If you're heading to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, there's a must-try traditional Japanese sweet called "Awamochi-dokoro Sawaya." This establishment has been around since 1682, a whopping 340 years ago! It's been there since the time when Tokugawa Tsunayoshi was probably contemplating the "Edict on Compassion for Living Beings." Located near the entrance of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, this small shop with a modest exterior adorned with a large lantern swaying in the wind bears the sign "Kitano Specialty Awamochi." Once you step inside, you'll find a counter where you can pay before being seated. Takeout is also an option. The menu offers two options: "Beni Ume" (red plum) with 2 sweet bean paste balls and 1 kinako (roasted soybean flour) ball, and "Shiro Ume" (white plum) with 3 sweet bean paste balls and 2 kinako balls, both served with green tea. I chose the "Beni Ume." The Awamochi is freshly made upon ordering, which adds to the charm of the place. The "Beni Ume" arrived with round Awamochi filled with smooth sweet bean paste and a flat stick of Awamochi generously covered in kinako. The appearance is simple and rustic, fitting for a shop with a history that started as a tea house. Now, time to taste the long-awaited Awamochi! The Awamochi is soft and chewy, with a unique texture that's easy to eat. It's lighter and fluffier than regular mochi made from rice, making it easy on the stomach. The smooth sweet bean paste has a gentle natural sweetness that complements the Awamochi perfectly. The kinako has a rich sweetness that enhances the nutty flavor of the soybeans, creating a delicious contrast. Pairing the sweet bean paste with green tea and then the kinako with green tea is a delightful experience, especially in the cozy atmosphere of the shop. It's a perfect place to take a break during your Kyoto sightseeing. The 600 yen for the "Beni Ume" is well worth the enriching experience. The shop is quite small, so I was fortunate to be served without much of a wait. While the prices have increased in recent years, it's still a reasonable price for such a fulfilling treat. I also noticed they offer shaved ice during the summer, which piques my interest as a lover of gourmet treats. By the time I finished, the rain outside had started to pour heavily, so I decided to head back to the hotel early and relax. After dinner and breakfast at the hotel, I continued on to the second day of my journey. Thank you for the delicious meal.

"Sawaya," a rice cake shop near Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City. I had never tried rice cakes before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I had a vague image of people paying taxes with rice and eating millet, rice, and sorghum. The shop is located along Imadegawa Street, in a historic building that catches the eye with its window display. Upon entering, you are greeted by the cash register and kitchen, with tables for dining on the right side. I purchased a set of rice cakes to take away, starting with two elongated rice cakes covered in soybean flour. They had a subtle sweetness and a generous coating of soybean flour due to their shape. There were also three round rice cakes filled with strained sweet bean paste. They had a refreshing taste without any strong flavors. Despite their small size, the set was so delicious that I could have easily finished it all in one go. I was so curious about them that I forgot to take a picture of the inside."

I finally visited Sawayaka as I had been wanting to go for a while. Unfortunately, I had missed it several times due to their regular holidays. I managed to visit on a Sunday, avoiding their closed days. I ordered a pack of 3 amazake mochi inside the store. It was served with tea, and when I took a bite, it was soft, not too sweet, and delicious. I wanted to buy some as souvenirs, but they are best consumed on the same day, so I look forward to going back again.

Opposite Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, there is a famous Awamochi shop selected as one of the top 100 shops. They also serve shaved ice in the summer. The shop is always crowded with customers, so it's best to visit early as they close when sold out. At 9 am on a weekday, there were already 2 groups of customers waiting. The take-out orders were non-stop. I ordered the Red Plum set for ¥600, which came with one with kinako and two with anko, along with tea. The mochi is made fresh after you order. I had heard from my grandmother that she used to eat it a lot when she was a child, so I had low expectations in terms of taste. However, I was completely wrong. This mochi is incredibly delicious, especially the kinako one. It has a gentle sweetness that is easy to enjoy. It tends to harden over time, so it's best to eat it fresh at the shop. I once visited in the evening, but they had already closed. I regretted not being able to try it that day. I definitely want to come back again. Thank you for the meal!

Popular long-established Japanese confectionery shop. Awamochi is an elegant dumpling made by wrapping adzuki beans with adzuki bean paste. The combination of adzuki bean paste and adzuki beans results in an elegant dumpling. Kinako mochi is freshly pounded rice cake generously coated with kinako powder, making it quite soft and easy to eat. They offer small sets with 2 pieces of awamochi and 1 piece of kinako mochi, or 3 pieces of awamochi and 2 pieces of kinako mochi, as well as larger sets. The only downside is the long line. It's unfortunate that you have to wait in line even for takeout.

I visited Kitano Tenmangu Shrine during the Goshugi-sai festival. Every year, I visit Shimogamo Shrine during the Mitarashi festival, but this year I couldn't go due to a cold, so I went to Kitano Tenmangu Shrine for the first time! When visiting shrines and temples, I always get omamori mochi. This place has a 340-year history, and the amazake mochi made to order is very soft. The simple taste of sweet bean paste, the traditional texture of kinako powder with a hint of sugar, and the chewy texture of the amazake mochi are flavors that can only be experienced here. I will definitely visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine again. Thank you for the delicious treat.

Located right near Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is a traditional Japanese sweets shop. I tried their "Shiro Ume" for 750 yen, which was a soft mochi with a fluffy texture. The sweet bean paste filling was subtly sweet and had an elegant deliciousness. This is a shop I recommend visiting when sightseeing in Kyoto.

Transferred at Hankyu Saiin Station to the Randen line, got off at Kitano Hakubaicho Station and walked for about 5 minutes to arrive. They have a system where you order by speaking to the staff through the window display at the entrance. I ordered the famous Kitano red plum rice cake. Despite the scorching heat of over 35°C, it was delicious.

I visited the restaurant called "Awagoya" for the first time. I ordered the "Koume" which consists of two sweet bean paste mochi and one kinako (roasted soybean flour) mochi. The sweet bean paste mochi was not too sweet, while the kinako mochi was sweeter, but both had a refined sweetness and were delicious. They paired well with the green tea. Thank you for the meal.

Located near Arashiyama Station, in a prime location in front of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, this long-established and well-known traditional Japanese confectionery shop has been in business for several hundred years. Their specialty "Awamochi" is a carefully crafted delicacy made with freshly pounded mochi wrapped in two different fillings of sweet bean paste and roasted soybean flour. The skilled craftsmanship and traditional spirit of the artisans can be felt in every bite.

Menu ordered: A traditional Japanese confectionery shop located in front of the Otorii gate of the Koubai Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. It has been in business since the reign of the 5th Shogun Tsunayoshi in the Tenwa era (1682), and is currently run by the 13th generation. They offer takeout as well as dining in. Upon entering the shop, you will notice a dusty atmosphere with vinyl covering the showcase and cash register area. The shop is small with a calm atmosphere, yet there is a lively energy in the air. They offer two types of confections: Shirobai (3 with sweet bean paste, 2 with soybean flour) and Koubai (2 with sweet bean paste, 1 with soybean flour), with a limit of one per person. Warm green tea is served with the confections. After ordering inside the shop, the confections were promptly brought out. The confections had a unique texture and flavor, with a refined sweetness in the sweet bean paste. The soybean flour had a slightly rough texture and a sweeter taste. It was a delightful experience enjoying traditional Japanese confections while feeling the history of the shop. Thank you for the meal.

I was able to get in without waiting in line. They offer takeout, but it's recommended to eat on the spot for a softer texture. Both the kinako and anko were delicious! I had already eaten lunch, so I planned to take half of it home, but it was so tasty that I ended up finishing it all. The tea was also delicious. It's a taste that makes you want to eat it regularly.

When sold out, the shop closes. It is a long-established shop near Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, famous for its Awamochi. I purchased a pack of 5 Awamochi with "anko" and "kinako" inside. I carried it home horizontally to prevent the kinako from spilling. The anko is a chunky sweet bean paste, generously wrapped inside.

During my trip to Kyoto, I was recommended by a local resident to visit this place near Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. You place your order at the entrance and then take a seat. The place is bustling with customers, including those getting takeout. The staff are friendly and you can see them preparing the food right next to you. The kinako (roasted soybean flour) and anko (sweet red bean paste) were delicious.

Established in the Edo period in 1682, this long-standing shop is not easily accessible. I visited for the first time while visiting Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. They offer takeout options. The "Awamochi" costs 750 yen for one with kinako (roasted soybean flour) and three with sweet red bean paste. The kinako is moderately sweet and pairs well with tea. The sweet red bean paste has a distinct bean flavor. They strongly recommend eating it on the same day, and I agree, especially because the kinako tends to absorb moisture and become soggy. It's best to consume it as soon as possible.

Located in Kitano, Kyoto, Sweets West Hyakumeiten is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop called Awamochi Tokorosawa-ya. The shop is situated near the gate of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, exuding a sense of history. Their "Homare" is a combination of smooth red bean paste and roasted soybean flour. The roasted soybean flour really brings out the goodness of the awamochi. It has a slightly grainy texture that adds to the deliciousness. The red bean paste is also subtly sweet, with an elegant flavor. The shop is small but offers seating for customers to enjoy their treats on-site. It was a delightful experience. Thank you for the meal.

I visited this area and purchased a pack of 5 pieces (750 yen) as a souvenir. They are small but perfect for a quick snack. They look similar to Akafuku or Higashi-style kinako mochi, but when you actually eat them, they are quite different. The combination of the unique flavor and sweetness of the mochi and the restrained sweetness of the anko filling is very well-balanced and not tiring. The kinako mochi is also light and easy to eat for people of all ages and genders, making it surprisingly original. I have been using this shop regularly. Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is not easily accessible from Kyoto Station compared to other tourist spots in the city, so it may be tough for those who come from far away to buy limited edition wagashi souvenirs in this area. Nevertheless, if you happen to visit this area, I highly recommend trying the mochi here at least once. As I mentioned earlier, it's a mochi that is not commonly found.

Order: Three red plum rice cakes (600 yen). I often see this famous Kitano specialty, red plum rice cakes, on SNS, so I wanted to try it once and visited the store. The store was full of customers, indicating its popularity. The ordered items were provided in about 2 minutes, which surprised me with its speed.

I visited the shop on Saturday morning around 10 am. The shop was just empty, so I had it inside. The menu has two types: Shiroume (3 sweet bean paste, 2 soybean flour) and Koume (2 sweet bean paste, 1 soybean flour), and you need to order one each per person. I ordered Koume. After ordering, they make hot rice cakes and serve them. The sweet bean paste was not too sweet, and the soybean flour was sweet with a good amount of sugar, so I enjoyed it all at once. For take-out, they sell in units of 5, and you can choose the ratio of soybean flour and sweet bean paste freely! However, it's better to eat it hot even for take-out, so please enjoy it as soon as possible. I would like to go there again!

I have visited Sawaya many times. It is located across from the main gate of Kitano Tenmangu Shrine. Since it is a god of learning, whenever my children, nephews, and nieces take exams, we always come to pray here. It has become a tradition for us to visit here for Hatsumode after visiting our family shrine. This time, it was a Saturday and there was quite a long line, so I decided to get takeout instead. However, I realized that the freshness of the Awamochi is important. It quickly loses moisture and becomes dry. It was still warm, so it didn't harden too much, but I felt that it's best to eat it fresh. Next time, I'll be prepared to wait in line and eat at the shop. This historical shop is delicious!

When you visit Kitano Tenmangu Shrine, make sure to buy these! Consistently delicious, outstanding taste. In our family, the kids prefer the sweet bean paste flavor, while the adults prefer the soybean flour flavor. The sweet bean paste is also delicious, but there is no place as tasty as this shop for the soybean flour flavor. It's best to eat it right after buying it! On this day, we roughly carried it back and it got all messy like in the picture after some time had passed, but it still tasted great!