I purchased the following four items: ① Midori Suzumi: Sweet potato, smooth red bean paste ② Monka: Mashed sweet bean paste, hand-picked azuki bean paste ③ Shuusai: Kudzu, smooth red bean paste ④ Warabi mochi soft enough to drink: Warabi mochi, smooth red bean paste. Regarding the fourth item, it is described as "soft enough to drink," but I do not think this shop's warabi mochi is particularly softer compared to warabi mochi from other traditional Japanese sweet shops, such as Juko.

I went out on the 18th, a day I had been looking forward to. I had some errands to run and finished by 4:30pm. The shop I wanted to visit closes at 5pm, so I quickly drove there after making a phone reservation. Unfortunately, they only had one left, but that was okay since I was alone. I also ordered some warabimochi, which was so soft that it practically melted in my mouth! I couldn't wait to try the mitarashi dango, which had a light sweetness from the tebomame and a delicious white miso glaze. It was so tasty and elegant, with just a hint of sweetness. I love tebomame beans! I felt so happy to be able to enjoy these limited-time treats. And the warabimochi was incredibly soft and chewy - just the way I like it. I realized once again that I really love traditional Japanese sweets.

Located in the northwest of Kyoto city, near Ryuanji and Ninna-ji temples, this traditional Japanese sweets shop was recommended to me by a staff member at the café "Ma" in Toji temple. I visited for the first time on a holiday afternoon. It is situated in a residential area. I tried the "Oyama Warau" for 385 yen, a beautiful flower-shaped confectionery resembling plum blossoms. It was made right in front of me after ordering, and I enjoyed it immediately outside the shop while it was still fresh and slightly sweet. I also purchased two "Kuma" shaped "Monaka" for 385 yen each as souvenirs, as well as a "Tsutsumi Mochi" for 260 yen, which had a lovely light purple color. Everything was delicious.

♡【Omuro Wagashi Ito Tatsu】♡Kyoto❤︎ Myoshinji Temple ♡ Ito Tatsu Monaka ￥300 ♡ About a 5-minute walk from the World Heritage site "Ninna-ji" (* .ˬ.)"I noticed a small sign and decided to follow it, leading me to the serene residential area where "Ito Tatsu" is located, so I decided to visit right away ( ˃ ᵕ ˂ ) Passing through a small garden set up in front of the store and crossing the pure white curtain, the interior of the store, which is chic and stylish with a white and blue color scheme, completely changes the traditional Japanese appearance to something more like a western confectionery or a miscellaneous goods store. It's an elegant and charming wagashi shop with a cute touch, not classical but somewhere cute and charming. One thing that caught my eye was this adorable bear-shaped "Ito Tatsu Monaka" ☆.:.＊・゜ The decorations on the surface of the monaka, such as the mask and bow tie, are created using a technique called "surimitsu"... Surimitsu is a wagashi technique similar to icing that does not use egg whites. The bright blue and pink colors of the bow tie serve as vibrant accent colors. I immediately took it out for a snack time ⸜(◍ ´꒳` ◍)⸝ When I opened the small package, a fragrant scent of crispy monaka filled the air ( ⸝⸝•ᴗ•⸝⸝ ) Placing them on a plate one by one, they were undeniably "cute" in every way. Because they are handmade, each one has a slightly different expression, making it difficult to choose which color bear to eat... When I took a peek inside, I found a large, round sweet bean paste filling. Unlike the typical grainy sweet bean paste, this one contained coarse sweet bean paste with black sugar and Ikkyu-ji natto. By the way, Ikkyu-ji natto is something that Ikkyu-san, famous from his wit and animated character, introduced and passed on, so it might be easy for young people to be interested in it \( ˙▿˙ )/♡ I also prepared my favorite drink and apologized to the cute faces as I took a bite of the crispy monaka skin, feeling the sweetness of black sugar followed by the unique flavor and saltiness of soy sauce-like miso from Ikkyu-ji natto. The crispy surimitsu part provided a crunchy texture that was enjoyable. The flavors and designs change depending on the season, so look forward to what's available (⁎ᴗ͈ˬᴗ͈⁎)♡ Store Name: Omuro Wagashi Ito Tatsu Reservations: Available Access: 270m from Myoshinji Station Business Hours: [Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat] 10:00-18:00 Closed: Wednesdays, Sundays ♡ #ItoTatsu

I stopped by this shop when visiting nearby temples and shrines. The shop is run by the owner who trained at Saya Iori. I had been interested in this shop for a while after seeing it on Instagram. Some of the products are available for a limited time at the department store in Kyoto, but I really wanted to visit the actual shop. The shop is located in a residential area a little off the main road from the nearby bus stop. It has a sophisticated exterior with plants and strategically placed stones. Due to the pandemic, the door was slightly open for ventilation. Inside, there were shelves on the right, a cash register in the front, and a glass window on the left through which you could see the kitchen. Although the "wrapped mochi" I had been curious about was sold out, there were still items like bracken mochi, cute bear-shaped monaka, and boar-shaped mochi available. I ordered the boar-shaped mochi, and they stamped it with a design after taking the order. My husband enjoyed watching this process. The young and lovely owner intentionally made the kitchen visible through the glass window so that customers could enjoy watching the process while waiting. The lady at the cash register was also lovely and provided friendly service with a smile. The design of the boxes and bags for takeout was also beautiful and perfect for gifts. It was a wonderful shop that I would like to visit often if it were closer. The sweets were enjoyed with tea. We had the boar-shaped mochi and bracken mochi right away, and the packaged items like monaka were enjoyed at the hotel later that night. The boar-shaped mochi was a cute treat with a soft, fluffy texture of snow-white mochi wrapped in black sugar walnut bean paste. The flavor of the bean paste and the delicate, fluffy snow-white mochi were both excellent. The bracken mochi was so soft that it could be drunk, with black soybean flour sprinkled on top when served from the kitchen. The soft bracken itself and the smooth, slightly sweet bean paste with a rich flavor of black soybean flour were delightful. The bear-shaped monaka was colored cutely and had a unique bean paste made with black sugar and a twist of saltiness from Ikkoku-ji natto. It came in a round shape with two pieces inside. It had a subtle sweetness but a rich flavor, and both the appearance and taste were unique to this carefully crafted monaka. There are other items to try, and since I haven't visited all the temples and shrines nearby yet, I hope to have a chance to visit again someday.

September 9th is the Choyo no Sekku, the last of the five seasonal festivals. The other four are Jinjitsu no Sekku on January 7th, Hina no Sekku on March 3rd, Tango no Sekku on May 5th, and Tanabata no Sekku on July 7th. During the Heian period, court ladies made cotton-covered chrysanthemum sachets to pray for longevity and eternal youth by rubbing them on their bodies. In the modern day, there are traditional Japanese sweets shaped like chrysanthemums, such as the Kise Waton for 385 yen, which has a sweet potato filling and looks like chrysanthemum petals topped with cotton-like minced meat. These seasonal Japanese sweets are delightful to enjoy. On the next day, September 10th, is the Mid-Autumn Moon Viewing Day, and special sweets like the Tsukimi Manju for 540 yen, with a red bean paste filling and a branch of bush clover, are available. There is also a limited edition Quail Egg Mochi for 385 yen, made with quail eggs and a yellow yolk paste. Despite the lingering heat, the evenings are filled with the sound of insects and the sun sets earlier. I enjoyed these sweets while praying for everyone's longevity and rejuvenation.

The shop is located in a residential area about a 7-8 minute walk from Ninnaji Temple. It looks like a normal house and could easily be mistaken for one. I visited with my sister. I had found this shop through Tabelog, but when I asked for a traditional Japanese sweets shop near Ninnaji Temple, they also recommended this shop. We are staying at a temple lodging near Ninnaji Temple tonight. This shop is famous for its bear-shaped monaka that Shogi player Sota Fujii ate as a snack during a match at Ninnaji Temple. Since it was late in the evening, I was worried they might be sold out, but I decided to go anyway. Luckily, the shop curtain was still up. The owner came out and told us they were already sold out. However, they said they had a few pieces of warabimochi left and invited us inside. The shop was about one tatami mat in size. We tried the warabimochi, which cost 324 yen. The catchphrase was "warabimochi you can drink." Drinkable warabimochi? It must be very soft, right? The warabimochi was very soft and jelly-like, with plenty of kinako (roasted soybean flour) on top. It had sweet red bean paste inside. The warabimochi itself was very smooth. It was very delicious. Among all the warabimochi I have tried, this one is definitely top-notch. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Ito Tatsusen, a popular traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Ukyo Ward, Kyoto. Their signature item, the "Bear-shaped Monaka," was so popular that it sold out quickly. Each bear design was unique and almost too cute to eat. The taste was light and delicious. This would make a great souvenir that anyone would appreciate. Thank you very much!

I have always been a fan of the wagashi shop "Itotachi". Although I have not posted about it, I have always been a regular customer. I first noticed them when they opened and I often visit their shop near Toji Temple. Their products are always popular and sell out quickly. One of their signature items is the "Warabi Mochi" which is so soft that you can drink it, and the "Koma Senbei" which was released last year for Valentine's Day and became a nationwide hit. The Koma Senbei gained even more fame when it was enjoyed by the reigning Ryuo (at the time, a triple crown) Soichiro Fujii during a break at the Ryuo Tournament held at Ninna-ji Temple in October last year. The Koma Senbei transforms into a cute bear shape with different fillings depending on the season, offering various versions throughout the year. Their products sell out quickly, sometimes causing the shop to close early, so be sure to check their Instagram for updates. Itotachi's sweets can also be enjoyed at the shop "◯kan" near Toji Temple, where you can experience interesting pairings with tea. Please check them out as well. Thank you for the delicious treats!

Located in a residential area just off the Kinukake no Michi (between Ryoanji and Ninnaji), "Itotachi" is a wagashi shop with a surprisingly beautiful and new exterior. I purchased the "Tsutsumi Mochi" for 240 yen. It can last for about 5 days. It is simple but cute, with different colored mochi stacked together. The sweet bean paste inside is not too sweet, making it a great gift or snack option.

A while ago, during the peach blossom festival when it was still cold, I visited a miniature exhibition in celebration of the Hinamatsuri (Doll's Day) and got a souvenir. It was a beautiful and delicate sweet with peach-colored and white skin wrapped around red bean paste in the center. There were a few varieties available, but on that day, there were only two types - one peach-colored and slightly purple. When I opened the three-tiered box, I was amazed by how beautiful they were. I gave it as a gift and the recipient was very pleased. I also bought one for myself and enjoyed it with a cup of green tea. So elegant and delightful! 🌸🍡🍵

Visited a friend's family home❣️ A lovely Western-style house with a fusion of Japanese and Western styles that has been standing for over a hundred years❣️ I kept getting distracted and falling in love with the house. The elderly mother lives alone, so I bought three servings of wagashi for her - warabi mochi and yomogi no yukibira. We chatted with the lively mother in a Western-style room with a light fixture that was imported by ship in the Taisho era. We had eaten a lot for lunch, so I only had one - a deep green yomogi mochi with a delicate pink kinton filling. It was delicious! I also bought some high-quality manju for myself before leaving. When I looked closely, I noticed hina dolls - I wonder if they were for an offering. We ate them after offering them. The koshian filling was soft and the skin of the manju was chewy and beautiful. The kinton was in shades of fresh green and peach pink, resembling strawberries. I love kinton❣️ And the warabi mochi was so soft that it was almost drinkable❣️❣️ Even though I can't drink it, it gave me the sensation of eating bracken - so smooth(((o(*ﾟ▽ﾟ*)o)))♡ They were all on the small side, which was just right❣️ I placed them on the new soy sauce dishes that had arrived that day and enjoyed them! I look forward to seasonal sweets for each month and event at this place.

For hardworking people, I brought a gift of seasonal sweets - four pieces of fresh sweets and five pieces of wrapped mochi for 1450 yen. I wanted to buy some for myself too, but I resisted the temptation. I can always come back later, right? However, I did buy two Valentine's Day chocolate mochi for myself! The fresh sweets cost 350 yen each and included a variety of flavors like sweet potato, red bean paste, and plum. The recommended drinkable soft warabi mochi was also available for 300 yen. The Valentine's Day chocolate mochi was a delightful combination of red bean paste and bitter chocolate. The recipients in Tokyo were delighted when they opened the box and saw the beautiful sweets inside. I thought the Valentine's Day mochi would have a whole chocolate inside, but it turned out to be red bean paste - a bit unexpected! The famous chess player, Sota Fujii, made the mochi popular during the Ryuo Championship. I used to line up to buy it back then, but now you can get it anytime! After writing this review, I felt tempted to eat some fresh sweets, so I ended up eating two pieces on that day.

I purchased this as a New Year's wagashi for 200 yen each. It seems that the bear-shaped monaka is famous, and there is a designated time for purchasing it. I mistakenly imagined it to be like a layered mochi, but was surprised by how hard the skin was. I stored it at room temperature and ate it two days after purchasing (within the expiration date), but I wonder if the cold weather made it hard. The red bean paste inside was elegantly sweet and delicious. However, no one said it was delicious. Did I buy the wrong thing? Maybe my rating would have been different if I had bought something else.

It's a nearby place, so I've walked there a few times to get some Mikasa and Tsutsumi Mochi. But it was the first time I had to wait in line. The neighborhood is hard to navigate and they don't make a lot, so while I was waiting in line, they announced, "Only 10 left." I thought if I couldn't get any, I could come back on a weekday. But luckily, I was able to buy some. They only had one type left. It had a gentle sweet bean paste flavor and I finished it in two bites. Since you can't make a reservation and it doesn't keep well, it might be difficult to bring as a souvenir.

Today, I rode my bicycle to the area near Ninnaji Temple. My goal was to visit a traditional Japanese sweets shop called "Itotachi" that sells the "Kuma Monaka" snack that Shogi player Fujii Sota ate during the Ryuo Tournament held at Ninnaji Temple. Itotachi is a quiet Japanese sweets shop located in a residential area. The owner, who trained at the long-established Kyoto sweets shop "Sasaya Iori," opened the shop in the first year of Reiwa. Thanks to Fujii Sota's Ryuo Tournament, the "Kuma Monaka" snack became very popular. The shop opens at 10 am, but the "Kuma Monaka" is only available from 12 pm. Even though it wasn't yet 12 pm, there were about 8 people lined up outside the shop. When 12 pm arrived, the owner came out and explained how the "Kuma Monaka" was sold. There are 4 types of "Kuma Monaka," and there are no purchase limits. However, if the person in front buys a lot, there may be sold out for those at the back of the line. When it was my turn, I was led inside the shop, which only had a sales area. There were many traditional Japanese sweets displayed on the shelves. By the time it was my turn, two out of the four types of "Kuma Monaka" had already sold out. Unfortunately, I couldn't buy the blue ribbon mask version or the "November limited" Beaujolais Nouveau version. The owner recommended the Warabi Mochi, and I decided to purchase it along with the "Kuma Monaka." The owner was friendly and the atmosphere was very pleasant. I bought the "Kuma Monaka," specifically the "Ryuo Tournament Ver." It had a dragon claw-like design on the feet, with gold leaf on the green ribbon, giving it a luxurious feel. Inside the Monaka were two fillings of natto from Ikkyuji Temple. The pink ribbon bear had the same filling inside. The crispy Monaka texture and the harmony with the filling was delightful. It was just sweet enough, and I finished it in two bites. The Warabi Mochi was soft enough to drink. It had a soft and chewy texture, with sweet red bean paste inside. It had an elegant taste. Overall, I enjoyed the popular traditional Japanese sweets from Itotachi.

In October 2021, during the 34th Ryuo Tournament held at the head temple of Jingo-ji in Kyoto, on the first day of the match, during the morning break, the snack enjoyed by the three-crown champion, Sota Fujii, was "Itotachi's Monaka" and "An and Salt Kinako". Fujii's choice of snacks is always cute and attracts a lot of attention, but this time the bear-shaped Monaka was super sweet♡ Moreover, this time the location was Kyoto! So, I went and got them~(*^◯^*) The bear-shaped Monaka I was looking for has been very popular since the Ryuo Tournament, especially the "Ryuo Tournament version" bear designed specifically for this tournament, with a dragon holding a ball with its claws as a motif, and a butterfly tie in dragon scale colors, creating a dignified and elegant bear-shaped Monaka. There are various versions of the bear-shaped Monaka, including the "Social Distance version" with a mask and the October limited edition "Halloween version," full of fun♪ To be honest, when I saw it in the news, I wasn't expecting much in terms of taste because of its cuteness (sorry!), but when I tried it, I was surprised by how delicious it was! The anko made with Hokkaido Shumari red beans, black sugar, and Ikkyu-ji fermented soybeans was mildly sweet, flavorful, and had a crunchy texture. Such cuteness but not just for show deliciousness! You're amazing! So, I reassessed the bear-shaped Monaka (￣(工)￣) I also bought Itotachi's representative confectionery "Tsutsumi Mochi." An elegant Japanese confectionery wrapped in two sheets of colored mochi dough filled with red bean paste. This was also very delicious, and the red bean paste comes in various flavors such as hand-spun beans and roasted soybean flour white miso paste. Itotachi also offers many other types of Japanese confectionery. I wanted to try the other snack that Sota Fujii enjoyed during the Ryuo Tournament, "An and Salt Kinako," but unfortunately, this is only sold on the 1st, 10th, 20th, and 30th of each month, so I couldn't get it this time (T ^ T) I also want to try the "Warabi Mochi soft enough to drink," seasonal fresh sweets, and the upcoming Hanabira Mochi, so there are plenty of Japanese confectionery I want to try. This is something I definitely want to challenge again! Living in Kyoto, there are always new and delicious snacks appearing one after another, which is a pleasantly overwhelming experience~(*≧∀≦*) Thank you for the meal.

There is a great shop near Ninna-ji Temple that has been a hot topic among sweets lovers. It has also been buzzing as the sweets chosen by Shogi player Fujii Sota in the Ryuo Tournament. I bought some after things calmed down a bit. It's located in a quiet residential area, so you might get lost without relying on Google Maps. The recommended Kumamainaka Halloween version comes with six adorable mainaka sweets, including the Ryuo Tournament version. Sorry for underestimating it at first glance. It's delicious! The sweet bean paste is mildly sweet but has a rich sweetness. It has considerable skill as a traditional Japanese sweet. It seems to be made with a young sensibility and has something in common with a certain store on Manjuji Street. The shop owner is said to come from a famous local store known for dorayaki. The young shop owner was very calm and polite in customer service. Kumamainaka is currently on sale starting at 12 o'clock. You can buy it normally now, but it tends to sell out every day, so be careful as it only lasts until the day after the purchase date. I'm curious about other traditional Japanese sweets, so I'd like to visit again.

Soon it will be Halloween, and there is a Halloween version of a bear that I want to buy. But there seems to be some commotion. I was busy and hadn't watched TV or read the newspaper, then I found out that there is a Ryuo version of a bear wearing a blue butterfly tie being released! This traditional Japanese sweets shop creates beautiful and lovely seasonal sweets. In the past, they had Gion Festival version of wrapped mochi. Everyone was delighted to receive them as gifts. When I found out about the Ryuo version, the next day I was going to Kyoto, so I decided to go buy it. The shop is located near the Ginkaku-ji Temple, just a short walk away. There is a parking space for one car next to the shop, but it was probably not possible this time. I parked my car at the nearby parking lot of the Ginkaku-ji Temple and went to the shop. The sale starts at 12 pm, and there was a line of six people waiting. You can buy other traditional Japanese sweets from 10 am. One person at a time entered the shop in the rain, and 15 minutes later, they were sold out. Sorry, I am fine. It was interesting, so I thought about buying it and sending it to a foodie friend who likes such things, but the expiration date was only one day. Dragon King-chan transforms bears into dragons, with a blue dragon butterfly tie design. The tie is the blue of the dragon. There is also a Mask Bear and a Halloween version, which are cute but edible. You can take a big bite from the head. Inside the red bean paste with black sugar, there is a hint of saltiness from the Hitohira Natto. This Monaka is said to be the snack that Sota Fujii eats during his matches at 10 am. It always becomes news what he eats as a snack during matches. This time, I found out about it on Instagram without knowing. I bought three as souvenirs for my friends, and they were very happy. It's crowded now, but when it calms down a bit, I might go buy them again. Dragon King-chan will be on sale for a while, I heard.

Recently, the popular artisan Ito Tatsu-san. Finally, I was able to try the seasonal wagashi. - Changing Chrysanthemum... Kinako dumpling with sweet potato bean paste. Delicate kinako dumpling that doesn't crumble even when taken out of the pack. - Moon Viewing... Shiratama with chestnut paste. You can enjoy moon viewing at home, as if on a plate. Firm texture and natural sweetness of chestnut. - Minori... Purple sweet potato kudzu with chestnut paste. Thought it was a manju, but it was different. Sticky mochi-like texture with smooth chestnut paste. The bunny's expression is cute, and its tail is slightly pink (^v^) charming. - Wobbly Warabi Mochi soft enough to drink... Warabi flour with smooth red bean paste. I wonder about drinking it, but it's a wagashi from Ito Tatsu-san. Let's savor it slowly without drinking it. It's insanely delicious.