On this day, my sister and I ate authentic Edo-style sushi at the counter of Bentenzan Miyake Ko Sushi, and my sister said as we left the restaurant, "I know the two women who sat to our left from TV, but I can't remember who they are." I am not familiar with that area because I don't watch TV regularly (except for NHK-BS news), and I make a point not to look at the other customers at the sushi counter. I have a unique habit of automatically blocking my ears with mental plugs to avoid overhearing the vertical-vertical conversations with Master Uchida, and I focus solely on eating. There are rude customers who rudely interrupt other people's conversations with their ears wide open, but I have never experienced that in this sushi restaurant that I have been going to for about forty years. Turning right onto Denboin Street, "Tochikike" is included in my Asakusa course. "Please give me fifty pieces of fried tofu for inari sushi." My sister, who only comes to Asakusa once a year for grave visits, bought special tofu, ganmodoki, thick fried tofu, and chikuwa in her own insulated bag. Cooking delicious homemade dishes for her second son's family who live nearby is one of my sister's pleasures. The cooking skills and taste inherited from our mother are being passed down to our two grandchildren (our mother's great-grandchildren) in this way. "Food" is the source of sensibility. Please see the attached photos and captions for more information about the dishes.

First visit in the early evening ● Tofu pork bun ¥350 It was so cold that I wanted to eat a meat bun, and I saw someone enjoying one on the roadside, so I decided to try it too! It was a normal salt-flavored pork bun with nothing particularly special, but eating a meat bun in the cold is the best, isn't it? It was quite big!

It has been a while since I strolled around Asakusa. The crowds have completely returned to how they used to be, and there are a lot more foreign tourists as well. Walking down Nakamise Street is quite a challenge... Amidst all this, I noticed a shop called "Tochigiya," specializing in fresh yuba tofu since 1887. It's rare to find fresh yuba in Asakusa. They use domestic whole soybeans to make tofu, fresh yuba, and tokoroten. Inside the shop, they had four types of yuba: sashimi yuba, scooped yuba, Asakusa yuba, and fresh yuba. I bought scooped yuba for dinner and also purchased soy milk to drink on the spot. The soy milk was incredibly easy to drink, with a rich and creamy texture that was completely different and delicious compared to the soy milk sold in supermarkets. The yuba had a delicious taste of soybeans. Although I didn't buy tofu this time, the zaru tofu and grilled tofu for the upcoming season were so delicious that I would like to visit again.

While I was hanging out in Asakusa doing some idol activities and having breakfast, I stumbled upon a large poster for "tofu pork buns." I've been cutting back on carbs recently, so when I heard it was made with tofu instead of rice, I couldn't help but be intrigued and went inside. They had all sorts of tofu and tofu dishes for sale, but thinking about carrying it around, I decided to go with the tofu pork bun. I bought it frozen and heated it up at home. The skin feels softer compared to a regular pork bun, but if you didn't know, you might not even notice. Of course, it's not all tofu, there's probably some regular dough mixed in as well.

Tofu is delicious, and this shop also offers a variety of sweets that you should try. Tofu has a rich flavor and tastes great even without any condiments. It's perfect as a side dish for dinner or as a snack with drinks. Once you start eating it, you won't be able to stop. The mango pudding has a unique, smooth texture and is not too sweet, so even those who don't like overly sweet desserts can enjoy it. The tofu and soy milk donuts are fluffy and lightly sweet with a mild taste from the soy milk. They are enjoyable even for those who don't like overly sweet treats. With a wide variety of tofu and sweets to choose from, you can try something different each time you visit, which is really exciting.

Friday, May 2022. Visit at 2:00 pm. This is a long-established tofu shop founded in Meiji 20. The shop is located slightly off from the official website and Google Maps, but with the guidance provided, I was able to find it easily. During my visit at 2:00 pm on a weekday, there were no other customers, but I often see customers enjoying "soy milk and okara donuts" outside the shop on weekends. Here are some of the products available during my visit (all prices include tax): *************************** ・Soy Milk and Okara Donut 120 yen ・Soy Milk and Okara Donut 5 pieces 600 yen [Refrigerated Case 1] ・Raw Okara 60 yen ・Soy Milk Mango Pudding 310 yen *Popular item ・Black Sesame Soy Milk Pudding 310 yen *Contains iron & zinc ・Soy Milk Almond Jelly 310 yen *Mildly sweet ・Chikuwa (fish cake) 180 yen ・Konjac Small 100 yen ・Konjac 180 yen ・Mashed Konjac 180 yen ・Small White Taki (konjac) 250 yen ・Sashimi Konjac 250 yen ・Daruma Natto 250 yen ・Chopsticks Set 50 yen ・Special Miso 700 yen *Selected soybeans [Refrigerated Case 2] ・Thin Fried Tofu Small 70 yen ・Thin Fried Tofu 180 yen ・Silk Fried Tofu 190 yen ・Deep-fried Tofu 90 yen ・Kyoto Gamo (tofu pouch) 140 yen ・Gamo Small 70 yen ・Gamo Large 150 yen ・Meat Gamo 140 yen *Sold out during visit ・Cheese Gamo 140 yen ・Vegetable Gamo 100 yen ・Kombu Seasoning 300 yen ・Uno Hana (tofu skin) 300 yen *Most popular ・Kumiage Yuba (tofu skin) 430 yen *Limited quantity ・Sashimi Yuba (tofu skin) 430 yen ・Raw Yuba (tofu skin) 430 yen ・Grilled Tofu 210 yen ・Yuzu Oboro (tofu crumbles) 220 yen ・Salt Oboro (tofu crumbles) 220 yen ・Edamame Oboro (tofu crumbles) 220 yen *Seasonal ・White Sesame Oboro (tofu crumbles) 220 yen ・Inari Age (tofu pouch) 450 yen ・Soy Milk 170 yen ・Silken Tofu 180 yen ・Silk Tofu 180 yen ・Special Oboro (tofu crumbles) 310 yen *Selected soybeans ・Oboro (tofu crumbles) 190 yen ・Sesame Tofu 220 yen [Refrigerated Case 3] ・Hirousu (tofu skin pouch) 500 yen ・Koinari-san 3 pieces 550 yen *Limited quantity ・Kirazu Fried Tofu 350 yen ・Kirazu Fried Tofu Caramel Flavor 400 yen ・Kirazu Fried Tofu Salt 350 yen ・Sweet Miso 50 yen ・Rich Soy Sauce 500 yen ・Tofu Dipping Sauce 350 yen ・Black Mapo Tofu 350 yen ・Kanten (agar jelly) 190 yen ・Tokoroten (jelly noodles) 200 yen *Recommended [Frozen Products] ・Tofu Pork Bun 350 yen Made with tofu skin for a "chewy" texture. Uses premium tofu for a healthy pork bun filling. *************************** Although my bill was small this time, the lady staff who assisted me was charming and provided attentive customer service, which was very comforting. (⁎´v `⁎) ========== [Tasting] ●Raw Okara 60 yen (tax included) When weighed, it was 305g. The expiration date is the day of purchase, so freezing is recommended if not used on the same day. The okara, with a lot of moisture squeezed out, has a strong soybean aroma. It's irresistible for tofu lovers. (⁎˃ ꇴ ˂⁎) (Thanks to this, I was able to make delicious okara dishes ♡) I'm interested in other tofu products as well! ========== I used to buy okara from Fujita Tofu in Ueno Sakuragi, which is 500g for 170 yen, so the one from this shop is more cost-effective. The okara from Fujita Tofu has more moisture, while the okara from this shop felt much drier. It's great that you can choose a shop based on the dish you want to make. I'm also curious about items like ・Meat Gamo 140 yen *Sold out during visit ・Kumiage Yuba 430 yen *Limited quantity ・Yuzu Oboro 220 yen, and although expensive, ・Koinari-san 3 pieces 550 yen *Limited quantity caught my attention. This is definitely a shop I will visit again ♡

Today's dinner plan was to have Yudofu (tofu hot pot). I decided to visit a tofu shop that is known for offering a variety of delicious tofu options. The shop is located near Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. I purchased Kinugoshi tofu, Atsuage tofu, and tofu donuts. I started with two pieces of Hiya-yakko (chilled tofu). The texture was incredibly smooth, different from the tofu I usually buy at the supermarket. It was really delicious. When compared to another Kinugoshi tofu in the same price range, the taste was quite similar, almost identical. I guess when it comes to good tofu, they tend to have a similar taste. Next, I tried the Yudofu. The tofu from Tochigi-ya was amazing! It was as fluffy as snow, which was a pleasant surprise. This tofu is delicious! Highly recommended. While I felt that the Hiya-yakko was on par with the other tofu I tried, the difference in quality became apparent with the Yudofu. I might have become a fan of this tofu. The Atsuage tofu also had a nice sweetness to it and tasted great, so I imagine it would be even more delicious when cooked. This might be the charm of Tochigi-ya tofu.

Located on Denboin Street, this tofu and yuba specialty store was established in the 20th year of the Meiji era. Curious if this trendy and stylish tofu shop also makes "Douhua" (tofu pudding), I decided to visit. While they offered snacks like okara doughnuts and tofu ice cream, unfortunately, they did not have Douhua. When I asked the owner if they were familiar with Taiwanese dessert Douhua made from soy milk, they seemed unaware. I explained the recent trend and the presence of four Douhua shops in Asakusa, but it didn't seem to resonate with them. It's a shame because with their expertise in soy milk, they could potentially make the best Douhua. I hope they consider making it in the future! Now, onto the tofu and okara doughnuts (100 yen tax included) - they were moist, chewy, and incredibly elastic. Delicious! They weren't too dry or crumbly, making them suitable even for the elderly. They were easy to eat even without a drink. The tofu ice cream (350 yen tax included) had a smooth texture, but it was more like frozen whipped cream than tofu. It lacked sweetness, and the ingredient list revealed that it contained tofu, milk, and cream, with milk solids not fat at 8.0% and milk fat at 6.0%, classifying it as ice milk. Perhaps it didn't have much tofu in it? It's a bit awkward to evaluate a tofu specialty store without trying their tofu, but this is just my personal note. Denboin Street is a 5-minute walk from Asakusa Station on the Ginza Line and Asakusa Line, a 5-minute walk from Tsukuba EXP Asakusa Station, and about a 5-minute walk from the Kaminarimon gate. It's located in the row of Italian ristorante with tiled roofs.

Visited on a weekday afternoon at the end of January. Stopped by after exploring Asakusa and got some items to go. Bought various things from a shop specializing in fresh yuba and tofu. The ones with meat inside were especially delicious. A shop I would like to visit again when in Asakusa.

The okara donuts are not as dense as regular donuts, they feel like the dough has some air in it, so they are fluffy. However, since they are fried, they can be a bit oily and heavy. They are on the smaller side, so it's not a big issue.

I know that tofu is delicious when it's freshly made. Of course, tofu is a perishable item. However, even if tofu is freshly made, if it's not made with care, you can taste a hint of unpleasantness. That's right, because it's made only with soybeans, if you do something strange, the taste will suffer. Now, about this tofu. One morning, I decided to try it on a whim, and it was quite good. Just by looking at the surface, you can tell, but there was no unwanted taste as expected. Delicious. I didn't season it because I ate it right away, but I could taste the sweetness of the soybeans. Wonderful. Please continue like this. I would like to try it with a little salt next time. Thank you for the meal.

I love the tofu and fried tofu here and often buy them.

The donuts are so delicious!

Taste: ★★★☆ Cost performance: ★★★☆ Service: ★★✕

Yuba is delicious.

The salted tofu is delicious, chewy, and very cheap.

On the way back from shopping in Asakusa, I thought it was getting to be chilled tofu season, so I visited a tofu shop near Senso-ji Temple called "Tochigiya". When I asked the staff there for tofu suitable for chilled tofu, they said, "Any kind is fine." Feeling a bit indifferent, I decided to buy the Kinugoshi tofu (170 yen). When I served it at home for dinner, my companion enjoyed it. It was just a delicious tofu. Since the shop is famous for its tofu donuts, I should have tried those instead. I'll make sure to try them next time I visit. Thank you for the meal.