Hyperlocal Tokyo

Since I was already in Ueno, I decided I had to visit Mihashi for a 3 o'clock snack. Luckily, I was seated almost immediately, and thankfully, even though there were only two of us, we were given a table for four. The cool interior quickly cooled down our bodies after being outside in the heat. We both ordered the apricot cream anmitsu. We were quickly served warm green tea and a hot towel, and soon after, our apricot cream anmitsu arrived. I had only ever had the regular cream anmitsu before, so this was my first time trying the apricot version. The beautiful spiral-shaped soft serve, the orange apricot, the uniquely shaped sweet bean paste, the salted beans, the diced agar jelly, and the mandarin orange made for an unbeatable visual feast. The apricot had a slight sourness, which balanced out the sweetness with the salted beans and soft serve, creating a perfect harmony of sour, salty, and sweet flavors. It was the perfect way to soothe our tired bodies after a long day of walking. It even felt like a healing experience. The staff was incredibly attentive, constantly refilling our green tea, and their thoughtful service was truly remarkable. Japanese hospitality is truly something special. I even indulged in several refills of the green tea, which was a wonderful service. The price was also very reasonable considering current prices, making Mihashi a kind place for both the mind and the wallet. Thank you for the delicious meal.

**Tokyo, Ueno Area** **Mihashi Ueno Honten:** A long-established sweet shop located in front of Ueno Park. Founded in 1948, a time when the scars of postwar turmoil still lingered, the shop was named "Mihashi" after the three bridges (sanbashi) that spanned the river flowing from Lake Ueno, which crosses the approach to the Toshogu Shrine, a temple established in the Edo period. The name also reflects the old town name. While maintaining its traditional charm, the shop is a two-story building. Takeout options are available at the entrance. The interior exudes a warm and comforting atmosphere, and upon arrival, you are greeted with a cup of warm tea. I ordered the hojicha anmitsu (sweet bean jelly with roasted green tea). It was simple yet delicious. This is a beloved spot among locals. **Mihashi Ueno Honten** 3-minute walk from JR Ueno Station Open: 10:30 AM - 9:00 PM (Last order: 8:30 PM) Irregular holidays Takeout available Please check the official website for the latest information.

An unprecedented anmitsu boom (within myself) had begun... I wanted to try a basic, traditional anmitsu, so I did some quick research on anmitsu in Tokyo and decided to visit "Anmitsu Mihashi." The shop was packed on a Friday afternoon at 1 p.m., with three groups waiting. I was seated after about 10 minutes. I ordered the "mamekan," which is considered the origin of mitsumame and anmitsu, the basic anmitsu, which evolved from mamekan and mitsumame, and the seasonal pumpkin anmitsu. Due to the anmitsu boom, I ordered two for myself, which seemed to confuse the staff... I guess I'm a bit unusual. The mamekan, as its name suggests, is simply beans and agar-agar! Very simple. You can really taste the individual flavors of the beans, agar-agar, and black sugar syrup. It's also very healthy. The anmitsu was perfectly sweet and delicious! I enjoyed it with black sugar syrup, then melted the koshian (sweet bean paste) into it... I went back and forth between the mamekan and the anmitsu. Many other anmitsu shops use mochi balls, but this one uses kuzu mochi. I like mochi, but I think kuzu mochi is better. The mandarin orange added a nice touch of flavor and color. They also refilled my green tea frequently, which made it easy to enjoy the dessert. They offer takeout for souvenirs and also ship nationwide. I'll have to order some before I start craving anmitsu again. Note: When I got home and tried to order online, I found out that my area is not included in their delivery zone. Too bad! 🥺 I definitely want to go back and have some anmitsu again when I visit home.

A venerable sweet shop representing Ueno. Despite its long history, the meticulously crafted smooth red bean paste, chewy mochi resembling earlobes, and perfectly cubed agar jelly in the anmitsu are simply divine. Today, I ordered zōni (New Year's soup) and iced apricot. The refreshing apricot syrup was exquisite 😋. The zōni's simple, rich, and elegant broth had me completely smitten 😍. I ordered a second serving. Yet, the price remained the same, making me feel guilty. The air conditioning in the summer could be a bit less intense 🤭. Please consider energy conservation. The staff's kindness in waiting for me after closing time to return a forgotten item was truly remarkable 💕. As always, I appreciate the staff's attentiveness in refilling my tea multiple times. Their thoughtfulness is something I truly admire.

Visited on: Mid-July 2024 Rating: 4.6 Order: Apricot Cream Anmitsu Price: ¥890 Location: 4-minute walk from Ueno Station Wait: 7 groups (Sunday, past 3 PM) Food: The soft serve ice cream was rich and generous. Overall, it wasn't overly sweet and was delicious to the last bite. Service: They refilled our tea when it ran low. Ambiance: There are seats on the first and second floors. The seat I got on the second floor had tatami flooring. Thoughts: This anmitsu shop is on the 100 Best list and I'd been wanting to try it. Takeout seems to be about ¥150 cheaper, but I wanted the cream anmitsu so I ate in. There were about 7 groups waiting, but there are many seats and the turnover rate is good, so I was able to sit down in just over 10 minutes. I personally prefer the second floor because it has a more traditional Japanese atmosphere (the seat I got also had tatami flooring). I was also interested in the shiratama (glutinous rice balls), but I ordered the apricot cream anmitsu. The warm tea they served was a welcome relief, not too hot. It was July and the shop was quite air-conditioned. The apricot cream anmitsu ingredients were soft serve ice cream, koshian (smooth red bean paste), two pieces of kuzu mochi (arrowroot starch jelly), two mandarin oranges, four apricots. The soft serve ice cream was rich. There was a generous amount of soft serve ice cream, and it lasted until the end, even with the agar jelly. The honey was not very fragrant, typical of black honey, and it was light, so I finished the bowl before I knew it. The kuzu mochi had just the right amount of sweetness and didn't overpower the other flavors. The mandarin oranges were canned. The apricots had a nice tartness and were a good topping. The agar jelly had a good texture. The koshian wasn't too sweet and was easy to eat. The beans had a slight saltiness and were fluffy. Each ingredient complemented the others, so it was delicious to the last bite (if the balance is off, it can get too sweet as you eat). There were also cream fruit anmitsu and seasonal specials, so I definitely want to go back.