[2024] 13 of Kyoto's Best Strawberry Cake Mochis
When you visit Kyoto on vacation, or when you go back to your hometown for a long vacation such as Obon or New Year's, you will want to bring a Kyoto-style souvenir as much as possible. If you are going to go to the trouble, why not choose a limited edition gift that can only be purchased in Kyoto and give it as a gift that will be appreciated? In this issue, we will introduce some of the limited edition Kyoto souvenirs that can be purchased in the Kyoto Station area, which is an easy place to stop by. Some of them can also be purchased online, so please check out the ordering options as well. (TEXT/Hana Toba, EDIT/Miki Tamura)
At Nishikiri, a long-established shop selling traditional Kyoto pickles, you can purchase products perfect for gift-giving wrapped in a tasteful furoshiki (wrapping cloth). The set includes two bags of "Aka-Shiso-Murasaki no" (cucumber pickled with red shiso and myoga) and "Aji-Suguki," which allows you to enjoy suguki seasoned in a way unique to [Nishikari]. The furoshiki is available in five colors: purple, green, orange, gold, and red. Enjoy the traditional taste of Kyoto at home.
Product/Kyotsuzumi (50g of red shiso murasaki/40g of aji-suguki) 648 yen
Shelf life / At least 1 month at room temperature
Sales location/Kyokonomi in the east area on the B1F of Kyoto Porta (scheduled for renewal OPEN on August 14 (Wed.))
Available at the Omiyage Kaido Yuma Store, Omiyage Koji Kyoto Komachi Store, Kintetsu Kyoto Station Store, kiosks and the Shinkansen concourse (inside ticket gates).
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
At Kyoto's leading tea store [Fukujuen], you can purchase Japanese tea sets in packages depicting scenes of Kyoto, reminding you of the atmosphere of Kyoto every time you brew a cup of tea. Kamogawa is a sencha green tea with powdered green tea and has a dark green color and a unique, rich flavor. Gojobashi, named after the place where Benkei and Ushiwakamaru met, is a shallow roasted tea made by slowly roasting sencha over low heat, which gives it an elegant aroma.
Product/Kyoto famous tea set (Kamogawa 40g / Gojohashi 20g) 1188 yen
Shelf life / 270 days from manufacture at room temperature
Sales location/In the east area of Kyoto Porta B1F
Online shop sales / None
A new standard in Kyoto souvenirs is the mashi-manju, a culinary confection born in Kyoto. [The assortment of Kyoto bran cakes from Sansho-do Kokura offers five seasonal flavors in addition to the standard mugwort, green tea, yubafu, and brown sugar. Yubafu, a refreshing yubafu with ginger, and matcha (powdered green tea) kneaded into not only the wheat bran but also into the red bean paste, are just a few examples of the craftsman's ideas that shine through in each item.
Product: Kyo-nama-mochi assortment, 5 pieces, 1,188 yen
Shelf life / 6 days from manufacturing date if refrigerated
Sold at Kyoto Porta B1 [kyokonomi], 1F [omiyagekoji kyokomachi], 2F [kyomeikagashi/meisaijokuro 亰].
Also available at JR Kyoto Isetan B1
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
Founded in 1885, Daigokuden Honpo, which is said to have introduced sponge cake to the city of Kyoto, sells hanaboshi (flower backs), which are filled with sweetened bean paste wrapped in its signature sponge cake batter. The unique shape of the sponge cake, which is covered with a net-like pattern of sponge cake dough, represents a flower basket carried on one's back. The inside is a light, sweet bean paste made of dainagon (soybean flour), which gives it a relaxing, never-ending taste. It is a perfect souvenir for a loved one or for a relaxing tea time.
*"Hanabusa" is sold from mid-September to mid-May.
Product/Hana-back 216 yen per piece
Shelf life / 10 days from manufacturing date at room temperature
Sales location/Herb's Kyoto Kyomeikan
Also available at Kyo-miyage, Ancient Capital Miyabi, and kiosk gift stores inside the Shinkansen ticket gates*.
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
Kizakura, a Kyoto-based sake brewer well-known for its kappa mascot, offers a unique product with a label featuring the station sign of Kyoto Station as a Kyoto souvenir, which many railroad fans buy for their collections. Since it is a cup type that can be drunk without a glass, we recommend enjoying a cup on the Shinkansen on the way home while soaking up memories of Kyoto. Honjozo with a good balance of sourness and sweetness, 16% alcohol by volume.
Product/Kyoto Station cup 180ml, 286 yen
Shelf life: 1 year at room temperature
Sales location / Isetan JR Kyoto B1F Japanese and Western Sake Area
Also available at Bell Mart Kiosk Kyoto Store, Kyo-no-miyage Store, and Delica Station
Online shop sales / None
From the Senju Senbei line of Kohzuki, a well-known Kyoto souvenir, comes Hime Senju Senbei in a cute, easy-to-eat size. Hime Senju Senju Senbei Organic Matcha, made with Uji Matcha, a specialty of Kyoto, is a cream that is designed to maximize the depth of Uji Matcha, and has an elegant sweetness and a slightly bitter taste that lingers in the mouth. The stately packaging of the product, which evokes the atmosphere of the ancient capital of Kyoto, makes it a great-looking souvenir, and the individual wrappings make it a perfect gift to hand out at the workplace.
Product: Hime Senju Senbei Organic Maccha green tea, 12 pieces, 1,620 yen
Shelf life / At least 20 days at room temperature
Sales location / JR Kyoto Isetan B1F
Online shop sales / None
The new brand "Buburu," launched in October 2023 by Gion Tsujiri, a long-established tea shop in Kyoto, offers Chokoku Ranchi, a new way to discover the appeal of tea. Gyokuro Mango, Sencha Banana, Hojicha Orange, and Japanese Black Tea Strawberry are all combined with fruits that go well with various types of tea, creating a product that only a tea specialty store can offer. Enjoy the savory aroma of tea and the fruit flavors along with the crunchy texture.
Item / Chokokuranchi: 12 pieces (3 pieces of each type), 993 yen
Shelf life / 150 days from manufacture at room temperature
Sales location / Asty Kyoto 2F in Kyoto Station
Online shop sales / None
Gojo Chobei is popular for its tsukudani and pickles that make great souvenirs. The finely chopped wakame seaweed stalks are mixed with sansho (Japanese pepper) and small baby sardines and cooked in a secret sweet and spicy sauce, resulting in the addictive chewiness of the hotaruko. Accented with the tangy sansho (Japanese pepper), it makes white rice a feast.
Commodity/Hotaruko 100g package, 540 yen
Shelf life / 30 days in refrigeration, including the day of manufacture
Sales location / B1F, Isetan JR Kyoto, Taste of Long-established Businesses
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
Baikal, a pioneer in the Kyoto confectionery industry, is selling adorable cream puffs in the shape of apples exclusively at its Kyoto Porta store. The Kororin, which is filled with red apple, the same type of apple used in their signature product, apple pie, is not only cute but also delicious. The crispy apples are a perfect match with custard cream and whipped cream. Many people take them home for themselves and eat them at their hotels, not to mention as souvenirs.
Product: Kororonto apple puff, 400 yen
Expiration date: Same day if refrigerated
Sales location / Kyoto Porta B1F, in the west area
Online shop sales / None
This new product from Baikal is made with local ingredients, including two different flavors of Uji matcha green tea, yuzu citron from Mizuo, Kyoto, long known for its yuzu (a citrus fruit), and milk produced in Kyoto Prefecture. The 5-pack is the perfect size for souvenirs, and the individual wrappings are also a plus. The individually wrapped packages are also a plus.
Product/Kyo Honoka: 170 yen per piece, 900 yen for 5 pieces
Shelf life / approx. 1 month
Sales locations: Grand Kiosk Kyoto, Gift Kiosk Kyoto, Omiyage Kaido JR Kyoto Station Central Store, Omiyage Kaido Miyako Store, Entre Marche Kyoto West Exit Gate Store
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
Nijo Wakasaya, which has been delivering Kyoto sweets loved for more than 100 years, sells cute little boxes with snow, moon, and flowers painted on them. The box is filled with kuzu-yu, which is a thick, thick soup made by simply pouring hot water into the box. Snow is a simple pure white kuzuyu, moon is green tea flavored, and flowers are shiruko (sweet red-bean soup). The Tsuki and Hana boxes also have a fun trick: when hot water is poured over the Tsuki and Hana boxes, a staggered bird and arare (arare) made from grilled bran float to the surface.
Product: Furoisen: 993 yen for 3 pieces / 2096 yen for 6 pieces
Shelf life: 30 days at room temperature
Sales location / JR Kyoto Isetan B1F
Also available at Kyoto Porta Souvenir Road (1F and 2F), Shinkansen premises (2F), Kyoto Long-established Aji Maiko/Kyo no Miyage, Gift Kiosk Kyoto, Grand Kiosk Kyoto (inside ticket gates)
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
[The Kyo-Ame Hina, sold exclusively at Kyo-Ame Crochet, are a little smaller and cuter than the regular Kyo-Ame. There are always about 20 varieties available, including the lemon-lime flavored Shiroku Temari, with its elegant ball pattern, and the peach flavored Pompadour, with its beautiful contrast of pink and blue. The small size makes it easy to buy enough for several people when you want to prepare souvenirs. Each one comes in a different flavor, so you can swap them out and enjoy a conversation while eating them.
Product / Kyo-Ame Hina: 345 yen for 1 piece (10g) / 777 yen for a set of 2 pieces / 1036 yen for a set of 3 pieces / 1620 yen for a set of 5 pieces
Shelf life / 1 year from manufacture at room temperature
Sales location/Kyoto Tower Sand 1F
Also available at JR Kyoto Isetan B1F and Kyoto Station Shinkansen Central Exit (inside ticket gates)
Online shop sales / None
Founded in 1803, Kameya Ryoucho sells treasure pochibukuro, an item that seems to bring good luck to the person to whom it is given. The bite-sized dried sweets in the cute cloth pochibukuro come in festive shapes such as koban, cloisonne, and kusudama, and are truly a treasure trove of good luck. The pouch is made of cotton from the Kyoto textile brand SOU-SOU, making it the perfect Kyoto souvenir. After eating the sweets, try using it as a container for small items.
Item / 12 pieces of Pochibukuro (treasure bags) 864 yen
Shelf life / 60 days at room temperature
Sales location / JR Kyoto Isetan B1F
Also available at Harbeth Kyoto Store
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
Miyakozuke is a specialty of Akaoya, a long-established Kyoto pickles store that has been in business for over 100 years. Refreshingly flavored vegetables such as cucumber, myoga, and ginger are combined with the subtle bitterness of shishito peppers, and there is a choice of white, red, or eggplant. The red shibazuke type, slowly pickled with red perilla, has a refreshing taste with just the right amount of acidity that is loved by all. You can choose between finely chopped and whole ingredients, so choose the one that best suits your needs. The finely chopped type is recommended for use in ochazuke and rice balls.
Product / Miyako pickles 110g 486yen
Shelf life / About 60 days at room temperature
Sales location / B1F, Isetan JR Kyoto, Taste of Long-established Businesses
Online store sales/Yes, to purchase.here
[nikiniki" was created by Shogoin Yatsuhashi Sohonten as a brand that proposes a new way to enjoy the classic souvenir yatsuhashi. The Carré de Canère is a product that allows customers to freely combine the dough and the confit or red bean paste inside the yatsuhashi, making it possible to create an original yatsuhashi to suit the taste of the person to whom it is given. The product is also available in seasonal flavors, so you can enjoy new flavors as often as you like.
Products: Carré de canaille, from 110 yen per piece (eat-in), from 1,188 yen per box (10 pieces) (take-out)
Shelf life / Within the day
Sales location / Kyoto Omotenashi Koji, 1F, Hachijo Exit, Kyoto Station
Online shop sales / None
Yubasho, a long-established yuba store established in 1885, proposes fresh yuba as a Kyoto souvenir, whereas dried yuba has been the main product. The souvenir set, which includes popular products such as nama-yuba, kumiage-yuba, yuba chirimen, and special dashi soy sauce, is a bargain item available only at the Kyoto Station store, and comes with an original cold bag that can be carried around for about 8 hours. Yubasho's fresh yuba, which is made using a unique raising method, is thin, high-quality, and fluffy. Made only with carefully selected soybeans and groundwater, it is high in protein and full of the flavor of soybeans.
Product: Kyoto Station Store Limited Souvenir Set (5 pieces of fresh yuba, 200g kumiage yuba, 70g yuba chirimen, special dashi soy sauce, with original cold bag): 3834 yen
Consumption period / Nama-yuba: 4 days refrigerated / Kumiage-yuba: 4 days refrigerated / Yuba Chirimen: 14 days refrigerated / Special dashi soy sauce: about 6 months
Sales location / ASTY Kyoto 1F West Area
Online shop sales / None
What is your favorite souvenir of Kyoto? Please let us know your favorite Kyoto souvenirs! Please let us know your favorite Kyoto souvenirs. Your comments will be used as reference for future features. We look forward to hearing from you.
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