I visited a store in Hidaka Sanseki that sells Japanese and Western sweets for the first time in February 2020. I found it on Tabelog, but I had been very interested in it after looking at the official website. However, in recent years, I have had very few opportunities to visit beyond Shizunai to the Erimo area, so I haven't had a chance to visit this place. This time, I decided to extend my trip to Urakawa with this place as one of the purposes. The impression I got from the official website was that it was a store that mainly sells Japanese sweets but also offers Western sweets... However, I was surprised when I visited to find that they had a wide variety of Western sweets, such as cakes and cream puffs. Half of the showcase in the store was packed with various cakes, boasting over twenty different types. While I can understand this in Shizunai or Urakawa, I was honestly a little surprised to see such a demand for Western sweets in the old Sanseki town. I might receive some criticism from the locals for underestimating Sanseki, but I couldn't help but wonder, "How can a store like this be here?" Do they really sell this many sweets every day? Well, they must be selling well. I purchased two types of Japanese sweets, "Kombu Manju" and "Sanseki Konbu Monaka," as well as two types of Western sweets, "Original House" made with choux pastry and a limited edition "Sakura Roll." The Japanese sweets were made using local specialties, while the Western sweets were surprisingly delicious. They were not too sweet, with a soft cream and a light texture. I would like to try some other items as well. There are table seats for eating in the store, so you can take a break during your drive and enjoy some sweets. However, I did not confirm if they provide tea. According to the official website, they are open every day except New Year's Day, opening the store from the morning, which was also quite surprising considering the location. If you are interested, I recommend stopping by once.

I always passed by but didn't realize it wasn't registered...oh, the restaurant is not listed on Tabelog. It's a rare cake shop in Sanshiki. On the left side of the showcase, they have traditional Japanese sweets, while on the right side, they have Western-style cakes. They seem to put effort into their Japanese sweets as well. The cakes here have a nostalgic feel, more like something from the Showa era rather than recent trends. They don't introduce new products every season, but you can always count on their classic offerings. Located along the national highway, it's a convenient stop for a drive-by cake craving. They also have a small seating area inside, so you can relax and enjoy your treats. In Sanshiki, a major producer of kelp, you can find "Sanshiki Kombu." They even incorporate it into their "monaka." The "Sanshiki Kombu Monaka" has been a popular product at the shop since the 1950s, selling over 1,000 pieces a day during the Obon season. Inside the monaka with a kelp illustration, you'll find plenty of white bean paste and soft-cooked Sanshiki Kombu. The soft texture of the kelp and the moist bean paste blend perfectly. They also offer other sweets made with kelp, such as steamed buns and yokan. If you're interested, be sure to try the kelp monaka. There's also a shop nearby that sells Sanshiki yokan.