Michikusa Gurus
Fluttering with novel visuals and tastes. Six neo-wagashi stores in Kyoto where a new generation is leading the way

Wagashi in Kyoto reflects the changing of the seasons and the time of year with its beautiful colors and shapes. Now, a new wind is blowing in this world. While inheriting traditional production methods, creative ideas are giving birth to a number of confectionaries with unique visuals and flavors. Some of them go well with alcoholic beverages, while others stimulate new sensibilities. Here we introduce six stores that are involved in the evolution of what could be called "neo-wagashi.

Enjoy the colorful beauty of dynastic culture with cute wagashi.

Wrapped rice cake
Wrapped rice cake" 260 yen each. The bear-shaped "Itodachi Monaka" is priced from 350 yen, and seasonal and event-specific versions are also available.

Near Ninna-ji Temple, a World Heritage Site. The owner, who comes from a long-established Kyoto sweets store, opened this store in a quiet residential area. Among the popular products, such as jyousei sweets that capture the changing seasons and "warabimochi soft enough to drink," the most eye-catching item is the colorful "wrapped rice cake," which was inspired by the color scheme of Heian-style costumes. The light two-color layered dough has an exquisite sticky texture reminiscent of Uiro in Nagoya, the owner's hometown. The koshian (sweet bean paste) inside and the white miso soybean flour go perfectly with the mochi. The bear monaka sitting next to it is decorated like an icing cookie using a traditional technique called surimitsu. The brown sugar and Ichikyuji natto (fermented soybeans) accentuate the sweetness of the bean paste. The New Year's special zodiac sign and Halloween versions are also fun to try, and may help children become familiar with Japanese confectionaries.

Omuro Wagashi Itotatsu
  • Address 5-17 Ryoanji-Tonoshita-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto MAP
  • Direction 4 min. walk from Myoshinji Sta. on the Keifuku Electric Railway Kitano Line
  • Business hours Open 10:00-17:00
  • Closed Wed. and Sun.
  • TEL 075-203-6243
  • Parking None

The eco-friendly bottled sweets are also stylish. Japanese parfait as a gift

Another new trend is the
Another new trend is the "plastic-free" stance of the company. Fruit Ruffe - Maccha green tea - 648 yen, etc. Mitarashi dumplings and kuzu-kiri (kuzu noodles) are also available in summer.

Sweet, fresh fruit is said to be the origin of Japanese sweets. Kaho" incorporates this sweetness into its wagashi production process to create flavorful, seasonal confections with a gorgeous visual appeal. For example, "Mizumari," a summer confection using agar agar, is filled with lychee juice and flavored with rose and champagne. An-dama," which is a sweet bean paste itself, combines white bean paste with cranberries and mascarpone. The most popular item is the "kajirufe," a Japanese parfait in a bottle. It consists of three layers of seasonal fruit, yokan, and panna cotta. In addition to the standard Onshu mandarin oranges and green tea, the autumn season also brings pistachio and white bean jam Anmitsu style, and Shine Muscat, strawberry, and raspberry yokan. The sweetness and acidity of the fruits take center stage, and since they are low in sugar, they are recommended for those who do not like traditional sweet wagashi.

KAHOU
  • Address 67-99 Nishinokyo Shokushi-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto MAP
  • Direction 5 minutes walk from Nijo Station on JR and Kyoto Municipal Subway Tozai Line
  • Business hours 10:00-18:00
  • Closed Tuesdays
  • TEL 075-821-0155
  • Parking None

Sweets with a story, with the creator's sensitivity shining through.

Left:
Left: "Antonio and Lara" 940 yen. On the right, "Antonio and Lara" (940 yen) and "Kyoyu" (470 yen), named after his beloved daughter, which are sold around the time of the anniversary of Mori Ogai's death in July.

The store is owned by a woman who honed her skills at a long-established confectionary store before opening the store with her chef husband. She creates wagashi that resonate with the senses, depicting the beauty of the changing seasons and casual moments in the world with the melting pulp and juices of seasonal fruits and the aroma of herbs and liqueurs. Each confectionary is named after a story inspired by literature, paintings, and music from the East and West, such as "Asaryo," "Kusa Maze," and "Shin Shin Shin Shin. The motif of "Antonio and Lara," a representative work, is based on Andersen's novel "The Impromptu Poet," translated by Ogai Mori. The poet Antonio's turbulent life is depicted in the rich burnt caramel bean paste, while the blind girl Lara's secret passion is depicted in the sweet and sour tropical bean paste. The coolness of the accompanying herbs, the sweet aroma of the flower petals, and the silky texture of the sweetness all combine to bring out the vividness of the story.

Confectioner's na
  • Address 75 Shinoya-cho, Banjoji-kaku, Awakegai-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto MAP
  • Direction 9 minutes on foot from Gojo Station on the Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line
  • Direction 3 min. walk from Horikawa-Matsubara or Horikawa-Gojo bus stop by Kyoto City Bus.
  • Business hours 12:00-18:00 (close when sold out)
  • Closed Sun. and Mon.
  • Parking None

Light flavors on the baton that has been passed down from generation to generation

The round mini o-hagi are available in 8 varieties on weekdays and 12 varieties on weekends, ranging from standard items to seasonal items such as yuzu lemons, starting at 220 yen.
The round mini o-hagi are available in 8 varieties on weekdays and 12 varieties on weekends, ranging from standard items to seasonal items such as yuzu lemons, starting at 220 yen.

Kotafuku" in Gion is a colorful, bite-sized hagi shop that has long been a favorite of local sweet tooths. The store closed in 2021 due to the old age of the proprietress, but was reopened the following year by the daughter of a well-known tofu shop owner, who inherited its taste and passion. In addition to the standard items, such as the sweet bean paste and aonori (green laver) directly handed down from the proprietress, the shop also offers a variety of different types, such as herbs, spices, and white miso, in order to "convey the grandmother's playful spirit in a style that is unique to her. Salty ancient rice, hojicha latte, pistachio, and the refreshingly spicy "coconut and pink pepper" all go well with the mochi rice and bean paste, which are cooked to a fluffy shine using the proprietress's recipe. The small size is also adorable and perfect for a snack break during a trip.

Gion Ohagi Kotafuku
  • Address 51-4 Shimobenten-cho, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto MAP
  • Direction 12 min. walk from Gion-Shijo Station on the Keihan Main Line
  • Direction Approx. 1 min. walk from Higashiyama Yasui bus stop by Kyoto City Bus.
  • Business hours Open 11:00-17:00
  • Closed Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays, and irregular holidays
  • TEL 090-7908-5111
  • Parking None

The richness of nuts is the key. Crispy and savory evolutionary monaka

Tanejimi, a combination of three kinds of nuts in a simple monaka (rice cake), 250 yen each. Also available for omotase (topping) with your own filling of red bean paste.
Tanejimi, a combination of three kinds of nuts in a simple monaka (rice cake), 250 yen each. Also available for omotase (topping) with your own filling of red bean paste.

In the world of Japanese confectionery, the "tane" of monaka is the skin. Did you know that they are baked by specialized craftsmen and delivered to confectionery stores? Taneika Shoten has been in business for more than 70 years specializing in monaka seeds. The company has been in business for more than 70 years and has earned a reputation for its carefully hand-baked flavor using only the highest quality glutinous rice. The company sells its original monaka at a store with an attached workshop, hoping that customers will come to know the simple and delicious taste. Tane-mi" is characterized by its baked seeds kneaded with various nuts, and comes in three varieties: "walnut" with bittersweet caramelized walnuts, "peanut" and "a-mondo" with the richness and saltiness of homemade organic nut butter that enhances the sweet bean paste. The filling is made to order, so you can enjoy the crunchy texture of the crispy seeds and the savory flavor that fills your mouth.

Taneika Shoten
  • Address 317 Niomon-Tsukudori-cho, Nijo-sagaru, Kurumayacho-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto MAP
  • Direction Approximately a 3-minute walk from Karasuma-Oike Station on the Tozai Line of the Kyoto Municipal Subway
  • Business hours Open 11:00-17:00
  • Closed Thursday, Friday, Saturday
  • TEL 075-201-3016
  • Parking None

Pop and artistic dried confections that can be painted on a plate

Drawing
Drawing": 834 yen for a drawing of your favorite picture by combining pieces of traditional Ochigans.

We want to make wagashi that people living today will be excited about. This will become a new culture 100 years from now. With this in mind, the owner, a graphic designer, launched UCHU wagashi in 2010. Among the unique products they produce, such as colorful, jewel-like fruit yokans, their signature product is rakugan, a traditional sugar confectionery. Long popular at tea ceremonies and as offerings, the company's products are full of pop and playfulness. There are those that can be made into any shape or shape by combining small pieces, those with juicy fruit juice jelly, and cute assortments featuring the picture book "Swimmy" in summer and squirrels and acorns in fall. Careful handmade is also a speciality, and the deep sweetness of fine wasanbon sugar and the light, elegant mouthfeel are soothing.

UCHU wagashi Teramachi Honten
  • Address 307 Nobutomi-cho, Teramachi-Dori Marutamachi Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto MAP
  • Direction 7 min. walk from Jingu-Marutamachi Station on the Keihan Kamoto Line.
  • Direction 2 minutes walk from Kawaramachi-Marutamachi bus stop by Kyoto City Bus.
  • Business hours Open 10:00-17:00
  • Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
  • TEL 075-754-8538
  • Parking None
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.