Wagashi Spree in Kyoto

Last week, I had the opportunity to accompany visitors from Jakarta, Indonesia.
As the owner of Elm’s Corner, our certified school in Indonesia, she was eager to experience as many authentic wagashi as possible during her stay in Japan. And where better to enjoy traditional Japanese sweets than in Kyoto?

Kyoto has a long and rich history of wagashi, as it served as Japan’s capital for over a thousand years before the capital was relocated to Tokyo. Many wagashi shops in Kyoto have been passed down through generations, and their craftsmanship and pride in tradition are truly remarkable.
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So, where should you go to find the best wagashi?
One of the most convenient and reliable places is the basement floor of Isetan at Kyoto Station. Here, you can find a wide selection of sweets from some of Kyoto’s most well-known and respected wagashi shops—all in one place.
Here is what we bought on our first day at Isetan:

阿闍梨餅（満月）Ajarimochi  from Mangetsu
松風（亀屋陸奥）Matsukaze from Kameyamutsu
わらび餅（かぎや政秋）Warabimochi from Kagiyamasaaki
かさね餅（かぎや政秋）Kasanemochi from Kagiyamasaaki
京観世（鶴屋吉信）Kyokanze from Tsuruya Yoshinobu
八ツ橋（聖護院）Yatuhashi from Shogoin
生八ツ橋（西尾）Namayatsuhashi from Nishio
生麩まんじゅう（五建外良屋）Namafumanjyu from Gokenuiroya
ういろう（五建外良屋）Uiro from Gokenuiroya
焼き栗（林万昌堂）Roasted Chestnuts from Hayashimanshodo
ふくみ天平（たねや）Fukumi Tenpei from Taneya
月化粧（青木松風庵）Tsukigesho from Aokimatukazean　- From Osaka

The following day, we went to Takashimaya in Shijo Station to queue for Demachi Futaba's Mamemochi Their mamemochi is said to be number one in Kyoto. So what ;makes their daifuku so special? It is the azuki beans they use and the water that is from a well in Kyoto. Since the bean paste is made with only water, beans and sugar the quality of the ingredients are crucial in making a good daifuku.

Their shop is in Demachiyanagi Station but they sell a small quantity in department stores.

The famous Mamemochi from Futaba

After that we walked to Gion, to go to Ryokujuan Shimizu, the only shop in Japan which specializes in Kompeito. The shop opened in 1847 and stili makes Kompeito the same way, which is made in a big pan taking over 2 weeks.

Photo from Isetan Shinjuku

Konpeitō has long been used as a traditional gift for the Imperial Family in weddings.
It cannot be made overnight. Instead, artisans patiently and lovingly craft each piece over a period of more than two weeks. This careful process is said to resemble both the journey of two people building their life together and the loving devotion of parents who raised them.

Seasonal Konpeito - Peach and Strawberry milk flavor

After having lunch at Mametora, (Their lunch is famous for mini temari sushi), we couldn't resist eating dessert - warabimochi. Kyoto is known for warabi mochi and during this trip we ate a lot of warabimochi, but we all agreed that the Hon-warabimochi from Kagiya Masaaki was the best.  

Hon-warabimochi is the real warabi mochi as most warabimochi uses starch from lotus root, tapioca, or sweet potato starch. Hon-warabimochi uses starch from a warabi root (braken fern). Since you can only get 5% of starch from the harvested root, it is very rare and expensive. So if you want to try the real warabimochi, make sure you choose warabimochi using hon-warabi (本わらび）.

bite-sized sushi, easy to eat for Maiko and Geiko

Warabimochi from Mametora

On our way to Kiyomizu Temple, we couldn't resist getting a cute looking Wagashi stick from Itoken. 

In one skewer, you can enjoy wagashi like Konashi, Kingyokukan, Dango, Joyomanjyu,  and Ukishima. 

On our way back to our hotel, we decided to take a break at a wagashi cafe Jumondo（十文堂） in Gion
This shop specializes in mini-size grilled dango. Since it's a mini size, you can enjoy many flavors.

zenzai with dango and burnt kurimanju

Matcha Parfait with dango, warabimochi and monaka

The two other wagashi that we didn't have the chance to get was Oike-senbei (御池煎餅） from Kameya Yoshinaga （亀屋良永）and Seijokankidan（清浄歓喜団）from Kameya Kiyonaga（亀屋清永）

​Maybe next time! ​

Seijokankidan is a 1000 year old sweets origally from China