It's Asahikawa. When I left the shop where I dipped the Nambu Senbei in hot water, there was a similar shop on the right called "Kamagusuri no Kura Koubou". We decided to check it out. As we approached, we saw a cool poster and both of us simultaneously exclaimed, "Black Soybean Daifuku!" It's a fancy-looking shop, but they sell slices of Baumkuchen for 500 yen. "Cheap!" we thought, but we decided against it because we already bought cake at the previous shop and mochi in Aibetsu. I bought one "Black Soybean Daifuku". The staff at this shop also doesn't smile. They must have a manual. Maybe they should have a manual for when to smile depending on the day or the customer. A smile can sometimes increase sales, you know... I'm timid, so I really dislike women who don't smile. It has twisted my life quite a bit, but this is a real mochi that will harden if left alone. I cut it, and the shocking part is that it has smooth bean paste. It's not as sweet as modern bean paste, but it's still quite sweet compared to the old days. The mochi is delicious, with plenty of beans. I don't feel a strong saltiness in the mochi. It was a delicious "Black Soybean Daifuku". But if I may speak the truth, I would have been happier if it had a little more saltiness. Here's what my wife has to say, "Impressive, right? The mochi has hardened, but it has a delicious mochi texture and a nice balance of beans with a slightly sweet smooth bean paste. However, the bean paste was a bit too sweet. It's a shame considering how delicious the mochi is." She made a pompous comment! I can't judge others, but...

On this day in August 2015, I was passing through Asahikawa on my way back to Sapporo. I decided to stop by The Sun Kurando Honten to buy some souvenirs for my colleagues at work. However, the main item I wanted, the "Kamamushi Kura," was sold out, so I went to the adjacent The Sun Kurando Kamamushi Kura Kobo instead. The place was crowded, perhaps because it was still summer vacation. The Kamamushi Kura I was looking for was a black sugar steamed bun with a delicious and smooth red bean paste filling. I had bought it before for my colleagues and it was well-received. I bought about 20 of them this time to take back to Sapporo and also got some for myself at home. I also purchased the limited edition "tsubuan" type, which I learned for the first time was available in a frozen version as well. It was also a hit with my colleagues. The perfect aroma and flavor of black sugar, along with the elegantly sweet red bean paste, make it so delicious that you can't stop at just one. When asked which is better, tsubuan or smooth red bean paste, it really depends on personal preference. For me, I prefer the smooth red bean paste in Kamamushi Kura. I will definitely visit again when I come back to Asahikawa.

I tried the "Kagurazou" (10 varieties) that are only sold at the Kamakura Kama Steamed Warehouse Workshop in Kaguragaoka. Each one is a small sweet bun with a strong and rich sweetness and aroma, with a nostalgic flavor. The prices range from 90 yen to 100 yen. - Kagurazou (Miso, Milk, Roasted Brown Sugar, Mugwort, Pumpkin, Sesame) each 90 yen Miso: Made with black rice and black soybean miso, the sweet and salty taste stands out. Milk: A hint of butter in a condensed milk-flavored dough. Roasted Brown Sugar: A good balance of depth and subtle bitterness. Mugwort: Sold freshly steamed at the store, with a strong aroma and simple taste, also available in packaged form. Pumpkin: Strong pumpkin flavor as if the pumpkin itself was crushed. Strong sweetness. Sesame: Sesame is kneaded into both the dough and the sweet bean paste, with a great flavor from sesame oil. - Kagurazou (Apple, Cheese, Chocolate, Ramune) each 100 yen Apple: Apple preserve texture with a strong fragrance and a hint of liquor. Cheese: A slightly rich sweet bean paste with a natural cheese-like firmness. Chocolate: A mellow taste based on red bean paste. Cocoa flavor predominates. Ramune: Strongly fragrant even from the packaging. A refreshing taste. The staff mentioned that sesame is popular, and indeed, it is exceptionally delicious. Personally, I particularly liked sesame, miso, mugwort, pumpkin, and cheese. With more varieties now available, it's fun to compare and enjoy. It would be nice if the popular ones were sold at other stores as well.

Next to the SUN Kurando main store, there is a workshop called "Kamagoshi Kura Kobo" which opened in April 2014. The workshop has glass windows, allowing visitors to see the manufacturing process. I purchased milk flavor (90 yen) and miso flavor (90 yen) manju. The miso flavor is savory, while the milk flavor is gentle and both have a mild sweetness, making them delicious. I personally preferred the milk flavor. You can also enjoy them at the self-service cafe on-site, where complimentary mineral water and coffee are provided, which is a nice touch.

▼Location▼ The Sun Kurouto is located on Kaguraoka Street, 200m from Shin-Asahikawa Street. ▼About the Shop▼ The Sun Kurouto is a new shop opened next to the main store of the long-established confectionery shop Kurou Kashiya in Asahikawa. They offer freshly made steamed buns and also have an eat-in option. ▼Menu▼ They offer unique items such as steamed cakes and Kagura Kura steamed buns that are only available at this shop. ▼Food Ordered▼ - Steamed Cake: ¥320 The steamed cake is a black sugar type with red beans on top, with a diameter of about 13-14cm. It has a pleasant smell similar to egg steamed bread. The fluffy texture and subtle egg flavor make it a delicious cake. The red beans are soft and not too sweet, adding to the overall taste. ▼Impressions▼ The shop opened on April 26th right next to the main store of The Sun Kurouto, a popular confectionery brand in Asahikawa. They offer some items that can be enjoyed freshly made, with a free coffee service available for dine-in customers. The steamed cake I tried was delicious with a fluffy texture and great taste. I also sampled the Kagura Kura steamed bun, which was moist and flavorful, making me want to purchase it next time I visit. I look forward to returning to try more of their offerings.

The red bean paste in this steamed bun has a salty kick that is fresh and delicious. The skin is thin but also slightly salty, making it a satisfying treat that doesn't get boring.

I received a souvenir from an acquaintance. It's called Kuranama Caramel. It's a soft cookie with a moist dough wrapped in chocolate and baked. I've only tried chocolate and white chocolate flavors before, but I didn't know they also had caramel. It has a strong caramel flavor and it's delicious. I prefer it over chocolate and white chocolate.

When it gets hot, the symptoms worsen, it is a designated rare disease by the government. Unfortunately, there is still no medicine that suits me. This review will be based on my condition and consultation. Likes and comments may be delayed, thank you for your understanding. [June 2019] "Zasan Kurazou Kamamushi Kurakoubou" is a store of "Roba Kashidojo" in Asahikawa City. Roba Kashidojo was founded in 1949, and this year marks its 70th anniversary. "Black Sugar Manju Kamamushi Kurazou" is a product of "Zasan Kurazou". ■ Black Sugar Manju Kamamushi Kurazou Actual value per piece 76g (after removing the wind bag) Large black sugar manju Normally, Onsen manju is 30g, and Sapporo Popo Manju made from Japanese sweet potatoes is about 50g. Okinawa black sugar is used. The skin is thin, and the inside is filled with plenty of sweet bean paste. The sweet bean paste uses beans from Hokkaido. It is a manju with a plump texture. The expiration date is 3 days. Personally, I prefer sweet bean paste. This "Black Sugar Manju Kamamushi Kurazou" goes well with sweet bean paste. The plump texture doesn't suit sweet bean paste. When chilled in the refrigerator, it has a refreshing feeling. The expiration date is short at 3 days, closer to fresh sweets than manju. It is a good manju for common people like me. (laughs) It was delicious, thank you.

I received this as a souvenir. The popular confectionery shop in Asahikawa, "SUN Kuroudo", has created a confectionery workshop called "Kamagusari Kuroukoubou" next to the confectionery workshop The SUN Kuroudo main store, where various types of wagashi, mainly steamed buns, are sold. Among them, the most popular item is the "steamed bun". The shop sells various types of steamed buns such as yomogi, sesame, and pumpkin, and they are popular as souvenirs due to their colorful appearance. This time, I received the most popular black sugar bun (with coarse red bean paste) in a pack of 3 from the Kamagusari warehouse (with coarse red bean paste). When I took it out, I noticed that one of the buns was large! Black sugar steamed buns are often associated with souvenirs from hot springs, and I usually expect them to be bite-sized, but these buns seem to be 2-3 times larger. They feel heavy when held in hand. The filling is generous. When I cut it in half, I found that the skin was very thin, and it was filled with red beans from Tokachi - the sweetness is moderate, and the skin is chewy. It seems that they don't last long, but they are perfect for souvenirs. I would like to try other flavors as well, as there are various variations available.

Many people are weak when it comes to the phrase "limited time offer," including my wife. (laughs) Normally, she enjoys the black sugar manju with red bean paste, but when it became a limited time offer for 5 pieces for 500 yen (tax included), she had to go buy some. Inside the store, a staff member was standing in front of a stack of boxes filled with black sugar manju. They were offering samples of the sliced red bean paste manju on toothpicks for customers to try. The skin was chewy, the red bean paste was also chewy, and it was hard to tell where the skin ended and the paste began. It was a delicious treat with a subtle sweetness.