Located near Shitennoji Temple, the long-established shop "Tsuri Kane-ya" is famous for its traditional Japanese sweets shaped like temple bells. I purchased a 250g bell-shaped castella cake for ¥500 (tax included). The castella cake was firm and delicious even when cold. I am intrigued by the bell-shaped manju and bell-shaped senbei, so I would like to visit again.

After visiting Isshin-ji Temple, my husband suggested we go to Shitenno-ji Temple. I thought we would drive there, but he said it's just a short walk away. I was not happy about walking in the heat. The temple grounds were different due to the Bon festival. My husband was in a good mood after getting a temple stamp, and he knew just how to cheer me up - by buying me bell-shaped manju and castella cakes. Even though these items are available at Takashimaya, I had never been there before, so I was happy and smiling. I fell into his trap. When we got home, my husband suggested we have some delicious tea with the manju. I tried to suggest going to Q's Mall for tea, but it didn't work out. However, we were able to relax at home with the bell-shaped manju and castella cakes. The castella cakes were so fluffy and small that once I started eating one, I couldn't stop - they were dangerous. They were so delicious that they disappeared quickly. I plan to buy more for my son.

I visited Shitennoji Temple for the first time in a long while. Despite the scorching heat today, the temple was crowded with visitors due to the upcoming Obon season. As I walked from Tennoji Station, I passed by many eateries, shops, and Buddhist goods stores lined up in front of the main gate. Among them, I decided to buy the famous "Tsuri-gane Manju" from the renowned "Sohonzan Tsuri-gane Ya" shop. Besides the "Tsuri-gane Manju," they also offered senbei and ice candy. With so many choices, it was hard to decide. When I opened the package of the "Tsuri-gane Manju" at home, it was still warm. The fluffy dough revealed a sweet red bean paste inside. The paste had a refined taste, truly representing the traditional flavors of this long-established shop. I thoroughly enjoyed the taste of tradition.

【April 22, 2022】Kinshinreikai. A memorial service for Prince Shotoku held at Shitennoji Temple, associated with Prince Shotoku. Every year on April 22nd (originally February 22nd in the lunar calendar), a bugaku dance is performed on the Ishida stage, one of Japan's three major stages, making it one of the most important events at Shitennoji Temple. I bought some sweets. They were delicious♪♪【April 24, 2022】Note: I ordered steamed buns. Received a gift of five steamed buns on April 22nd. Price: 900 yen (tax included). Thank you for the delicious meal on April 24th.

From Tennoji Station, head north on the arcade shopping street on the sidewalk of Tanimachi-suji. Take the path that branches off from Tanimachi-suji and continue until you reach the west gate of Shitenno-ji Temple, just before it. If you're coming from Osaka Metro Shitenno-ji Mae Yuhigaoka Station, head south from exit 4 and go past the west gate a little. This is a long-established Japanese confectionery shop that has been in business since March 3, Meiji 33. They are known for their "Tsuri Kane Manju" and variations like "Tsuri Kane Castella" and "Tsuri Kane Tamago Senbei". The products are hand-baked one by one at the back of the store, resulting in limited production and exclusive availability at this location only. The paper bag of Tsuri Kane Manju (5 pieces for 900 yen) was purchased on this occasion. Each piece was individually wrapped in cellophane, which was a pleasant surprise. The manju, made with carefully selected red beans and homemade sweet bean paste wrapped in a fluffy castella dough, has a rich and elegant flavor with a moist texture. It pairs well with tea. Interestingly, I had this Tsuri Kane Manju as a tea ceremony sweet at Wanshouan in Honbo Garden in Shitenno-ji before. This confection was created before the casting of the Dabon Bell at Shitenno-ji in Meiji 33. The original Dabon Bell was melted down due to metal collection orders during the war, but its legacy lives on in this manju. Rediscovering the delicious Osaka specialty "Tsuri Kane Manju" after a long time was a delightful experience.

On a Sunday afternoon, I got a bag of baby castella to go. It's made without preservatives, so it's safe to eat. It has a very gentle flavor that makes you want to keep eating. The zipper on the bag is convenient. If you eat it at home, you can warm up small amounts in the microwave to make it taste freshly made. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I visited my family's home in Osaka with my family. On the way, I bought a souvenir, which was this bell-shaped manju from Shitennoji Temple. I remember there was also a bell-shaped manju store in Shinsekai, but the packaging looked different. This one is from Souhonke Tsuri Kane Ya, while the one in Shinsekai is from Tsuri Kane Ya Honpo, so it seems like they are different stores. I'm not sure which one is the original or the main store, but it's a bit confusing. Souhonke Tsuri Kane Ya was established in Meiji 33, and they still use traditional hand-baking techniques with authentic bell-shaped molds, adjusting the baking process based on the temperature and humidity of the day. They have not changed their manufacturing process, and the artisans carefully bake each manju, so the production is limited, and you can only buy them at their store. In addition to the souvenir, I also bought the original Tsuri Kane manju (6 pieces for 1080 yen) for home use. The homemade sweet bean paste has an elegant and moderately sweet taste. The bell-shaped castella is moist with a perfect match with the sweet bean paste. They are a bit small, so you could probably eat about five in one go. Tsuri Kane Ya Honpo also had a variety of other traditional Japanese sweets besides the bell-shaped manju, such as banana manju called Basho, but Souhonke Tsuri Kane Ya mainly focuses on the bell-shaped manju. Next time, I would like to try both stores' bell-shaped manju and compare them.

On this day, I had to go to Tennoji. Since I was already there, I decided to visit the nearby Shitennoji Temple. On my way back to Tennoji Station, I stumbled upon this shop! It had a charming atmosphere, and I noticed the words "Tsuri Kane Manju" on the storefront. They were selling them individually or in packs, so I bought two! I took them home and enjoyed them with hot tea. The dough was soft and moist, and the sweet bean paste was just right. I wish I had bought another one since they were so delicious. The ingredients are all domestically sourced or produced, which is impressive. I found out that there are two main shops for Tsuri Kane Manju: Sokenke Tsurigane-ya and Tsurigane-ya Honpo. The ones sold at Abeno Harukas Kintetsu Main Store are from Tsurigane-ya Honpo. Next time I visit Tennoji and Shitennoji, I definitely want to have these Tsuri Kane Manju again. Thank you for the meal.

On the way back from Shitennoji Temple, I couldn't resist and ended up buying a castella cake that we can all share. When we ate it at home, it felt comforting. It had a traditional or classic taste, with a very refined sweetness. I think everyone would enjoy this flavor, so it's also great as a gift. Thank you for the delicious meal.

There is a manju shop on the approach stretching from the west gate of Shitennoji Temple to Tennoji Station, which has been around since the Meiji era. I was wondering why they have a bell-shaped manju when I have never seen the shape of a bell at Shitennoji Temple, but it turns out that the largest bell in Japan was made in 1903. It was modeled after that bell. Unfortunately, the temple's bell was lost during the metal collection in World War II. In Osaka, there are two main shops for bell-shaped manju: "Sohonke Tsurigane-ya" at the west gate and "Sohonke Tsurigane-ya Honpo" in Shinsekai and department stores. According to my mother, they are related to each other. Now, let's talk about the main shop at the west gate. During the spring and autumn equinoxes and the monthly memorial services on the 21st, many visitors come here. On this particular day, it was just a quiet weekday, and with Shitennoji Temple's precincts closed due to COVID-19, it was really quiet. I'm not a fan of red bean paste, so instead of manju, I go for the bell-shaped castella. It has a very orthodox taste with sugar coming to the forefront. Despite being a bell shape, it's small! I thought as I took a bite. The power of design is truly amazing. However, it's a truly nostalgic taste. Speaking of shapes, this shop used to sell a five-story pagoda senbei (rice cracker), which I liked, but they have stopped selling it. According to the shop owner, the five-story pagoda senbei was made as a soft senbei, but it was difficult to adjust the baking time according to the weather. I wonder if it was a soft senbei... My memory from about 30 years ago isn't clear, but I remember it feeling moist. The regular bell-shaped senbei is still available, so I'll buy it next time. The weather is nice, so I took a walk around my neighborhood. Bell-shaped Castella 250g for 500 yen (tax included). They also sell a small amount at the direct market in Tennoji Park.

It was my first visit to this traditional Japanese confectionery shop located in Osaka, Yuhigaoka, Shitennoji. The shop is right near Shitennoji Temple, and I was surprised to see quite a few foreign tourists around the area. I bought the "tsurigane manju" and I could tell that this shop has a long history. When I was paying, the staff mentioned that it was their 120th anniversary and gave me a towel as a gift, which made me feel like I got a good deal. The manju had a perfect level of sweetness and a simple taste that showed it has been loved for many years. Next time, I'll definitely buy some senbei. Thank you so much.

I decided to buy some bell-shaped manju from the famous shop "Sohonzan Tsurigane-ya" as a souvenir for myself since I came to Shitennoji Temple. I bought a pack of 5 for 850 yen. It has been two weeks since I last had a red bean paste sweet. It is a common baked sweet with castella dough filled with sweet red bean paste. It is shaped like a bell and has a moist texture with a delicious balance of sweetness.

Near the gate of Shitennoji Temple is the long-established shop "Tsuri Kane-ya". My father loves their Tsuri Kane manju. It seems that this shop is different from the "Main House Tsuri Kane-ya" that has a section in the department store. I didn't know that... I used to buy it at the department store. It's a common story in long-established shops, but it can be confusing for customers. Most likely, my father's favorite is the one from this shop near Shitennoji Temple. The products at this shop are made with a commitment to no additives. They can only be bought here. The other day, while taking a walk around this area, I found the shop and bought some Tsuri Kane egg senbei with sesame and Tsuri Kane castella. The big-sized Tsuri Kane egg senbei with sesame is my favorite flavor. 10 pieces for 700 yen, 5 pieces for 350 yen. It's a large egg senbei with a sesame scent as an accent. It has a satisfying crunch. The small Tsuri Kane ones are simple egg senbei without sesame. The Tsuri Kane castella is 250g for 500 yen. It's a small Tsuri Kane castella. I gave up on the red bean-filled Tsuri Kane manju because it doesn't keep well. I plan to buy it and take it to my parents' house when I visit. It's a castella with a moderate elasticity and not too fluffy, with a lightly sweet taste. 250g is quite a lot. I thought it was a bargain size, but it was just this size. I'll come back for another visit when I feel like eating it again.

This is a traditional and simple tasting castella. I also like anko-filled taiyaki, but I can't stop myself from reaching for this castella. It is a popular shop where many people buy souvenirs when visiting Shitennoji Temple.

Eating one bag alone will lead to regret two hours later. It happened to me.

Delicious bell-shaped steamed buns.