I used to watch a YouTube channel called Ameya-san regularly. They make handmade candies with skilled craftsmanship. However, it was too far to go and buy them (laughs). There was a department store in this area, so I went to buy some. It was my first time going to the basement of a department store in years (laughs). I had planned to buy the ingredients for cold candies, so I bought two. I love ginger flavor, so it's a must for me (^-^). I was indecisive about which candies to buy, but I ended up getting matcha, sour lemon, and cider flavors, as well as a sparkling and beautiful stick candy. I started with the cider one. It's a small candy that melts before you get tired of it. I'll enjoy the rest while watching the production process on YouTube. Let's enjoy it together.

I went with my husband on his business trip to Osaka and the next day we went sightseeing in Kyoto as a couple. After visiting Toji Temple and Kyoto Imperial Palace, we went to Uji with my husband who has never been to Byodoin Temple. It's been since my junior high school trip that I last visited. On the way from the station to Byodoin Temple, we tried some samples at this shop. I always buy local specialties. The crystal candy with matcha inside is delicious. The pure taste of the candy combined with the bitterness and aroma of the tea powder inside is great. The small size is also nice. I also like the transparent appearance of "Miyako no Ishi" and the crystal-clear appearance of the candy and candy ingredients. I also prefer clear syrup for shaved ice. I like candies made with just sugar and corn syrup, without any additives, that are hard and have a smooth texture. I don't like candies that make my tongue hurt while licking them. My top-ranked candy is In (also top-ranked is Eitaisei's umeboshi candy). I need to check out Kyoto product exhibitions from now on. ^_^

I went to Toji Temple around noon on the 29th. Normally, it's not a time I would visit, but this year the peak season for autumn leaves ended early, so I thought it might be less crowded. There were a few groups with flags, but individual visitors were scarce. I was able to get a special autumn-themed stamp without waiting in line. As usual, there were souvenir shops from Kyoto lined up inside the temple grounds. I bought some "Amenosu" from Iwai Seika, a candy shop from Uji, for 864 yen. My husband loves cold candy, and he found it delicious when he tried the sample, so we bought it right away. It's made with rice syrup without any coloring or additives, so it seems good for the throat. The intense autumn tourism season, even in the midst of the new coronavirus pandemic, has come to an end. I hope we can feel a little more at ease and continue to follow the new lifestyle standards with the virus.

I had some business to attend to in Kyoto, and it finished earlier than expected, so I decided to go for a walk! I found a candy shop. Lately, my throat has been feeling dry, so candy is a must. I've been sucking on them while working. There were many different types of candy, which got me excited, but in the end, I ended up buying only tea-flavored candy because when you think of Uji, you think of tea. I also bought a more expensive candy made with strong tea, but unfortunately, my sharp-eyed friend took it from me - tears. I did get to taste it, and it was a completely different flavor! It was incredibly rich in taste! The regular candies here were also delicious. But it seems like the price equals the amount of tea leaves used.

Don't underestimate this simple soft serve ice cream. The soft serve with green tea powder sprinkled on top has a high-quality appearance. When you take a bite, it's bitter but delicious! It was incredibly tasty. If I ever want to eat green tea soft serve again, I will come here. There are a couple of benches next to the shop where you can sit and enjoy your treat while watching the crowd from a distance. They also sell warabi mochi. I want to try other items as well. Some foreigners commented, "It's bitter!"

On January 31, 2022, I visited the main store of "Toraya Akasaka" and then headed towards Nogizaka. I enjoyed the Van Cleef & Arpels "Men's Ring Exhibition" and took my time to appreciate the "Reviving Treasures of Shoso-in Exhibition" at the Suntory Museum of Art. The exhibition featured numerous reproductions and restorations of treasures from Shoso-in. The bright lighting and fewer galleries allowed for a leisurely and thorough viewing experience. The intricate techniques used in pieces like the "Mother-of-Pearl and Purple Sandalwood Lute" and the "Carved Ivory Backgammon Pieces" were truly impressive. I also purchased a can of candy in a mother-of-pearl box from the museum shop. When I opened it at home, I found out that the candy was from a Kyoto confectionery company, not Nara as I had initially thought. The candies, including strawberry and melon flavors, were small and cute, with a pleasant taste. However, considering the price of almost 1000 yen, they felt a bit expensive. Overall, it felt like I was paying more for the printed can than the actual candy inside.

"Kyoto souvenir" Tsubo Ame Sanmai 2150 yen. I watched a video recommended to me with a red replay button, and it was a candy-making video! I saw the process of making the candy and wanted to buy it, so I bought this "Mizuame" candy from Yahoo. It is made of Mizuame (a type of syrup) with three flavors: ginger, matcha, and kumquat. You can enjoy them as they are, mix 1 part of Mizuame with 6-8 parts hot water for a warm drink called "ame-yu," or mix 1 part of Mizuame with 1-2 parts hot water and plenty of ice for a refreshing cold drink called "hiyashi ame."

During the extension of the state of emergency, I ordered a special treat for my mom at home for Mother's Day. Despite rushing to place the order, it arrived the day before Mother's Day. It was wrapped in a bright red cloth and the warabi mochi inside was different from what I had expected - it was vacuum-packed without a box. Both my wife and I were surprised by the packaging, and she hesitated to try it at first. However, after chilling it for a bit, we finally tasted it. It was firmer than we had imagined, but incredibly delicious.

I found this at the food section of Kyoto Daimaru ('ω')ノ Uji's Ameya Koubou - Hiyashi Ame no Moto for 864 yen. It is a ginger-infused water candy cooked in a pot. Hiyashi Ame. It's such a nostalgic taste. When I was a child, I used to drink it a lot when going to the beach. The refined sweetness makes it delicious even when you have a little with a spoon. You can mix it with water, hot water, or soda. If you mix it with black tea, it becomes ginger black tea. The generous amount makes you happy. I couldn't resist having a spoonful first (^^♪ It might be delicious even when mixed with shochu... My mind is filled with Hiyashi Ame - my body and soul are soothed and healed.

I received a gift from a travel agency that hosted an event for a winter trip to Kyoto near Tokyo Station. I tried the matcha milk flavor, but there were various other flavors available. Iwai Seika has been operating a workshop in Uji for 50 years, making their candies by hand using traditional methods. The ingredients listed on the package are simple and include granulated sugar, corn syrup, condensed milk, and matcha. When you taste it, you can enjoy the gentle aroma of matcha, complemented by the mildness of milk. Although it is a traditional Japanese candy, the addition of milk gives it a touch of Western influence, making it very easy to enjoy. Looking at their website, I see that they offer cute packaging for events like Setsubun, Valentine's Day, and White Day, making it a great option for small gifts and souvenirs from Kyoto. Thank you for the delicious treat!

I was selling event merchandise inside Shinagawa Station. Next to it was Maeda Coffee, and both shops had items from Kyoto. It's great to be able to buy goods from the west in Shinagawa. I bought fruit-flavored candies shaped like vegetables (I'm from Osaka, so I add "chan" at the end). I also purchased room temperature stored warabi mochi. I paid with my Suica card, so I don't remember the exact amount. The candy looks good enough just by appearance. Since it's from a candy shop, I feel like I'm eating high-quality candy. The warabi mochi had a nostalgic feel like old-fashioned snacks. It tasted delicious during the sampling, but when I got home, it felt more like a simple snack. I think they would sell more if they focused on sampling sales.

I received a souvenir from a friend. They bought it at a shop in KITTE, directly connected to Tokyo Station, which was open for only one week. It turns out the shop was from Kyoto. I received "Amazake candy" and "Sushi candy". The Amazake candy is small and tastes just like Amazake. It's sweet and the aftertaste is also like Amazake. It's amazing. It also brings back a nostalgic feeling. The Sushi candy looks like sushi pieces lined up neatly, almost too pretty to eat. These candies would probably be popular with foreigners. Thank you for the treat.

Before Christmas, I was wandering around Hankyu Umeda Main Store~o(^-^)o When I was looking at the various shops in the basement, I found a corner with yuzu sweets~ It seemed to be a shop from Uji City in Kyoto. Yuzu candy caught my eye. Looking at the ingredients, it seemed to have simple ingredients that I liked. When I got home, I tried it right away~! Yes, it has a gentle sweetness, and it tastes so good(´▽｀*) The yuzu scent is not too strong. But after a while, a subtle yuzu flavor comes through in the back of your mouth! The small size is easy to eat and I'm happy about that. It's 100g, but since each piece is small, it seems like it will last forever♪ I don't know, but I feel like yuzu has a healing effect~ I slowly enjoyed it little by little every day~♪ Yes. I was satisfied this time too.