Hyperlocal Tokyo

Located just a 2-minute walk from Omotesando Station, A4 Exit, I visited HIGASHIYA man, a renowned Japanese confectionery shop. ❗️Please be aware that taking photos inside the shop is prohibited. The shop is very small, accommodating only 2-3 people at a time. The showcase is filled with a wide variety of sweets. I purchased these four items for takeout: ✔︎ Bean Daifuku ¥270 The subtle sweetness of the bean paste is perfectly balanced with a touch of salt. It's wrapped in soft mochi. ✔︎ Chestnut Jouyo ¥432 This thin-skinned confectionery contains a sweet chestnut filling. However, I found the price of ¥432 per piece to be a bit steep. ✔︎ Sesame Kin ¥324 The sesame kin has a smooth and creamy texture. It's a combination of sesame and white bean paste, but I'm not sure what the exact ingredients are. This was a new treat for me. ✔︎ Hon Warabi ¥324 This warabi mochi features a gentle sweetness of koshian (sweet bean paste) coated with mochi and kinako (roasted soybean flour). The warabi mochi is incredibly fluffy, and the mochi melts in your mouth along with the bean paste. I highly recommend this Hon Warabi. The four sweets were placed in a small box to prevent them from getting crushed. The box costs ¥220. The non-woven tote bag costs ¥33, and it definitely enhances the overall presentation. I noticed some other interesting sweets and would love to try their dango (dumplings) next time. Thank you for the delicious treats! ♪

Just a short walk from Omotesando Station. It's a small shop, but it's usually bustling with customers. I was craving dango that day, so I got some mitarashi and koshian dango. The mitarashi had a nice balance of sweet and savory flavors, and it was delicious. The koshian had a refined sweetness that wasn't too overpowering. The skewers were small, so they were easy to eat. The other wagashi were also beautiful, and they would definitely make a great gift for someone.

📍 HIGASHIYA man 【100 Famous Stores】A refined Japanese confectionery shop with a wide variety of sweets. ［Nearest Station］ Omotesando Station → Approximately 3 minutes on foot HIGASHIYA's manju shop stands in a corner of Minami-Aoyama. The shop offers freshly steamed manju at the storefront, and inside the small four-tatami-mat space, they have a selection of seasonal wagashi, including the classic "Hitokuchi-gashi" (bite-sized sweets), monaka (mochi wafers), okoshi (rice crackers), and castella (sponge cake). There are so many different kinds of sweets that I, a first-timer, was completely lost as to what to buy! I was so overwhelmed! I decided to go with the "Kuro-karinto" (black karinto), which was the most eye-catching, and picked up a few other cute bite-sized Japanese sweets. Of those, the "Kuro-karinto" has a long shelf life and comes in a sturdy box, making it perfect for a gift! The large, thin, flat karinto is quite impressive. The simple sweetness of black sugar and honey sugar is subtly enhanced with a hint of soy sauce, creating a rich flavor. The texture is also different from the usual stick-shaped karinto, as the flat shape makes it feel lighter and airier. It's easy to eat a lot of it! Another impressive and delicious sweet I bought was the "Natsuto" (summer wrap), wrapped in a bamboo leaf. It's a summer-only item, and they stop selling it in early August. It's a Japanese confection made with a soft, mochi-like dough (lotus root cake) that's softer than yokan (red bean jelly), with plenty of sweet summer orange flesh mixed in. It was so summery and delicious! I enjoyed the refreshing flavor and smooth melt-in-your-mouth texture. ［Today's Order］※All prices are inclusive of tax ◉ Kuro-karinto ¥1,566 ◉ Mame Daifuku ¥270 ◉ Zunda Mochi ¥378 ◉ Natsuto ¥432 Thank you for the meal! Whew...

Recommended use: As a gift. Atmosphere: Small and cozy. Must-try menu item: Ohagi (black sesame) Portion size: Adjustable I had the ohagi this time, and I was happy that the small size allowed me to try several different flavors. They were all delicately sweet and delicious. The black sesame was my personal favorite. The black sesame sprinkled on the outside was coarsely ground, giving it a nice aroma and a satisfying crunch. The sweet bean paste inside was a perfect match, of course. I visited on a Saturday around 4 pm, and some items were already sold out. If you have something specific in mind, it's best to go early.

Located just a 2-minute walk from Omotesando Station on various Tokyo Metro lines, HIGASHIYA man is a Japanese confectionery shop established in 2007 (Heisei 19). This shop is operated by HIGASHIYA Co., Ltd., headquartered in Nakameguro. It is a Japanese confectionery brand launched by SIMPLICITY, a company that engages in design activities such as architecture, interior design, and graphics, under the concept of "creating Japanese culture in the modern era." I visited on a Saturday at around 11:00 am and purchased "Hitokuchi Kashi Shin," one of their popular items. "Hitokuchi Kashi Shin" consists of six different types of confections, each with a unique filling: * Natsume Butter: Jujube palm + fermented butter + roasted walnuts * Torinoko: Ginger-infused white bean paste + honey jelly * Shikon: Purple yam paste + candied chestnut * Kokikuchinasu: Baked sweet potato paste + butter + black sesame * Rokoucha: Crushed chestnut + brandy jelly * Harizuri: Cacao bean paste + hazelnut Each piece is bite-sized, making them perfect examples of "neo-wagashi," a term that describes Japanese confectionery with a modern twist. The different flavors and textures of each variety are delightful, and they pair well with both Japanese tea and Western spirits like whiskey. Even those who aren't big fans of Japanese sweets will find these treats enjoyable. Thank you for the delicious experience.