I stopped by "Kuri Ami Senbonmaru Ta-machi" to buy some snacks. It seems like they have been expanding their shops under the "Wakana-ya" series. While paying, they treated me to tea and sweets. The "Hokkori Mochi" has a thin mochi-like texture with a hint of cinnamon flavor and filled with sweet bean paste. With so many options, it's hard to choose. The "Kuri Maru" costs 130 yen plus tax, with a milky dough filled with sweet white bean paste and chestnut. The "Yaki-imo" costs 130 yen plus tax, with a cinnamon-flavored dough and a moist sweet potato paste. You'll want more than one piece. The "Matcha Kuri Boku" costs 150 yen plus tax, with matcha dough filled with chestnut and sweet bean paste.

I had made a reservation for a meal near this place, but I arrived too early and stopped by. The store is located on the corner of a crossroad, so it stands out. The main store seems to be in Gion, and they are famous for using chestnuts in their sweets. While I was choosing products inside the store, they served me "tea and sweets". It's a typical Kyoto hospitality. I tried two representative Japanese sweets here, and they were delicious. I bought the Autumn Colorful Box (668 yen) and the "Chestnut Dried Sweets". The Autumn Colorful Box is a "cute box of colorful sugar candies, jelly with rice cakes and red beans, and other lovely sweets, limited to autumn". It's perfect for souvenirs as it contains various sweets. I bought one for myself as well, and just looking at it is adorable. The taste is average, but the "candy" is delicious. The Chestnut Dried Sweets have a subtle chestnut flavor. Kyoto's Japanese sweets are beautiful in appearance and packaging, so it's easy to end up buying too much. ^^

Located at the northwest corner of Senbon Marutamachi, this traditional Japanese confectionery shop is affiliated with Wakana-ya, known for their chestnut sweets. The shop is named after their popular product, Kuriamai, which is whole chestnuts coated in sweetened red bean paste. This time, my mother bought two items for us to enjoy: - Hokkori Mochi: A chewy mochi with rice flour, filled with sweet red bean paste and a hint of cinnamon fragrance. - Ritsuboku: Chestnut Sanmasu, with a subtle touch of matcha in the skin (though there are versions without matcha). Both treats have a light flavor and pair well with green tea. Although I'm not a big fan of red bean paste, it's hard for me to accurately evaluate these sweets. According to my mother, the shop also offers a warm hospitality with tea and sweets. It's always a nice touch when traditional Japanese confectionery shops provide such service. Thank you for the meal. Looking forward to trying Kuriamai next time! (laughs)

I visited as a reviewer and tried the taste of Ritsuami. It tastes just like Marron Glacé, but slightly different. I couldn't pinpoint what the difference is. It costs 270 yen. The store is located at the northwest corner of Senbon Marutamachi. It seems to be a store with a long history, but the new wooden store front makes you want to go in. The entrance is not very wide, and there was a young staff member managing the store alone. It was relatively easy to choose products. I bought only 2 pieces of Ritsuami to try, and the staff member seemed slightly surprised.

Located on the corner of Senbon Marutamachi, this traditional Japanese sweets shop boasts a history dating back to the early Showa period. Despite being relatively new in Kyoto, the shop proudly displays its heritage, showcasing a confidence that is quite admirable. I tried the "Mikasa," which is essentially a type of dorayaki. Despite my initial reservations about its simplicity, I was pleasantly surprised by the addition of whole chestnuts, which provided a delightful accent. The chestnuts were expertly prepared, showcasing the shop's specialty in using this ingredient. The sponge cake was also fragrant and delicious, earning this treat a high score.

The shop had an overall rating of 3.06. Although the shop is known for its chestnut sweets, I received a "Choco Maru" which wasn't chestnut-flavored. It was a pleasant surprise to enjoy something other than chestnut here. The texture was moist and enjoyable, and the bitter chocolate flavor was also to my liking. Surprisingly, I ended up really liking it. Since Wakana-ya has shops all over, I plan to visit one myself next time.