Established in 1847, this long-established store is the only specialty shop in Japan dedicated to Konpeito (Japanese sugar candy). They do not have an official online store, so you must visit in person to purchase their premium products. When you hear "Konpeito," you might think of small, nostalgic round sugar candies with little spikes. However, these candies are actually quite luxurious and meticulously crafted. The store offers a wide variety of Konpeito, making it difficult for beginners to choose. I asked the staff for guidance and started with some individually sold flavors: Pineapple Konpeito (599 yen) - with a strong pineapple sweetness and acidity, similar to pineapple candy. Apple Konpeito (599 yen) - a refreshing apple sweetness with a subtle sugar flavor. Cinnamon Konpeito (599 yen) - as a cinnamon lover, I enjoyed the strong cinnamon flavor in this choice.

Delicious things disappear quickly, so if you don't eat them first, you'll regret it later! Intrigued by the talk of a shop that sells delicious gold sugar candies, I quietly visited the shop on a holiday afternoon. "Kaze no Tayori" - 988 yen. This nostalgic gold sugar candy has a flavor of cider, a Showa-era taste. It evokes a sense of nostalgia. It's not too sweet like other sugar candies, and surprisingly, it has a modern taste with a refreshing sweetness. It was such a delicious gold sugar candy. P.S. I left it on the table and my daughter ate it in an instant.

Gold leaf sugar specialty stores are quite rare, right? That's because this is the only gold leaf sugar specialty store in Japan (there seems to be a store in Ginza as well). Indeed, I don't see many shops selling gold leaf sugar elsewhere... The store is located about a 10-minute walk from Demachiyanagi Station on the Keihan Main Line, and its old-fashioned appearance gives off a truly Kyoto vibe (see first photo)✨ It was established in the year 1847, so you can feel the history behind it (the Ginza store seems more modern, but personally, I prefer this Kyoto store)☺️ It also appeared in the movie "Honnoji Hotel," where Haruka Ayase visited in the beginning, chewing on one piece of gold leaf sugar at a time. I wanted to go there after seeing her do that in the movie (I like Haruka Ayase)❤️ There seems to be no recipe for the gold leaf sugar at this store, and each type takes over two weeks to be handmade (ﾟωﾟ) No wonder they are priced accordingly (ﾟωﾟ) The flavors of the gold leaf sugar include popular fruits like peach and melon (see second photo), as well as tea flavors like roasted tea, matcha, and black tea (see third photo), and even strawberry and vanilla (see fourth photo), offering a wide variety♪ Furthermore, there are seasonal limited edition gold leaf sugars (see fifth photo, watermelon for summer)♪ Although each piece is small, the sweetness that spreads in your mouth when you bite into it is exquisite (о´∀`о) Additionally, the "ultimate gold leaf sugar" series that is only made once a year (see sixth photo) is highly sought after and sells out quickly every year (´⊙ω⊙`) The price is much higher compared to the other gold leaf sugars mentioned earlier, but it's definitely something worth trying at least once...

Visited the specialty store for Kinpaitou (Japanese traditional sugar candy) in Demachiyanagi, "Ryokujuan Shimizu". Established in 1847, this long-standing store is known as the only Kinpaitou specialty store in Japan. The natural water cider is perfect for summer. It's amazing. I thought it would be artificially sweet, but it actually tastes like cider. It's delicious to lick, but also delicious to chew, with a refined sweetness slowly spreading on the tongue. It was delicious. It would definitely be a well-received souvenir, and I personally want to buy it again because I'm curious about other flavors too.

Located in Yoshida Izumiden-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, there is a specialty store for Kinpira-goto called "Ryokujuan Shimizu." Established in 1847 during the era of the 12th shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate, Ieyoshi Tokugawa. Currently run by the fourth generation Seiichi Shimizu and the fifth generation Yasuhiro Shimizu. Kinpira-goto, which was brought from Portugal about 460 years ago, has been passed down through generations at Ryokujuan Shimizu. The fourth generation Seiichi Shimizu has created "flavored Kinpira-goto with added ingredients," which now has over 60 varieties. The one I tried this time was "Kinpira-goto with mandarin orange." Made with early-season mandarins, it has a refreshing flavor. The flavor, texture, sweetness, etc., are excellent. At Ryokujuan Shimizu, there are limited editions of Kinpira-goto such as "chocolate Kinpira-goto" and "caramel rice cracker Kinpira-goto," which are considered the ultimate Kinpira-goto and are only made in very small quantities. There seems to be a waiting list, but I definitely want to try them.

I recently tried the seasonal limited edition "Watermelon Gold Leaf Candy" from the only gold leaf candy specialty store in Japan, established in 1847 with a traditional technique passed down through generations. The store does not sell its products online to prevent high-priced reselling or similar sales. The watermelon gold leaf candy was a delightful surprise, with a taste that closely resembled watermelon and a refined sweetness. It was incredibly delicious. Thank you for the meal ☆☆☆

This is a well-known shop for gold leaf sugar. It was once talked about for being used as a wedding gift in a famous wedding. I haven't had it in a while, but a friend gave me a summer-like set of two flavors: "melon" and "peach". The taste is not artificial, it really tastes like "melon" and "peach". I don't usually eat gold leaf sugar, but this shop's gold leaf sugar is special. I enjoyed it this time as well.

It's getting hot, so I came here looking for a Japanese sweet that gives a cool feeling. This shop is famous for its sugar candies. They recommended chilling it during the summer, so I tried it right away. They have creative flavors like raspberry and ramune, making the sugar candies very flavorful. It's an elegant Japanese sweet for the summer.

Located near Demachiyanagi Station in Kyoto, "Ryokusuan Shimizu" is a long-established store specializing in Kinpuku-do, founded in 1847. Every month, a new flavor of Kinpuku-do is introduced, showcasing their relentless spirit of exploration and improvement, making them a must-visit store with a challenging spirit despite being a long-standing establishment. I visited on a quiet Tuesday afternoon, where I was greeted by the kind lady of the shop who introduced me to various flavors of Kinpuku-do and allowed me to sample the new flavors. The summer limited edition included a refreshing bamboo sugar and flavors like yogurt and raspberry with a subtle fruit taste. I particularly enjoyed the yogurt flavor. I ended up purchasing the classic "Estrella (thick tea)" flavor, which I always enjoy. The aroma, texture, and rich flavor of the Kinpuku-do from Ryokusuan Shimizu were truly exceptional. Despite the slightly higher price, I highly recommend this outstanding product. Visit Ryokusuan Shimizu to discover your favorite flavor and experience the best of Kinpuku-do in Kyoto. [Foodlog rating 3.75 (at the time of visit)]

In June 2023, I went to buy Kinpuku-dou (gold leaf sugar candy). This was my second or third time accompanying someone to the store. Although there is a store in Ginza, Tokyo, there are some items that can only be bought at the main store. The Kinpuku-dou is delicious, but it comes at a price.

After having lunch at a restaurant on the Kyoto University campus, I stopped by here. I tried yogurt-flavored and roasted green tea-flavored samples, and ended up purchasing lemon and ginger sugar candies. The small portable cans were cute and I had a hard time deciding, but in the end, I didn't buy one. I'll save that for next time.

I visited around 10 o'clock on a weekday, and there were no other customers, so I was able to take my time choosing. This shop specializes in konpeito, which is rare nationwide. I purchased the "Natural Water Cider Konpeito," "Kyoho Grape Konpeito," and "Melon Konpeito," each for 660 yen. When I tasted them, a gentle fragrance spread in my mouth. The sweetness was clear, so I realized that they are meant to be enjoyed slowly. By the way, the shiso flavor that I tried was exceptionally delicious. Although they didn't sell it separately, I had to give up buying it, but the impression would have been significantly different if I had tried the shiso flavor. Since the expiration date is about one year, it would make a good souvenir as it is not something I would usually buy. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Ryokusuan Shimizu and tried a sample before deciding to purchase the blueberry konpeito. The blueberry flavor is excellent. When you bite into it, you can taste the blueberry flavor well and it is delicious. Thank you for the meal.

There was a specialty shop for gold leaf sugar candies, and they had a variety of flavors to choose from. I tried the blueberry flavor, which was recommended to me. They also had tomato flavor as the daily recommendation, but I don't like tomatoes. I ended up buying a box of 6 assorted flavors for 4,114 yen using my card. When I tried them at home in the evening, the gold leaf sugar candies were delicious with various flavors like melon, orange, lemon, grape, strawberry, and soda. They had a strong and tasty flavor. I heard they also have rare flavors like chocolate, so I'll try them next time I have the chance.

The only specialty store in Japan known for its gold leaf sugar candies. There are various types of gold leaf sugar candies available, making it very enjoyable. While they may be a bit pricey, the taste is exquisite! Not too sweet, with a gentle sweetness and a fragrant aroma. Without a doubt, the most delicious gold leaf sugar candies I have ever had in my life.

Founded in the fourth year of the Edo period, this specialty store offers seasonal limited edition cherry blossom gold leaf sugar. Gold leaf sugar is not the same everywhere. This one has a crunchy texture. It is made based on the artisan's years of experience, without a recipe. Apart from the seasonal limited edition, I am also very interested in the ultimate gold leaf sugar series. Yuzu sake, red wine, caramel rice crackers. I feel like trying both the seasonal limited edition and the ultimate series.

Established in 1847, this is the main store of the only gold leaf sugar specialty shop in Japan, located in Hyakumanben. This shop was visited by Yamaoka and Kurita from Oishinbo when they were given a homework assignment by Yamaoka Yuuzan. On the second day of a Kyoto trip, after buying mochi at Demachi Futaba, I noticed that this shop was nearby and decided to stop by. I have visited the Ginza store opened five years ago and the sales floor at Kyoto Station Isetan, but this is my first time visiting the main store. Unlike the high-end jewelry shop-like Ginza store, the main store here is a very ordinary Kyoto townhouse. It may be intimidating for first-time visitors, but once you step inside, it's nothing out of the ordinary. The products lined up in the store range from ultra-luxury items in bonbonnieres to seasonal limited edition products, and regular small bags priced at 648 yen (tax included). This time, I bought the banana and vanilla flavors in small bags. According to the provided explanation, the gold leaf sugar here is made by sealing in the flavor over time, so it is recommended to chew and eat it. When I followed that advice, a refreshing sensation and the vivid aroma of banana and vanilla spread in my mouth. Compared to the elaborate "ohagi" I bought in Ginza before, the regular items I bought this time are the most delicious. Other gold leaf sugars are just sugar lumps compared to the ones here. I can't bring myself to buy gold leaf sugar from anywhere else. I reaffirmed that thought.

[Date] Visited the shop alone at 11:00 on a holiday. [Reservation] Not required. Was able to purchase without waiting. There were about 3 groups of customers in the store. [Location] About a 10-minute walk from Demachiyanagi Station. Located in a quiet residential area with a standalone shop. [Interior] Takeout only. The interior is narrow, so it seems quite tight with more than 3 groups. [Order] Chose the smallest size of pineapple-flavored konpeito. Unlike the konpeito I had in the past, it had a nice crunchy texture and was delicious. It had a gentle sweetness and a strong pineapple flavor. Thank you for the meal! [Service] The staff were quick and friendly. [Final thoughts] The crunchy texture and gentle sweetness are the highlights!

One of Kyoto's renowned traditional Japanese confectionery shops specializing in Kinpira sugar candy. Located in Yoshida, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. As you walk down the street, a sweet aroma fills the air. It smells like sugar being roasted in a pot. The shop has a very dignified appearance. There is also a parking lot right next to the shop. They offer a wide variety of Kinpira sugar candy. From affordable options around 600 yen per bag for personal consumption to more expensive ones with seasonal fruits. However, all of them are top-notch in taste, so you can choose based on your intuition. This time (actually, almost every time), I chose several bags from the most affordable course for personal consumption. I selected vanilla, ginger, and banana flavors. I opened the vanilla one first. It has a strong vanilla aroma. The aroma intensifies as you chew. It's not just sweet, but the flavor is also a part of the taste. I have purchased from here many times and have never been disappointed. Also, it is usually well-received when given as a gift. I really recommend visiting this place. However, due to its imposing appearance, once you enter, it may take courage to leave without making a purchase.

The only specialized store for Kinpato (Japanese traditional sugar candy) in the country. The interior of the store is very elegant and sophisticated. In addition to seasonal limited edition items, there are 13 varieties of small bags of Kinpato, with a limit of 5 bags per person due to their popularity. Among them, the fruit-flavored Kinpato and cider-flavored Kinpato are so popular that you have to go early to get them. This time, I purchased the apple and vanilla Kinpato. Although they are more expensive than regular Kinpato, considering that they are handmade and the quality of the taste, the price is reasonable. The subtle scent of apple and vanilla that follows the sweetness of the sugar was very elegant.

On my fourth stop of a day trip to Kyoto, I revisited a place I hadn't been to in over ten years. It was a Saturday afternoon and many items were already sold out, but the excitement of being in the shop was just as strong as before. I decided to go with coffee, tea, vanilla, and a set of cider, lemon, and strawberry. Everything was delicious with no disappointments. I especially enjoyed the tea and lemon. Even though I wanted to savor them slowly, the staff recommended chewing the sugar candy for a burst of flavor in the mouth. It was a delightful experience once again.