I bought some snacks at JR Kyoto Isetan for lunch. The Fuuka manju from Fuka is the best for snacks. Each manju is carefully wrapped in bamboo leaves. I take out the manju from the bamboo leaves and take a bite. The texture of the raw Fu is smooth. The smooth red bean paste inside has a gentle sweetness. It was delicious.

I didn't know there were differences in fresh fu (wheat gluten). I even thought that fresh fu was nothing special just because it was fresh. But at the recommendation of a colleague, I bought some and took a bite. What is this? I can eat as much as I want. It's simple because it's fu, but it has a unique flavor that lingers in your mouth no matter how much you chew. When combined with sweet red bean paste, it's exquisite. I can really eat as much as I want. Since buying it once, I have been buying it every time I travel to Kyoto. It's the best Japanese confectionery.

JR Isetan Kyoto's basement floor is where you'll find our shop. It's more like a select shop, tucked away in a corner of the section dedicated to long-established famous stores. Today, my goal was to get Fu Ka's Fu Manju for 1134 yen including tax. I had it at a friend's house recently and it was delicious, so when I got home and told my wife about it, she said she had never tried it. So, I decided to buy it as a souvenir from our shop inside Isetan. The first time I tried it, I was impressed. The texture is amazing. The fresh raw wheat gluten with sweet bean paste inside has a unique texture that perfectly matches the bean paste, creating a taste that you can't find anywhere else. It's wrapped in bamboo leaves, adding a traditional touch. It's a Kyoto-style wagashi that you should definitely try if you haven't already. Just keep in mind, it has a short shelf life of 3 days.

Located on the first basement floor of Isetan within Kyoto Station, this shop is part of the prestigious old-fashioned corner. The old-fashioned corner at Isetan is amazing, with renowned Kyoto stores lining up. It feels like everything is available here. This shop is also a super old-fashioned one, already in business during the upheaval of the Hama Gate Incident at the end of the Edo period! They have a main store at Nishiki Market as well. For some reason, the main store is by reservation only. It's convenient to be able to buy their products easily at the department store basement. A friend bought a box of 5 Fu Manju for a little over 1,000 yen to eat on the Shinkansen. It was around 4 pm on a weekday and there was only one box left. The customer in front of us had come to pick up a reserved item. Reservations are possible, so for those who really want to buy or don't want to carry it around, it's convenient to reserve at this station-side shop. As a thank you for staying at our accommodation, I shared half of it (laughs). The Fu Manju, wrapped in bamboo leaves, was chewy and mochi-like. There was a faint aroma of seaweed kneaded in. The scent of the bamboo leaves has also transferred to the Fu Manju. It has a refreshing fragrance. The sweet red bean paste inside is minimally sweet. With this level of sweetness, you could probably eat a whole box (5 pieces). And the smoothness of the red bean paste! Smooth red bean paste on chewy raw Fu. It's a beloved Japanese sweet that leaves you feeling satisfied after eating.

Steamed buns with wheat gluten fillings

I used to have the opportunity to eat fu manju (wheat gluten steamed bun) often in the past, but not so much lately. On my way back on the Shinkansen, I bought meat buns and gyoza from 551, and the hermit somehow bought "something sweet!" as well. As soon as I opened the lid of the box, a fresh moisture and a nice scent of bamboo leaves spread out. Inside the chewy and fluffy wheat gluten, there is anko (sweet red bean paste) that could be even sweeter, but the modest taste adds to its elegance. It can last for a few days, but since it's a fresh item, it may not be suitable as a souvenir. I like the combination of anko and milk, but wheat gluten manju from Fuka goes better with tea!

JR Kyoto Isetan Store located at JR Kyoto Station is a great place for a little shopping spree. There are many shops selling delicious food items that will make you indecisive. This time, I decided to stop by "Fuka" at JR Kyoto Isetan Store to buy some souvenirs. I bought two boxes of 5 pieces each of Fu Manju (2100 yen). The cute light green Fu Manju wrapped in bamboo leaves were inside a white box with a ribbon. The Fu Manju had a smooth and chewy texture made from fresh Fu, and the subtle sweet red bean paste inside was elegant. Even though I usually don't like traditional Japanese sweets, I couldn't help but exclaim how delicious these Fu Manju were. They were truly amazing.