I climbed Maruyama Shiotani overlooking Otaru Bay and came to explore Otaru afterwards, but it was extremely hot so I couldn't really walk around. I ended up coming here to take a break. This place also serves as a waiting room for the bus station and it is very spacious inside. In one corner, there is a shop called Kuwata-ya where their specialty is panjuu, so I ordered some right away. There are various flavors of panjuu available, but I chose custard, red bean paste, and camembert cheese. Personally, I liked the custard flavor the best. It's like a different shape of taiyaki. The appearance is cute and fluffy. I relaxed and finally started moving again as the sun was setting. It was nice to have a space where I could rest comfortably!

Otaru's famous panjuu✨✨ is a little bigger than takoyaki, dome-shaped with a flat bottom. The name comes from combining "pan" and "manjuu". I had a break at the main store of Kuwata-ya while I had a little time in Otaru. I bought a variety of flavors - rose, red bean paste, caramel, premium camembert, and roasted green tea. They told me to eat it by turning it over and eating the bottom side first. I enjoyed all of them✨✨ The limited edition roasted green tea flavor was rich and suitable for adults maybe! The camembert was perfect if you were hungry. The red bean paste was delicious even when cold, a reliable choice. The caramel was my personal favorite as a snack (*´艸`)✨✨ If you visit Otaru, be sure to stop by during your walk. (^_^)

I bought it and ate it as a snack at home. The inside has various flavors like sweet bean paste, chocolate, and custard. I tried the sweet bean paste and custard. It had a chewy texture and the taste was okay. It was a satisfying experience because it was a snack I had never tried before. Thank you for the meal.

I stopped by during my stroll in Otaru. I thought it would be like bread from the name "panju," but it was more like takoyaki in the shape of imagawayaki. The freshly baked red bean paste was crispy on the outside and moist on the inside, and it was delicious. I could easily eat two more (laughs). The store was spacious and had a relaxing atmosphere.

This is a shop that sells traditional sweets called "panju" in Otaru. Panju is a sweet that combines bread and manju. The ones from Kuwata-ya are bell-shaped, but they look like dome-shaped nuclear power plant buildings (laughs). They had six varieties: smooth red bean paste, coarse red bean paste, cream, chocolate, fresh caramel, and Camembert cheese, so I bought one of each. They were priced at 108 yen each, which is quite reasonable. They taste delicious when warmed up in the microwave.

This shop seems to be very popular for their sweet buns. It's located on the first floor of the bus terminal? I don't usually go around that area, so I had forgotten about it. They had a rare sweet potato option that looked delicious and reasonably priced, but since I was buying it for the first time, I was hesitant in case it wasn't to my liking. Compared to that, the price was a bit high, but I decided to try their KUWATAYA POTETO sweet potato plain for ¥410. Hmm... it's so dense and packed that it feels like it's choking me! It reminds me of sweet potato yokan! Maybe they skimped on the whipped cream? We shared it among three people and it was just the right amount. Personally, I wish they had put a bit more whipped cream. I wonder if their sweet buns are tastier here?

During my trip to Otaru, I stopped by the main store of "Kuwata-ya" and tried their popular "panju" sweet, filled with smooth red bean paste. They recommended eating it upside down, so I did just that. The thin skin holds a generous amount of sweet red bean paste inside, similar to a thin-skinned taiyaki. It was delicious! After this sweet treat, I continued exploring the streets of Otaru. Thank you for the meal.

"Panjuu from Kuwataya | A specialty sweet from Otaru, crispy on the outside with plenty of red bean paste. The word 'panjuu' is a combination of 'pan' (bread) and 'manjuu' (steamed bun). Kuwataya uses only Hokkaido ingredients. The dough is thinly baked by skilled craftsmen, giving it a crispy texture on the outside and a chewy mochi-like texture inside. The red beans are from Tokachi, giving a rich flavor with a mild sweetness. It was very delicious."

While strolling around the Otaru Art Village, I stopped by a cafe called "Panjuu" known for its famous pastries. I ordered a coffee set, which came with a pastry that resembled a bell-shaped castella cake with the texture of a dorayaki. The filling options included red bean paste and chocolate, but I opted for the limited-time cream filling. It was sweet and delicious, although the pastries are small, so ordering a few at once would be enjoyable.

The other day, while under the influence of alcohol, I bought various gourmet foods from my hometown at Takatsuki Hankyu's "Hokkaido Local Products Exhibition". I purchased Sapporo soup curry representatives, Rakkyo-san and Kidaro-san's retort curry, yakisoba bento, yokan bread, beko mochi, and Kazuchii. I also enjoyed Kuwataya's moist and light-textured Rare Sweet Potato. The anko-filled panju from Kuwataya brought back memories of when I lived in Sapporo and had it a few times. It was an opportunity to learn about their wide range of product development. It was a few days of indulging in all things Hokkaido. Thank you for the feast.

Manju is one of the fashionable sweets born in Otaru along with the civilization and enlightenment. I didn't know that. I stayed in Otaru when I went to Hokkaido, but I was lacking in knowledge. I was told to try one, so I bought manju with tsubu-an, koshi-an, and custard cream. I also received instructions on how to warm them up, and when I ate them warm, the manju with plenty of filling in a thin skin was delicious.

This is a traditional Japanese sweets shop with its main store in Otaru! I bought some sweets from their shop located on the basement floor of Matsuzakaya. You can buy just one piece, and the prices are quite reasonable. I tried "panjuu" for the first time, which is freshly baked on site. It reminded me a bit of takoyaki in appearance. They had red bean paste, chunky sweet bean paste, and custard flavors available, but there are apparently many other flavors as well. I bought two of each of the three flavors they had in stock. I warmed them up in the microwave and toaster as instructed, and they tasted just like they were freshly baked. The thin crust is filled with plenty of sweet bean paste or custard. The taste is simple but somehow nostalgic and comforting. These kinds of sweets always make me feel relaxed when I want to take a break. They are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, about the size of a golf ball. They are easy to eat and delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I found a special local snack in Otaru called "panju". I bought it at a shop near the canal terminal. There are various flavors available, but I chose a set of 9 without cheese. The texture was surprisingly soft and fluffy, not what I expected at all. The best flavor was the "chunky apple". It was delicious and I would love to eat it again. Thank you for the meal!

In November 2021, I revisited a famous treat in Otaru - the "panjuu". I have had it many times before, but it was something I really wanted to eat again after a long time in Otaru. This time, I had the "panjuu coffee set" where you can choose your favorite drink and three panjuu. The panjuu is a confectionery that looks like a large imagawayaki (sweet pancake) in the shape of a small bell, and it is said to be a combination of "pan" and "manjuu". When I was a child, there were shops selling panjuu in places like Tanukikoji in Sapporo, but now it is treated as a specialty of Otaru. The panjuu from Kuwata-ya has a thin skin and when freshly baked, it is crispy and delicious. The fillings include classic red bean paste, chunky red bean paste, cream, chocolate, mochi, caramel, matcha bean paste, camembert cheese, as well as seasonal and limited-time varieties. This time, I chose the classic "chunky red bean paste" and "cream", and the limited-time "sweet chestnut paste". The small size is perfect for a snack during a stroll when you feel a bit peckish. Due to the impact of the pandemic, Otaru city is quiet and deserted, even the canal terminal area feels somewhat lonely with shops like "Amatou" closing down. However, at Kuwata-ya, there is a steady stream of customers buying panjuu for takeout, giving a bustling vibe. With "Amatou" gone, there is now plenty of space on the floor, making it more convenient for dining in. How about taking a break with a sweet treat during your stroll? ==============================◇ Panjuu Set (with coffee) 616 yen.

After enjoying beer at the Otaru warehouses, take a leisurely walk and explore sites like the Teppu Line while taking a break here. Since we're here, let's try the famous panjuu! So, we each bought a small panjuu. I prefer the red bean paste, with a thin crispy crust and a generous amount of red bean paste made from Tokachi beans, offering a taste that matches its appearance. The cream is similar, with a smooth and rich retro-style custard cream that is not too sweet and quite delicious. I might actually prefer the cream. With the buzz wearing off for now, let's have another drink. [Translated excerpt from the Kuwata-ya website] The panjuu, a famous specialty of Otaru, is a product of the city's modernization and Western influence. It became popular quickly due to the city's early modernization, with the introduction of the third railway in Japan. As bread was still expensive, the affordable panjuu, resembling a bread-like steamed bun, became a hit with the locals. The panjuu, about the size of takoyaki, with a thin outer crust and a generous filling, has been a popular everyday snack since the Meiji era. Kuwata-ya's panjuu uses 100% Hokkaido ingredients, with a focus on maintaining tradition and quality. The crust is crispy while the filling is hot and full, with flavors like red bean, cream, chocolate, and more. Made with Hokkaido flour and red beans (from Tokachi), the panjuu offers a moist and subtly sweet taste.

Despite being the main store, it was disappointing. They only had items that were not freshly baked and no new flavors. The lineup was too poor, considering the situation with COVID-19. It was nice that you could eat on the floor right in front of you. It is spacious as it is also a cafe. The set with three manju buns and a drink seemed good. I realized this after I ordered.

I was born in Otaru and have been eating panju since I was a child. In the past, there was only red bean paste flavor, but now there are many different flavors... It's a little sad, but we have to adapt to the times. The size and texture of the skin are completely different now, but it's delicious in its own way! I hope they don't get rid of Otaru's specialty! Thank you very much!

Located in a building with souvenir shops just down the canal from Otaru Station, this shop sells a mysterious round snack called "panjuu". They offer custard cream and fresh caramel for around ¥200 each. It's similar to a sweet called "punitama" sold at university co-ops. Inside, there's a creamy filling that's so soft it might burst out if you eat it the wrong way. Eating it with the flat side up is the correct way. A must-try for a break during Otaru sightseeing!

This is a review of Kuwata-ya located inside the Otaru Canal Terminal. While waiting for the bus to Tengu-yama, I had some time so I bought some panju (sweet buns). There were various flavors to choose from, but I ended up getting Camembert cheese, pumpkin, and mochi with red bean paste. They were about 100 yen each and were small and cute. The buns had a thin crust and were filled with a generous amount of filling. The Camembert cheese flavor was especially delicious.

I have been to Otaru many times, but this was my first time trying panju. It was a unique experience that made me stop by. The panju was about the size of takoyaki. It was packed with filling and had a thin skin like a steamed bun. I ordered one with sweet red bean paste and one with Hokkaido milk. First, I tried the one with red bean paste. It was like a taiyaki or oyaki without much skin, slightly warm with a gentle sweetness. The Hokkaido milk one was like condensed milk or cream. It was also delicious. If I had more room in my stomach, I could have eaten more. It was really tasty.