simple and cute appearance with salted cherry blossoms on top. Upon cutting it, I found a gentle peach-colored sweet bean paste inside. When I tasted it, it had a crumbly, fluffy texture and a delicately sweet and delicious flavor. It was a perfect size to eat in one bite, but the taste was so good that I wanted to savor it. I enjoyed it with a cup of tea. Thank you for the meal.

I found a Japanese confectionery shop called Momosenka while wandering around the basement floor of Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, looking for a thank-you gift for someone who has helped me. I decided to try their famous peach jelly, called "Momosenka," and bought some for myself as well. It costs around 1500 yen each (I don't remember the exact price), which is about twice the size of jelly sold in supermarkets, so it might be a bit too much for one person. The rich peach juice and whole white peach in the slightly cloudy jelly are delightful. It's best enjoyed chilled.

I wandered around Mitsukoshi-mae Station and quickly found Kashiwa Mochi at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi. This time I bought it from Yoshikura-an and it was not only reasonably priced but also much more delicious than I expected. The mochi was chewy and the sweet bean paste inside complemented it perfectly.

Zoukei Genkichi Kozoan / Tsubu Koben Sakura ☑︎ 12 pieces ☑︎ 19 kcal per piece ☑︎ Total 228 kcal for 12 pieces Every year, I always enjoy this favorite cherry blossom dessert. These small round sweets are cute and perfect for popping into your mouth in one bite. While sharing them with others is nice, I personally prefer to enjoy them all by myself. These sweets, called Yukihira, are made of mochi with egg white and white bean paste. The chewy mochi has a good texture and sweetness that spreads as you chew. The addictive mochi texture makes it hard to stop eating. As for the cherry blossom flavor, it's subtle and blends well with the mochi. Overall, I love the quality of the mochi and the hint of cherry blossom flavor.

In March of the 2nd year of Reiwa, there is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop that focuses on creating original fruit sweets that bring out the natural flavors of fruits, which is their motto. Established in 1947, this shop is my favorite among the wide range of Japanese confectionery shops. Unlike many shops that prioritize appearance over taste and end up being expensive, this shop truly stands out. Their sakuramochi is exceptional, the best I have ever had. I also enjoy their Rikunohouseki. Their sakuramochi is only available from February to March. The price for 4 pieces is 864 yen including tax. The smooth and refreshing red bean paste with a hint of sakura salt creates an indescribable sense of satisfaction. It was also heartwarming to be recognized by Ms. Na who said, "Thank you as always," making me feel appreciated as a customer.

In February of the second year of Reiwa, there is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop that specializes in creating original fruit sweets that capture the essence of the fruits' flavors. Established in Showa 22, this shop is my favorite among the wide range of Japanese confectionery shops. Their sakura mochi is outstanding and the best I have ever tasted. I also enjoy their Riku no Hoshu pearls. Although I used to like their Sui Amaguri in the past, my preference has changed. I was wondering if they had started selling sakura mochi yet in early February, so I decided to visit the shop. To my surprise, a female staff member greeted me with "Sakura mochi, right?" as she remembered my fondness for it from a year ago. And they were already selling it! I bought 4 pieces of sakura mochi for 864 yen (tax included) and was enveloped in a satisfying feeling by the smooth, refreshing red bean paste and the delicate saltiness of the sakura. Service rating: 3.5 (up from 3.3).

I was drawn in by the appearance and couldn't help but buy this snack. The two goldfish swimming in the wobbly jelly is a unique beauty of traditional Japanese sweets. The taste is sweeter than I expected, and it seems to be designed to go well with bitter tea. I enjoyed both the visual and taste experience.

Established in the 22nd year of Showa, this traditional Japanese confectionery shop prides itself on creating original fruit sweets that capture the essence of the fruits they are made from. Among the wide range of offerings, this shop is my favorite. Their sakuramochi is outstanding and, in my opinion, the best in Japan. I also enjoy their Rikunohouseki. Although I used to like their Sukui Amagashi, my tastes have changed. I make sure to visit Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi every week to pre-order and secure my sakuramochi, a seasonal delight that can only be enjoyed during this time of year. I purchased some for the last time this season, took a photo of the cross-section, and realized that I had forgotten to post it, hence this rushed update. The sakuramochi, priced at 200 yen each, offers a delightful combination of smooth, refreshing red bean paste and the subtle saltiness of the cherry blossom, leaving you with an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

In April of the 31st year of Heisei (visited in late March), this traditional Japanese confectionery shop, which was established in 1947, focuses on creating original fruit confections that capture the natural flavors of fruits. Among the many traditional Japanese confectionery shops, this is my favorite. Their cherry blossom mochi is absolutely fantastic (the best I've ever had). I also enjoy their Riku no Hoshu confection (I used to like their Sui Kan Goshu, but not anymore). I make sure to visit Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi every week to pre-order and guarantee that I can purchase their cherry blossom mochi, which is only available during this season. The cherry blossom mochi costs 200 yen each (excluding tax) and the combination of smooth, refreshing red bean paste and subtle saltiness of the cherry blossoms creates an indescribable sense of satisfaction. It seems they will be available until early April, so I might be able to purchase them once or twice more.

There are many delicious traditional Japanese confectionery shops such as Taneya, Toraya, and Tsuruya Hachiman, but one that is quite popular among older customers is "Genkichokuan". This shop in Okayama is known for using fresh seasonal fruits in their confections, keeping the original flavors intact. I bought a spring limited edition sweet called "Nodzutsumi" as a gift for a customer. It was small but quite expensive at around 250 yen per piece! Despite the high price, the ingredients and taste were elegant and definitely worth it. The confection features a unique shape where sweet bean paste wraps around mochi. This is a rare and delicious treat that I enjoyed. Thank you for the meal!

In April of Heisei 31 (visited in March), this traditional Japanese confectionery shop, established in Showa 22, specializes in creating original fruit-based sweets that capture the essence of the fruits. Among the wide range of traditional Japanese confectionery shops, this is my favorite. Their sakura mochi is exceptional, the best I've ever had. I also enjoy their Riku no Hoshu pearls (although I used to like their Suikan Gansu, I no longer do). The sakura mochi, a seasonal delicacy, is a must-try. Recently, I was disappointed to find it sold out at Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi, so I rushed to the Ginza Matsuya store, only to find it sold out there as well. I finally managed to purchase it at the main store after making a reservation at this shop, which I frequent. Sakura Mochi: 200 yen (excluding tax) x6: The smooth and refreshing red bean paste with a subtle saltiness from the sakura petals creates a harmonious and delightful flavor.

The jelly was very delicious.

The delicious Biwa Jelly from Kichoan is a taste of summer. When you open the bag, you are greeted with the fresh aroma of biwa fruit and the gelatinous texture. As you take a bite, the refreshing taste of biwa spreads in your mouth. This was a gift from a customer and it was truly delicious. Thank you very much.

・Strolling in Nihonbashi, shopping at Mitsukoshi. <Trying out Japanese sweets>. When you start to feel heavy, your eyes turn to Japanese sweets. Mitsukoshi is truly impressive, with a wide variety of Japanese sweets. But Western sweets are dominant in this era. Ohh~ Chestnuts and persimmons, it's autumn, isn't it? "This should be good enough." I feel like I want to go home quickly. I love being at home. ...The contents are probably small, fancy sweets are for little ones~ The boxed ones feel a bit more cost-effective, with 4 pieces of sweet chestnuts and 3 pieces of thickened chestnuts. Thickened chestnuts, as the alternate name suggests, are recommended to be eaten warm. It's like a pudding with a gooey texture. The sweetness is just right, I had it chilled. A milky gentle sweetness while retaining the taste of chestnuts~ There are quite a few chestnuts in it... Fine sugar-coated dried persimmons. Beautifully preserved in their round shape. The seeds are hollowed out and white bean paste is injected, and when you cut it, it's tightly packed without any gaps. The rich sweetness of ripe persimmons that have been dried. It doesn't have the dried-up feeling like the dried persimmons sold around here. A high-quality confectionery that you can nibble on while sipping on bitter tea. The elaborate packaging and containers... They may look good and be convenient for gifts. Removing multiple layers of wrapping, the contents are... oh, just this much, it feels a bit unsatisfying, even though it's delicious. The feedback received was as described above. ★ Three items~ Genkikochian, the name sounds cool. But the content is not so much, you know... It's all about showing off in fashion. It feels more like a gift, not really for tea time. It's expensive for what's inside, relatively speaking, you know... It lasts long, so...

Genkikyoan specializes in traditional Japanese sweets using fruits. Last year, I happened to buy sakuramochi at Genkikyoan in Hankyu Department Store in Osaka and found it to be the best sakuramochi I have ever had. I tried to find it in Tokyo, but unfortunately it was not available at Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi store and I had to go to Genkikyoan Ginza Matsuya store to purchase it. I emailed the headquarters to inquire about the availability of sakuramochi, and they replied that it would be available until mid-April. When I visited Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi, they did not have it, but this year they will have it until the end of March, so I bought all the remaining 5 pieces. The sakuramochi costs 216 yen and combines a refreshing and smooth sweet bean paste with the subtle saltiness of cherry blossom leaves, creating an elegant and delicious flavor.