I visited the shop of Tawaraya Yoshitomi to purchase their specialty "Tawaraya Manju." Yoshitomi is famous for their "Unryu," which is well-known to everyone. The manju contains a refined red bean paste filling. I felt the history and tradition of Japanese sweets.

I received this seasonal Kyoto confectionery from my companion's father in Kyoto. It is a seasonal limited edition item (available around 1/8 - 2/3) and the contents vary depending on the season or traditional events. It is said to represent the Setsubun festival where evil is driven out and good luck is welcomed with a variety of dried sweets. The design of the "Risshun Daikichi" (Great Luck on the Beginning of Spring) candy resembles demon roof tiles, and when you put it in your mouth, it gently melts with a pleasant sweetness.

As Setsubun is approaching, I bought a box of famous confectionery with one lucky bean inside. I actually wanted to buy two, but they were out of stock that day. I managed to secure one box. The box features illustrations of an ogre and a female demon. The traditional Japanese sweet is shaped like a lucky bean. It is made with peach mountain dough and filled with a moderate sweetness of white bean paste, creating a gentle and delicious treat.

Introducing a New Year's gift ~ ♪ I received a New Year's traditional Japanese confectionery from the long-established Kyoto confectionery shop "Tawaraya Yoshitomi" from a friend who went on a trip to Kyoto. ★ Zodiac Manju Rabbit When I opened the package, each one was individually wrapped. When I took one out of the bag, a cute yellow rabbit-shaped manju appeared. The surface has a slight brown color. The white bean paste is wrapped in peach-colored dough, moist and perfect with green tea. It is a lucky Japanese confectionery suitable for the Year of the Rabbit, ready to jump at any moment. The enclosed bookmark had the history of "Tawaraya Yoshitomi" written on it. Our company's tradition dates back to the fifth year of the Hoei era (1755). Since its founding, it has been located in a corner of the former site of the "Hana no Gosho" of the Muromachi Shogunate, serving as a confectioner for the Imperial Court. Over the years, we have constantly pursued newness, honed our skills, and created many famous Kyoto confections, mastering the essence of Kyoto sweets. Kyoto confections have been created in the ancient capital with a history of a thousand years, receiving orders from the Imperial Court, temples, and various tea ceremony schools. Created to represent the changing seasons, Kyoto sweets are not only delicious but also praised for their design, form, and color, earning the title of "confectionery master" and being admired as works of art. With a history of 268 years, this Kyoto confectionery shop's traditional flavors were wonderful.

I went to Ginza Mitsukoshi to look for New Year's traditional sweets and found Kyoto's famous Hanabiramochi. I had high expectations as it is a Kyoto sweet during this time of year. And it did not disappoint. The fluffy mochi contains white miso paste and candied burdock root. Delicious!! The elegant sweetness and the balance between the mochi, white miso paste, and burdock root are wonderful! This makes me want to try other sweets from here as well.

The companion brought back some yokan as a souvenir from Kyoto. When they were young, they passed by the shop with their mother and saw sugar sculptures displayed in front of the store, which gave off a very elegant atmosphere. The persimmon yokan tastes like persimmon jam. They also bought chestnut yokan at the same time and gave it as a gift to an acquaintance. The recommended choice is the chestnut yokan.

I bought the Shirokumo Ryu from Takashimaya's famous sweets selection, available only on Sundays. I chose the one with white azuki beans because that's what I wanted. It wasn't dry, had a nice moist texture, was not too sweet, and was delicious. There seems to be one whole piece, but half was just the right size for my family of three. It's a red bean sweet that you might crave occasionally. Thank you for the meal.

I love the Kyoto manju from Tawaraya Yoshitomi, especially the Yae variety. Whenever I visit Kyoto, I make sure to buy some. Recently, while on a drive, I stumbled upon the main store of Tawaraya Yoshitomi and was thrilled to find out they have a Kyoto confectionery museum attached to it. They have a wide variety of delicious Japanese sweets, but what sets them apart is their gentle flavor. The elegance of their rolled cloud dragon (Unryu) sweet, the simplicity of their dried sweets, and the cuteness of their bonbons are all impressive. And of course, the Yae manju is my favorite - it's soft and incredibly delicious. I believe even those who are not familiar with Japanese sweets will be impressed. That's why I always choose them as souvenirs.

Located between Kamitachibana-dori and Muromachi-dori in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, this shop has a simple yet elegant appearance that blends in with its surroundings. Inside, the atmosphere is rustic yet charmingly calm. Their specialty, the "Unryu," features large red beans and Murasame sweet bean paste rolled together in a single piece, available in both full and half sizes at different prices. The majestic appearance of a dragon riding on clouds is beautifully depicted, allowing you to savor the natural sweetness of the red beans. The flavor is rich and robust with a subtle sweetness, showcasing a delicate yet powerful and mellow taste. The finished product highlights the presence of the red beans, offering a soft and crumbly texture. The harmonious balance between the Murasame sweet bean paste and red beans enhances the rich yet gentle sweetness. Inspired by the Unryu dragon painting at Sokei-ji Temple, this traditional confection can also be ordered online. This shop, known for its iconic confection passed down through generations while preserving tradition, attracts customers from afar.

Kyoto Gosho and Minami Zen's official wagashi shop. The three-color chimaki here is wrapped in bamboo leaves. I always feel like eating this on May 5th. I always visit here on Children's Day in May. For some reason, I pay my respects to the main store only at this time. The female staff here, although middle-aged, always has a beautiful smile and gentle words, providing excellent customer service. I admire her calm and gentle demeanor. The main store truly has top-notch staff. I give them five stars. The kashiwamochi here comes in a paper box with three pieces for 746 yen (including tax). The chimaki is sold in sets of three. It includes three different types of chimaki: white, brown, and red and white. A set of three costs 1296 yen (including tax). The kashiwamochi only contains sweet bean paste. It does not come with white miso, which is a downside.

Tawaraya Yoshitomi / Hanabiramochi ☑︎ 432 yen ☑︎ 118g ☑︎ Mochi dough ☑︎ Burdock → Sweet simmered I purchased this at Shinjuku Isetan, but there was an air hole in the bag, which bothered me because I am a bit of a clean freak regardless of the season. It was so nonsensical that it was actually shocking. The mochi dough is chewy and has a slight elasticity, not too soft or too firm, with some parts feeling just right. The outer dough is lightly sweet and fluffy. The miso bean paste filling is excellent! The miso flavor stands out more than the sweetness of the paste. The burdock is simmered in a sweet sauce, and the soft burdock is mildly sweet, easy to eat without any earthy or muddy taste.

Located on Muromachi Street in Imadegawa, Kyoto, Tawaraya Yoshitomi is famous for its "Unryu" sweets. I tried the Yuzu Kohaku, Yae (double-layered) Manju, chestnut, and mochi. The manju and mochi were delicious as usual. The Yuzu Kohaku was very beautiful when opened - a jelly-like dried confectionery with a mix of Western and Japanese styles. It was delicious with the scent of yuzu. It would make a great souvenir. I would definitely like to buy it again.

Received a gift (^^)v... but I actually don't really like eating manju (--) so I don't buy it myself. But if I receive it, I'll eat it (^^;) There were two types: one with chestnuts finely chopped inside, and the other with strained sweet bean paste. When I think of "manju," I usually imagine the kind with a thick outer layer (skin?) like a baby chick manju, which I don't really like (--) I wanted to enjoy it, so I cut one in half... Huh? The chestnuts and strained sweet bean paste didn't fall out, they were chewy? When I tried it, it was indeed chewy. I liked it! It wasn't too sweet, and it was elegant and delicious (^^)

It's been a while since I went sightseeing in Kyoto with my friends! We made a reservation at the "Taizoin" temple, where we had a delicious breakfast at Ajiro. Then, we moved to my requested destination, the Golden Pavilion. We had brunch at Taizoin and then took a bus to the Golden Pavilion. The Golden Pavilion was sparkling and beautiful as always, but surprisingly not crowded. My friends and I were lucky to enjoy the temple without too many people around. We bought a limited edition snack called "Kinpo" at the Golden Pavilion, which was a delicate and crispy rice cracker with gold leaf. It had a beautiful design with gold leaf shining on top and the temple's image on the bottom. My friends also bought the same snack and we all loved it. I will definitely buy it again when I visit next time!

Founded in the fifth year of the Horeki era (1755), this long-established Japanese confectionery shop, Tawaraya Yoshitomi, is located near Doshisha University. I purchased the "Kyoto Ohmanju Yae" this time. It is a manju wrapped in biscuit dough with smooth red bean paste inside. The packaging has a Kyoto-like feel, but the taste is just a regular manju.

I tried the Cloud Dragon matcha tea. It was delicious and the presentation on the plate was nice. However, the flavor was a bit lacking. The packaging is luxurious, making it a good choice for a gift. Personally, I prefer simple packaging and a traditional Japanese sweet that allows the red bean flavor to shine. This treat may be considered extravagant for those like me.

I felt like having some Japanese sweets after a long time, so I went to this shop within walking distance. Cloud Dragon seemed to be famous, so I bought that as well. They had a total of three types of Japanese sweets displayed, including the two shown in the photo and Kashiwa Mochi. The pink sweet is called Tsubaki. It has a subtle sweetness and an elegant taste. Delicious. I forgot the name of the green one. It has chunky sweet bean paste with a lot of moisture. It's a bit difficult to eat neatly as some of it sticks to the plate. This is probably due to my lack of skill. Both were delicious, but if asked if I would buy them individually to eat, it's a bit challenging. I couldn't quite taste the flavor of the ingredients. Of course, they are delicious, but... I will report back after trying Cloud Dragon. I used to eat Japanese sweets a lot when I was young, as my grandmother used to serve them with tea, but in recent years, I have significantly reduced the frequency. Since I'm in Kyoto, I should try various Japanese sweets while I'm here.

Established in 1755, this traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Kyoto is a rare gem with a history spanning several centuries. Located on Ogawa Street, known for being the headquarters of the three main schools of tea ceremony, the shop offers a wide variety of sweets including cute treats inspired by the upcoming Year of the Rat and even Christmas-themed confections like reindeers and snowmen. I purchased the following items during my visit: 1) Sansho Mochi (756 yen) - a bite-sized confection with a subtle hint of Japanese pepper, leaving a sophisticated taste. 2) Fuku Mame (184 yen) - a lucky charm sweet with white bean paste in a cute packaging featuring a rat design. The shop is known for its innovative approach, even expanding to Paris, demonstrating a balance between preserving tradition and embracing change. I admire their bold efforts in navigating the challenges faced by long-standing establishments.

Located on Machiya Street, this is the main store. The shop next door on Karasuma Street seems bigger and cleaner, but if you're going to visit, it's better to go to the main store. The entrance is not very large, with a historic appearance. Inside, the shop is dimly lit with a considerable depth. Showcases display examples of "Unryu" bamboo sweets and wagashi. There is a small garden next to the shop, adding a sense of elegance. The torn sofa near the garden adds a unique charm. The customers seem to be mainly locals, with a steady flow of visitors. There are two types of "Unryu" listed on the website, but only the most expensive one using Tanba Dainagon red beans was displayed. Since it's our first time and we're just two people, the half bamboo for ¥972 should be enough. There are variations with white beans or matcha, but we decided on one type this time. Structurally, it's a roll of red bean paste wrapped in agar jelly. The swirl pattern of the red bean paste inside resembles clouds, as the name suggests. The taste is sweet with a distinct red bean flavor. The addition of agar jelly gives it a texture similar to yokan, but the agar jelly and red bean paste combination makes it mellow and easy to eat. Personally, I think a bit more texture from the agar jelly would enhance the mellow and gentle flavor even more.

(2018.08/Revisited) Tawaraya Yoshitomi Main Store, located on Muromachi Street in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto. "Apologies" I have been very busy lately and have not been able to visit everyone or reply to comments in a timely manner, sorry m(_ _)m. Short review: Visited for a homecoming trip. Visited a friend still in university and saw the ukiyo-e prints from the Santa Fe Lee Dark Collection at the Shokoku-ji Shouten-kaku Museum. Surprised by the intricacy of Edo period ukiyo-e prints. After leaving Shokoku-ji, I took a break at the tea ceremony house Shouunkan. On the way out, I stopped by Tawaraya Yoshitomi's store and bought a few souvenirs. Normally, I would choose the Yunryu design, which is the signature of Tawaraya Yoshitomi, but I was drawn to this visual (laughs). It looks so refreshing from the appearance (^^). ◼️ Mizuakari (water lantern) 1080 yen (tax included) - A type of sweet jelly. Red and black goldfish are swimming inside. Just looking at it makes you feel cooler (^^). The taste was simply delicious. Thank you for the meal.