This is the Year of the Tiger based on the Chinese calendar. It is only fair to introduce one of the most well-known, legendary Japanese wagashi brands, Toraya, meaning tiger shop, to commemorate this special year. Toraya has been around since the end of the Muromachi period (1336-1573) and continues to be a purveyor of Japanese sweets to the imperial family. In this feature, we introduce Toraya's flagship store in Akasaka, Tokyo.
Toraya has stores all over Japan, and you can often also find Toraya products in department stores. However, Toraya's flagship store is unique. It is no exaggeration to even call it a mini-museum of wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets). Let's look at the newly constructed store.
The main material used for the structure and interiors is wood. The building is divided into several areas such as the shop, cafe, exhibition area as well as a production area. The basement is home to the exhibition area and you can see all kinds of wagashi-related materials here.
Each of Toraya's sweets has a beautiful and meaningful name.
Each piece is poetic and each illustration along with the calligraphy gives you an essence of the sweet.
If you read Japanese, you can learn a lot about Japanese sweets here.
The shop is on the second floor and you can buy both classic and seasonal wagashi. Since its the year of the tiger, check out the special yokan Senri-no-Kaze (千里の風), which is designed with a tiger's pattern to express the dynamism of a tiger running with the wind.
If you like yokan you can also buy these small packs, which you can share with friends and family.
Yokan a la carte is bite-sized pieces of various flavors. Isn't the modern package super cool?
Most of these wagashi can be stored at room temperature so you don't have to worry about having to take them on the plane.
In addition to the various types of wagashi, there are also goods such as matcha powder. It is tradition to have green tea with wagashi for tea ceremonies.
We highly recommend the drink below, which is made from Toraya's signature red bean paste, and tastes delicious cold.
You can also buy furoshiki (traditional wrapping cloths), which are both beautiful and environmentally friendly for wrapping snacks.
Toraya is incredible when it comes to both quality and packaging design. There is so much attention to detail. Look at how the logo reflects the grandeur of a tiger.
You will see tigers on display like this showpiece in the store.
Each wagashi box has a unique design.
Mizuhiki, decorative cords in various shapes, are used to wrap or decorate the boxes. You can also purchase these.
In the cafe on the third floor, you can enjoy various types of wagashi while drinking tea and enjoy a beautiful view.
In addition to the main store in Akasaka, Toraya has also opened a number of Toraya Cafe, where you can eat freshly-made sweets. Below is the image of TORAYA CAFE・AN STAND located in Kita-Aoyama, Tokyo.
The cafe focuses on red bean paste and you can try out all sorts of treats made using the same. We tried the hot drink and it was delicious.
An establishment that has stood the test of time, don't miss out on visiting Toraya during your travels in Japan.
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