The matcha and Abekawa mochi photos disappeared. Only the exterior remains, so I'll record it. I've been practicing tea ceremony since I was a student, and I also make tea at home, but the matcha from Kaga-ke is heartwarming. The staff at the store are also very nice, and even though it was my second visit that day, they remembered me, which made me happy. I'll visit again at my own pace. Thank you for the meal.

In a shopping street in Chinatown, there is a traditional Japanese sweets shop. They have a seating area at the back. They offer both perishable and non-perishable sweets, with a wide variety available. This time, I bought a small red bean mochi for 150 yen. When I cut it in half with a knife, the outer part was quite sticky and hard to cut! When I tried it, I was surprised by how chewy the mochi was. It was the chewiest red bean mochi I've ever had. It stretched really long when I pulled it! It was so delicious! The red bean paste inside was smooth. I usually prefer chunky red bean paste, but I thought smooth red bean paste was the right choice for this mochi because the beans were so chewy! The combination of chewy mochi, crunchy beans, and smooth red bean paste was really tasty! Sweetness of the red bean paste: ★★☆☆☆ The sweetness was mild. I would like to try their mugwort mochi with chunky red bean paste next time.

This is a sweet shop of harmony. There are various options for shaved ice, but I chose matcha here (¥600). It had a gentle depth and umami flavor with just the right amount of sweetness. Even just plain matcha was very delicious. It had been a while since I visited Karahori Shopping Street, and there have been some changes in the shops. It felt like a retro coffee shop loved by locals. It was a nice place with a nostalgic and comforting atmosphere.

This is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop and dessert cafe located in the Chinatown shopping street. The shop is long and narrow, with the back area serving as a dessert cafe. I visited on a weekday afternoon in November around 4 pm, and enjoyed a matcha parfait in the dessert cafe before purchasing a few Japanese sweets to take home. Among them, the "Hangetsu" was a unique sweet made with white bean paste, rice flour, and rum. I thought it was quite distinctive and enjoyed it to the last bite. Thank you for the delicious treats.

In the Tang Ren Town shopping street, there is a traditional Japanese confectionery store called "Kamiya Seika." They have an eat-in space called "Chabo Kamiya" at the back of the store, where you can enjoy fresh sweets and summer limited shaved ice. Although the chiffon cake was popular and not available, I ordered Uji Kanjyo for 750 yen, and Zenzai for 650 yen. It was a luxurious treat! Eating cold shaved ice while enjoying warm Zenzai was surprisingly good. They also have special matcha parfait for 800 yen and cream Anmitsu for 650 yen, which looked delicious too! Looking forward to trying them next time. Thank you for the delicious meal! ✨

Sakura mochi for 140 yen (tax included), Black bean strawberry daifuku for 180 yen. The scent and saltiness of the sakura mochi are good, but the bean paste is quite sweet, like ohagi. The sakura flavor seems to be lacking. The colors of the bean paste for the sakura mochi and the strawberry daifuku are completely different. The strawberry daifuku is more subtle to highlight the strawberry. Overall, it's neither good nor bad. I didn't include this in the evaluation, but when inquiring about the sales period of seasonal products like botamochi for Higan or other seasonal items, the information from the mother and father is different and quite vague. The traditional confectionery shop in the shopping street may not be able to help it, and that might be fine too. While feeling troubled, I checked the website frequently and saw updates that the sakura mochi and ohagi had started, so I went, but was told that ohagi starts from Higan, which was confusing. I wish they could at least synchronize the website and the information from the mother and father.

I had heard that this shop has a history of over 300 years and used to be the official confectionery shop of the Kuroda Clan, so my expectations were set high. However, I was a bit disappointed. I saw daifuku being sold outside the shop and had a bad feeling, but I decided to give it a try and bought some azuki bean daifuku and sesame mochi. The daifuku was just like the ones you can find at a supermarket, nothing special. The mochi was too soft and I could taste the syrup mixed in. Maybe some supermarket confectionery is even better. I was expecting a more traditional confectionery shop with a long history, but it seems like they are not properly preserving their heritage. They also sell raisin butter sandwiches, castella cake, and other Western and Japanese confections, which felt like a mix of both without a clear identity. I don't think I will be coming back.

I had Uji Kin Tsuchi. I sat down and enjoyed it slowly during my break.

In the summer, I always go for this shaved ice! The ice is fluffy, and the red beans and matcha are authentic and my favorite shaved ice. It's not too sweet, and it brings out the flavors of the ingredients, making it really delicious. I plan to go frequently this summer.

There is a seating area in the back of the store where you can relax and chat comfortably. The desserts are delicious, especially the matcha parfait which offers a variety of flavors and is very tasty!

This is a shop in the Tangren Town shopping street that is designated by the Kuroda Clan. I went to a popular shop nearby to eat shaved ice, but it was crowded so I gave up and decided to come here instead. I had the Uji-kake with ice cream topping, which had plenty of matcha on top of fluffy ice. It was very delicious with the slight bitterness of the tea and the sweetness of the ice cream. The flavor remained strong until the end, allowing me to fully enjoy it. The Uji Kinsho with shiratama and azuki beans was also very delicious. I felt it was a good decision to come in here and enjoy the shaved ice in this quaint and serene tea house.

In the shopping street of Chinatown, there is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop where you can buy a variety of Japanese sweets at reasonable prices. There is a café corner at the back of the shop where you can enjoy coffee or matcha with the sweets. It is a lovely shop loved by the locals. Thank you for the delicious treats.

I have been purchasing ohagi for my partner at the long-established Japanese sweets shop, Kameya, located in the shopping district of Karasunomachi, which is close to the equinoctial week. However, they were also selling several varieties outside the shop. Since I am not a fan of ohagi, I decided to buy daifuku instead. I bought three pieces of yomogi daifuku for 110 yen each. When I opened the pack, it felt fluffy and had a lovely yomogi scent. The mochi dough was soft and chewy, with a generous amount of mildly sweet red bean paste inside. The yomogi and red bean paste complemented each other perfectly. It was a delightful snack after a meal. Thank you for the delicious treat!

Good evening~. Today's post is a continuation from the other day, from Karasuma-cho. When my wife and I went to see the cherry blossoms at Maizuru Park and Nishi Park, we stopped by this shop called "Kamiya" in the Karasuma-cho shopping street to buy side dishes and prepared foods. This shop has a history dating back to the Edo period, over 300 years of business. It was even a shop favored by the Kuroda clan, as featured in last year's NHK historical drama "Kuroda Kanbee". On this day, I bought some Japanese sweets as souvenirs from the shop. Kansai-style Sakura Mochi for 120 yen. I got Sakura Mochi during cherry blossom season. Sorry, I'm not sure about the difference between Kansai-style and others... The saltiness of the sakura leaf goes well with the sweetness of the red bean paste, making it delicious. Salted Soybean Daifuku for 110 yen. This one has a nice saltiness from the soybeans. The mochi of the daifuku has a unique elasticity and is delicious. Yomogi Daifuku for 110 yen. This one has yomogi (mugwort) flavor. Unlike the salted soybean daifuku, it doesn't have saltiness, so you can taste the sweetness of the red bean paste directly. Mini Rabbit (forgot the name) for 70 yen. I forgot to write down the name, but it's a black sugar steamed bun in the shape of a bite-sized rabbit. It's easy to eat in one bite. In the back of the shop, there is a café space where you can enjoy treats like kuzukiri and zenzai, and there were customers inside on this day as well. I would like to visit again when I have time. Well then, thank you for the meal~.

<January 2016> Delicious~ Delicious~ Hatoppo♪ It's been a while since I last visited! I bought a large bag for 700 yen and some as souvenirs for my colleagues. It may be a bit pricey, but this simple taste brings back memories for me. I hope it continues for a long time. I would love to go back and buy more if I have the chance~ ★ <October 2014> Kuroda Senbei inspired by Kuroda Kanbei. They have different sizes available, and this time I got the small size with 8 pieces for 800 yen. It has the taste of egg senbei and a simple finish. But I really like this taste. Hatoppo at the bottom has a similar taste. The cup shape makes it a perfect souvenir. <January 2010> A rare treat that is only sold on the 1st and 15th of each month. "Hatoppo" is a snack I have loved since I was a child. I go all the way to Karahori just to buy it (laughs). I used to get it every year at the old Iwata-ya during the Fukuhaku Noren-ichi event, and I have been going to Karahori ever since to relive that nostalgic taste. It's crispy and delicious when freshly baked. And it has a simple taste. It comes in two sizes, 350 yen and 700 yen. Honestly, if you go around 4 pm, they might be sold out (quite a shock...). They can hold it for you if you call ahead, though. It's only available on the 1st and 15th of each month, but sometimes it's a weekday, or I forget, or I miss out... So I only get Hatoppo a few times a year (^^;). That's why, personally, it's a rare treat for me. I will take a photo next time and upload it. Postscript: If the 1st and 15th fall on a Sunday, they bake it on the Saturday before, so please contact the store in advance.

I bought tempura and Chinese side dishes for dinner at the Chinatown shopping street, and finished with delicious Japanese sweets from Kamika. I also bought a special Chinatown sweet called "Hatopoppo," which is a small rabbit-shaped steamed bun. The owner handmade each one right in front of me. It turned out to be a crispy sweet made of castella dough. Once I started eating it, I couldn't stop. It's a delightful Japanese sweet treat.

In the shopping street of Karato-machi in Fukuoka, there is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop. It used to be a favored shop of the Kuroda clan in the past. Near the entrance, they sell snacks like senbei, and the back of the shop has a cafe corner. This time, I used the cafe corner. I had "Kuzu Kiri Zenzai" and coffee. The "Kuzu Kiri Zenzai" is very interesting. The kuzu kiri has a thick udon-like shape, with a twisty and bumpy texture, giving it a unique feel when you bite into it. The irregular chewiness continues for a long time due to its thickness. When you get tired of the subtle sweetness of the kuzu kiri, you can add sweetness with the sweet bean paste. If you get tired of the strong sweetness of the bean paste, you can add a refreshing sweetness with black honey. You can enjoy the kuzu kiri from various angles like this. Personally, I like this kind of interesting and unique food, so I really enjoyed it. The coffee is brewed after you order it. It's a light blend that goes well with the sweetness. It has a crisp acidity and a refreshing aftertaste. On the way back, I bought their signature product, "Kuroda Bushi Senbei," and brought it home. The cup-shaped senbei is very memorable, and its traditional taste is deeply delicious.

I used to buy Kuroda Bushi Senbei at the famous shop street Mineg in Hakata Station, as it was reasonably priced and had a unique shape, making it a good gift for my colleagues when returning home. However, when I recently tried to buy it again, I couldn't find the shop. It seems like the retro shops in Hakata Station and its surroundings have been replaced due to frequent construction. So, I decided to visit the main store in Nakasu, which I knew existed. The shop is located in the Nakasu shopping street, resembling the Kawabata arcade street. It has an old-fashioned appearance and a quiet atmosphere. I bought the Kuroda Bushi Senbei in a box for souvenirs and in a bag for myself. The shop also had a café corner, but I didn't have time to enjoy it today. When I asked the staff about the shop in Hakata Station, they confirmed that it had closed about a year and a half ago. It's a shame that it's harder to buy these impactful rice crackers as souvenirs now. They may have a simple taste, but I hope my colleagues will enjoy them. By the way, the title refers to the fact that Fukuoka is called the west side of the Naka River, while Hakata is called the east side. Also, the Miyoshiya shop, which used to visit my school, closed down in 2006.

In the 2nd year of Kyoho (1717), the first generation Daisan Soemon founded a candy store, a long-established store that has been in business for over 300 years, known as the "Kuroda Clan Official Supplier Store". This means that the store was established during the airing of the NHK Taiga drama "Kuroda Kanko"! The store proudly displays the Kuroda family crest "Fujitsubushi", and the signboard of the Kuroda family official confectionery supplier has been displayed for over two hundred years, giving a sense of history. The store is located in a corner of the Karasumachi shopping street, where locals often gather. The interior of the store sells traditional Japanese sweets and has an eat-in corner. There are no fancy items, just classic ones. On this day, which still had lingering summer heat, I ordered "Kuzukiri". It arrived chilled and transparent, soaked in black honey. The uneven noodles had a handmade feel, with a good texture. Since they use Yoshino kudzu, it goes down smoothly. I took a break while looking out at the courtyard through the window glass. Another unique item that can only be purchased here is the cup-shaped senbei. Shaped like the cup that the Kuroda clan retainer Morisada Tahei captured the famous spear "Nihongo" from Fukushima Masanori, it is large and impressive. They also sell steamed buns that change with the seasons. Next time, I would like to purchase those steamed buns and other traditional Japanese sweets.

I visited a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in the Chinatown shopping street. Although their dorayaki is delicious, this time I was intrigued by the Uji Kinjito featured in a magazine, so I decided to try it. It was my first time dining in and there were table seats in the back with a garden. I ordered a cold matcha for 500 yen and the Uji Kinjito. However, they ran out of red bean paste for the Uji Kinjito, so I had it with Uji syrup instead. The reason was that the couple in front of me had ordered a large quantity of red bean paste menu items, including the Uji Kinjito. It was disappointing to see it being carried away right in front of me. Since they didn't have it, I considered other options like strawberry, but ended up with the Uji syrup for 500 yen. The taste was rich and delicious. I'm not sure when I can visit again, but next time I would like to try the shaved ice with red bean paste.