I went to buy dorayaki for someone who has taken care of me! I gave it to someone who loves sweet bean paste before and it was well received, so I like to give a little thank you to important people recently, using a local confectionery from Hogetsudo! The staff at the store are warm and kind, which makes shopping enjoyable. For myself, I got some shiny and moist yam manju. They are simple and cute, round and white. Just looking at them makes me smile. I ran out of tissue paper, so I used a paper napkin (lol). The sweet bean paste inside is smooth. The chewy texture of the dough, the smooth melting mouthfeel of the bean paste, and the subtly sweet taste. While eating, I felt happy. I paired it with rose tea, and surprisingly, it was a good match. Thank you for the meal. I will definitely visit again! Thank you very much.

I had chestnut manju and dorayaki. The dorayaki is fluffy and moist! The red bean paste is sweet, so it might be a bit different for those who prefer less sweet red bean paste. Overall, it's quite sweet, so just one piece is satisfying. The chestnut manju goes well with tea! It would also make a great gift!

During my trip to Tokyo in March 2022, a friend brought me some souvenirs, including a special gift from a friend in Tokyo. It was a package from a traditional Japanese confectionery called "Hokutsukedo" located in Nakanosakaue, Tokyo. The package contained two "Mikasa" (dorayaki) priced at 230 yen each. The shop was founded in 1933 by the first-generation Katsutaro jiisan, who came to Tokyo from Niigata with big dreams of making sweets. The dorayaki, "Mikasa," is a popular item known for its fluffy skin and secret sweet red bean paste filling. I received two dorayaki, which I enjoyed as a snack right away and saved one for dessert the next day after dinner, paired with a hot drip coffee. The dorayaki was thick and large, measuring about 10x11cm and weighing 110-120g, providing a satisfying eating experience. The generously filled red bean paste had a rich and intense sweetness, complemented by the soft and moist skin, creating a traditional and delightful flavor. I truly appreciated the effort of my friend who traveled all the way from Tokyo to bring me these delicious treats. Thank you for the sweet gifts! Enjoy your meal! (●^o^●)

Received as a gift from a friend in Tokyo in March 2022. It's the "Mikasa" dorayaki from the traditional Japanese confectionery shop "Hogetsudo" located in front of Shin-Nakano Station. The dorayaki had a relatively thick and fluffy outer layer filled with plenty of sweet red bean paste. The taste was rich and delicious. Tokyo dorayaki never disappoints. Thank you for the treat!

An acquaintance who is a dentist nearby recommended this place, so I bought some souvenirs while I was in the area. I got regular Sanshoku and the limited edition chestnut-filled Sanshoku for myself and my acquaintance. When I got home, I tried them out with high expectations. They were moist, but quite sweet! Traditional Japanese sweets tend to be on the sweeter side. Some people might find it nostalgic or reminiscent of the flavors from the past. Thank you for the meal.

Next to the coffee shop I usually go to, there is a Japanese confectionery shop with a sign that says "Handmade Kashiwa Mochi." Intrigued by the sign, I decided to go in for the first time. The shop was small, with various products displayed neatly. I wanted to take my time looking around, but the shopkeeper approached me, so I quickly chose the Kashiwa Mochi. It costs 250 yen for one piece, but if you buy two or more, it's 230 yen each. The mochi had a nice chewy texture and a good balance of sweetness with a hint of salt. The sweet red bean paste inside was not too sweet, creating a pleasant and mellow flavor. There was also miso-flavored red bean paste available. I personally don't have a preference between smooth or chunky red bean paste, but it seems like some people do. My wife prefers smooth red bean paste, so I'll make sure to choose that for her in the future.

During this period leading up to the May festival, I visited a shop looking for kashiwa mochi with miso filling, but unfortunately it was sold out. So, I asked for kashiwa mochi with koshi-an and the shopkeeper, perhaps feeling bad about the miso filling being sold out, gave me an extra piece of yomogi kashiwa mochi. I remembered receiving a similar gesture when I bought dorayaki before, where they let me taste freshly made wagashi from the back of the shop. While this level of service may not happen every time, the shopkeeper definitely has a spirit of hospitality. The yomogi kashiwa mochi had a vibrant green color and a fresh taste, with a rich herbal flavor in the dough and a light koshi-an filling. It felt like I was enjoying a healthy wagashi treat. The mitarashi dango had a subtle sauce, yet a strong sweet and savory flavor, and was delightfully chewy. I would love to visit this shop again.

I purchased a dorayaki with a 90% repeat rate after trying it once. When I held it in my hand, I could tell it was quite heavy and the dough was fluffy. It was said that the texture changes over time, so I tried eating it in multiple sittings. My initial impression when I first ate it was that it was as fluffy as a pancake. The sweet bean paste inside had a strong sweetness but a clear taste, similar to yokan. As time passed, the dough gradually became harder and heavier, and by the fourth day, it was just like a regular dorayaki. At this point, it started to feel a bit heavy. Considering the fluffiness when freshly made, the price of 190 yen feels cheap.

Sanjou (Dorayaki). Nabe and Yokocho. There are many traditional Japanese sweets. I decided to try it because the repeat rate for dorayaki is 90%. It is a fluffy, large dorayaki. Delicious. It definitely makes you want to come back for more.

Among the dorayaki I bought at a shop in Nakano, I prefer the skin of this one. The red bean paste is on the sweeter side for me. I noticed the words "sake" in the ingredients. Although I didn't taste the sake, it's interesting how the flavor can vary depending on the shop. I think this dorayaki would go well with cold milk. Thank you for the meal.

Heading south from Shin-Nakano Station towards Nabe Alley, where the arcade ends, there is a slightly wider patio along the street. One of the shops lined up there is the one I visited. The entrance is narrow and the shop is small, but the large certificate of "offering sweets" displayed inside has a strong presence. This time, I tried their "manju". It is a square manju wrapped in a paper bag with the engraving of a phoenix. When you take a bite, the manju skin is crispy and has a nice texture. The coarse red bean paste inside also adds to the enjoyable texture.

A small traditional Japanese confectionery shop in the Nagoya shopping street. I had decided to buy their specialty, the "Mikasa," but felt embarrassed to just buy one dorayaki as an adult. As I looked around for other options, I found seasonal treats like Kuzukiri and Tomato Jelly. However, upon checking the packaging, I realized they were not made in this shop. I decided to stick with the Mikasa/dorayaki and Mizuyokan (water yokan) from this shop. The lady owner gave me half of the freshly baked dorayaki as a complimentary treat. The skin was fluffy and soft, making me feel happy. The Mizuyokan was also delicious, not too sweet and had a pleasant aftertaste. I also received a water manju as a gift. I felt bad for the shop as the complimentary treats were more than what I purchased. The Mikasa and Mizuyokan made in this shop contain no preservatives and are best consumed within 2-3 days. Living in Nakano, I feel fortunate to have such a shop nearby.

In the Nabe Yokohama area, there are quite a few Japanese and Western confectionery shops scattered around, but this was my first time trying this one. In conclusion, I think the dorayaki (made by Mikasa) here is the best in the Nabe Yokohama area. When you open it, the sight of the fluffy, large dorayaki looks delicious! The handmade, irregularly shaped skin is very appetizing. Unlike the typical dorayaki, the skin here is whitish in color. It's not too sweet and very soft. Sometimes dorayaki can get boring halfway through because the skin is too sweet, but this skin complements the red bean paste inside perfectly, enhancing the fluffy texture of the skin. It's satisfying in volume and very addictive. The staff said, "It's delicious," and they were right. I've found a truly delicious dorayaki. I'm curious about the other Japanese sweets they offer. During my shopping, I noticed regular customers asking, "Do you have red rice today?" or "Do you have mochi?" So maybe their other products are good too.

Located about a 5-minute walk from Shin-Nakano Station, this is an old traditional Japanese sweets shop in the Yanagiya shopping street. I really like their "Mikasa" which costs 190 yen each. The package is labeled as an offering. The skin has a refined brown color and is fluffy. The red bean paste inside is sweet. Each piece is quite substantial, weighing about 150 grams. When you enter the shop to make a purchase, you can smell the delicious scent of simmering red beans. The staff at the shop are always friendly.

It seems like a high-end and intimidating restaurant, but once you step inside, it's not like that at all. Our family are big fans of the Mikasa (dorayaki) here. They are incredibly thick, allowing you to really enjoy the outer layer. The red bean paste inside is glossy and delicious, almost like sweetened red beans. It's a refined red bean paste. They are quite large, so if you have a small appetite, you might not be able to finish one. But we love them. These unique and individualistic creations have a personal touch that we really appreciate. The combination of the large size, elegant packaging, and the atmosphere of the store is just wonderful. The firm red rice is also delicious. We always ask for it for special celebrations. Every time we go shopping, they offer us some tea or something. Especially, the "hot hot" freshly baked dorayaki with red bean paste is sometimes served, and it is incredibly delicious. It's so exciting when it randomly appears (laughs). It seems to be more common in the mornings. We look forward to it. We will definitely go back soon.

Next to "Coffeeya Shin-Nakano Main Store" is a Japanese sweets shop. I first visited this shop on a hot summer day about two and a half years ago with my wife. When we entered, we were handed two fans and told, "I'm sorry, the air conditioner is broken," by the young shop owner. A lady who appeared to be his mother brought us cold barley tea from the back of the shop. Looking at the showcase, there were dorayaki and chestnut buns. There weren't many options, but there were also red bean rice cakes on top of the case. We got some boxed chestnut buns and two loose ones for me and my mother. As my wife was leaving with the boxed chestnut buns, I unwrapped one and took a bite. It was a white bean paste bun. It wasn't as big as the chestnut bun called "Koganezuru" from "Toratsuki-do" near Nakano Station South Exit, but it was about two-thirds of the price - no complaints. When I took another bite, my wife snatched it away and ran to Shin-Nakano Station. I wish I had eaten a little more... Of course, I gave my mother's portion to her as a snack! Since then, when buying Japanese sweets for customers, I often go to "Musashino Tamaya" which is a bit closer to home, but when buying chestnut buns, I extend my trip to this shop. They are well received by customers.

I went to "Hogetsudo" located in Nabe Alley, a 5-minute walk from Shin-Nakano. It's a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in the shopping street. I'm not sure if it's run by an elderly couple, but there's an old lady serving customers at the storefront. The atmosphere is cozy and time seems to pass slowly there. This time, I bought a dorayaki. It costs 190 yen each, which is a bit high in this area. However, I believe the price is worth it. The dorayaki is quite large and heavy. It satisfies your stomach. The sweet bean paste has a refreshing sweetness, and the cake part is fluffy and delicious. The packaging of the dorayaki is also elegant, reflecting the price. Although the service speed of the old lady is quite slow, I recommend going with some extra time. I would like to visit again.

Every summer, I go to buy Mizuyokan. I have always liked Mizuyokan and have tried many different shops, but this one is my favorite. It's not too sweet or too hard, and it tastes amazing when chilled in the refrigerator. My wife is a big fan of this Mizuyokan as well, so we enjoy it together in the summer. In addition to Mizuyokan, their Dorayaki is also delicious and comes in handy when we have guests over. However, since the expiration date is short, it may not be the best option for gifts, but I recommend it for personal consumption or when you can give it as a present soon.

At the beginning of April, before the state of emergency was declared, my husband Tichiro went to a traditional Japanese sweets shop that my late father loved. My father had a sweet tooth and was particularly fond of the shop's Kashiwa Mochi. Although there are many renowned traditional Japanese sweets shops in Tokyo that my father used to frequent, none could compare to Hogetsudo, which was conveniently located near our home. Even though it has been over 30 years since we left that area, I have visited the shop a few times, but it has been almost 10 years since my last visit. This time, unfortunately, it was too early for Kashiwa Mochi, but they had Kusa Mochi instead. The taste was just as delicious as I remembered, with the same smooth and chewy texture that the shop's previous owner was known for. The Sakura Mochi, with its essential taste for this season, was also unchanged. The Kinako Mochi, a year-round favorite of mine, had the same gentle sweetness of egg yolk. And the Sanshuyama Dorayaki, a childhood favorite, brought back memories of happiness. Today is my late father's birthday, and if it weren't for the pandemic, I would have loved to visit Hogetsudo in Shin-Nakano to offer Kashiwa Mochi in his memory.