I accidentally ate three items before taking a photo of the Hanshin Championship commemorative lucky bag for 1080 yen. In addition to what is shown in the photo, there were also two dorayaki and one more sweet potato yokan included. In terms of price, it's a good deal equivalent to three pieces of mizu yokan. The sale is until September 21st.

Tsuruya Hachiman, with its main store in Kitahama, is where I bought some sweets for the first time! I got a set of 5 flavors of yokan (regular, white, chestnut, matcha, brown sugar) with 2 pieces each for around 2000 yen. Each piece is 200 yen, so it's quite affordable! I left them thinking they would last long, but then realized the expiration date is the day after tomorrow (lol) so I decided to try them! They are elegant and delicious! Not too sweet, light, and with various flavors that keep it interesting. The expiration dates vary by flavor, so it's important to check. There aren't many department store-based traditional Japanese sweets shops originating from Osaka, so as a resident of Naniwa, I want to continue supporting them. Thank you for the meal!

I had a hard time finding a shop in the basement of a department store in Osaka, Umeda that sells traditional Japanese sweets, especially the kind made with sweet bean paste. Finally, I found Tsuruya Hachiman. They have stores in Hankyu Department Store and Hanshin Department Store in Umeda. I bought these sweets in the summer, so they are summer-themed Japanese sweets. Tsuruya Hachiman's main store is in Imabashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka, and they also have a store in Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The sweets were beautifully made, with one resembling a crab by the seaside. Each piece of traditional Japanese sweet was carefully crafted and had a unique charm different from Western sweets. It was a delightful treat.

I went shopping at Hankyu Department Store. My second daughter loves Japanese sweets, so I bought souvenirs for her. She always works late at night and comes home tired... She will graduate next year ♥ Don't push yourself too hard... I bought seasonal limited edition manju (steamed buns) to show my appreciation for her. I got a takeout of 6 pieces of manju: Shirokogane-an Maizuru for 238 yen, Maizuru for 206 yen, Hyakuraku (smooth red bean paste) for 195 yen, Hyakuraku (chunky red bean paste) for 195 yen, Hyakuraku with salt (chunky red bean paste) for 195 yen, and Satsuma Daigoyan for 249 yen. I didn't hesitate to buy the seasonal limited edition items displayed in the glass case in the store. The Hyakuraku made with domestically produced Daigoyan azuki beans from Tsuruya Hachiman is famous. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

It's a common dorayaki that you can find anywhere. It doesn't leave as strong of an impression as the ones from Kameju or Usagiya, and it's not much different from buying one at a convenience store. Well, it's normal, so it might give a sense of stability and reassurance to everyone.

Happy New Year. I received a New Year's greeting from my younger brother and his wife. I don't usually buy high-quality sweets for myself, so I'm feeling happy. I can enjoy it for at least 10 days even if I have one piece a day. That is, if my son or husband doesn't take it from me... I immediately had one with delicious tea. The refined taste of the sweet is so enjoyable that I'm savoring it slowly. The end of the year and the New Year were hectic and tiring, but I finally have some peace and quiet. Eating this sweet in the kotatsu while watching TV is just wonderful. I am grateful to my younger brother and his wife for knowing my preferences so well. I hope this year will be a good one for everyone.

My family came back with a souvenir from the company president, a box of traditional Japanese sweets from Tsuruya Hachiman. It's my favorite type of sweet, a "nama" (soft) manju. The weight of the manju is substantial, and the red bean paste inside has just the right amount of sweetness and stickiness, complementing the dry outer layer perfectly. The manju tends to crumble as you eat it, making it a bit messy, but I enjoy the texture contrast between the dry outer layer and the soft filling. It was a delight to savor this manju after a long time. Thank you to the company president for this thoughtful gift!

In Shizuoka, there is no store for "Tsuruya Hachiman". They had a special event booth set up for the Suruga Grand Tea Ceremony. I decided to purchase a few items during this opportunity. First, I tried the dorayaki. It had a crane-shaped imprint as a nod to its name, Maizuru. It was a bit on the sweet side. As I ate it, I found myself strangely drawn to the faint taste of honey that lingered on my tongue at the end. Next up in terms of sweetness was the egg yolk somen! I love eggs, so I was naturally curious about this treat. I've had it as a souvenir from Nagasaki and Hakata before, but I was surprised to find it here at Tsuruya Hachiman. It shone with a golden hue. The staff advised me to cut it into suitable sizes before eating, which was a bit of a challenge for me. It was indeed very eggy, but also very sweet. I wonder if this treat is meant to be this sweet. The eggs are poured into hot sugar syrup and bundled together. The container gets sticky with syrup just by holding it. If anyone knows of a less sweet version of egg yolk somen, please let me know. But then again, after some time passes, I find myself craving this sweetness again. This egg yolk somen is sometimes considered one of Japan's top three famous confections, but isn't it originally a Portuguese treat? The warabi mochi, with six pieces, was smooth and had a pleasant texture as it went down the throat. The taste of black honey brought a sense of happiness as it passed through. Among the items I tried, this was my favorite.

I sometimes purchase traditional Japanese sweets from the long-established Tsuruya Hachiman store. Today, as it was a bit cold, I decided to buy some fresh sweets and when I looked inside, I was immediately drawn to the special offering "Grilled Chestnut." It was shaped like a chestnut, with intricate details on the surface. The price was a bit high at 441 yen. Upon closer inspection, I noticed it was filled with chestnut paste. Another delightful treat was the "Tatsuta," with a beautiful maple leaf design, priced at 347 yen. Since it's October, the colors were still yellow and green, reminiscent of the autumn leaves at Tatsuta River from the Hyakunin Isshu poetry collection. Additionally, there was a bonus item that my sister loves, "Zenzai Tsuruya Teahouse," featuring carefully cooked Tanba Dainagon adzuki beans. The package included thin rice cakes that were delicious when grilled and enjoyed with matcha. The "Grilled Chestnut" was filled entirely with chestnut paste, with just the right balance of firmness for easy cutting and eating. The "Tatsuta" had a chewy texture that mixed well with the black bean paste, perfect when paired with matcha. As for the "Zenzai," be careful not to over-toast the thin rice cakes. It's a sweet treat perfect for when you're feeling tired!

I went shopping with my mother to buy a gift, and while we were at it, we also bought some "Maizuru" for our snack when we got home. Maizuru is a type of traditional Japanese sweet called dorayaki or sankasu. The outer dough was soft and fluffy, and the red bean paste inside was not too sweet, allowing the shape of the red beans to remain intact. The gentle sweetness of the red beans was very elegant, and I could tell it was a high-quality treat from a department store.

I received an instant oshiruko as a gift, and it was surprisingly delicious. It has a good weight to it and melts easily in hot water. I didn't have high expectations, but it exceeded them in terms of taste. It was about three times better than I expected. It's a good option when you're tired and craving something sweet!

My wife bought Shinkansen tickets during her lunch break in Umeda and brought back some of my favorite Senbei from the traditional Japanese confectionery store inside the Hankyu Umeda Main Store. The large Senbei called "Hyakuraku" has both chunky and smooth sweet bean paste fillings. I ate only the chunky bean paste part for my son who prefers smooth bean paste. Wow, the Senbei is so big and thick! It's the first time I've seen one like this, and it's convenient to easily divide it into four pieces. Of course, I couldn't resist and ended up eating it all in one go (^^; The Senbei's crust is crispy, and the perfect sweetness of the chunky bean paste is delightful. It's so delicious and easy to eat, with thoughtful details in its design. It's truly a remarkable product.