Hyperlocal Tokyo

A popular Tokyo souvenir. It's been popular for years, hasn't it? It's always a delight to receive. The cookies have caramel and chocolate inside. They're delicious chilled, and even at room temperature, the caramel melts in your mouth. They go well with coffee and tea. The individual packaging is also a nice touch.

If you exit the North Exit ticket gate of Tokyo Station and walk straight ahead, you'll find the entrance to Daimaru. On the left side of this entrance, at the foot of the entrance, there's a red tape, and a line for N.Y.C. forms that spills out of the store. There's always a line, no matter when you go. You can move from the line outside to the line in the middle of the store, and then go to the front of the store to buy. I visited this store for the umpteenth time on a weekend in early May 2024. I occasionally use it for gifts. I think it's a good gift for anyone, whether it's your in-laws or your workplace. I started lining up outside, and the staff member holding the last-place plate said it would be about 20 minutes, and that was exactly right. I gave some to my family when I went back home, and they were very happy. Apparently, it was featured on TV. The caramel sand has a crunchy cookie dough and the caramel inside stretches. The Scotch Sand W Chocolate is rich chocolate, very sweet. It's just right when paired with coffee. In the summer, it's dangerous to leave it in a hot car, so it's a bit worrisome to carry around. This time I bought a 36-piece box and a 20-piece box, but they're heavy. I think it's a pain to wait in line if you're buying it on the go. Sometimes you have to wait in line for an hour when it's crowded. I bought some at Yokohama Sogo before, but Daimaru has more cashiers and staff, so the guidance is smoother and it doesn't take as long.

During a business trip to Tokyo, I took the opportunity to buy the famous caramel sand. There was a sizable queue, but when I asked the staff member at the back of the line, she said the wait would be about 20 minutes. It turned out to be about that long. Several staff members in uniform were carefully guiding customers to avoid disrupting other stores, and I was able to reach the register without any trouble. I bought a box of 12 for souvenirs. Since they are stored at room temperature, they are convenient for carrying long distances.

I told them I loved it, and my children gave it to me as a Mother's Day gift. They waited in line for an hour before it opened. It's delicious every time I eat it.

There's always a line, so I always go in with a determined mindset when I buy, but they're light and offer great value for the price. I also appreciate that they have seasonal limited-edition items. The Haneda Airport store is great because you don't have to wait in line.