I was reminded of "551 Penglai Pork Buns." Please do not hoard them just because I posted about it. (laughs) Actually, I still secretly eat them. Even without waiting in line at events, I've been enjoying them since long ago. Kyoto locals have a resistance to the 551 Penglai bag. Even though they are now sold at several places in Kyoto, it wasn't the case in the past. So, it was a sign of having visited Osaka. Please understand this kind of sentiment. (laughs) There are various items at Kinokuniya. I have posted about it multiple times, but my favorite bread is Kinokuniya's English bread. I also like Sapporo ramen from Nishiyama Seimen and authentic Nagasaki champon. I enjoy Kinokuniya's pudding as well. I have posted about them many times, so please excuse my brief thoughts and photos. (By Kyanatsu Tsukisora, 1/13/2023)

The daily life of Igiripan. Is the world finally becoming kind to shokupan? Recently, there are many high-end shokupan specialty stores opening up, and it seems that a considerable amount of consumption is taking place. Personally, I have always had a strange feeling about it. I wrote a review about the predecessor of this store, "Kinokuniya Salute," about 8 years ago, but Igiripan from Kinokuniya is my shokupan. For some reason, people are very critical when it comes to shokupan, even though they easily spend money on croissants, hard bread, or side dish bread. That's why shokupan priced at less than 200 yen per loaf is selling like crazy at supermarkets and convenience stores. I mentioned something similar last time, so I won't repeat it, but the shokupan we eat daily is the one we want to choose something a little better, something that suits our preferences. Even if it's not a high-end shokupan, there are various shokupan in a slightly higher price range. I want to choose at a level that is just right. "Igiripan 3 slices" (172 yen), purchased at 20% off for 216 yen. This is the classic item at this store. And the existence of this bread is one of the reasons why I stop by this store. At first glance, it's just an ordinary shokupan, but if you keep eating this shokupan, it's hard to go back to other shokupan. It's so familiar that it's difficult to change now. It's just an ordinary shokupan. However, it lacks sweetness, butter flavor, and moistness like the popular shokupan from major manufacturers these days. It's simple, just plain shokupan through and through. This lack of distinctive features makes it suitable for any dish, whether eaten as is, spread with butter, or toasted. It's a light, simple wheat bread. And if I were to talk about its characteristics in a slightly complicated way, it would be the "hops seed," and apparently, the fermentation process is slightly different. Thank you for the meal. (By Kyonatsu Shuusora, 2022.3.9) (5 reviews/3.08)

【Visit Motivation】I found the restaurant by chance while walking around the department store and decided to do some research.【Atmosphere】The store is located on the B2F of Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro, just a 2-minute walk from the station. The store's exterior is marked by the name on the ceiling, and it has a counter-style sales setup.【Taste】● Meat Pie 298 yenI found this as the second most popular item and decided to try it. The surface looks crispy at first glance, but it's actually quite soft. There is not much filling in the center, and it lacks juiciness. The pastry is soft and fluffy. When eaten together, you can feel the fluffy texture, but it lacks flavor. 3.0 out of 5 points (average score of 3 points)【Overall】It's just average, but why is it the second most popular item?

At Tobu Ikebukuro's depachika, there used to be a bakery called Kinokuniya Salé. Recently, that place is under construction and has been replaced by another shop. The space where Hotel Okura and a coffee bean shop used to be has been expanded, and Kinokuniya has reopened as a supermarket. One corner of the supermarket features a freshly baked bread sales section. Packaged bread is also available in the supermarket. On the day I was there for a preview, I noticed bread with a "30% off" sticker and ended up buying it (laughs). (Kinokuniya x Mosuke Dango) 3 types of anpan for 330 yen. Excluding tax. The expiration date was approaching, so it was discounted by 30%. The 3 types of anpan include red bean paste, coarse red bean paste, and daifuku red bean paste. The daifuku red bean paste anpan contains daifuku beans. Daifuku beans = white kidney beans, with white bean paste inside. I enjoyed a slightly elegant taste with the daifuku red bean paste anpan. I used to occasionally buy hard bread from Kinokuniya Salé's store before, so I plan to continue using the hard bread available at the renewed Kinokuniya.

Kino Kuniya has opened on the B2F of Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro. Despite its small size, it offers a variety of food items packed tightly in the space. I tried their "White Bread" from the bread section in the center. It's an unsliced loaf of bread made without any strange additives. It's slightly smaller than regular bread loaves. I enjoyed it for breakfast.

Report: Kino no Kuniya opened on September 7, 2017. This store is located in the depachika of Tobu Ikebukuro, where "KinoKuniya Salute" used to be. I am a fan of their British bread, as I have consumed hundreds of loaves over the years. While their bread may seem a bit pricey compared to supermarket or convenience store options, it is actually quite reasonable when compared to other bakeries. Just like how people pay attention to the type of rice they buy, I believe we should also pay more attention to the quality of bread we consume. During the renovation closure of KinoKuniya Salute, I felt a bit uneasy about the lack of their bread. Finally, I visited the store after a long time and was relieved to find their British bread on the shelves. They were also selling "Happy Bags" as part of their grand opening celebration. My friend wanted to buy one, so I went along with it. It's probably a good luck charm. Why do girls love lucky bags so much? My favorite bread is the Kino no Kuniya British bread. Sometimes, it's worth exploring different types of bread to find the one that suits you best. There are many delicious options like Yamazaki's Double Soft Gold, Royal Bread, Fuji Pan's Honkoshikomi, Pasco's Choujuku series, Pon de Me of Pompadour, Baron, Andersen's British bread, and Maison Kayser's bread. However, for me, nothing beats the Kino no Kuniya British bread. Whether eaten plain, with butter, margarine, jam, or used in sandwiches, this bread stands out. Perhaps it's the "Hops seed" that sets it apart. The fermentation process is slightly different, resulting in a unique sweetness, acidity, and bitterness that masks the yeast aroma. Even with a blindfold, I am confident I could identify this bread. (By Kyonatsu Shuusora, 2017.9.11)

I stopped by to conclude my little Ikebukuro Station tour. ~Items purchased~ ■ Scone assortment ■ Japanese pumpkin mochi bread ■ Truffle salt ■ Beef tendon curry ■ Noble rot wine-soaked raisin chocolate The standout item was the raisin chocolate. It caught my eye as it was described as a limited edition, so I couldn't resist picking it up. I bought the bitter flavor, but I think there was also a white one available. This is addictive. It was great to be able to purchase items like truffle salt rice crackers that are made with attention to detail.

Suzama 362 yen, Kinako Mochi Barley Ohagi 459 yen

British Pan (Toast Bread)