In September 2023, I received a gift from a friend I met in Kyoto and a foodie friend in Tokyo. It was a selection of dishes and sweets from the Kyoto restaurant "Kodaiji Wakuden" and the souvenir shop "Shiro" in Gion. The items included 6 pieces of Ohagi for 2,200 yen and 3 pieces of Ginkgo Mochi for 1,800 yen. As a lover of sweet red bean paste, I have visited this shop several times to get their delicious Ohagi. The Ohagi came in a bamboo-woven box with three small pieces of sweet red bean paste. The red bean paste, made by simmering azuki beans with high-quality sugar, had a rich sweetness, and the half-cooked mochi rice was soft and sticky, creating an elegant and exquisite Ohagi. The Ginkgo Mochi, a snack for early autumn, was a new experience for me. It consisted of deep-fried ginkgo nuts combined with white bean paste, wrapped in a layer of soft mochi and garnished with ginkgo leaves. The chewy texture and flavor of the ginkgo nuts, paired with the light salted bean paste and high-quality mochi, made it an incredibly delicious treat! Bon appétit!

In September 2023, when I visited Kyoto and decided to stop by the Gion area before noon, I called "Shiro-san" on a whim and asked, "Do you have any ohagi left?" To my surprise, they said, "Yes, we still have some." Ten minutes later, I arrived at the restaurant and got the ohagi. I purchased 6 ohagi for 2200 yen. While waiting, I enjoyed some chrysanthemum tea and snacks. The hospitality at Shiro-san is always wonderful. The ohagi from Shiro-san is really delicious. I definitely want to come back again in the future. Thank you for the meal!

Located in Gion Shijo, this is a souvenir specialty store of Wakuden. While they have branches in Tokyo's department store basements, you can only buy certain items here. On this day, I visited to purchase a gift. While waiting for the wrapping, they served me snacks and tea at the counter. On this day, I bought: - Frosty kelp fried on a tile, sugar-coated to resemble frost - Tomato chocolate - Chrysanthemum tea made from plenty of chrysanthemum flowers. Purchased items: - Frosty kelp for 1200 yen - Ginkgo nut mochi for 1800 yen Their ohagi is very popular and sells out quickly, so I'll try it next time.

A shop that serves dishes made from ingredients from Kodai-ji and Kyu-den. They offer tea while you wait for your purchase. We had a relaxing time. They directly source their products, so the bento and sweets were fresh. Most items don't last long, so they make great souvenirs for home. The product lineup is detailed on their website. I bought the gingko rice cake. It was delicious to enjoy on the Shinkansen ride home.

The shop is located a little off the main street. I made a reservation in advance and picked up at 4:30 pm. When I entered the shop, they served tea and sweets. Since most of the other Japanese sweets were sold out, I recommend going early or making a reservation.

Now, in Kyoto. I purchased ohagi at the specialty shop "Shiro" by Wakuden for my family as a souvenir, after making a reservation the day before. They served tea in a Kyoto-like setting. I brought it back to Nagoya in a cooler bag with ice packs. The ohagi was absolutely amazing, the best I've ever had.

I made a reservation the day before just to be sure for a day trip to Kyoto to buy this ohagi. When I arrived around 3 o'clock on the day, they served me delicious tea and small sweets while I enjoyed the ohagi. The store was surprisingly not crowded, but the rice dishes were sold out. I brought it home and tried it right away, and I was amazed! It's really delicious. It's soft, and the red bean has a gentle taste. I almost finished the whole box by myself... but I resisted. This taste is definitely worth becoming famous. If you love ohagi, you should definitely buy it!

I love white pickled mackerel sushi and have tried various kinds, but this one is a hit. It's not too salty like other pickled mackerel sushi, and has an elegant taste with a skillful use of lemon zest. I got hooked on it and definitely want to eat it again! #white #pickledmackerelsushi #nottoosalty #delicious #FujiwaraJun

I finally had the opportunity to visit the shop that I had been curious about for a long time, Mr. Shiro's Ohagi. When I checked their schedule during my visits to Kyoto, they were closed, but I finally made a reservation and was able to visit. Inside the shop, there was a counter in the shape of a bar counter, and they kindly offered me tea and three types of sweets. The service was so good that I decided to purchase another type of Ohagi in addition to the one I had reserved. It was not cheap, but I felt that there was meaning in buying it from this shop. The Ohagi was surprisingly delicious, with the rice inside being particularly tasty. There are many delicious Ohagi with sweet bean paste, but this was the first time I had one that was so delicious because of the rice. It was a very delicious Ohagi, thank you for the meal. I haven't eaten the other sweet yet as it keeps well, so I will visit again when I am in the area.

Get off at Keihan Gion Shijo Station and walk 5 minutes to reach this shop. There is no parking lot. It is located at the end of a small alley without a sign, so it may be difficult for first-time visitors to find. This shop is a sweets shop of the famous Kyoto restaurant "Wakuden." It opened in 2018. Among their offerings, the "Ohagi" is particularly famous. I tried to make a reservation three times about a week ago, but couldn't get one. So, I decided to try my luck by visiting directly for the limited same-day availability. I arrived 5 minutes before opening and there was one group ahead of me. This seemed manageable. The exterior looks like a new house in Kyoto. When the door is opened, you see a sign saying "Shiro (Haku)" in a very modest manner. The interior is small with only counter seats and a few types of sweets on display by the window, exuding elegance. This shop is for take-out only, but if the timing is right, you can enjoy tea at the counter. I purchased the "Ohagi" for 2000 yen including tax, which came in a bamboo basket with 6 pieces. It is a high-quality product that does not feel expensive at all. There are no additives. The rich flavors of red bean paste and Japanese sugar are evident. It's simply exquisite! It would surely be appreciated as a gift. I definitely want to visit again.

I visited around 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Unfortunately, all the fresh sweets I wanted were sold out, but the staff recommended a bento box that is said to bring good luck. The atmosphere of the shop was great and the staff's service was very polite, making it a wonderful time. The bento box was elegant and each dish was so delicious that I wanted to savor it. They also accept reservations, so next time I will make a reservation for the fresh sweets!

I have been curious about a certain Japanese confectionery for a while, so I finally had the chance to visit Hakusan. The nearest station is Gion-Shijo Hanamikoji on the south side, and I felt a little anxious walking through the quiet alley with few people, but I found it. When I entered Murasakino Wakuden's souvenir shop, I saw people enjoying tea inside. I was a bit unsure if I was at the right place, but it turned out to be the right place. I visited around 1 pm on a holiday, and apart from ohagi, all other sweets were sold out. But no worries! I was there for the ohagi. When I ordered the items, they asked if I had time to have some tea. While they prepared the items, they served me tea and dried fruits. They were delicious. The ohagi came in a box woven with bamboo skin, which added to the excitement of opening it. Inside were 6 ohagi made with red beans simmered in refined sugar. They were not too sweet, with a subtle saltiness in the aftertaste that made you want to eat more. The rice cakes had a slight rice-like texture, and overall, I would love to give this as a gift to someone, or even keep it for myself. They also accept reservations, so if you really want it, it might be better to make a reservation. Thank you for the delicious treat, Hakusan! Contact: 075-532-0910 Address: 570-210 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture. Website: https://tabelog.com/kyoto/A2601/A260301/26030358/

I made a reservation by phone in advance and visited the shop. I ordered a box of 6 ohagi for 2100 yen. When I arrived, I told them about my reservation, and they prepared Chinese tea and sweets for me while I waited. They served me fried kelp coated in sugar, dried strawberries or chocolate, and carefully brewed Chinese tea. The ohagi had a shelf life of 2 days, so I enjoyed one as soon as I returned to my hotel. The lightly cooked red bean paste was just barely clinging to the sticky rice, creating a perfect balance. It was not too sweet, allowing the flavor of the red beans to shine through. The rice cake inside was not too heavy, giving a light impression. It was a subtly delicious ohagi that I could easily finish the whole box of.

I went to buy the ohagi that was sold out last time, even though I went 30 minutes after opening. While they were wrapping it up for me, I enjoyed some tea and snacks. It was a nice break for my feet after walking from Sanjo. The ohagi was not too sweet, a bit moist, and soft.

I lined up to buy ohagi before the store opened. I arrived 30 minutes early and was fourth in line. By the time they opened, the line had more than doubled. The staff provided attentive service, allowing about 6 people inside at a time. We sat down, enjoyed tea, and paid one group at a time before leaving. Once all seats were empty, they would seat the next group. The ohagi was quite heavy, making me unsure if I could finish it, but it was lightly sweetened and the texture and flavor of the red bean were delicious, making it hard to stop eating. I think two women can finish it in one day! It was a special ohagi that clearly showed the care put into making it.

This shop is a different brand from Murasakino Wakuden, the specialty shop for omotase. Although the ohagi was once discontinued, it has since been resumed, so I visited. I made a reservation just in case, even though it was a weekday. The atmosphere inside the shop is calm, just off the main street of Gion. While waiting for the ohagi to be wrapped, tea was served, and time seemed to flow slowly, making it a soothing experience. A pack of 6 costs 2,000 yen and can be kept until the next day. The azuki beans are carefully simmered with refined sweetness from wasanbon sugar. They are slightly small, so even with 6 pieces, they are light and easy to eat, making it a delicious ohagi that left me completely satisfied.

The information that the long-discontinued white ohagi has been revived for sale may not be widely known, so pre-ordering is recommended as quantities may be limited. The ohagi comes in a stylish container and the balance of sugar is just right, making it a delicious treat. The red bean paste is a bit loose, so it's important to be mindful of temperature control and handling, such as using a cooler box and avoiding tilting it too much. Otherwise, the ohagi may lose its original shape and become a sad sight despite being a carefully purchased treat.

The fifth stop on my recent Kansai expedition was here. I came to buy a souvenir to give to a special person. Before making a purchase, I tried several samples, all of which had tricky combinations yet were well-executed. They have a unique Kyoto confectionery taste with a hint of spice, and the portion sizes are just right. The branding is also well done. Thank you very much.