After leaving the beauty salon, I stopped by Takashimaya and came across my favorite chestnut rice cake. I had tried it before and loved it, so I bought it immediately! The rice cake was soft and chewy, with finely chopped chestnuts and sweet red bean paste inside, making it delicious. Even though the lingering summer heat was still intense, seeing the chestnut rice cake made me feel like autumn is approaching. Thank you for the meal.

At this time of year, nothing beats warabi mochi. I feel like eating a cool dessert. There were various options, but I finally decided on the one with red bean paste. It had a chewy texture with a generous amount of paste inside. It was sprinkled with kinako on the outside, which made it delicious. Traditional Japanese sweets are great. I look forward to trying seasonal sweets next time.

While looking for traditional Japanese sweets, I came across sakuramochi and kusamochi, and bought 3 pieces of kusamochi because it had sweet red bean paste inside. The mochi was soft, the red bean paste was packed full, and it was not too sweet, which made it delicious. The size was just right, and I finished them in no time. Seeing seasonal sweets like kusamochi and sakuramochi made me feel like spring is approaching, even though it's still cold. I'm looking forward to trying the next seasonal Japanese sweets.

"I also like wagashi (Japanese sweets)". That's the impression I had of the New Year's wagashi I received for home use this time. I usually buy steamed wagashi called "fukufuku" as a souvenir when I visit my hometown, but considering the current situation, I had to cancel my trip this winter. So, I pre-ordered "hanabiramochi" and "New Year's assorted fresh wagashi" for home use, received them yesterday on New Year's Eve, and enjoyed them today on New Year's Day. This was my first time trying wagashi from "Fukujudo Hidenobu", and all of them had a refined sweet bean paste. Especially, the "hanabiramochi" with a white miso bean paste that was not too salty left a strong impression. It felt like it could rival the ones I've had from traditional stores in Kyoto like "Suetomi", "Toraya", and "Tsuruya Yoshinobu" (these stores also have branches in Osaka Takashimaya). If you live in Osaka and are interested in traditional Japanese sweets for New Year, you might want to consider this.

When passing by the store, I saw delicious looking walnut mochi on display. I remembered how tasty it was when I tried it before, so I bought a pack of 2. The taste hasn't changed from before. Inside the mochi, there are walnuts and sweet red bean paste. It has a soft and elegant taste, and it was delicious. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next.

"Oh, this flavor is new to me." At Fukujudo Shunobu, they have a steamed cake called "Fukufukufu" with red bean paste kneaded into the dough. I found a Kiwi flavor version of it, which was a first for me. I've tried various flavors of "Fukufukufu" before, like red bean and matcha, but the Kiwi flavor was a new discovery. The texture of the cake was moist and fluffy, with a hint of Kiwi flavor and a slight chewiness from the fruit pulp. While I've had seasonal fruit flavors before, the unique chewiness of the Kiwi in this cake was particularly interesting. Some Kiwis can be quite sour, but this one was easy to eat. Steamed cakes like "Fukufukufu" are not commonly found in other traditional Japanese sweet shops, and the Kiwi flavor in particular stood out to me. I'm not sure how long they'll be offering this flavor, but if you come across it, I recommend giving it a try.

Sometimes I crave Fukusudou Hidenobu's ozenzai. I bought it at Takashimaya for the first time in a while. Simply microwave the shiratama and it's ready to eat. Despite its simplicity, it tastes authentic and delicious. It's a grateful world. It costs a little over 1400 yen for a pack of two, so it's a bit pricey for the quantity. The expiration date is about six months, but it's so delicious that I finish it quickly.

In Tezukayama, there is a famous traditional Japanese sweets shop located about a 10-minute bike ride from my house. This time, I bought a Uguisumochi that looked delicious in the store. I enjoyed it with a cup of coffee. The mochi was soft, filled with smooth sweet red bean paste, and had just the right amount of sweetness, making it elegant and delicious. They also had a special New Year's limited edition (available until January) called Kohakumochi, which was also delicious. I look forward to trying their refined seasonal Japanese sweets.

In the showcase and shelves of the store, there are various traditional Japanese sweets such as Hanagotoudo, Konomi Tsuki, Shumaru, Ebisu Manju, Sousekiemon, Fukujunoharu, Kichikuraifuku, Ozenzai, Fukufukufumikan, Fukufukufu Chocolat, Fukufukufu Azuki, Fukufukufu Matcha, Fukujunsou, Matsunoyuki, Asahi, Koume, and Chabotan. I chose the traditional Japanese sweet Shumaru. The skin is crispy, the filling of sweet red bean paste is delicious, and the texture is chewy. It's perfect for tea time. Next time, I plan to try Fukufukufumikan and Sousekiemon.

"It seems to have a premium feel. The item I purchased this time is the limited edition 'Fuku Fuku Fu' for the New Year's holidays. 'Fuku Fuku Fu' is a popular steamed confectionery from Fukujudo Hidenobu, and I often buy it as a souvenir from Osaka. This time, I purchased the one made with rich matcha and black bean glaze. While matcha flavor is common, this rich matcha version uses more matcha, making the aroma even more pronounced. The black beans provide a unique sweetness different from the usual red beans. I was drawn to the packaging design and received positive feedback on the taste when I gave it as a New Year's gift. I would like to buy it again next season."

I wanted to give a souvenir to someone in Kobe, and I thought that Western sweets might not be the best choice. So, I went here instead. The customer service was incredibly friendly, and I had a great time. They had a dessert called "fukufuku", similar to Hagi no Tsuki, but different. It was moist and had a subtle weight to it. It was a heavy steamed cake without cream, unlike anything I've had before. The salted vanilla added a nice touch in the mouth.

"I wonder if this is good." On this day, I ordered a special steamed confectionery from this Japanese confectionery store for sending as a gift. The one I purchased this time, called 'Fukufukufu', is a Japanese-style steamed cake made by kneading sweet bean paste into the dough. By kneading instead of wrapping, you can enjoy a unique texture. It's good as it is, but it's also nice to chill it, especially during this hot season. Personally, I think the mango flavor, available only in summer, tastes even better when chilled. If you are looking for Osaka-branded sweets, please consider this recommendation.

"Fukufukufu (Azuki, Matcha, Strawberry) steamed sweets are born from the unique technology of traditional Japanese confectionery manufacturing. The filling is hidden inside the dough and steamed to a fluffy texture. The dough, blended with wheat flour and rice flour, is infused with the flavor of fermented butter. The 'Azuki' version contains homemade red bean paste, while the 'Matcha' version has white bean paste and matcha. The filling is mixed in without being visible, yet the deliciousness of the filling is still strongly felt. This original creation by Fukujudo Hidenobu is a unique steamed sweet. The name, which means 'fortune' in Japanese, is a wish for continuous good luck. The 'Azuki' version is filled with homemade red bean paste cooked from scratch, bringing out the rich flavor of the azuki beans. The 'Matcha' version contains homemade white bean paste infused with matcha, giving it a fragrant matcha aroma. The 'Strawberry' version is a seasonal limited edition made with seasonal strawberries. It has a sweet and sour fruity taste with a rich condensed milk flavor. A pack of 5 is priced at 1,080 yen. The name carries a heartfelt wish for continuous good fortune, which adds to its charm. It's perfect as a gift and was well received by my parents. Yahoo! Blog - Announcer's Thoughts ★ Nana Fujikawa ★ - http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/dreamjapan04"

Now, I'm in Namba. It's summer and I found this orange-colored jellied dessert with a hint of citrus flavor. It costs 194 yen including tax, and although it's small, it could be a nice gift with its refreshing taste of summer oranges. I love citrus fruits, so I really enjoyed this jellied dessert. It's similar to chilled chestnut jelly, but this one has a stronger flavor. It's perfect for the summer. Thank you for the meal! August 2015. Nankaihawks1's Gourmet Guide. Nankaihawks1's blog: http://hawks-1.exblog.jp/

This shop is located on the basement floor of Takashimaya. It is perfect for souvenirs or offerings for ceremonies. The "Konoaji Tsuki" (158 yen for one, 1050 yen for six) has elegant packaging with the shop's logo on the box. The taste is just right, not too sweet, with a soft outer layer similar to castella cake, making it suitable for men and elderly people. The "Hanagodo" (not sold individually, 630 yen for five) has a moist texture, with red bean paste and rice crackers that go well together and pair nicely with tea. The boxed products offer great value for the price. They also have canned mixed candies and "Fukuyose" available, which can be purchased individually or in a box with a minimum of two items. These items are great for serving guests or as gifts.

Today, I want to introduce a sweet treat I bought when I visited Namba before. This time, I bought a frozen "Teppo Mochi" from Fukujudo Hidenobu at Takashimaya Osaka store. It can be kept in the freezer for about 3 months, which is very convenient. The outer packaging looks like this. When you remove the packaging, you'll find it frozen solid. You can let it thaw naturally before eating. Once thawed, it's just like a regular walnut mochi, a bit on the sweet side. It goes perfectly with some bitter green tea. I think it was around 780 yen. If I remember incorrectly, I apologize. In the summer, you can also enjoy it with shaved ice to cool down and have a blissful moment.

"This flavor, Moon" is a confectionery that costs 1050 yen for a pack of 6. It consists of sweet bean paste wrapped in sponge cake. It feels a bit wasteful when the sponge cake sticks to the paper. The packaging is in a beautiful color. The size is a bit small, and the sweetness of the bean paste is not too strong. The confectionery itself doesn't have a strong presence, but it is a refined treat that goes well with green tea. It may not be satisfying for those who want a lot of bean paste. However, sometimes it's nice to enjoy a tea snack in a relaxed manner. It might be a good option for a gift."

During this season, I always buy black sugar jelly, Gogoku awase, and mizu yokan. When you put black sugar jelly in your mouth, a unique fragrance spreads. I like the jelly to be slightly firm. Gogoku awase has the fun texture of tokoroten and the refreshing taste of plum. Wagashi are also beautiful to look at and enjoy, with a refined sweetness. The main store is in Tezukayama, and they are famous for their shaved ice. I plan to go there this year. These would make great souvenirs for important people, seniors, and elders.

This is a gift. Assortment. Exciting to see what's inside. Limited-time sweet potato product. A mochi wrapped in smooth red bean paste, sprinkled with fragrant roasted soybean flour. Hideharu Tanba Daiginjo-an. Plenty of red bean paste with sweetened rice cake. Proudly filled with our famous sweet bean paste. This flavor is a blend of a restrained sweetness and a strong castella flavor. Enjoying the taste of autumn to the fullest.