I was planning to enjoy some delicious traditional Japanese sweets or shaved ice at a charming shop in a residential street. However, as I approached, a customer came out and sat on the bench outside, leaving me with no place to eat. I ended up giving up on dining there. Instead, I decided to get two servings of the seasonal limited edition chilled lotus root mochi to go for ¥200 each. The mochi was wrapped in a nice scent of bamboo leaves, with a chewy and jelly-like texture that felt refreshing to eat. It had a hint of brown sugar flavor, making it a delightful summer treat.

It's hot... I made a little mistake... After lunch, I went to a nearby shaved ice and dorayaki shop that I've been wanting to try. In Hikifune, you can see the Skytree from various angles, which is fun. Although Oshiage is not very close, the distance from Hikifune and Kinshicho also blends into the scenery. It will probably be developed underground more in the future. It would be nice to see more gaps between the Tobu Railway and the surroundings. There is a factory nearby, and a well-established shop with a good location close to the train tracks. It's a good idea to bring a cooler bag with ice packs because it's so hot. Cream-based treats need to be refrigerated, so it's better to eat them in a cool place like in front of the shop or inside. I had a shaved ice with fresh fruits, which reminded me of the rule from my days as a Go-roller not to eat shaved ice in a place that isn't cool on a hot summer day. When will it get cooler again? I thought I would go with the usual combination of chestnut dorayaki and bean daifuku, but there was matcha cream available. I also added walnut butter. The large chestnut dorayaki has a perfect combination of large chestnuts and moderately sweet grain paste wrapped in a soft dough. The bean daifuku has red peas from Hokkaido and high-quality beans from Tokachi wrapped in a soft mochi. It's slightly smaller than the Demachi Futaba bean mochi, but it doesn't lose in taste. The matcha cream dorayaki uses luxurious matcha from Uji, Kyoto, with Tamba's large adzuki beans sprinkled in a fluffy dough. It's small, so you can eat it in one bite. The walnut butter dorayaki uses high-quality beans from Tokachi and salted, unique grain paste, with a special blend of butter from Hokkaido and roasted walnuts. The combination is unique to Ichiya Original.

On this day, "Ichiya" was at a limited-time shop in Ueno Matsuya. My husband loves dorayaki, so we decided to buy some to take home. What we got: - Dorayaki: Around 300 yen There was a lot of filling compared to the skin...! The slight bean flavor was also delicious. - Mont Blanc Fondant Chocolat: Around 300 yen On the package it said, "Microwave at 600W for 10 seconds to melt the chocolate inside and enjoy." I realized this halfway through eating and quickly microwaved it. The rich and creamy melted chocolate was delicious.

This is a traditional Japanese sweets shop in Yuzuki. It is located along a narrow street in a residential area. The shop is small, with a showcase displaying various types of daifuku. They also sell dorayaki and warabi mochi. I visited on a weekend evening, and although there were still different types of daifuku available, the quantity was limited. I purchased the following: Kinako Daifuku for 250 yen, Walnut Daifuku for 260 yen. The mochi of the daifuku is firm and elastic. The red bean paste in the Kinako Daifuku has whole beans with a subtle amount of red kidney beans. The Walnut Daifuku has smooth red bean paste with crushed walnuts between the paste and the mochi. Both daifuku were not too sweet for my liking.

The "Dorayaki Pilgrimage" leads to the Hikifune area. One bite reveals a fluffy and strong white bean paste filling, reminiscent of Kameju's signature style. Compared to Kameju, these dorayaki are smaller in size, with a generous amount of sweet filling typical of downtown, but the lighter outer layer can be overpowered by the sweetness of the filling. It would be better to lighten the sweetness of the filling for a better balance. Additionally, it was disappointing to find some hard bean pieces in the filling. Overall, this dorayaki was a useful reference for homemade attempts.

I had a reason to go to Mukojima and on the way back, I stopped by here for a break. The shop is located in a residential area and has a lovely storefront. I ordered a shaved ice with ripe apricot and condensed milk, an apricot daifuku, and a plain dorayaki with shaved ice. I added condensed milk for an extra 50 yen. The apricot shaved ice had a lot of fruit pulp and a gentle sweet and sour taste that was perfect for refreshing my tired body in the scorching heat. It paired well with the condensed milk. I chose the apricot daifuku because I like apricots. It had a semi-dry apricot on top of the sweet bean paste, and the refreshing taste was perfect for summer. The plain dorayaki was simple and had a soft and fluffy texture. The sweetness of the sweet bean paste was just right and delicious. If you like Kameju or Sogetsu, you might also like this place. If I have the chance to come back to Hikifune again, I would like to try the walnut or black sesame daifuku next time. As of August 2022, the rating is 3.40.

Mairevi-san, whose head was one-third covered by dorayaki from Ichiya, went on a search after a meal. Found a small, cozy shop with a two-tatami-sized selling area, where they make confectionery in the back. Had tea in the park afterward. It was delicious. Just as imagined, the castella with red bean paste was excellent. It had a good balance of richness and sharpness, was firm but not too heavy - just the kind I like. Thank you for the meal. I'm glad I fulfilled my dorayaki craving today.

Kiwi Daifuku: A simple combination of green kiwi and sweet red bean paste. The mochi was soft and the kiwi was sweet, creating a well-balanced and delicious treat. Black Sugar Dorayaki: The moist texture of the pancake with the overly sweet red bean paste inside was a bit too much for my taste. Chestnut Dorayaki: The chestnut was large and delicious! I was a bit impressed by the taste. Seasonal Limited Edition: - Kiwi Daifuku (240 yen) - Large Chestnut Dorayaki (270 yen) - Black Sugar Dorayaki (230 yen) Total Payment: 740 yen Although the apricot daifuku was sold out, I was pleasantly surprised by the delicious Kiwi Daifuku that I bought instead. I would love to visit again if I'm in the area. They had a variety of unique dorayaki as well. It was a fun experience. Thank you for the meal!

I went to Hikifune for shopping and decided to visit a chopstick shop near Hikifune Station to buy some chopsticks as a gift. All the chopsticks were handmade and the craftsmanship of the artisans was impressive. After learning about the different types of chopsticks, I went for a leisurely stroll in the area. I then searched for a traditional Japanese confectionery shop on Tabelog and found a nice one nearby. The shop had a sophisticated appearance and was very clean inside. I bought a lot of dorayaki and a few pieces of daifuku. The dorayaki was fluffy with a generous amount of sweet red bean paste, and the daifuku was large and satisfying to eat. I found a great shop and will definitely visit again when I go back to Hikifune. Thank you for the delicious treats.

My first visit to Mizumachi. While taking a leisurely stroll, I got hungry and found a Japanese sweets shop, so I went in. I tried the seasonal sweet potato dorayaki, which was recommended. It had both sweet potato and sweet bean paste inside. It cost 300 yen. It was delicious as a snack, but when it comes to dorayaki, I still prefer Kameju.

While walking to Solamachi, I stumbled upon a shop and decided to stop by. It was hot, so I ordered shaved ice. I chose strawberry milk flavor and it was delicious, but a bit too heavy. I also found the daifuku and parfait intriguing. It seems like it will get even busier as it gets hotter.

Recommended by a local resident, the walnut butter dorayaki (with red bean paste filling, of course) is delicious. The Horikiri and Higashi-Mukojima area is not yet infiltrated by gourmet influencers, so there are still undiscovered delicious restaurants like this. The great daifuku is also said to be delicious.

In the neighborhood of Mukojima and Hikifune, there are many traditional Japanese sweet shops. In 2013, Ichiya was founded there. In 2020, a branch opened near Sumida Ward Office, under the Tobu Skytree Line elevated commercial facility "Tokyo Mizumachi". Both the main store and the branch are now beloved local Japanese sweet shops. The most popular item is the daifuku, with various types including the classic bean daifuku and seasonal limited editions, all delicious. However, my personal favorite is the walnut butter dorayaki for 260 yen. The crispy texture of the walnuts, the mild sweetness of the red bean paste, and the creamy richness of the butter, combined with a hint of salt, create a perfect harmony. The soft and moist pancake exterior is also delicious. I will definitely go back to buy more. Thank you for the wonderful treat.

On the way back from Toki, not using the same route as going, I walked in the opposite direction from Higashi-Mukojima to Hikifune and stumbled upon a new-looking traditional Japanese confectionery shop in a back alley called "Ichiya." The popular item, Ichigo Dora, was already sold out according to the signboard. So, I decided to see what they had inside the store. They had various sweets like Daifuku, Sakura Mochi, and Dorayaki, but there were only two pieces left of Baked Daifuku and Sakura Mochi, so I chose those along with two pieces of Mame Daifuku. - Baked Daifuku: 160 yen x2 These Daifuku seemed like they were baked in the oven after being a day old. However, the red bean paste inside was freshly made that day, giving it a nice texture. The sweetness of the red bean paste was very mild, and I enjoyed the contrast between the skin and the red bean paste. - Mame Daifuku: 160 yen x2 Unlike the baked version, there was no noticeable difference between these and other Mame Daifuku. The salty taste of the beans and the mild sweetness of the red bean paste complemented each other well. - Sakura Mochi: 180 yen x2 The salted cherry blossom leaves on these were salty. However, the freshness and chewiness of the filling were excellent. It's good to adjust the amount of leaves when eating the mochi to balance the flavors. Overall, the sweets were delicious, especially the Baked Daifuku with its unique texture and mild sweetness. The Sakura Mochi was also enjoyable once you get used to the saltiness of the cherry blossom leaves.

It is located in a residential street. It has a very stylish appearance. Limited-time offer of strawberry dorayaki for 300 yen. The acidity of the strawberries balances the sweetness of the red bean paste and cream, making it very easy to eat and delicious. This would make a great gift that anyone would appreciate. I didn't like the black sesame daifuku and bean daifuku.

This is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop located in Higashi-Mukojima! I heard that a new dorayaki shop called Ichiya no Dora had opened nearby, so I visited a few times, but it didn't seem like it had been open for long. When I passed by Ichiya's shop and saw a sign for strawberry dorayaki, I couldn't wait for Ichiya no Dora to reopen, so I went in. I bought a strawberry dorayaki and a strawberry daifuku, took them home, and tried them out! Now, about the taste... [Strawberry Dorayaki] This is a dorayaki with a whole strawberry inside, either at the center or towards the end. Compared to others, the sweetness of the anko filling in this dorayaki was mild, allowing the sweetness and acidity of the strawberry to stand out, making it delicious. [Strawberry Daifuku] Similarly, this daifuku also has a whole strawberry inside, along with sweet bean paste and mochi. The balance of mochi, bean paste, and strawberry is good, but personally, I prefer the strawberry dorayaki. I wonder when Ichiya no Dora will make a comeback? Or will it just become a manufacturing plant? For now, you can still buy dorayaki at Ichiya's shop!

I happened to search for traditional Japanese sweets as souvenirs while visiting Hikifune in January 2021, and I found a popular shop in the area. Despite being located in a quiet alley, the shop seemed to be quite popular as there were customers coming and going. I arrived late, so some items were already sold out, indicating the shop's popularity. The customer service was standard. The Mame Daifuku (160 yen excluding tax) had a thin but strong outer layer with a slightly dry red bean paste filling. The outer layer did not stretch much and had a sticky texture where it touched the box, making it stand out. The red bean paste was very sweet with a strong azuki bean flavor, and the whole treat was small but packed with intense flavors. The Ichigo Daifuku (280 yen excluding tax) had a fruity and slightly sour strawberry surrounded by a sweet and firm red bean paste, all enclosed in the same hard outer layer as the Mame Daifuku. It was also intense in flavor. The Dorayaki (180 yen excluding tax) had a moist and delicate outer layer filled with the same explosive red bean paste as the other treats. Despite its small size, it was satisfying with a strong red bean flavor and sweetness. While many shops nowadays opt for less sweet and moist red bean paste, this shop stands out for its bold and explosive flavors. Such unique flavors are rare, which explains the steady stream of customers.

I received mochi, daifuku with beans, persimmon daifuku, and dorayaki as souvenirs. The smooth texture of the sweet bean paste and elegant sweetness were incredibly delicious. It was my first time trying persimmon daifuku, and the perfect balance of persimmon and sweet bean paste was addictive. The dorayaki had a fluffy texture and was easy to eat, disappearing in no time.

I left my car at the auto repair shop in Higashi Mukojima and went for a stroll nearby. As I walked down a back alley, I saw a sign for "Daifuku Dorayaki Ichiya." I found the shop with a simple white exterior and a curtain hanging in front. The interior was also simple and clean. They had small-sized daifuku lined up in the case, along with dorayaki. I bought four different types of daifuku and some dorayaki. The daifuku were small but just the right size. The "Ichiya Daifuku" and "Black Sesame Daifuku" had great aroma and texture, the "Baked Daifuku" had a nice crispy flavor, and the "Bean Daifuku" had a unique texture and flavor from red beans. The size was perfect for comparing and enjoying different flavors. The dorayaki was simple and delicious, I could easily eat more than one. It would make a great gift or souvenir. Thank you for the meal.

Visited before 10:30 am on a Sunday. It was a small place in a residential area, but we were able to find it because there were a few people lined up. We purchased Normal Daifuku, Roasted Daifuku, Sesame Daifuku, Apricot Daifuku, and two types of Dorayaki. The daifuku had a chewy texture and was delicious! The dorayaki had a Western-style feel. It's true that shops specializing in daifuku have a unique taste. It was delicious!