Located in Yanagawa, this shop is situated at the end point of the river cruise. I purchased a sweet called "Marine" which is a type of traditional Japanese confectionery. It comes in a cute container, but inside is the actual sweet called "rakugan". When I opened it, there were 7 round balls inside, each looking adorable. Upon tasting, it had a flavor similar to kinako (roasted soybean flour) cookies. The crumbly texture had chunks of macadamia nuts which added a nice crunch. I had a different image of rakugan being not so tasty, but this one completely changed my perception! It would make a great gift and I believe anyone would be delighted to receive it.

199■ Strolling around Yanagawa, once again I found a cute souvenir! At Sakataya, their ◆◆ Yanagawa Kinako Banmo 〰◆◆ is priced at 120 yen. I was drawn to the round and adorable packaging and decided to purchase it. This is a type of rakugan, made not with mochi rice, but with fukuyutaka soybeans and kinako. It comes in a pack of three. The shape resembles a plum and is incredibly charming. The fukuyutaka soybeans melt in your mouth. The fragrant aroma of kinako and the sweetness of the soybeans make it a delicious tea snack. The subtle sweetness of the soybeans spreads in your mouth, offering an elegant flavor. It feels lighter compared to regular rakugan. It would be appreciated at a tea ceremony class, for example. ■ It was a very elegant accompaniment to tea. ＼(^-^)／ Yanagawa City is the leading soybean production area in Fukuoka Prefecture, and this confectionery uses the flavorful soybeans from there. This rakugan is made by carefully preserving the freshly ground soybean flavor, drying it at high temperature for a short time. Each piece is handmade, soft and tender, spreading an elegant sweetness in your mouth.

I went down the Yanagawa River. While looking for souvenirs, I found this shop located at the end of the river journey. They only had three types of sweets: warabi mochi, kinako rakugan with macadamia nuts, and kinako rakugan. I tried the kinako rakugan with macadamia nuts and it was incredibly delicious! The rakugan was not dry, slightly sweet, elegant, and tasty! The macadamia nuts were also delicious. However, since the expiration date was only three days, I didn't buy it. The warabi mochi was 500 yen and had to be consumed on the same day. It also had a refined taste. Maybe they used real warabi? It was delicious. I want to eat it again.

I happened to come across this traditional Japanese confectionery shop that was featured in a certain magazine. Seeking out a rare product available only this year, I decided to visit the shop. - Shop Details: Established in 1914, this confectionery shop has been around for about 100 years. It has a quiet, old-fashioned charm. In addition to the main shop, there is also a temporary branch called Okihana Shop. - Products & Prices: There are various confections such as dorayaki, soda manju, skewered dumplings, yabure manju, maruboro, chestnut yokan, rice senbei, and individually packaged baked sweets priced around 70-100 yen, which is quite reasonable. For more details on the products, refer to the shop's website. - Specific Products: 1. Kinako Banmo (3 pieces for 100 yen): These cute plum-shaped sweets are made with black sugar and Yanagawa-produced kinako (soybean flour). They crumble easily and have a strong sweetness that pairs well with bitter green tea. 2. Fig & Cream Cheese Daifuku (150 yen): A limited edition rare product available only this year. It features fig compote and cream cheese inside a soft mochi. The fig with a hint of red wine flavor, the rich cheese, and a subtle white chocolate aftertaste make for a unique flavor. 3. Nori Yanagi (100 yen): Another limited edition rare product available only this year. This savory baked snack is flavored with miso, soy sauce, and seaweed. Shaped like willow leaves, it has a crispy texture and a hint of seaweed and soy sauce flavor. 4. Yabure Manju (80 yen): A small yet satisfying confection with a firm outer layer and plenty of shiny red bean paste inside. It has a robust, rustic flavor. 5. Skewered Dumplings (80 yen): These chewy white rice dumplings are coated with smooth sweet bean paste. They have a subtle sweetness and a delicate texture. Among the ones I tried, I particularly enjoyed the Nori Yanagi and Skewered Dumplings. I would like to try their signature product, Kome Senbei, on my next visit. Thank you for the delicious treats.