On August 31, 2023 (Thursday), I had a meal at a restaurant that serves a mix of Japanese and Western cuisine. I ordered a coffee rice cake for ¥972 (tax included), a traditional rice cake without almonds for ¥648 (tax included), a traditional rice cake made with plenty of ginger from Kochi for ¥216 (tax included), and a traditional rice cake made with Okinawan black sugar for ¥172 (tax included).

This is a gift I often receive, but it quickly disappears once it's in the house. It's delicious, but I don't feel like going out of my way to buy it, so I get excited when I receive it. When I drive by, if it's before opening hours, there's a line forming in front of the store, and once it opens, even though there's a parking lot, it's full and the one lane is packed with cars. The reason for its popularity is thanks to a product called "和洋" (Japanese-Western fusion). It combines Japanese confectionery techniques with Western ingredients, resulting in a blend of almond and coffee flavors with a creamy texture. It has the perfect balance of almond crunchiness, coffee bitterness, and creamy sweetness, making it enjoyable even for my son who doesn't like coffee. There are only about 10 pieces in each bag, so they disappear quickly.

This is a snack that I received from my relatives. Hmm, let me casually try it...huh!? This is really delicious, isn't it? Everyone looks at each other. It turns out, my relatives got information and bought it together. The location is behind Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine. It is open on weekdays from 10:00 to 17:00. They said that even if they went at 9:30, there was already quite a line. It was summer vacation, and I wanted to go line up myself, but my family didn't allow it. - WaYo 90g: ¥900 (tax included ¥927) It feels a bit like the "hatomugi okoshi" that was popular for a while. However, that one is a wheat gluten snack and light, while this one is almond-based and has a solid weight. Just the right bite size. It has an indescribable richness and sweetness. It's no wonder it was chosen for the G20 Osaka Summit. My wife and I couldn't stop eating, and we finished a bag in an instant. I tried to find if I could buy it online. There is an online shop where you can purchase it. However, the shipping fee is ¥990, which is the same as the product itself, and considering transportation costs, it's not cheap. Also, you can only pay by cash on delivery, which makes it even more difficult. Visit date: August 1, 2023

I went to Ueda Shokuhin on my electric bicycle from home and was surprised by the lovely store. I have received gifts from there before, but this was my first time going to buy something myself. There were about 5 groups of customers ahead of me. I didn't know I had to take a number ticket, so I was just looking at the products. Finally, I realized and got my number ticket. Since Father's Day is coming up, I want my husband to take the gift to his parents' house. I also bought some "ware" for our home!

"Sekken" ... I received the popular Japanese-Western sweets after a long time~♪ It's delicious, isn't it? It's just a 7-minute walk from Sumiyoshi-higashi Station on the Nankai Koya Line (^o^)丿"Sekken" is... carefully wrapped in wrapping paper, with just the right size that feels nice. When you open the wrapping, you will find a snack with almonds and puffs caramelized to perfection. The crispy texture on the surface is enjoyable. As you eat, the rich flavor of coffee and cream gradually becomes addictive, making you reach for more and more (laughs). I want to buy it again at the right timing (≧▽≦)/~♡

I bought souvenirs for a friend returning home from Tokyo during Golden Week and tea snacks for a coffee time with my colleagues at work. I made a reservation by phone the day before, and had my son who was off for GW pick them up. I received a ticket number and informed them of my phone reservation from the day before to make the purchase. Even with a reservation, the waiting time can be quite long. I have always loved both Japanese and Western sweets. The Western-style rice cake with almonds is just the right amount of sweetness and perfect for coffee time. It goes well with both Japanese tea and coffee. Since online sales are often stopped, the fact that they are only sold in stores makes them very appreciated as souvenirs.

Genmai, Usugiri, and Wanyo have been chosen as G20 Summit souvenirs, making Wanyo even harder to buy. Wanyo is a snack made of almonds coated with coffee and cream, with a unique positioning that is both familiar and appealing. The taste is rich yet not overwhelming, making it a fantastic product.

I received this without knowing anything about it. It was included in a gift box, but the description was not clear. When I saw the tweet in English saying it was chosen as a souvenir for the G20, Caramelized Almonds mixed with fresh cream and coffee, it was easy to imagine what kind of snack it was. It was very delicious, and I couldn't help but eat too much of it. It was a treat that can only be bought in Osaka, so I was grateful to be able to try it in Kanto.

⭐"Awagama" - a favorite snack that I love so much that I even order it online ❤️ This is a traditional Japanese and Western confectionery selected as a hospitality snack for the G20 Osaka Summit, from a long-established confectionery shop in Osaka.✨ #Awagama #JapaneseandWestern #G20OsakaSummit #TeaSnack #OsakaSouvenir #Gift #ConfectioneryShop #Osaka #Foodie #Gourmet #OnlineSweets #SweetsLover

A friend gave me some delicious Japanese and Western sweets, and I couldn't help but want to go buy more. It's about a 1-hour drive by car. I arrived 10 minutes before opening and got number 17 for the waiting list. The ticket machine is inside the store, so you can get a ticket once they open. They have a partnership with the Times parking lot next door, so I didn't have to pay for parking (if you spend a certain amount). If the store isn't open yet, you can line up outside and they will give out tickets in order when they open. The opening hours can be quite busy. I bought a lot as a thank you to the people who helped my husband with his transfer. They don't sell these sweets online often, so it's best to buy them in person. The taste is irresistible! It's likely to be more popular with women than men. The smallest size is easy to give as a gift and there are plenty in each pack, making it very convenient. The relatively long shelf life is also a plus. A friend recommended the Japanese and Western ones, but I also tried the Ushita and Kanenomori flavors, and they were both delicious. If it's nearby, I visit often! The staff's attitude was not bad, despite some negative reviews I had seen. I'll go back when I can, or buy online when I can't. Thank you for the wonderful treats! ♡

I visited "Awagane," located in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka City. The place is about a 7-minute walk from Sumiyoshi Higashi Station on the Nankai Koya Line. The shop opened in April 2009 and was already popular, but it seems to have gained even more popularity since being served at the Osaka Summit in 2019. If you want to purchase, you can either visit the shop or buy online (although online purchase may not be available until next month as of March 2023). This time, I bought the "Wayo" that was served at the G20 Summit. Each piece is wrapped in paper. When I opened it, I found a snack with caramelized almonds and puffs inside. The crispy texture and the taste of coffee and cream were delightful. It's a taste that becomes addictive. Thank you for the meal.

Sales are from 10:00 to 17:00 on weekdays, making it a shop with a high hurdle for visiting. Last year, I happened to visit on a day off on a weekday and encountered a TV coverage! I wonder if it's a shop with a special connection? After the TV broadcast, there was a line forming even before opening, making it even harder to make a purchase, but I still want to eat. It's a delicious representation of both Japanese and Western cuisine chosen for the G20 Osaka Summit! If you like caramel, you'll love it~ The coffee flavor that spreads in your mouth is delicious. I also recommend the Japanese and Western "coffee okoshi" without almonds! Next time, I want to try the coffee okoshi~ Thank you for the meal♪

2023. 1. 13 - Memo - Enjoying a takeout lunch on the way to work #12 (not a lunch but a takeout...) It's my first visit to "Awagengen" that I've been bookmarking. I remembered it from a TV show last November, and visited the next day... The influence of TV is amazing indeed! At 2:03 PM on Wednesday, the reception number was "223." It seemed like a wait of over 30 numbers, so I was thinking about what to do. The "Wafu" bag was sold out, so I decided to go back this time. As soon as the new year began, I suddenly had to visit a client nearby, so I was able to visit "Awagengen" on my way back, which was an hour later than last time, at 3 PM. But this time, the reception number was "210," which was younger than last time, and the waiting time was only about 10 numbers! The "Wafu" bag was still not sold out. I was lucky to find a parking spot in the small parking lot next to the store, so I decided to wait today. I was able to purchase it in about 30 minutes. - Wafu 900 yen (excluding tax) A product served at the 2019 G20 Osaka Summit. It has a good balance of sweetness, richness, and coffee bitterness. The crispy texture is just right, not too hard. It's delicious. However, my partner seems to dislike the bitterness and says the caramelization is too burnt. But I love it. - Matcha Genmai 800 yen (excluding tax) This one is too sweet. The matcha flavor is not very strong. My partner thinks this is more delicious than "Wafu." If you like sweet things, you might prefer this one. Thank you for the meal.

Established in 1950, this shop specializes in "okoshi," a traditional Japanese snack. It became famous for being handed out as a souvenir at the G20 summit. All processes are handmade, so it is not sold in department stores or events. You can only purchase it at the shop or online, but online it is constantly sold out. It has a long shelf life and can be stored at room temperature, making it an ideal souvenir from Osaka. Each piece is individually wrapped. Coated almonds in coffee-flavored caramel, it's like a Western-style almond toffee. It's perfect for snacking on one piece at a time. When it comes to "okoshi," the long-established "Ebisu Daikoku Honpo" went bankrupt. It seems that fewer people are eating okoshi these days. I don't eat it either ^^; I realized that they must come up with new products to survive.

Asuka-san's famous confectionery, Wao. It became even more famous at the G20. I love it so I buy it occasionally, but the thing is, buying it is a bit difficult. You can only buy it at the main store or online shop. It's handmade so it can't be helped, but if the store is far away and closed on weekends and holidays, I end up having to order online. This time, when I checked online... Oh no, the shipments for the rest of the year are sold out!! So I decided to check the business days and go to the store. It seems there's always a line before opening. I'm glad I heard about it. I lined up and was able to buy it. It's delicious no matter when you eat it. It's a confectionery with caramelized almonds, and the sweetness of the cream and the slight bitterness of the coffee are well balanced and delicious. The fluffy texture is also irresistible. It's a harmony of Japanese and Western flavors. I can't help but open the package and eat it. It also has a good shelf life, so it's handy for gifts or souvenirs.

I went to buy Japanese and Western sweets as souvenirs. Of course, I also bought some for myself. It is a long-established rice cake shop in Sumiyoshi-ku. They are famous for being used at the G20 Osaka Summit. The popular "Wanyo" is a bite-sized confectionery that is caramelized with a combination of puff pastry, almonds, sweet cream, and a hint of coffee bitterness. It is only available for purchase at the store in Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka on weekdays or through their online shop. When I arrived at the store at 10:15, there were about 20 people inside and a line of about 40-50 people outside. Everyone was buying in bulk, and I was worried it might sell out. Luckily, I was able to purchase them at 11:35.

I arrived at 10:10 on Monday morning with ticket number 70, but ended up waiting for an hour and a half. The payment was cash only, there were only about 3 staff members available at once, and the packaging was done each time an order was placed, which made the process quite slow. It would have been better if I could have purchased online, but it was sold out. Some of the customers were elderly, so making them wait for such a long time felt disrespectful. It's important to treat customers well. The taste hasn't changed, but it feels like the quantity has slightly decreased, which is disappointing. Despite this, I will continue to buy because the quality of the items is good and people enjoy them. However, the price of 900 yen per bag feels a bit expensive.

I received this as a souvenir. It seems to be a well-known local treat. It looks like it's a type of nut encased in a coffee and cream mixture, rather than caramel. It's from a shop with a traditional Japanese name, but the dessert itself is more like a Western-style treat. It's unique and stands out among other snacks.

A gourmet gift with excellent taste, available for purchase online or in-store. A rare treat that combines the best of Japanese and Western sweets. Coated almonds with coffee or cream, giving a crunchy texture and delicious coffee flavor. Perfect for pairing with coffee or Japanese tea, elegant and irresistible.

This is a gift, but it seems like a shop in Sumiyoshi that is only open on weekdays and you have to line up early to buy. It's called "Awagen." Well, it's a gift so I gratefully accept it. It's like caramel sauce on rice cakes. It's delicious! It looks like a snack that would taste rough, but it has an elegant taste! However, I don't think I would line up to buy it... sweat