One of my favorite traditional Japanese sweets is "Ajari mochi." Since my family had some business in Ikebukuro, they went to Tobu Department Store for me. They really have a good sense for finding things! After returning from abroad, I was craving some Japanese flavors, so I dove right into it. Huh...? Why does it seem smaller, and the mochi skin feels different? Is it because of the rising cost of ingredients...? I wish they would raise the price if it meant I could have the original product.

I purchased "Nagamyoji Sakura Mochi" from "Yamamotoya" and "Dorayaki (Black)" from "Kameju" at the nationwide famous sweets selection at Tobu Ikebukuro today without having to visit the actual stores. I always remember this Nagamyoji Sakura Mochi when the cherry blossoms bloom. I wanted to try it once. It is available every Friday at 11 am, so I went to the store accordingly. It costs 1501 yen for 5 pieces. Each Sakura Mochi is wrapped with three pieces of cherry blossom leaves to prevent drying. When you open the box, a very nice scent of cherry blossoms spreads. They provide the product all year round, so I assume the cherry blossom leaves are salted. The saltiness blends well with the sweet bean paste. The thin skin is baked to the extreme limit, almost about to break. The bean paste is made from Hokkaido red beans, with a firm texture and less moisture. Because the cherry blossom leaves have a limit to prevent drying, some parts of the thin skin may become hard depending on the time passed. It is recommended to eat it as soon as possible. On a side note... our household's trash can with 15 cherry blossom leaves thrown away had a refreshing scent until the collection day. It's really amazing!! (I just wanted to convey how good the scent is♫)

This corner gathers and introduces specialty products from all over the country for sale. Today, I found "Chomeiji's Sakura Mochi" and there are only two boxes left! I couldn't resist buying one box. When you open the lid, you can smell the sakura, which really stimulates the appetite. The moist skin, carefully made sweet bean paste, and the salty sakura leaf create a wonderful balance. Each sakura mochi has three sakura leaves! Eating with zero, one, two, or three sakura leaves provides a different taste experience. I couldn't help but eat four at once! I'll save the last one to enjoy after my bath. What a fantastic day! If I come across it again, I'll definitely have another one. The staff here are all very friendly, making shopping a pleasant experience. Thank you for the delicious meal!

"Chiba souvenir Peanut Manju. The package is cute. And it's sweet and delicious. A delightful assortment of 3 popular snacks from Peanut including the moist and gently flavored Peanut Manju, Chiba's classic Peanut Manju, and the Peanut Pie wrapped in pie crust. It's a fun assortment to enjoy and also makes a great gift. The yellow peanut-shaped packaging is also popular. Why not consider it as a souvenir from Chiba? Available for purchase online. Nagomi no Yoneya Peanut Manju | Nagomi no Yoneya Online Shop. National Confectionery Selection Ikebukuro Tobu Store 03-5951-6300. Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro B1F."

Seiyoken should have gone bankrupt and no longer exist, so where are they manufacturing now? It's a mystery. When I was young, I used to buy and enjoy their products at a now-defunct department store called Chuo Department Store in Omiya. I recently tried their madeleine again, and it was dry and crumbly, lacking the moistness I remembered. However, the nostalgic taste from my childhood is irreplaceable. Despite the disappointment with the madeleine, I still craved it and found out that Seiyoken products are now available at Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro. I couldn't resist and bought their madeleine, which was delicious but different from what I remembered. It's smoother and moister now, and actually quite tasty! It's a complex feeling!

I went to Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro on a Saturday to try the limited edition MatsuShimaya bean daifuku. I bought 5 pieces as the limit per person. The daifuku was small but packed with plenty of beans, the mochi was stretchy and had a good balance of saltiness. The red bean paste was not too sweet and paired perfectly with the mochi, making it surprisingly light. To put it simply, it was extremely delicious! MatsuShimaya is usually hard to get without a reservation due to its location between stations, so being able to buy it here was fantastic.

In Ikebukuro, there is Seibu Ikebukuro in the east and Tobu Ikebukuro in the west, making it easy to distinguish. Seibu Ikebukuro has a section called "Uohanae," which gathers famous sweets from all over the country. It is also convenient that there is a department store called Sogo with the same name. On the other hand, Tobu Ikebukuro has a section called "National Famous Sweets Selection," which also gathers famous sweets from all over the country. The selection of sweets is slightly different between the two sections, showing the skill of each store's buyers. One of the sweets that can be found occasionally is the Kikyo Shingen Biscuit, a biscuit that captures the flavor of Kikyo Shingen Mochi. I purchased it once and my mother got hooked, so we make sure to buy it whenever we find it. This time, I also enjoyed Higo Taiko, a peanut senbei that my wife likes. Thank you for the meal. These long-lasting sweets are very convenient to have at home.

Today's dessert violence was upgraded with strawberries and whipped cream on Seiyouken's madeleine!! It was incredibly delicious!!

I have been using this platform occasionally for some time now, but I completely forgot to leave a comment. In the past, I have purchased various sweets such as sweet potato yokan from Tosaya in Takinogawa and Norihisaka from Wagashi Daigo in Niiza. I also can't forget the New Year version of chestnut yokan from Obusedo in Nagano. I don't have photos of these items. Anyway, I always make sure to visit the regional specialty section in department stores without fail (laughs). This time, I came across a different product from Senchidori Manju, a popular souvenir from my father's hometown in Kyushu, so I decided to buy it. It's the Custard Manju from Senchidori Manju Sohonpo, a famous confectionery in Hakata. It is about 8 cm long and 3 cm wide. The moist texture of the manju dough reminds me of the Milk Manju from Kashiwaya in Fukushima. Unlike the iconic Senchidori Manju, this one has a different texture, which is interesting. It is moist and has a white bean paste base with a yellow custard-like filling. The taste is reminiscent of custard, but I feel like it has a slight egg flavor. The sweetness is mild and to my liking. It is delicious, but I feel like I don't need the box or packaging, that's my impression. I appreciate being able to buy in small quantities like this. I might buy it again in the future.

On the way back from the "Autumn Great Hokkaido Exhibition," I stopped by the "National Famous Sweets Selection" to find a reward for myself. In the refrigerated section, I found the "Ken's Cafe Tokyo" Gâteau Chocolat that I was looking for... But next to it, to my surprise, there was a "Kinosho" Matcha Bavarois!!! I couldn't believe it! Both of my favorite desserts right next to each other, it felt like getting both New Year's and Bon Festival treats at once. I happily brought both of them home and enjoyed them. The Kinosho Matcha Bavarois had a delightful creamy texture and a gentle, smooth deliciousness that was absolutely divine. The Ken's Cafe Tokyo Gâteau Chocolat had a rich and elegant chocolate aroma that filled my mouth and nose, with a truly satisfying taste. It was like a dream come true to have both of these amazing desserts in hand. What a wonderful world where New Year's and Bon Festival treats come together like this. Today's meal was truly delicious!

On September 3, 2017, I went to Tobu Department Store in Ikebukuro to pick up the "Special Gâteau Chocolat" from Ken's Cafe. I was surprised to find out that they sell Ken's Cafe's chocolate cake at the "National Confectionery Selection" corner on the B1 floor. If you are looking for treats from Ogawaken like "Raisin Witch," "Hanafusa Dango," or "Ajari Mochi," you can find them at Seibu Department Store in Ikebukuro. But if you want Ken's Cafe's treats, head to Tobu Department Store instead. The "Special Gâteau Chocolat" from Ken's Cafe may seem expensive, but it is delicious and perfect for chocolate lovers. The texture changes depending on the temperature - when cold, it's like a chocolate ganache, and when warm, it's like a fondant chocolat. They use couverture from Domori, which is even better than Valrhona. I personally love chocolate cakes from Dalloyau ("Opera"), Demel ("Sachertorte"), Teobroma ("Sanforakin"), Criollo, and Ken's Cafe. The Gâteau Chocolat from Ken's Cafe has a similar texture to Teobroma's Sanforakin and the rich aroma of ganache from Wakou Chocolate Shop. You can also have the treats shipped to other regions if you pay for cool delivery. This makes it convenient for those who want to enjoy these delicious treats outside of Tokyo. I made a reservation for four cakes at the end of August, and the process was simple. You can also buy them on the spot without worrying about running out of stock. Whether you dislike red bean paste, love chocolate, or enjoy all kinds of treats, the Gâteau Chocolat from Ken's Cafe is sure to satisfy your cravings. The message card I wrote with a friction pen might disappear in cool delivery, but that's okay. I bought another cake at the Shinjuku main store a few days later because it's just too delicious to resist. The taste is consistent with the main store, and I will probably visit the Ikebukuro store more often now that it's easier to get the cakes there. I will definitely use their services again for last-minute gifts. In terms of rating, the Gâteau Chocolat from Ken's Cafe surpasses the "Nama Dorayaki Nanchara" from Ikebukuro in terms of taste and quality.

This is a shop located in the Depachika of Tobu Department Store. The shop is a bit unique, as it gathers souvenir sweets from all over Japan!! They have boxed souvenirs as well as individual pieces for you to try out any sweets that catch your eye~ (●＾o＾●) Tokyo's famous snack, Hiyo-ko, is sold in packs of 2. The simple shape of the Hiyo-ko is cute, nostalgic, and of course, delicious♪♪ Chiba's famous snack, Pīnattsu Monaka, contains a Pīnattsu bean paste filling. The packaging of Pīnattsu is adorable. They also have boxed Pīnattsu Monaka, with the box shaped like a Pīnattsu!! Kyoto's famous snack, soba mochi, is a simple small rice cake. Kanagawa's famous snack, Habā, has chestnut cream inside a madeleine. It was a rich and buttery flavored treat♪♪ There are only the kind of snacks that you usually only eat when you receive them as souvenirs, and looking at the products on display, I realize that there are various sweets from all over Japan~ヽ(^。^)ノ

I like eating Kaki no Tane without peanuts. It's not that I dislike peanuts themselves, but I just prefer them without peanuts. I thought I was the only one who felt this way, but it turns out there are others who also prefer Kaki no Tane without peanuts. In Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store, there is a shop that gathers various famous sweets from all over Japan, and you can buy Kaki no Tane from Naniwaya Seika. Among Naniwaya Seika's Kaki no Tane, my favorite is the extra spicy type. It's larger than typical Kaki no Tane and has a rugged appearance with cracks, which I like. It has a spicy taste that is more suitable for adults, and I think it goes well as a snack with beer. They sell a small bag with 14 pieces, which is convenient for when you just want a little snack. It's easier to keep fresh compared to the ones in larger bags. The price is 432 yen including tax. Department stores usually have a shop that gathers famous sweets from all over Japan, and it's interesting to explore and find something like, "Oh, I can buy this here!"

At the B1F of Tobu Department Store Ikebukuro, there is a corner dedicated to regional specialty sweets. It is located in the corner of the basement floor with a decent selection of products. The arrival information of the products is clearly stated on signs. Today's goal was to find Chiba Komeya's "Peanuts Senbei". It is a delicacy where sweetened peanuts are mixed into the red bean paste inside a peanut-shaped senbei. The aroma of peanuts is wonderful and it tastes delicious. I bought an 8-piece pack for 1080 yen today! Oh, they also have individual "Peanuts Senbei" and "Peanuts Manju" for 108 yen each. It's a great store where you can easily purchase regional specialty sweets!