In February, before my flight from Itami Airport, I was surprised to see how much the airport had changed (renovated in August 2020). There were many food options even after passing through security. I decided to go to the JAL side, where I found one of my favorite shops, Kihachisusho Main Store at Itami Airport. The shop is located in the food court area after passing through security. They offer a variety of options, and the open seating area has ample space between tables for COVID-19 safety. I tried their famous Mitarashi dango, which you can customize the level of doneness for each stick. They grill it right in front of you, which was fantastic. The Mitarashi dango was delicious, with a chewy texture and a glossy, sweet soy sauce glaze. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and my family also loved it. Some people were even buying in bulk to take home. I usually eat it on the spot, but I might try taking some home next time. The fact that they grill and serve each stick individually is truly amazing. I always end up buying some whenever I see it. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Before boarding, I had some time to spare so I visited this shop located around a food court-like area with various stores. I was initially considering buying souvenirs, but seeing about three people lining up and watching someone else's purchase made me crave for freshly baked items, so I asked for one separately to eat right away. ~Items purchased~ 10 pieces of Mitarashi dango for 1,080 yen, boxed botamochi for 380 yen (2 servings), and 1 piece of Mitarashi dango. Despite informing them that I wanted to eat it immediately, they still put it in a container for me. The Mitarashi dango was priced at 108 yen per piece, which I found to be a great deal ❤️ The botamochi, at 380 yen for 2 pieces, was also reasonably priced. However, the packaging was very meticulous, with the 10-piece Mitarashi dango coming in a sturdy box and being wrapped in wrapping paper by hand, with a ribbon tied on top. It looked more presentable than the 5-piece box. They bake the dango right in front of you, so you can enjoy it piping hot immediately, which is really delightful. They even adjust the level of baking for you. The Mitarashi dango had five cylindrical dango skewered on a stick, which were very soft and delicious. I bought them as souvenirs and ate them back in Tokyo, and the Mitarashi dango had a generous amount of sauce, making it very tasty ❤️ The botamochi had a perfect balance of sweet red bean paste and was very delicious. The slight saltiness in the red bean paste made it even better. The only downside I can think of for this shop's products is that they have a shelf life of only the same day. Well, however, the fact that they don't last long is a sign of how delicious they are! I would definitely want to buy from them again when I visit the airport. The freshly baked items were the most delicious! ❤️

I was so happy that I could choose the coating and buy just one piece of mitarashi dango for ¥108. Of course, I asked for extra coating. I heard they were made fresh, so I bought one right away. I've had it before, but not fresh like this. I wondered if it would be that much better, so I hadn't tried it again until now. It was soft and delicious. However, the quality of the dango was like tteokbokki, so even eating it fresh didn't impress me that much. So, I concluded that it's not my ideal mitarashi dango. The staff at the shop was amazing, handling everything alone. But they seemed a bit unfriendly, which was a bit intimidating. *Visited on a weekday around 3 pm, no waiting time, no line. Payment method: PayPay. Thank you for the meal!

At Itami Airport on the way back, my partner wanted to eat Kiiyaki, so we headed here. The store used to be located outside the security checkpoint in the central area of the airport, but after renovation, it moved inside the checkpoint area, so we went to the JAL side after the security check with our luggage clattering. There were about 5 customers waiting. A young female staff member took our order, processed the payment, and cooked and wrapped the food all by herself. She handled everything smoothly. We ordered 2 sticks for immediate consumption with a crispy and intense flavor, and 5 sticks for takeout with a regular flavor (@¥108 each). The young female staff seemed to be the majority of the customers waiting. We walked back to the ANA side and ate in the lounge. It had been 50 years since I last ate Kiiyaki, so it wasn't just delicious, but the taste was ingrained in my body, and it was still tasty when warm. The generous amount of sauce they put on top was also nice. We used the leftover sauce on the onigiri in the lounge and finished everything. When we got home, we enjoyed the rest we brought back with some drinks. Even though it wasn't warm anymore, it was still delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I finally bought the mitarashi dango that I've been curious about near the boarding gate at Itami Airport! You can buy just one, so it's nice to have a snack to eat. When you buy it, they put the freshly baked dango in a plastic container with plenty of sauce. The dango is not round, but shaped like a bale with 5 pieces. The hot dango is not finely textured, but it's chewy and has a fragrant taste. The sweet sauce is also delicious. This would definitely be a well-received souvenir to bring back.

At the airport, I bought a lot of mitarashi dango as a souvenir that I've always wanted to try! It was my first time seeing this round shape, or is it called a "tawara" shape? It was impressive. The taste was... well, just average, but it was nice to have the warmth of freshly made dango. I probably won't buy it again though.

Soft and slightly sweet, with a bouncy texture. Definitely contains some kind of starch like sweet potato, but it's voluminous and reasonably priced. As expected from the traditional Japanese confectionery shop "Kihachisou", their sweets are hearty. They prioritize a sense of fullness over luxury or seasonal themes... a lineup that is different in style but still captures the essence of our beloved Japanese confectionery shop!

At the north terminal of Itami Airport, these are the must-try items. I had a freshly made warm one before my flight. Sake manju (108 yen) and Mitarashi (108 yen). When you break the sake manju, it releases a nice aroma. When you order Mitarashi, they bake it for you so you can enjoy the freshly baked crispiness. There may be a short line at certain times, but the prices are low so it's definitely worth trying. Thank you for the meal.

[Ordered Item (including consumption tax)] - Mitarashi dango: 108 yen [Impressions (personal thoughts. Note that tastes may vary depending on the item ordered and individual preferences)] - The mitarashi dango had a fragrant aroma and a decent level of chewiness and softness. - The texture of the dango was average, and the sauce was sweet with a high viscosity. - The shape was unique, but overall it gave the impression of a typical mitarashi dango. - Thank you for the meal.

Located in an area with many shops after check-in at Osaka International Airport, I visited this shop. It was past 1 pm on a holiday when I arrived. While other food and beverage outlets were quite crowded at that time, this shop, which specializes in take-out Japanese sweets, had no other customers. I tried a set of two regular ohagi rice cakes with yellow soybean flour, and a daifuku rice cake with large red beans. The total cost was less than 1,000 yen, which was not too expensive or too cheap. The overall taste was characterized by a clear sweetness, and the size of the ohagi rice cakes was surprisingly large. The outer skin and the bean paste inside were both abundant. However, the bean paste was not overly sweet, but had a clear sweetness, and despite the volume, it did not feel too heavy. The daifuku rice cake also had a refined sweetness from the sugar and a pleasant aroma of the large red beans, without being too sweet. The overall balance of flavors was good, and the sweetness was elegant, making it delicious until the last bite.

After passing through the security check at Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport), you will find a commercial area with 31 stores including restaurants and souvenir shops. It is convenient to be able to eat, shop before your flight. A famous Osaka specialty, "Kitashu Sohonten," known for its "mitarashi dango," is located here. Inside the store, craftsmen bake and make mitarashi dango, which are sold one after another to customers. Since mitarashi dango has a same-day expiration date, I gave up on buying it and instead purchased "Mikasa," a dorayaki, as a souvenir. [Kitashu Sohonten's Japanese sweets] *Comments are written in the photo. ★Mikasa (10 pieces) 2 boxes ◉In Kansai, dorayaki is called Mikasa and the filling is not visible. In Kanto, dorayaki has visible filling. There is a theory that Mikasa was named after Mt. Mikasa in Nara because it resembles its shape. It's interesting how similar Japanese sweets have different names in Kanto and Kansai.

I tried various mitarashi dango, and this one is my favorite. I was surprised to find out that you can buy such delicious mitarashi dango at Itami Airport. What's even more impressive is that the staff, who is working alone, bakes the dango upon order, packs them, and wraps them before taking payment. They even ask for your preferred level of doneness. The packaging includes tips like cautioning against overcooking in the microwave to prevent them from becoming too hard. I had always thought that once you pass through security, you can't switch between JAL and ANA areas, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover this "shortcut" where you can purchase items from JAL even if you're an ANA passenger. These delicious mitarashi dango make a great souvenir. My husband also enjoyed them.

In March 2023, I went out from Itami. I arrived at the airport early and had a light breakfast at the airport. After enjoying takoyaki for breakfast at "Takobon," I also had two mitarashi dango from "Kihachisushop." I ordered one with a crispy texture and one normal. I ate them at a table in the food court. As expected, Kihachisushop's mitarashi dango was delicious with the perfect sauce. The shape, like a grilled chicken and green onion skewer, was easy to eat. (For your information, I prefer a crispy texture.) Thank you for the meal~

2023.03.25 (Day 1) Kagoshima Trip Part 2: Visiting the famous restaurant "Sushi Shou Nomura" in Kagoshima for a private party, we arrived at Itami Airport. After passing through security, we decided to have a light breakfast at the food court and shared some takoyaki. However, four pieces each was not enough, so we headed to "Kiyasuzan Sohonpo Itami Airport" next to "Takopon" and got two skewers of mitarashi dango. We ordered one with a normal amount of char and one with extra char. The dango was cylindrical and not the usual round shape, with five pieces on each skewer. Freshly grilled, the dango had a shiny glaze and was hot, chewy, and delicious. The combination of the soy sauce-based glaze and the sweetness of the sugar was perfect. We finished both skewers in no time. The charred flavor was especially appealing. The glaze is made with high-quality kombu from Akkeshi, Hokkaido, and soy sauce and white sugar from Kagawa. The cylindrical shape of the dango helps it char easily and allows the glaze to coat it well. We then took a JAL flight to Kagoshima, arriving at the airport around noon. After a 50-minute bus ride to Tenmonkan Bus Stop, we arrived in Kagoshima city at 1:00 PM. It was our first time in Kagoshima in nine years, and we headed straight to lunch. Enjoy your meal! (●^o^●)

I came to Itami to see off my son. My main purpose was to buy mitarashi from Kihachizushi. The main store is located in Juso and they have branches in several department stores in Osaka. In addition to mitarashi, they also sell sake manju, kintsuba, and other traditional Japanese sweets. In Juso, there is a store that sells archery equipment, and my son, who was in the archery club, bought some and learned about Kihachizushi. When I mentioned this to my son, he didn't seem to remember it at all. After that, we used to buy them at department store events. At the store, they ask about how you like your dango cooked. They are known for their fast packaging and have been featured on TV. The Itami Airport store usually only sells inside the security inspection area, but I checked in advance that they would be available at the souvenir corner for a limited time. Luckily, my son was on a flight departing in the afternoon, and if the dango went on sale at 12:00, we couldn't leave without buying some. When I picked up the box, the dango was still warm. It was coated generously with sauce and the small barrel-shaped mochi on the skewer had a mild soy sauce flavor, making it easy to eat. It's best to eat it on the same day you buy it. The next day, I reheated the leftovers in the microwave, and while they were somewhat revived, the taste did diminish. Each stick has 186 calories... I ended up eating three in one day (≧∀≦)

Located inside Itami Airport, Kihachisou is a popular shop known for its long lines at the Kintetsu department store near Abeno Harukas. However, at the airport location, you can purchase their products without having to wait in line. This time, I tried their Mitarashi dango and Rikishi Monaka. The Mitarashi dango is freshly grilled right in front of you after you order. The hot dango dipped in a sweet and savory soy sauce is a delicious treat that is soft and tasty every time you eat it. The Rikishi Monaka is visually impressive, being about 10cm square and containing around 395kcal. Inside, there is a generous amount of lightly sweetened Azuki bean paste, making it a satisfying treat to enjoy.

In the back of the food court just before the boarding gate at the airport, there is a Mitarashi dango shop called "Jusan." They close once they run out of dango, regardless of the operating hours, so it's often unavailable depending on your flight. They pack freshly baked dango in a box for you. Even if you bring it back to Tokyo, it's still slightly warm. When it's made by someone skilled, it's soft like mochi, but on other days, it can be a bit hard in the middle.

I love this dango shop. I always stop by before getting on a plane or take some to go. They bake the dango fresh each time, and you can choose the level of doneness from three options. I always go for the medium doneness because the slight char on the outside is so delicious. One stick costs 108 yen.

I'm so happy that I could enjoy freshly baked "mitarashi dango" from Kihachisou Honpo in the morning. I asked for them to be cooked to a normal level. The softness of the dango and the sweet and salty flavor of the mitarashi sauce were irresistible. It was the most delicious I've ever had. Thank you for the meal! ❤️

This is a shop located in the food court area after passing through the security checkpoint at Itami Airport. There was always a line. They only had one staff member working, so it seemed like they could use another one. They make mitarashi dango on the spot, so you can request it to be extra crispy. One mitarashi dango costs 108 yen (tax included). I asked for extra crispy. I got it right away, so it was piping hot and delicious. It's true that extra crispy goes well with mitarashi. I remembered talking about it during the convenience store judging on Job Chutaro.

After passing through the security inspection, I was looking for souvenirs and came across this place. They bake the dumplings right there and you can even specify how crispy you want them. I ordered 5 dumplings, cooked normally. When I got home and opened them up, I found these uniquely shaped dumplings covered in plenty of sweet bean paste. They had a nice crispy texture and the sweet-salty flavor of the bean paste was just right. I decided to warm them up a bit and they were soft and delicious. But I think they would have been even better if I had eaten them right there on the spot.