I purchased the Benkei Goboshi Monaka at a department store food event (March 2023, Takashimaya Nihonbashi) and it was delicious. The red bean paste inside was rich and flavorful, with large, plump azuki beans spilling out from the sides of the monaka. It had a satisfyingly heavy weight and one piece provided a lot of satisfaction. It was the most delicious monaka I have ever eaten! I would definitely buy it again if I come across it. Thank you for the meal.

On Friday at 12:35, I stopped by Kofukudo, a local sweet shop. Since they usually close by the time I finish work, I decided to visit during lunchtime. I bought some sweets for my colleagues and some warabi mochi for my family, hoping to give me an extra boost for the rest of the day. I got warabi mochi for 486 yen, two chestnut mochi for 184 yen each, and four high raisins for 114 yen each. The shop owner, who was a motherly figure, served me. It was interesting to see high raisins, a Western-style sweet, in a traditional Japanese sweet shop. My daughter loved the warabi mochi. Buying traditional sweets like these always puts me in a good mood. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the delicious treats.

I parked my car at a nearby coin parking and decided to take a look around. It was June, so I thought I would buy some Minazuki to take home. They had white, matcha, and black sugar flavors, but I prefer white, so I got two of those. I also bought two pieces of three-color dango and two pieces of hand-pounded yomogi. The Minazuki and three-color dango were delicious, but the hand-pounded yomogi was amazing! The texture of the filling and the outer layer were both delicious, and I was so entranced while eating it!

When there was a memorial service in Kyoto, I decided to have lunch in this area. Since I came all the way to Kyoto, I thought of buying some Japanese sweets to take home, so I entered a Japanese sweets shop near the restaurant where I had lunch. There were also some Western-style sweets available, and after some consideration, I bought three sweets: - Giboshi Monaka: A cute Monaka shaped like the Giboshi on Gojo Bridge, which has even won the Prime Minister's Award. The red bean paste inside is not too sticky and not too sweet, allowing you to fully enjoy the taste of Tamba Dainagon adzuki beans. The amount of red bean paste inside is overwhelming, and the thin yet crispy skin surprisingly has a substantial texture. It lives up to the reputation of the shop's signboard. - High Raisin: This is essentially a raisin sandwich. The dough is soft, similar to a melon pan cookie dough. The raisins are not rum-infused, making it suitable even for children. - Oboro Tsuki: My favorite out of the three. It has a Baumkuchen inside, and the one I bought this time was pumpkin-flavored. It is beautiful, surprising, and although it is a Western-style sweet, it also conveys the seasonal feeling that Japanese sweets cherish. The shop gave me the impression of being a casual, down-to-earth Japanese sweets shop where you can easily drop by.

I received a souvenir from Kyoto. "Kofukudo" is a long-established Japanese sweets shop in Kyoto, and their "Gojo Giboshi Senbei" (1 piece for 248 yen including tax) is the most famous. It is shaped like the railing of the bridge (now Matsubara Bridge) where the famous battle between Ushiwakamaru and Benkei took place at the Gojo Bridge. By the way, it has won the "21st Prime Minister's Award" at the National Confectionery Exhibition. The appearance is impressive with a generous amount of red bean paste inside, bursting out of the crispy outer shell. The shiny red bean paste is very appetizing. The red bean paste uses the highest quality Tamba Dainagon azuki beans, and you can enjoy the rich bean flavor in the paste. It has a substantial texture, so it's irresistible for those who love sweets. I enjoyed the delicious Senbei. Thank you for the meal.

It looks like a traditional Japanese confectionery shop from the outside, with a focus on manju (sweet buns), but once you step inside, you'll be surprised to find beautiful high-end sweets on display. It seems to be a reflection of the local specialty. However, it appears that most customers prefer more common sweets, as the high-end sweets seemed to be frozen. Nevertheless, they were surprisingly delicious. Their specialty is manju, with two varieties named after famous warriors, Yoshitsune and Benkei. The difference lies in the amount of filling, with Benkei having twice as much as Yoshitsune. Quite cheeky, isn't it? I also found out that you can purchase their sweets at Fuji Daimaru as well.

Japanese sweets have become my new obsession and I finally mustered up the courage to try them. I bought Fruit Daifuku, Matcha Cream Daifuku, and Sekihan. The Fruit Daifuku had a strawberry on top and the filling was smooth red bean paste. The Matcha Cream Daifuku had chunky red bean paste, which I'm still getting used to. The Sekihan was delicious with chestnuts. The prices were reasonable and the sweets were much better than convenience store options. I'll definitely be going back to this modern shop that accepts electronic payments. Thank you!

I bought Kyoto souvenirs here. I got colorful and beautiful Kyoto sweets for the people who have helped me (^0^) I also bought "soba manju", "Chiyonokimi", and "Wakaayu" for my home. I happened to pass by this shop and thought of buying Kyoto wagashi for souvenirs, and this shop was really good. The building had a quaint and historical feel, and the staff were very polite and classy. Foreign tourists passing by also seemed very interested in entering the shop. Over three days, my family and I enjoyed the soba manju, Chiyonokimi, and Wakaayu at home, and they were all delicious. My family also enjoyed eating them. Thank you for the delicious treats.

"Summer 2018 Trip to Kyoto Ticket 2nd Time", the last shop I visited on my way back to JR Kyoto Station was "Kofukudo". The wide entrance drew me in~(´Д｀ ) This was the 6th traditional Japanese sweets shop I visited on this Kyoto trip, so I was careful not to buy too much while browsing the store. Their recommended item was the "Giboshi Senbei". There were two types, Gojumaru and Benkei, and when I asked about the difference, I was told that the amount of filling was adjusted to match the size of Gojumaru=normal and Benkei=large. This time, I got two "Gojumaru Giboshi Senbei (180 yen excluding tax)" with less filling. By the way, the shape of the senbei is said to be modeled after the railing of Gojo Ohashi. As for the taste... the sweetness of the senbei was about a 7 out of 10? (based on my personal senbei experience only). If I had chosen Benkei, it might have felt heavier... I also bought some matcha dango (250 yen) which came in a plastic container along with the senbei. It was slightly chewy and had a slightly sweet flavor, satisfying my hunger. The current Gojo Ohashi is not in the same location as it was during the time of Yoshitsune and Benkei. There is a sign indicating the location of the bridge that existed at that time near Kofukudo. Such stories could make a nice souvenir.

Steamed rice cake and takeout. A set of 3, white type. It has a soft texture with a taste similar to uiro (Japanese steamed cake). It looks delicious even with kinako (roasted soybean flour) sprinkled on top. It was nice to be able to enjoy seasonal items.

Since the restaurant is close to my house, I often visit. The large impact ghibli manju with red bean paste inside surprises me with the amount of filling. When I give it to others, they comment on how sweet it looks because of the amount of red bean paste. However, when they actually try it, they are surprised by how light it tastes. I personally love red bean paste, so this treat is very convenient for me.

Today's main confection at Rakuseian for the Dragon Boat Festival is "kashiwamochi" from the long-established store Ko-fukudo. The fillings are smooth white bean paste, chunky mugwort bean paste, and light peach miso, priced at ¥516. After a short rest, I will stroll around the Kyoto Kamogawa Chochin Parade.

I bought two sets of tricolored dumplings for 345 yen and young sweetfish for 226 yen. The tricolored dumplings were soft and delicious. I love young sweetfish and buy them from various shops, but 226 yen seems a bit expensive.

I purchased this at a local products exhibition in Nihonbashi. I prefer the black color of the sweet bean paste, but the taste is a bit too sweet for me. The rice cake is of good quality.

I decided to finally try the fruit daifuku that I had been curious about for a while. The shop had a variety of delicious steamed buns on display, especially for the Obon season. They also mentioned that they have some items that are not usually displayed but can be prepared if you call ahead. This time, I chose the Fruit Daifuku with blueberry filling. It cost 200 yen (tax included) and had white bean paste. The fruit daifuku is designed to be refrigerated without becoming hard, perfect for summer. Although the steamed bun was small, it was filled with plenty of blueberries. The blueberries had a slight tartness that balanced well with the sweetness of the bean paste. The white bean paste wasn't overly sweet, allowing the fruit's sweetness to shine through, creating a refreshing taste. They mentioned that different varieties, like strawberry daifuku, will be available in the fall. While it can be enjoyed at room temperature, I found it tastier when slightly chilled in the refrigerator. It was a nice treat to cool off on a hot summer day. Thank you very much.

Established during the turbulent period of the Boshin War in 1868, this long-standing traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto is known for its specialty, the Gojo Giboshi Senbei. This famous treat is even offered as a dedication at the Heian Shrine. I purchased the Gojo Giboshi Senbei as well as the Three Peaks (dorayaki). The key feature is the use of carefully selected ingredients, including the rare Tamba Dainagon azuki beans, which have been cooked in the same traditional method since the shop's founding. The Senbei is filled with red bean paste, making it a favorite among Kyoto locals who love sweet red bean treats. It has a decent shelf life, making it a perfect souvenir!

I was reading a book about recommended Kyoto wagashi (Japanese sweets) at the library, and I came across this shop's "Mushifukusa." I had never tried fukusa before, and the plain appearance actually piqued my interest, so I decided to stop by when I had errands near the shop. I purchased the "Mushifukusa" and found it to be like a more Japanese-style steamed bun, with a gentle and calming taste. Since it was my first time trying this sweet, I can't really compare it to others, but if I have errands nearby again, I would like to buy a different sweet to take home.

I bought it because I happened to pass by the neighborhood. The location is at the corner of Kawaramachi Street and Matsubara Street (at the intersection where Daily Yamazaki is located), on the northwest corner. It's right near the Gojo Bridge. The specialty is "Giboshi Senbei," with the larger one called "Benkei" and the smaller one called "Ushiwakamaru." They are great for souvenirs, but they also have delicious traditional Japanese sweets. Today, I bought "Chimaki" since Children's Day is coming up soon. The scent of the bamboo leaf is irresistible. This one is softer than the usual ones, with a delightful texture. It's really delicious. Although it's not a super famous store, their fresh sweets are highly recommended. Buy some on your way back from Gojo Bridge or Kawaramachi, and enjoy them as a snack by the Kamo River. It was delicious. Bon appétit!

Recently received gifts are the "Kofukudo" Sasashigure (yuzu & red bean paste). The chewy kudzu skin is filled with sweet yuzu and red bean paste, but it's not too heavy. It has a cool appearance that makes you feel the summer. Another one is the young ayu. It has a sweet, soft mochi-like dough shaped like ayu fish, with only sweet and soft gyuhi inside. In the past, I didn't like it because it didn't have red bean paste, but as I grew older, I started to enjoy it. Located at 388-2 Matsukawacho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, open from 9:00 to 19:30, closed on Wednesdays.