In the summer, I crave shaved ice, but I don't like waiting in line. I love Toraya because it's delicious, reliable, and you don't have to wait in line. This particular location is in the basement of a hotel, so it's generally not crowded - a hidden gem. The atmosphere is calm, and the service is polite. The shaved ice is elegantly sweet and absolutely delicious! Thank you for the meal.

[Arrival Time] 14:00 [Entry Time] 14:00 [Crowdedness] About 80% full. [Impression] I ordered Uji Kin-to. You can add additional toppings like shiratama and condensed milk, so I got 4 shiratama. The matcha parfait is on the sweeter side. There are red beans lined at the bottom, and as they are famous for their yokan, the red beans are delicious. I think 4 shiratama is the best balance, so I recommend trying it. *The amount of red beans is larger at the Imperial Hotel store than at the Marunouchi branch. Also, this place is less crowded, so I highly recommend the Imperial Hotel store if you go.

I wanted to have some traditional Japanese sweets, so I decided to visit this place. It was during lunchtime on a holiday, but there were still some empty seats, allowing me to enjoy a calm and relaxing atmosphere. The sunflower-shaped sweet I had was not only visually appealing but also delicious, giving me a taste of summer. The chilled matcha tea was fluffy and light, unlike the hot version, providing me with a new and refreshing experience. As the area around Hibiya is usually crowded, this has become my favorite spot to enjoy a leisurely tea time.

I was planning to have a drink at the lounge bar of the Imperial Hotel, but it was unexpectedly crowded, so I casually went downstairs. There, I discovered Toraya. It was my first time encountering a shop with a café attached, so I couldn't help but go in. The space seemed like a sophisticated social gathering place, which made me feel a bit out of place, but my anticipation for Toraya's anmitsu was strong, so I mustered up the courage. The anmitsu that came out was, in a word, elegant. The agar jelly had a subtle sweetness but you could still taste the essence of the ingredients, and the peach (the green one) was juicy and quite delicious. The black syrup had a rich sweetness and aroma, which paired well with the light agar jelly. The sweet red bean paste on top was intensely sweet but strangely not unpleasant. I usually don't like red bean paste, but I found this one to be delicious. Overall, it was a good experience. I thought next time, I would like to enjoy a pleasant time with simple yokan and tea.

January 2022. A gift from a friend. It's "An Paste" purchased at "Toraya" located inside the Imperial Hotel Tokyo. There are two types of An Paste available, "Smooth Red Bean Paste" and "Black Sugar and Maple Syrup", and the one I received was the Black Sugar and Maple Syrup one. An Paste (Black Sugar and Maple Syrup) for 972 yen. Black sugar and maple syrup are added to smooth red bean paste and carefully kneaded. It has a rich flavor with added depth to the sweetness of the red bean paste. It can be paired with bread, ice cream, yogurt, and more. I paired it with ice cream and yogurt. I love black sugar sweets, so I knew it would be delicious even before tasting it, but it was really tasty! (The richness of black sugar never disappoints.) I also used it on bread, and it paired perfectly. Thank you for the delicious treat!

For the 2022 New Year's greeting, I chose "Toraya" as it's the Year of the Tiger. After work, the most convenient location is the "Imperial Hotel store", so I decided to visit the Imperial Hotel for the first time. However, it was a bit intimidating to enter. There are two buildings at the hotel, the "Main Building" and the "Tower Building", and Toraya is located in the basement of the Main Building. At the entrance of the Main Building, there was a security guard who made me feel hesitant to enter, so I nervously tried to enter through the "Main Entrance" or the "Restaurant Side Entrance" but couldn't. Eventually, I found my way in through the "Banquet Exit" quietly. The Imperial Hotel Arcade is located on the basement floor of the Main Building, with a classic Showa-era atmosphere. Toraya has a much calmer atmosphere compared to department stores, making it a hidden gem. Unfortunately, the New Year's products I wanted were sold out, so I'll make sure to plan ahead for the next Year of the Tiger in 12 years. At home, I purchased the "Kotobuki no Tora" for 450 yen (excluding tax) from the Toraya store. Since the store sells fresh sweets, I couldn't resist buying it. It consists of white bean paste wrapped in black sugar-flavored mochi and coated with yellow caramel. The snack is relatively large and has a calorie count of 153 kcal. The yellow caramel is like a small sugar cube, providing a crunchy texture when bitten. I also bought the "Hanabira Mochi" for 1,200 yen (excluding tax) after hearing a customer say it was delicious. It comes in a set of two and features miso bean paste and burdock sandwiched between mochi in the shape of flower petals, a traditional Japanese New Year treat. The burdock has a strong flavor, while the miso bean paste is more subtle. In the future, when I use Toraya, I plan to visit the Imperial Hotel store after work for convenience. Next time, I'll confidently enter through the Main Building's front entrance.

Last week, I completed my second dose of the new coronavirus vaccine. I decided it was time to start going out, so I went to a concert at Suntory Hall. The concert had been rescheduled due to the pandemic, but it finally took place on this day, and there was enthusiastic applause for every piece performed. The music and the program were both wonderful, and I felt like I made the right choice not to cancel. Before attending concerts, whether it's opera or a music event, I usually don't eat a meal and just have a glass of champagne. However, I couldn't find a suitable place to have a drink around Suntory Hall, and the bar inside the hall was closed, so I decided to stop by "Toraya Imperial Hotel Store" and had "Anmitsu (white honey)". It was delicious, but I missed the chewy texture that the previous one I had from the Akasaka store had because this one didn't have gyuhi (soft rice cake) in it. The refined taste of "Toraya" using good ingredients was still present, but the presentation in a glass container lacked a bit of elegance. Suntory Hall Performance: "Brilliant Future Maestros Performing Three Major Concertos" Tokyo Symphony Orchestra conducted by Keiko Mitsubashi [Program] Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 Violin Soloist: Rio Arai Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme Cello Soloist: Hitomi Arakura Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 Piano Soloist: Mitsuyoshi Kaneko Host: Fumi Dan Concertos with soloists can either be a hit or miss depending on the soloists' skills. I feel that Japanese orchestras have a unique structure compared to orchestras worldwide, mainly because of the high number of female musicians. Both the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra have more than half of their members being female. There are many female musicians who have pursued music education and are actively working as professionals. I believe there are more female musicians working in top orchestras overseas than male musicians. While there are many classical music fans in Japan, there are fewer young fans, and the industry as a whole does not generate enough revenue to support itself fully. Unlike Europe, it is a lonely country where it is difficult to make a living through liberal arts. I wonder how those who have the financial and time flexibility to enjoy "ultra-expensive reservation-difficult-to-get gourmet cuisine" spend their leisure time.

I peeked in after a long time. Although the New Year's holidays are already over, I decided to choose a zodiac-themed package. I received the following items (excluding tax): - Gonenka Manju (3 pieces) for 670 yen It's a set of Goyon no Haru (2 pieces) and Yaei, with different shapes, colors, and fillings. I enjoyed them at home with Japanese tea. Goyon no Haru (white bean paste) has a pink-colored skin in the shape of a cherry blossom, with a sweet and sticky filling that goes well with tea. Yaei has a skin shaped like a chrysanthemum and is filled with red bean paste. Goyon no Haru (smooth bean paste) has a white skin in the shape of a plum. They last for almost two weeks. They offered to put them in a gift bag, but I declined. I appreciate that they always give change in new bills at Toraya. I think it's good manners to pay with new bills, whether it's for tuition fees or repaying a friend for tickets. Even when giving money in a cute pouch. The tulle lace used in the lobby's arrangement is made from scraps of dresses and veils. Even here, there's a connection to SDGs.

This is a collaboration product to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Toraya Paris store. It is a beautiful package containing yokan and Ispahan. I happened to see this product on the internet and found out that it is available at Toraya in the Imperial Hotel, so I bought it as a souvenir. The Toraya store in the Imperial Hotel Arcade has a variety of shops and is very fulfilling. The limited edition feeling of being able to buy it only this year attracted me a little, and I was looking forward to it as a special product combining the specialties of both Toraya and Pierre Hermé. The packaging box has the logos of Toraya and Pierre Hermé printed on a pink box, making it a rare box. As for the taste, while the sweetness of yokan remains, the flavor of Ispahan with raspberry and rose is strong, creating a sweet and sour taste. Toraya is already a wonderful souvenir, but bringing this as a souvenir will leave an even better impression! It was a great product!

After much deliberation between choosing oshiruko or anmitsu, I decided on anmitsu. It was delicious. Seriously, the red bean paste is so tasty. We were seated at a large table for COVID-19 precautions, but it was awkward sitting diagonally and far apart, making conversation difficult. It was a quiet place though. The tea cups were elegant, so I felt bad asking for refills every time. I wish they would bring the teapot with the refill.

The spacious café "Rendezvous Lounge" on the first floor of the Imperial Hotel has 155 seats (plus 63 seats at the bar), but sometimes there can be a wait of over 20 minutes. A hidden gem for such occasions is the "Toraya Imperial Hotel Store" located on the basement floor. There is also a tea-serving space called "Toraya Karyo" which is usually less crowded and convenient. During the summer, it is common to enjoy shaved ice or sweet red bean soup here, but on this visit, I noticed a new limited-time menu item called "Awazen Zai (1540 yen)" available from January 21st to March 14th. I decided to try it with a side of green tea. The set price was 2530 yen. Ten minutes later, the visually appealing contrast between the creamy black sweet bean paste and yellow millet caught my eye. The pickled radish served on the side complemented the sweetness of the bean paste. When eaten together, the millet and bean paste created a sophisticated sweetness that made my cheeks relax involuntarily. Delicious! It felt like my mind was being nourished. This place rivals the famous "Umeen" in Asakusa and the one in Awajicho (formerly Kanda Renjakucho) in terms of the deliciousness of their millet sweet bean soup. I wonder if I can come back to enjoy it again before the end of the limited-time offering.

After watching the Takarazuka Revue show "Oceans 11" by the Moon Troupe at the Tokyo Takarazuka Theater, I went to Toraya at the Imperial Hotel where I coincidentally saw the Kabuki actor Bandō Mitsugorō. We both have the same routine of enjoying sweets and green tea after a performance. My favorite actress is Serika Hoshi, and I have high hopes for her future potential as she is still young. She might even resemble Karu Sumi Arimura a bit. The sweet red bean paste at Toraya is always amazing! I love strolling around the arcade at the Imperial Hotel too. The sweets at Toraya were delicious after enjoying the Takarazuka show with my family. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I stayed at the Imperial Hotel for the first time and tried the anmitsu at Tora-ya in the underground arcade. First of all, the appearance of the goldfish-shaped agar jelly was cute! The sweetness of the red bean paste, the firmness of the agar jelly, the taste of the beans, everything was delicious. There was a refreshing green plum topping for the season, which was also delicious. The black syrup was not too sweet and there was a generous amount. I had imagined it would be expensive, but with two pieces of mochi, it cost 1400 yen, which was a luxurious dessert for me, who considers myself a commoner. However, I was very satisfied as I really wanted to try it!

I am basically a theater enthusiast, but when I was in elementary school, I belonged to the drama club. In the spring of 1964, as part of the "Nissei Meisaku Gekijo" at the Nissay Theatre, I vividly remember the performance of the musical "The Emperor's New Clothes" by the Shiki Theatre Company. I was drawn to join the club because I loved art class, and the teacher in charge was also guiding the drama club. The grandeur of the Nissay Theatre that we saw from Yurakucho Station, the undulating curves of the ceiling and walls designed for sound effects, all stimulated my strong sensitivity. Please see the attached 10th photo of the exterior of the Nissay Theatre. Its classical architecture made of granite can be considered a work of art compared to the modern efficient steel, concrete panels, and glass buildings. I hope it remains preserved forever. Now, about "Toraya Imperial Hotel Store". I bought their Oribeman, a traditional Japanese sweet, and other items. Despite the late hour, there is a wonderful selection of fresh sweets on display. Some customers are leisurely enjoying their time at the attached tea house. Although the store on the basement level may give a slightly dim impression, the quality of their products and excellent customer service make you think, "Indeed, this is the Imperial Hotel." I haven't posted a review, but considering the recent redevelopment of the Toraya Akasaka Store into a theme park, it is more worthwhile to relax and enjoy here. (It is recommended to satisfy your appetite with red bean porridge and red rice before a theater performance.) The new Akasaka Store was designed by Hiroshi Naito, who has a deep connection with Toraya. It is said that hinoki cypress wood was used for the interior, but I wonder how they treated it for fire resistance. Also, what is the intention behind the large glass windows overlooking the Imperial Palace and Toyokawa Inari Shrine? I personally liked the old Akasaka Store before the redevelopment.

Seasonal limited edition sweet treat. This is a delight that only lasts about a month after the new chestnuts come out. If you think it's just regular chestnut paste, think again. Once you cut it in half, you'll understand why it's actually chestnut powder mochi.

I was craving something cold, so I stopped by the Imperial Hotel after work. I was here for their "Uji Kin Toki" dessert. While the rich matcha syrup is tempting, the hidden red bean paste at the bottom is also amazing. It's worth the price of 1,760 yen.

Our neighbors who kindly take care of us were delighted with the New Year's gift from Toraya. They are elderly, so Toraya's gift brought them comfort and satisfaction.

Delicious! Delicious! Delicious! Among all the fresh sweets at Toraya, this one stands out as the most delicious.