It is located on the basement floor of Takashimaya in Namba. I sometimes use this store as well. I often use it for gifts, but this time I bought two types of sweets for snacks. "Antorori" has a thick sweet bean paste inside, which is delicious with just the right amount of sweetness. On the other hand, "Sakura-goromo" has a completely different taste of bean paste, mixed with mochi inside. I love mochi, and the harmony with the bean paste makes it even more delicious. The sweetness is also restrained, so it feels like you can eat as much as you want. It's perfect for tea sweets.

"I found it unusual to see jelly made with figs being used. This time, I discovered a jelly made with generous amounts of figs at this store called 'Genkichi Chouan'. They have a 'Natural Series' where they offer popular sweets that capture the appearance, shape, and taste of seasonal fruits. Some of them even use large chunks of fruit pulp. In the past, I have tried the 'Nashi Houka' and 'Hougyoku Ringo' which used La France pears and Akane apples, but when I recently visited the store after a long time, I saw a large 'Natural Series' for the first time. That's what I purchased this time, called 'Ichijuku no Mi'. It contains the pulp of two whole 'Houkai Persimmons' from Hiroshima enclosed in fig puree jelly. When it comes to sweets made with figs, we often see compotes used as toppings for tarts or cakes, or dried figs paired with baked goods like cookies. However, I had never seen fig jelly anywhere else other than at 'Genkichi Chouan'. The volume per piece, the juicy texture, and the refined sweetness different from compotes or jams all provided a very satisfying experience. Based on what I saw on the store's website, it seems that the 'Ichijuku no Mi' may soon be sold out or only available in limited quantities at each store at the time of posting this article. If you are interested, I recommend visiting the store soon."

Every year around this time, I buy cold zenzai, but it wasn't available this year. I found a new product called "Kanten Anmitsu with Black Beans" and it looked delicious, so I bought it. It's a cool dessert made with kanten, black beans, and sweet red bean paste. The lightness of the kanten and black beans harmonize well with the mashed red bean paste. Just looking at it makes you feel cool, and when I tried it ice-cold, it had a refreshing and delicious taste. It can last for 2-3 months, making it a perfect gift for this time of year.

I received a souvenir and was happy to try waffles, which I love. The waffles were delicious with fluffy cream. Waffles have been my favorite snack since I was young.

"When I took a closer look, I realized there are various cherry blossom and cherry-based sweets at this store. I happened to pass by this traditional Japanese sweets shop and was immediately drawn to a new product called 'Koh-Ho-Tama,' which uses cherries. As I approached the showcase, I noticed that there were many other sweets made with cherries, cherry blossoms, and sakura leaves. Intrigued, I decided to purchase a few cherry blossom and cherry-based sweets. Here are some of the items I bought: - 'Sakuranbo Daifuku': A cherry wrapped in white bean paste and mochi, resembling a cherry. The gentle sweetness of the bean paste combined with the cherry's slight tartness was impressive. - Cherry Jelly with Preserved Cherry: A small jelly containing a preserved cherry. The smooth texture of the jelly paired well with the refreshing sweetness of the cherry. - Sakura Jelly: A simple jelly with a cherry blossom flower inside. The beauty of its appearance was particularly striking among the sweets I purchased. - Cherry Blossom Shigure: Sweet bean paste flavored with cherry blossoms and topped with a cherry blossom flower. The delicate flavor of the cherry blossoms was subtly enhanced by the shigure-like texture. - Cherry Leaf Mochi: A glossy mochi filled with sweet bean paste, cherry leaf, and cherry blossom. This is a type of sakura mochi, and the cherry leaf version may appeal more to those who prefer the Kanto-style sakura mochi. - Sakura Waffle: A waffle with cherry leaf mixed into the batter and filled with cherry-flavored cream. While waffles are commonly found, the cherry-flavored batter is a unique touch. - Grain Mochi Sakura: Small mochi made with cherry leaves. Without bean paste, I could fully appreciate the cherry flavor and the softness of the mochi. - 'Kayu-Shin': A sakura-flavored kudzu jelly with 'O-Namon-Koshu' beans. Both the taste and appearance gave a light impression. - Hanamurashi: Steamed sweets topped with cherry blossoms. While there are many cherry blossom-flavored sweets, steamed sweets are quite rare. The fluffy texture paired well with the cherry blossom flavor. During this season, many sweets shops offer cherry blossom and cherry-based sweets, but it's rare to find a shop that offers such a wide variety of cherry blossom and cherry sweets. If you're considering purchasing spring-like sweets, you may find this review helpful."

I received this as a New Year's greeting. As expected from Genkichikara, the appearance is impressive. The main item is dried persimmons! It really made me feel luxurious and festive for the New Year. The taste is not too sweet, elegant, and perfect for gifting.

"The chocolate sweets from Yoshikioan have a distinctive touch to them. This time, I tried chocolate sweets made with dried persimmons and white chocolate filled with peach-flavored red bean paste from this well-known shop for fruit-based sweets. During Valentine's season, it's common to see chocolate sweets even in traditional Japanese sweet shops that don't usually use chocolate. However, some of these sweets lack the essence of a traditional Japanese sweet shop and resemble those from Western confectionery shops. Amidst this, I found chocolate sweets from this shop that incorporate fruits and maintain the essence of Japanese sweets. The 'Chocolat Dried Persimmon' is a sweet made with dried persimmons, chocolate, and red bean paste. I've tried various combinations of fruits and chocolate before, but this was my first time trying dried persimmons. The rich sweetness of the dried persimmons paired with the mild bitterness of the chocolate created a sophisticated flavor profile. The 'Smile' is a white chocolate-covered red bean paste sweet. It comes in three flavors: white peach, strawberry, and egg yolk. This time, I chose white peach. The subtle peach aroma in the red bean paste complemented the mild white chocolate perfectly. Whether you're a fan of Japanese sweets or looking for a unique chocolate experience, I recommend trying these sweets."

I always buy cold zenzai from July to early August every year. I love the texture of the azuki beans and the smoothness of the dish. I enjoy eating it as it is, making shiratama to add, putting in canned fruits, or enjoying it in the style of a traditional Japanese sweet shop. It lasts for about 3 months, which is convenient. Lately, it has become so popular that it sells out within 20 days of being available. It's a perfect traditional Japanese sweet for those who love azuki beans.

I love the jelly from Genki Zekkoan the most. It's always well received as a souvenir, so I often rely on it.

I found Gokokuteian Genkichi, a store I stumbled upon after visiting two clients in Osaka Takashimaya. Although I used to purchase from them frequently in the past, I recently discovered some interesting sweets. I decided to buy two items and chill them in the fridge before eating to enhance the flavor. Here are the two items I bought: - Rikuno Hoju: 281 yen (tax included) A jewel-like confection made by wrapping a whole Okayama-grown Muscat of Alexandria grape in sweet bean paste. It not only sparkles but also has a juicy flavor that tastes just like the fruit itself. Be careful of the seeds, as there are 3-4 inside, but they add to the deliciousness. - Apricot Droplets: 270 yen A refreshing dessert made from smooth almond jelly and sweet-sour apricots. The harmonious combination of the sweet aroma and the silky smooth almond jelly, reminiscent of Hokkaido's silky snow, along with the sweet and sour apricot pulp is delightful. My second son particularly enjoyed it. It tastes even better when chilled. When you approach the store, the female staff greets you politely with "If you've decided, I'll assist you." They also make the payment process smooth and efficient. These sweets from Okayama are so delicious that they can be quite moving. It's a bit disappointing to find out that their headquarters is actually in Tokyo, as I had an image of Okayama in my mind.

I found Gyokusyokuan Han at Namba Takashimaya. Oh my, they still have "Rikuno Hoshu". I ended up buying it again, "Rikuno Hoshu". It's made from the precious and high-quality "Muscat of Alexandria" grapes that are grown in Okayama Prefecture. I first tried it in June this year. Apparently, it's made from grapes that are only available for a limited time, so you never know when it will start or end. It's a charming Japanese confectionery that makes you impulse buy. It's like a refreshing and sweet Japanese confectionery made with "Muscat of Alexandria". It was delicious.

Tsunukko & Chibitsunu here! Today is Valentine's Day and we received so much chocolate again this year! Chibitsunu: "Tsunukko-chan, we got so much chocolate!" We received Fuushe Olympus Galaxy Chocolate, Sokei Genkichoan Chocolate Mochi Granfleur, and Snoopy Chocolate & Plate. The Sokei Genkichoan Chocolate Mochi was a gift from our friend Teru-chan! Even though Sokei Genkichoan is known for traditional Japanese sweets, they also sell chocolates for Valentine's Day. The chocolate has mochi inside and is not too sweet, very delicious! We received lots of chocolates this year. We also got some non-chocolate sweets, but we will talk about that in the next article.

I found a seasonal traditional Japanese confectionery at an old Japanese confectionery shop. It's called "Ofukui" which is made with sweet potato. It has a sweet potato paste filling inside and the outer dough has cocoa in it, giving it a chocolate-like flavor. It's a delightful autumn treat. The cute appearance and the unique taste make it a special find. I was impressed by this Japanese confectionery. It seems to be a seasonal limited edition, so I wonder if they release it every year.

I received a very delicious Rikuno Hoshu from a friend who always gives me tasty sweets! This sweet is one of my favorites since the first time I tried it ☆☆☆☆☆ The only downside is that it's expensive... The main ingredient is the high-grade "Muscat of Alexandria." Just buying this type of muscat can be costly... It is wrapped in sweet bean paste, and it's so delicious with the refreshing acidity of the muscat and the subtle sweetness of the bean paste. I buy it every year, but I hadn't bought it yet this year, so I'm thrilled! It's a very delicious sweet no matter how many times I eat it.

While looking for a thank-you gift at Osaka Takashimaya, I came across a special sweet called "Suikan Shuku," which caught my eye. It's a luxurious sweet made with a whole dried persimmon. It costs ¥525 per piece, but I decided to buy one for a gift and one for myself. The inside is hollowed out and filled with white bean paste, wrapped in sweet jelly. The natural sweetness of the dried persimmon paired perfectly with the refined white bean paste. It's a soothing sweet treat. I also saw other sweets that piqued my interest, so I definitely want to go back and try them out.

I received a high-class gift from a box, which was a wagashi from Takashimaya. There are many wagashi shops at Takashimaya, and this shop seems to be well-known nationwide. The wagashi was made with cherries from Yamagata wrapped in jelly. When I bit into it, I forgot it was a cherry and thought my teeth would break from the seeds (laughs). The sweetness was well-balanced, and it had a refreshing fruit taste. It's an elegant treat that would be appreciated by people of all ages.

This is a gift from Kawachiya~ These are sweets from my favorite shop, Genkikouan. I love that Genkikouan offers seasonal sweets. I also like their Shine Muscat sweets, but this time it's a roll with dried persimmons. My wife couldn't cut it neatly, so I will post a picture later. Just like the sweets from Seikoya that were delivered to me the other day, I think they were also bought at Takashimaya. These are really elegant sweets. They wrap yellow bean paste in dried persimmons. It tastes completely like dried persimmons. Delicious. It's definitely a perfect sweet for tea time. I want to enjoy it with the finest tea possible. I personally like Genkikouan's slightly eccentric style of sweets. Thank you for the meal.