Hyperlocal Tokyo

Only at the Nihonbashi Main Store, you can receive a "御菓印" (special confectionery stamp) with purchases of ¥2,000 or more. The spacious store has a cafe area near the entrance where customers are enjoying drinks and sweets. The merchandise space extends from the entrance to the back. The items are arranged in a relaxed manner, making it very easy to choose. At the back, there is a showcase with "fresh confectionery." There are also "baked confectionery" such as manju (steamed buns). Eitaro Summer Festival With purchases of ¥2,000 or more, you receive a coin 🪙 and can go to the gachapon machine. Get a miniature of "Umeboshi Ame & Black Ame" (plum-flavored candy & black sugar candy). This is a 200-year-old traditional candy shop. The techniques passed down from Portugal are only inherited by Eitaro So-honpo. Red Can "Umeboshi Ame" It does not taste like pickled plums. The taste is sweet, but the size and color are like pickled plums, which is why it was given a stylish name by customers in the Edo period. The ingredients are only sugar (granulated sugar) and water candy (made from domestically produced sweet potatoes), which are cooked and kneaded for an optimal time to create an exceptional Arihei-to candy. Yellow Can "Black Sugar" Candy born in the Meiji era. The flavor of black sugar spreads in your mouth. Each piece has the Eitaro mark. This is said to be a guarantee of quality. Be sure to look at it before putting it in your mouth! (August 2024)

I heard that this place is the origin of 'amanatto' (sweet bean paste), so I decided to give it a try. First, I had the original 'amanatto,' which was absolutely delicious. Then, I tried their famous 'kintsuba,' which comes in both a long-lasting and a fresh version. I went for the fresh one, and it was incredibly delicious with coffee. The store is spacious and clean, with a wide variety of Japanese sweets, including 'mitarashi dango' (mochi dumplings in a sweet soy sauce), various other wagashi (traditional Japanese confectionery), and the famous 'Eitaro Ame' (candied fruit). The selection is so tempting that it's hard to choose. You'll definitely want to try everything! The staff is also fantastic, with excellent customer service and a clear love for Eitaro. There's even a cafe inside the store. This is a must-visit for any Japanese sweets lover!

This cafe is a hidden gem! While other cafes and sweet shops in the area were packed, I was able to get a table right away. I enjoyed a leisurely afternoon with authentic Japanese sweets and tea, a true treat from a candy shop. There were quite a few seats available. The summer-only shaved ice was also fluffy and the syrup was elaborate and delicious.

The shop is quite spacious and bustling with customers, a very popular establishment. I tried the Nihonbashi Kyogen Katsuo Bushi Mori (¥270), a dumpling made with a generous amount of Ninben bonito flakes. I also had the Nihonbashi Anpan (¥251), the seasonal limited Shine Muscat Daifuku (¥486), and the Nihonbashi Mochi (¥324). I enjoyed a seasonal limited shaved ice in the eat-in space.

I visited right before closing time on June 1, 2024. **The Shop** This is an old, established shop founded in 1818 during the Bunsei era. There was a cafe space inside, but it was closed during my visit. They sell a variety of Japanese sweets, including fresh confectionery and other items that have a longer shelf life. **Daifuku** I purchased the "Nishikawagishi Daifuku (White)" and "Black Bean Daifuku." Both had a moist outer layer that was pleasant to eat. Credit cards are accepted.