I bought the limited-time "Summer Orange" flavor of Hiyo no Yaki Mochi series as a souvenir. It cost 767 yen for a pack of 5 and 1264 yen for a pack of 8. They use Summer Oranges from Nokonoshima, giving a slightly sweet and sour flavor. Perfect for summer.

This is a shop inside Hakata Station. Since it was Halloween, they had pumpkin mochi, which was rare, so I bought it. The gentle sweetness of the pumpkin inside the mochi was different from the sweetness of red bean paste. It was well-received as a souvenir.

On October 23, 2018, my husband, who loves sweet treats, bought a limited edition chestnut chick bun, which is his favorite. He purchased a pack of three and enjoyed one after each meal. He said the chestnut filling was rich and delicious. He asked me if I wanted to try, but I declined since I don't like chestnut buns and there were only three in the pack. He enjoyed them carefully, and I'm sure the chestnut chick buns were happy too. There are many shops selling chick buns at Hakata Station, and I think we bought the chestnut chick buns from one of them last time. I found out about it on Tabelog, but I can't remember which shop it was...(^◇^;)

I continued my journey to Hakata last month and stopped on the way back from Kumamoto to have dinner. I visited Hiyoko Honpo Yoshinodo, where the limited edition in August was Matcha Hiyoko. This month, they had a new autumn limited edition called Chestnut Hiyoko, which had a package that reflected the autumn season. I bought a pack of 3 (432 yen). The cute Hiyoko shape remained the same, but the filling was chestnut-colored. It was made with chestnuts from Kumamoto and was sweetened with Japanese sugar, creating a soothing taste. The refined sweetness and smooth texture made it a perfect accompaniment for tea. It was a delicious autumn-themed traditional Japanese sweet.

"Hiyoko Honpo Yoshinodo Daimaru 2nd Store" is a must-visit for souvenirs in Hakata, featuring the adorable Hiyoko-chan. This time, I brought back the Hakata Hiyoko Sablé. Hiyoko-chan seems to have a bit of a tan this time, perfect for spring and summer (laughs). The sablé is more crispy than before, and as always, the dilemma is where to start eating. The round eyes are still cute, making it hard to decide where to begin. I decided to start from the cute round bottom and it was delicious. The crispy flavor with a hint of nostalgia is enjoyable. Hiyoko-chan is ready for the summer heat, still lively and cute.

Fukuoka's souvenir, "hiyoko manju" is very famous. My husband loves hiyoko manju, it's his second favorite after Kagawa's specialty "kamado". I found a limited autumn flavor chestnut hiyoko manju at Fukuoka Airport. It was a must-buy. It cost 470 yen for a pack of 3. Local friends say that the spring cherry blossom hiyoko is even more delicious. I have to come back to Fukuoka in spring too. It's nice that it's a rare item only sold in Fukuoka. Hiyoko manju can also be found at supermarkets in Shiga. When I gave it to my husband as a souvenir, he looked very happy. It had small pieces of chestnut inside, giving it a slightly luxurious taste. He savored one piece a day. I also saw a magnificent float of Yamanaka Kagenosuke at Fukuoka Airport. It was very impressive.

A family living in Fukuoka received a gift from their company as a souvenir from their hometown. They have eaten this snack many times before and always thought it was a Tokyo sweet, but it turns out it is originally from Fukuoka. The "hiyoko" snack has a moist center made of white bean paste and goes well with strong green tea. The first time they tried the "hiyoko sablé," it was as delicious as the famous dove sablé from Kamakura, and the pinenche was also moist and tasty, pairing well with black tea. Thank you for the meal♪ [March 2012 Update] During a recent visit to Fukuoka, they discovered a seasonal limited edition "sakura hiyoko" snack. It had a subtle cherry blossom flavor, making them feel the arrival of spring. Thank you for the meal♪

I'm Hiyoko. This is a popular product, isn't it? It's often given as a souvenir. It's a product from Hiyoko Honpo Yoshinodo. This is what it looks like inside. It's a manju in the shape of a baby chick. The fragrant skin and elegant yellow bean paste are unique to Hiyoko, aren't they? It's a taste that has been trusted for a long time. This famous confection, Hiyoko, was born in the first year of Taisho era, from the desire of the second generation store owner, Shigeru Ishizaka, to create a more beloved manju. Hiyoko has been around for almost 100 years. Amazing, isn't it? Hiyoko-chan, born in Iizuka, Fukuoka, is loved by everyone nationwide. Come flying to me again. I'm waiting. (laughs)

In a corner of the souvenir section at the Daimaru store inside Hakata Station, there is a shop that also has branches at stations, airports, and department stores, as well as service areas. It is a popular Fukuoka souvenir. The items I purchased this time were chick-shaped sablé cookies, financiers, and chick-shaped good luck chestnuts. First, the chick-shaped sablé cookies had a crunchy texture and a mild butter flavor. The financiers, known as pinanche, were soft on the outside and fluffy on the inside with a nice buttery taste.

At the beginning of the year, I found this Fukuoka limited edition Hiyoko-chan with a festive wrapping paper which was quite nice. It's called the Hiyoko's auspicious chestnut. The shape is the same as the regular cute Hiyoko-chan, but with slightly subdued colors, kind of like a hint of bitterness. Inside, the filling is chestnut paste made from Kumamoto-grown Japanese chestnuts and Kagawa-grown Japanese sugar. It had a slightly chunky texture and a sweet taste that wasn't too overpowering, which I really enjoyed. When it comes to Hiyoko, there's always the debate of whether Tokyo or Kyushu is the original. I feel like Kyushu was the original, but who knows for sure, right? On a side note, it's funny how such a cute Hiyoko-chan always ends up being bitten into from the head by so many people, I wonder why that is (laughs).

Recently, I received a gift of a "hiyoko" which is a type of traditional Japanese sweet. I used to eat it a lot when I was little, so I couldn't resist trying it again this time. The hiyoko is a cute little bun with a tan color, resembling a sunburned face. It's almost too cute to eat! Inside, it has a combination of sweet red bean paste and white bean paste. It's a perfect match with a cup of tea. If you enjoy traditional Japanese sweets, you'll definitely love this one.

I received a souvenir. I always think that souvenirs are a nice gesture. I try to avoid sweet treats due to my age and diet, but since it's a gift, I felt it would be rude not to eat it. The "Hiyoko" from Hiyoko Honpo Yoshinodo is a famous confectionery and a well-known delicacy. I don't have many opportunities to eat it, but I know it has evolved according to food bloggers. There's another snack that's evolving, "Happy Turn," which I'd like to try someday. The one I received was the strawberry Hiyoko. It's like a strawberry version of Hiyoko. When I ate it, I could taste the strawberry flavor. I always liked the unique texture of the outer skin and the filling inside. I used to prefer the skin and leave the filling when I was a child. Of course, that was in the past, and I wouldn't do that now. It's been a while since I had Hiyoko. Even though it was a gift, maybe I should have gone for a more standard flavor since it's been a while. But eating the skin brought back nostalgic memories. There must be a reason why it's called a famous confectionery. Eating it again after a long time made me think about that. Receiving souvenirs is a nice gesture. It may be a formality, but I appreciate it when friends, family, or acquaintances give me a gift. I value the time they spent thinking about what would make me happy. Even though we're not together, there's a time when others are thinking about me. I feel grateful and happy every time I receive a souvenir.

"Hiyoko's Pii Nanse" - Correctly spelled as "Financier". A pastry meaning "rich" in French. Named "Pii Nanse" after Hiyoko, a spin-off of the famous Hakata specialty. Limited to Kyushu. Features a "milk flavor" using condensed milk and almond powder. A sweet treat. I usually don't like sweet snacks, but this sweetness is just right. A gentle sweetness without being overwhelming. Honestly, I might like this more than the original Hiyoko manju.