Akomeya Tokyo @ Nihonbashi not only sells rice-related items, but also kitchenware and hand towels, making it a fun place to browse! They offer rare varieties of rice from different regions in packages as small as three cups, allowing for rice tasting comparisons. I purchased a 3-cup pack of "Enmusubi" rice from Gifu Prefecture, which has an auspicious name! They also have a variety of dashi (soup stock) available. The miso soup with vegetables had a rich dashi flavor and plenty of vegetables! It was truly a miso soup where the dashi made all the difference.

When I stopped by Acomeya at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya S.C. New Building B1 floor in October, I found out that this place used to be a rice shop, hence the name Acomeya. The "A" in the name has various meanings. It is a select shop that handles delicious products and goods from all over the country, so you won't get bored just by looking around. The rice we are currently enjoying at home is the "Mori no Kuma-san Rice," which we started getting after the Kumamoto earthquake and was surprised to find out that they also sell it here. I am grateful to have encountered delicious rice once again. When I had a meal at the main store before, the roasted green tea served was so delicious that I immediately bought some, and now that I have run out, I found this store and bought two packs of roasted green tea. The roasted green tea (100g) costs 800 yen and is produced in Asakura, Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyushu, at the Yamashina factory. It has a very mild and fragrant aroma with a hint of sweetness, and I was amazed at how delicious roasted green tea can be after encountering it here. I am grateful for this delicious encounter.

There are various places to see at Takashimaya, such as Meiji-ya in the main building, Akomeya in the new building, Dean & Deluca, and Seijo Ishii. I bought a gift for a friend at Akomeya. I was worried about what would happen to the wrapping when plastic bags became charged, but I was relieved to find out that paper wrapping is free. The store is not as spacious as the one in Ginza, but they have a good selection of popular items. The miso soup inside colorful monaka was available from other manufacturers, but the flower-shaped monaka in pink and yellow really caught my eye. I didn't buy it for myself, but it's perfect for a gift. I wasn't sure if it was okay to take pictures inside the store, so I took a photo of the paper bag instead. Thank you for your help today as well! 😊

Today, I received a gift from a friend from Akomeya, which was "Sesame Dressing". It is a rich dressing with a creamy flavor and a strong sesame taste. It would definitely be delicious not only on salads but also on dishes like silken tofu. It's a thoughtful gift that anyone would be happy to receive. Highly recommended. Thank you for the treat! Yum!

A great shop with a lot of carefully selected products that are fun just to look at. Today I bought "Setouchi sea bream rice" and "Crispy soy sauce almonds". The soy sauce almonds are like a companion to "eating chili oil". It says you can pour it over chilled tofu or boiled vegetables. I removed the oil part and put the ingredients on top of rice and ate it. It's delicious. And the sea bream rice was so delicious that my family unanimously decided to buy it again. The most impressive part was the Matsuyama aoage (fried tofu). It had a soft and smooth texture that I went out of my way to find and eat. I would be happy if they increased the amount of Matsuyama aoage (laughs). It's thin but similar to Sendai fu (deep-fried wheat gluten). It's easy to cook, just add it with rice and cook. Thank you for the feast.

The Ginza main store of Akomeya will be closing in December, which is really disappointing. Today, I came to buy a thank you gift for a friend who is in the hospital and also for Christmas. I bought some snacks and drinks for my friend who likes alcohol, and some rice side dishes for my friend who doesn't drink. The store is not too big, so it's easy to find what you're looking for. When I want to buy a small gift, I usually go to Akomeya or Loft in Ginza, but Loft is too big. In this store, I can check out Akomeya, Dean & Deluca, the Takashimaya basement, Mitsukoshi, and even go to Coredo if I still need more, all conveniently located near the station. There are many options in Ginza, and the New Year items were so cute.

I received a gift set of three types of plum from "Futaba no Umeboshi Nibyoukuya" - Kishu Nankou Ume no Shio Ume, Agodashi Ume, and Yaki Ume. The plums are from the hometown of plums, Kishu (Minabe Town, Wakayama Prefecture), and they are of the highest quality. I am amazed by the thickness of the plum flesh and the extra-large size. The set includes: Yaki Ume, made by roasting ripe Kishu Nankou plums to a rich and fragrant finish; Agodashi Ume, made by soaking Kishu Nankou plums in Kagoshima's agodashi, recommended for rice and dishes; and Shio Ume, made by salting and sun-drying ripe Kishu Nankou plums in barrels, offering a salty and sour taste. Despite being high in salt, it is a popular product. I can imagine the effort put into selecting each plum and soaking them in carefully selected salt. Tonight, I will enjoy the flavor of Agodashi Ume.