５BEST MOCHI：Kyoto sweets : Foreigners’ Sweet Obsession Demachifutaba, mochi,ajyarimochi

５BEST MOCHI：Kyoto sweets : Foreigners’ Sweet Obsession Demachifutaba, mochi,ajyarimochi

Today, we’re taking a tour of Kyoto, a city with many long-established Japanese confectionery shops. We’ll introduce five popular Japanese confectionery shops loved by foreigners, located near tourist spots or stations. For details, check the description below, and don’t forget to subscribe and hit the like button! We’ll be traveling using a subway and city bus free pass. First, we’ll head to Mangetsu, a Japanese confectionery shop near Kinkaku-ji ,Golden Pavilion. From the bus terminal in front of JR Kyoto Station’s central exit, it takes about 50 minutes by bus to reach Kinkaku-ji. Mangetsu is located on Nishi-Oji Street, where the bus stop is. I bought a popular item and a limited-edition product. I bought a Ajari Mochi and a Mangetshu. First up is Ajari Mochi. It’s a Japanese confection popular with foreigners. The thin, chewy skin with a refined sweetness of chunky red bean paste. The texture of the skin is addictive. Mangetsu usually sells its limited-edition items only at the main store on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, but on this day, perhaps because it was the mid-autumn full moon, they were also available at the Kinkaku-ji store. A baked confectionery made with the finest white beans for smooth white bean paste, wrapped in a Western-style dough, it’s so sought-after that reservations are recommended. The main store is near the Imperial Palace. The next Japanese confectionery shop is Demachi Futaba, located near the Kyoto Imperial Palace. It’s about a 30-minute bus ride from Kinkaku-ji. This shop continues to preserve the traditional taste of Kyoto’s Japanese confections. Today’s line has 35 people waiting. I peek at the product shelves through the gaps in the queue. Each box seems to contain about 30 Mame Mochi, so just from what I can see, there are around 390 Mame Mochi. There are many trophies displayed, and this shop has been selected as one of the top 100 stores. We waited 30 minutes in line and was able to buy a Mame Mochi and a Maru Tsukimi Dango. We’ll take a break at the Kyoto Imperial Palace and eat some mochi. The Kyoto Imperial Palace is rich in nature and open to everyone for free. Yesterday, the Emperor visited this place. This location is known for its 300-year-old trees and is perfect for forest bathing. When traveling in Kyoto, be careful when eating outside, as black kites might snatch your food. Maru Tsukimi Mochi has the simple, traditional taste of moon-viewing mochi. Japan has a custom of enjoying the moon. Not so sweet. Mame-mochi features large red peas from Hokkaido. The crunchy texture of the red peas pairs perfectly with the salty flavor of the mochi. It has anko (red bean paste) inside. The grounds of Kyoto Imperial Palace cover approximately 11.5 hectares. Leaving Kyoto Imperial Palace, I head to the next wagashi shop. Kogetsu is a wagashi shop that challenges the innovation of traditional techniques. Its most popular item is a novel wagashi, featuring cream sandwiched between wavy cookie dough, a material unprecedented in traditional Japanese confectionery. It has a crispy texture like a cookie, but the flavor is that of wagashi, which is intriguing. The cream has a gentle taste. Next, we head to Kameya Yoshinaga, which is an 11-minute walk away. The wagashi here is characterized by a simple yet refined taste, made with high-quality water. Kameya Yoshinaga is popular for its classic confection, Ubatama. It is topped with poppy seeds. I eat Ubatama using a special toothpick called kuro-moji. The smooth koshian (strained red bean paste) is cooked with Okinawan black sugar and coated with glossy kanten (agar). The taste of black sugar. From Kameya Yoshinaga, take a train for 11 minutes to Shijo Station. We head to the shopping streets in the heart of Kyoto. Shijo Street is a major thoroughfare running east-west through central Kyoto, a bustling area where shopping, dining, and culture converge. Strolling along the Kamo River or visiting department stores is popular. The riverside is a relaxing spot where couples and groups enjoy picnics at dusk, especially beautiful during cherry blossom or autumn foliage seasons. Shinkyogoku Street is a covered arcade stretching about 500 meters from Shijo to Sanjo, a shopping area with over 150 years of history, filled with souvenir shops and street food. It can be enjoyed alongside the parallel Teramachi Street. A popular route starts at Shijo, looping through Shinkyogoku and Teramachi. We cross the bridge over the Kamo River to the No. 1 foreigner-reviewed popular spot. Across from the Minamiza Theatre, where traditional kabuki is performed, the last thing we visit is the Japanese confectionery shop, IZUTSU YATSUHASHI HONPO – KYOTO GION MAIN STORE I bought the most popular nama yatsuhashi, cinnamon flavor. Matcha and yuzu flavors are also popular. We go down to the Kamo River riverside and eat wagashi. The upper reaches of the Kamo River are home to the Japanese giant salamander, a special natural monument of Japan, but they are sometimes washed downstream by heavy rain and appear around here. For those who don’t like the texture of mochi, I recommend Izutsu Yatsuhashi with its crispy texture. The aroma of cinnamon spreads in your mouth. Nama yatsuhashi has a mochi texture with a cinnamon flavor and is filled with tsubuan (chunky red bean paste). Finally, end our journey by strolling through Pontocho, a historic street along the Kamogawa River. This street, dating back to the Edo period around the 17th century, is known as a place where geiko and maiko thrive. The cobblestone street is lined with traditional wooden machiya townhouses, teahouses, restaurants, and bars, exuding the quintessential charm of Kyoto. Until a few years ago, many shops avoided displaying menu signs to preserve the street’s aesthetic, making it hard to tell what kind of establishments they were, but more casual shops catering to tourists have been increasing. At night, the lanterns light up, creating a beautiful atmosphere. I hope today brings you many good things. If there’s a place you’d like to tour, please let me know. Until we meet again!

Top 5 Kyoto Wagashi Shops Loved by Foreigners! Sweet Japanese Treats Tour

Kyoto’s Timeless Wagashi Culture: Top 5 Shops Loved by Foreign Visitors
Kyoto, the heart of Japan’s traditional confectionery culture, is home to countless historic wagashi shops crafting delicate, seasonal Japanese sweets. In this video, we introduce 5 must-visit wagashi shops that are especially popular among foreign tourists due to their proximity to major stations and iconic sightseeing spots.

From melt-in-your-mouth mochi to beautifully crafted seasonal treats, join us on a delicious journey through Kyoto’s sweet heritage!

Featured Shops:

🌕Mangetsu Kinkakuji: Widely loved by foreign tourists as a must-have Kyoto souvenir. The chewy texture and refined sweetness of the tsubuan (chunky red bean paste) are praised as a “unique and unforgettable taste,” making it a popular cultural experience.

30-1 Kinugasa Goshonouchicho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, 603-8378
🌏https://maps.app.goo.gl/khMo7sfXaTB31SFJ7
🔗http://www.ajyarimochi.com（The website is only available in Japanese）

🫘Demachi Futaba: A beloved shop famous for its fresh, flavorful Daifuku, often with long lines of eager visitors.

236 Seiryucho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-0822
🌏https://maps.app.goo.gl/wN73RkB6FmVy2KuEA

🌛Kogetsu Shijō Karasuma Store: Celebrated for its elegant Senrei sweets, blending tradition with refined artistry.

681 Takannacho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8153
🌏https://maps.app.goo.gl/3HBfZ2jkdr42HsHaA
🔗https://www.kogetsu.com/shop/kyoto/04.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=gmb&utm_campaign=listing

🐢Kameya Yoshinaga: A historic gem offering time-honored wagashi with seasonal flair.

〒600-8498 Kyoto, Shimogyo Ward, Kashiwayacho, １７−19
🌏https://maps.app.goo.gl/g9K2hYfrU5XrXie56
🔗https://kameya-yoshinaga.com（The website is only available in Japanese）

👘Izutsu Yatsuhashi Honpo – Gion-machi South: The go-to spot for Kyoto’s iconic Yatsuhashi, perfect for souvenirs.

584 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0074
🌏https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ps31AXpYDqVtQcHq9
🔗https://www.yatsuhashi.co.jp/shop/index.html（The website is only available in Japanese）

Discover the charm of Kyoto’s wagashi culture and find out why these shops are a hit with international travelers! Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your favorite wagashi experience in the comments!

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#KyotoTravel #JapaneseDesserts　#SweetJapan　#JapaneseSweet