I thought it might be too sweet because it's a long-established shop, but it turned out to have a natural sweetness. As soon as it opens, it becomes so popular that it sells out quickly.

My maternal grandmother passed away at over 100 years old on July 5, 2018. Even though it has been almost 10 years, I still have memories of being well taken care of by her. I am definitely a grandma's girl. My mother sent me a package with no explanation, but it turns out it's from a shop owned by my grandmother's friend. It has the same last name as us. The package contained a special type of mochi called "Taue Mochi," which is traditionally given as a gift during rice planting season. I warmed it up in the microwave and it was delicious. The mochi was large, with a hint of mugwort flavor, a touch of saltiness, and the sweetness of the red bean paste. The balance of flavors and the generous portion made it truly enjoyable. I believe my grandmother would have loved this mochi. Towards the end of her life, she had almost lost her eyesight, but she was delighted by the cries of my eldest daughter when she was born. At that time, I never imagined I would have a second daughter, so I was relieved that she got to hear her first grandchild. Looking back now, I wish she could have met my second daughter as well. My younger daughter also enjoyed the mochi, which made me feel grateful for my grandmother's influence. It was a truly Hokkaido-style Taue Mochi that brought back memories of my grandmother.

Established in the Meiji era, this longstanding traditional Japanese confectionery shop underwent a renovation a few years ago. The bright and clean interior makes choosing from the selection of traditional Japanese sweets in the showcase a delightful experience. The expensive-looking vases and plates displayed, which were also part of the old shop, give a sense of the shop's history. They offer seasonal fresh wagashi like sakuramochi and bekogashi, although they don't always have them in stock. However, you can easily purchase senbei, mochi, and manju for snacking or souvenirs. The shop's owner has passed away, but the cheerful proprietress is now the face of the shop, often seen chatting with familiar customers who stop by to socialize.

I received some gifts but I don't know the location or price of the shop. I received bean daifuku and yomogi daifuku. I ate the bean daifuku as is. It had plump beans, firm mochi, and not too sweet red bean paste, all in a good balance. I grilled the yomogi daifuku. It had a strong yomogi flavor, with the mochi being crispy on the outside and soft inside, and the red bean paste becoming more sweet and gooey. Maybe grilling the bean daifuku would have been better too. Putting in that extra effort makes it even more delicious!

In Hokuto, there are two long-established confectionery shops. One is called Ichifuku in Mobeji, and I was amazed to see such a splendid confectionery shop in such a place when I visited. I have been wanting to go back there again. The other one is Kinkado Kashiya, which was established in 1907. I passed by this shop when I went to see the cherry blossoms, but I didn't have a chance to go in. It is said that their daifuku is delicious. I was thinking of going there next time I see the cherry blossoms, but my husband brought back some sweets. He said he didn't know the name, but it was not like kinako-covered uguisu mochi. When I tried it, it didn't have the soft and bouncy texture of uguisu mochi, but the mochi had a slightly chewy texture and was filled with smooth and elegant sweet bean paste.