During my spring trip to Kyoto in 2023, I was looking for souvenirs at Kyoto Station's Free Passage, where various shops are located. I was a bit lost as there were many options, but then I was drawn in by a chestnut-shaped confectionery. I tried the Nijo Wakasa-ya Baked Chestnut for 324 yen, which is a product where a whole chestnut is wrapped in chestnut paste and baked. It was delicious. Another option was the Fukuguri, priced at 345 yen, which is a confection made by straining whole chestnuts and wrapping them in chestnut paste, shaped like a chestnut with yokan. The Gold Chestnut, with two pieces in a box for 993 yen, was also delightful with gold powder sprinkled on top of the Fukuguri. I had not heard of Nijo Wakasa-ya before, but their sweets were truly delicious.

Purchased roasted chestnuts at Nijo Wakasaya. I've been buying these roasted chestnuts for about 15 years, and they are always exceptionally delicious. There are also candied chestnuts with shiny black skin called kachiguri, but the roasted chestnuts have a more delicate flavor that I prefer. Definitely worth buying when in Kyoto!

A long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto. It seems that the main store is located on Teramachi Street. I went there with a friend who has a tea ceremony instructor's license. She's a connoisseur of sweets (laughs). Especially Japanese sweets. There were many types to choose from, but I ended up buying a set of preserved chestnuts and roasted chestnuts (3 pieces each, 1150 yen) with a shelf life of 10 days. They were indeed perfect sweets for matcha. Both the softness and sweetness of the chestnuts inside were exquisite. The smooth and gentle texture of the sweet bean paste and white bean paste in the middle melts in the mouth. So delicious. And they look cute too! I tossed the box into a trunk for delivery, so it must have rolled around horizontally and vertically, but thanks to their round shape, there was no damage to the appearance. Since they can be stored at room temperature, I think they would make a great gift to carry around.

Located just a 3-5 minute walk from the Higashi-Otemon gate of Nijo Castle... Nijo Wakasaya, a historic renowned establishment, is said to offer a variety of delicious Japanese sweets. The storefront may look old, but the curtain at the entrance is bright and clean... opinions on this may vary. Upon entering, the interior appears surprisingly new and clean compared to the exterior. While there is a sense of contrast, it lacks the traditional feel... it feels like an ordinary Japanese sweets shop without much distinction. While browsing the sweets displayed in the showcase, I noticed there were many long-lasting options compared to the Teramachi store. Although the selection itself is the same, the quantity on display leaves a strong impression. After looking around, I ended up purchasing some Wasanbon sugar here as well (tends to go for long-lasting options). When considering souvenirs, these items come in handy. Of course, choices were made after inquiring about various options. Upon trying them at home later, the flavors seemed rather ordinary. The elegant sweetness melts lightly in the mouth without leaving a strong aftertaste (which is preferable). However, there weren't many items that stood out as must-buy... it seems to be more about seeking refined flavors or personal preferences. It's difficult to pinpoint any standout products. While everything is recommended and they take pride in their offerings, it would be great if they were all delicious, but they mostly fall within the average range... even with a strict evaluation, the overall rating is around 3.225. Taking into account the historical significance of the establishment and expectations for the future, I raised the service aspect by 0.1 point to make it 3.25, resulting in an overall rating of 3.3! Perhaps it's about finding a balance between the old charm and the new, but for now, it seems to be in a bit of a limbo without achieving true harmony. It feels like a discordant note... I look forward to seeing improvements in the future...

Kyoto has many delicious traditional Japanese sweet shops, but I particularly like the sweetness and richness of the red bean paste here. This time, I tried their signature items, "Yakiimo" (pronounced like "yah-kee-mo" - kind of sounds like "yoro-shiku" in a funny way, haha) and "Fukuguri." The "Yakiimo" comes in three sizes, each with different types of red bean paste inside - smooth, coarse, and whole. It's interesting! The outer skin is made of sweet potato, giving it a unique texture similar to dried sweet potato snacks. I tried the medium size with whole red bean paste, and it was delicious with the perfect level of sweetness that I like. The "Fukuguri" is a cute chestnut-shaped sweet with white bean paste inside, surrounded by sweet chestnut paste and wrapped in gyūan (sweet bean jelly). It's a dream for red bean paste lovers!!! They always give a little extra treat (this time it was agar sweets) when you shop or eat in, and I love that it's both reasonably priced and delicious. Their chestnut sweets are especially tasty! I'll definitely come back again. Thank you for the meal~

One of the famous traditional Japanese confectionery shops in Kyoto. This time, I tried the dried sweets "Kyoto's Cherry Blossom" for 648 yen. It's a perfect harmony of Japanese sugar and matcha, creating a delightful spring confectionery. It comes in a cute cherry blossom-patterned box. I was happy to find gold sugar cubes inside. Although I'm not a big fan of matcha sweets, I enjoyed trying the matcha rakugan after a long time.

Located 6-8 minutes on foot from Nijojo-mae Station is the traditional Japanese confectionery shop Nijo Wakasaya. Currently, they are only offering takeout service as their eat-in option is on hold. They have a wide selection of delicious Japanese sweets, including some unique ones that you may not find elsewhere, making it hard to choose just one. This time, I purchased the popular menu item called Fukuguri. These Japanese sweets are carefully handmade, with a whole chestnut inside surrounded by chestnut and sweet bean paste, allowing you to enjoy the rich sweetness and chestnut flavor at the same time! They offer a variety of Japanese sweets that pair well with Japanese tea and would make great souvenirs. Be sure to visit this place. Thank you for the meal! *Instagram gourmet account: https://www.instagram.com/shunsuke.naka/ (over 10,000 followers!) *Gourmet blog: https://www.hitobashiratoushi.com/

- Natsukankan (Summer Citrus) Ice Cream: ¥324, ★★★★☆ A new textured ice cream packed with the refreshing taste of summer citrus jelly, frozen tightly. - Nijo Rikyu (Nijo Imperial Villa) Dorayaki: 5 pieces for ¥1242, ★★★★ The skin is chewy, similar to dorayaki. - Yaki Kuri (Roasted Chestnut): Complimentary, ★★★☆ Selected large chestnuts wrapped in chestnut paste and baked to bring out the deliciousness of chestnuts. A popular classic dish with the sweet and comforting taste of chestnuts. (Received as a service) - Other notes: - No complimentary water. - No complimentary hand towel. - No restroom available. - No charging (no power outlet). - The service is pleasant. - Cleaning and setup are average. - Shoes can be kept on in the store. - The crowd level varies by time, but it was not crowded during the visit with only one other customer present. - Information about Nijo Wakasaya: Nijo Wakasaya, or more accurately "Wakasaya Mosumi," is located at the corner of Nijo-dori and Ogawa-kado. The name "Nijo no Wakasaya" became a street name, and the store adopted it as its name quite early on. The founder, Yoshijiro Fujita, trained in confectionery making at the long-established main house Wakasaya in Higashitoin Takoyakushi in Chukyo during the late Meiji era. A female staff member provided complimentary roasted chestnuts. (2021.08.24.) - Recommendation: Personally, on the food review site "Tabelog," the No.2 spot for ice cream and ice candy shops is here! (No.1 is "Kuncho Sake Brewery" in Oita Prefecture, and No.2 is "Nijo Wakasaya" in Kyoto Prefecture)

I was captivated by the visual and purchased it. I've been wanting it for a long time, so I'm happy. The taste is chewy and elegant. I tried the Amabie-chan with a coconut flavor and a sunflower design. They also have plum paste, chestnut paste, and more. I plan to keep the rest in the refrigerator for display.

On the way to a shop to celebrate my youngest child's enrollment, I stopped by Takashimaya and purchased this. [Summary] Gold chestnut for 389 yen, about 35mm in diameter and 20mm thick, a Japanese confectionery. A moist chestnut sweet surrounded by soft sweet bean jelly. It has a light sweetness and is delicious. I couldn't tell the difference with the chestnut inside. It can last for about a week.

Black sugar warabi mochi [81kcal energy, 20.9g sugar] per piece. It's impossible to sprinkle kinako powder on it while it's in the cup, so I had to transfer it to another container. I sprinkled kinako powder all over after transferring it. It was a very ordinary black sugar-flavored warabi mochi. Namu~ ===========

I tried the "Furosen" kudzu hot spring drink set of 3 (600 yen excluding tax) and the representative confectionery of Nijo Wakasaya, "Ie Kimo" set of 3 (620 yen excluding tax). I also like roasted sweet potatoes, but the Ie Kimo here was delicious without being too sweet. If you purchase 6 kudzu hot spring drinks, you can receive a hanging scroll. When I mentioned that 6 was too many, they kindly gave it to me. Thank you. Since I like Kanzaka Yukika, I will carefully store it in my collection. I have written details on my blog at https://bishokuclub.info/2020/12/31/nijowkasaya/. Please refer to it.

Today, I visited the main store of Nijo Wakasaya near Nijo Castle. The store was founded in 1917. The purpose of this visit was to try their Amabie San Shimai, which are traditional Japanese sweets shaped like Amabie, a mythical creature believed to ward off epidemics. I bought two wagashi sweets and received complimentary oshiruko. The wagashi were neatly packaged to prevent deformation. The first wagashi depicted Mount Nyoi, known for the Daimonji bonfire event, with a chewy skin and sweet bean paste filling. The second wagashi was in the shape of Amabie, made with ginger-flavored bean paste. The subtle ginger flavor was delightful. I also tried the Forousen, a traditional sweet soup with three flavors: snow, moon, and flower. The flower flavor had toasted wheat gluten and rice crackers floating in it. The craftsmanship of this long-established wagashi shop was truly enjoyable. I felt like I experienced both deliciousness and fun at this wonderful wagashi shop.

【Restaurant Overview】Traditional Kyoto Japanese confectionery shop✧* 【Review】I casually went in and found out they have seating for eating in. I tried their set of Japanese confectionery and matcha tea✧* The price of the set was surprisingly cheap! The harmony between the Japanese confectionery and matcha tea was perfect, of course! The matcha tea was freshly brewed, making it even more delicious♡

I bought it as a souvenir in Kyoto. Chestnut and roasted chestnut assortment, 4 pieces (1,026 yen): Whole chestnuts, fukuguri chestnuts wrapped in chestnut paste and smooth bean paste, shaped like a chestnut with yokan, and roasted chestnuts wrapped in chestnut paste and baked to a crispy texture. Both are delicious with a strong chestnut flavor without being too sweet, but I personally prefer the roasted chestnuts as they have a more distinct chestnut flavor and taste better.

Shaved ice...!!! Summer mandarin orange, yogurt, rock candy, tomato, red shiso, rock candy - cotton candy with various syrups, never get tired of it. My favorite is summer mandarin. The syrup flavors also seem to change in various ways. I want to go again when summer comes around~

Visited after seeing lotus flowers at Daianji Temple. The main dish is shaved ice, where you can pour multiple syrups yourself. This time, I tried yogurt, red shiso, citrus, kiwi, and brown sugar syrups. When you pour multiple syrups, it creates a rainbow-like color! It's fun to mix and eat. Also ordered a set of traditional Japanese sweets and hojicha tea. The sweets had pictures of Gion Festival floats, and the hojicha was from Ippodo Tea Co., truly exquisite. It's definitely moister in taste compared to regular hojicha. The set even came with lucky beans, which added to the value. ^_^

I have visited Nijo Fujita several times and heard that it is their family business. The "Furosen" pocket-sized sweet is 200 yen each. Let's try it with some matcha. My companion happened to want a snack, so she mostly ate it. I just took a small bite. The refined sweetness gently spread in my mouth and felt very nice. Come to think of it, I haven't had sweet red bean soup in decades. I used to quite like it. It made me feel nostalgic. Thank you for the meal.