I was shocked when I found out that one of the remaining Kyoto sweets shops listed in the Sweets WEST Top 100 was on hold. The last post was in April 2023. I thought Kyoto had many long-standing shops, so closures were rare. Is it impossible to complete the Sweets WEST Top 100 in 2022 now? Oh well, since I've come this far, I'll visit the places I can. When I arrived at a particular shop, I realized it was a reservation-only place (no products displayed, which is common in Kyoto). I decided to order 5 pieces of Sasamaki Fu (difficult kanji). I paid 1200 yen with a card and decided to take a break. When I tried it at home at night, I wondered if it needed to be chilled. It seemed like a steamed bun, so I thought putting it in the fridge would make it hard. I peeled off the bamboo leaves and found it quite challenging. Some wet mochi-like substance came out, mixed with seaweed. It did have a certain flavor and color, but in terms of taste, it was just okay. The bean paste was decent, but the overall level was a bit high for me to fully appreciate (this wet-looking mochi surface is not common, but maybe it's a complex process?). It was the 89th shop for Sweets WEST Top 100 in 2022. It seems completing it is now out of reach. Oh well, what a disappointment.

☆Fukumanju (wheat gluten steamed bun) 240 yen (tax included) I didn't know it was reservation only, but they kindly sold me one that was left over when I walked in. It was very delicious as it was freshly made. Next time, I will make a reservation by phone before visiting. Thank you for the meal, Fukoka Fuchomae Honten!

I made a reservation and visited the restaurant. I had a fluffy steamed bun at this newly opened store. The steamed bun that appeared from the leaf was very shiny and beautiful. When I took a bite, the chewy texture and the refreshing sweetness of the sweet bean paste spread in my mouth. After enjoying the best steamed bun, I had some tea to refresh my palate before leaving the store. The staff gave me a cheerful send-off, and not only my stomach but also my heart was satisfied.

Kyoto's long-established famous shop. I wonder if there are any other places that have wheat gluten manju. Here, there is a wheat gluten manju that will surprise you when you eat it. Since freshness is key, it is ideal to eat it on the same day, but I recommend chilling it well and eating it with hot tea. It may sell out, so it is recommended to call ahead before going.

Now, it's time for the first snack during the spring Kyoto expedition. Fugami, located in front of the prefectural office, is a highly rated restaurant on Tabelog. Established during the Bunsei era, it specializes in fresh wheat gluten. There are no signs outside, so it's best to make a reservation and dine in. We tried their famous gluten manju and the seasonal limited edition cherry blossom gluten manju for 470 yen. The fresh gluten, made by washing kneaded wheat flour, uses water from one of Kyoto's seven famous springs, "Shinoyu," which has been used since the establishment of the shop. The freshly made manju was exceptional.

I tried the fu-manju from a fu shop in Kyoto. It was smooth and mochi-like, with a real taste made from fu. When I make fu-manju, I usually use fu-manju mix, so it was nice to taste the real thing. I'm really curious about their fresh fu.

I wanted to buy a set of 5 fu manju as a souvenir, so I made a reservation the day before. I also wanted to buy 1200 sakura fu manju, but they were only available from the 14th. When I opened the bamboo leaf, a chewy and soft fu manju came out. The scent of the bamboo leaf is soothing, and the taste and texture are delicious. This must be the best shop for fu manju!

I received this as a souvenir. Fu manju is my favorite traditional Japanese sweet. The raw fu mixed with aonori is light and refreshing, with a unique texture different from mochi. The sweet red bean paste made from Tanba Dainagon beans is elegantly wrapped inside. The moist and glossy bamboo leaf wrapping has a faint, refreshing fragrance. It's a Kyoto-style flavor that you can enjoy one after another.

【Date/Time】Visited on a holiday at 11:00 am alone.【Reservation】Made a phone reservation the day before, thinking I could easily get in without any other customers, but...【Location】About a 10-minute walk from Marutamachi Station. Located in a quiet area in an old-fashioned wooden building, with a large curtain as a sign.【Interior】Takeout only. There are a few benches where you can sit while waiting for your order.【Order】- Fu ManjuWrapped in fresh bamboo leaves, it had a very nice aroma. The smooth and chewy dough also had a hint of bamboo fragrance. The unique scent might be a hit or miss depending on personal preference. Thank you for the meal!【Service】All the staff seemed to be in the kitchen area, and I hesitated whether it was okay to open the door to call for them. After opening the door and saying "Excuse me," I noticed that the reserved Fu Manju was already in the showcase or refrigerator, but I was asked to wait for about 3 minutes, and in the end, they took out the item from the refrigerator and put it directly in a plastic bag for me. While a plastic bag was fine, I thought they would wrap it nicely if they were going to make me wait that long. What was the point of making me wait for 3 minutes?【Final thoughts】The aroma is amazing because it is wrapped in fresh bamboo leaves!

I visited the main store of Fuka Kaifucho in front of the government office. I made a reservation in advance. I purchased steamed buns with wheat gluten and fresh wheat gluten. The steamed buns are fluffy and chewy, with a mild sweetness and delicious taste. The fresh wheat gluten has a strong mugwort flavor, a good texture, and is delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I tried the Fumantou (bamboo-wrapped wheat gluten) with red bean paste from this place, and it was amazing! The soft texture of the wheat gluten, combined with the subtle fragrance of bamboo and the refined sweetness of the red bean paste, made it a unique and delicious treat. I would love to get some as a souvenir next time I'm in the area.

On this day, I stayed in Kyoto for the weekend. As the main event is waiting in the evening, I thought of having a light lunch... but before I knew it, it was already past 1:30 pm. Since I have a reservation at 5:30 pm, if I eat now... well, as a change of pace, I decided to go for a walk and have some sweets. I headed north from the hotel near Honno-ji Temple ruins. I arrived at the main store of Fuka-san. Fuka-san, who appeared in the drama "Chokotto Kyoto ni Sundemita" starring Fumino Kimura, I finally visited. In a scene where Kimura-san goes to fetch water, it was mentioned that you can eat steamed buns made with this water. So, I went inside the shop. When I asked if I could eat in, it seemed to be by reservation only... but they kindly accommodated me. Maybe because there were no other customers? It seems best to make a reservation before visiting! I had one steamed bun wrapped in bamboo leaves. The surface was moist and fresh, with a chewy texture! Inside was a smooth sweet red bean paste. This ultimate steamed bun can only be enjoyed here, made with the local underground water. It was incredibly delicious! I hope to visit again when I have the chance.

No reservation needed, no waiting, visited alone, stayed for 10 minutes, price is 500 yen per person. This shop is famous for its mochi wrapped in anko. The mochi skin is chewy, and the anko filling inside the mochi is not too sweet, so even if you're not a big fan of sweet things, you should be able to enjoy it.

Advance reservation was required. When I called at 2:00 pm and said that 2 hours later would be convenient, they were able to make a reservation for me. During the call, they asked if I wanted to take out or eat in. - Normal wheat bun (250 yen) When I took a bite, it was cool, chewy, and oh! The refreshing scent of wheat! It was a very fresh sensation! Since I usually only eat wheat in miso soup, it felt a bit strange to taste it in mochi. It also had a moist and smooth texture that felt pleasant! When chewed well, there was a gentle sweetness from the mochi. Inside, there was finely ground sweet bean paste, enhanced by the scent of bamboo leaves. - Chestnut wheat bun (250 yen) Chestnut pieces were kneaded into the mochi, and there were chunks of chestnut in the sweet bean paste. The delicate scent of wheat and the flavor of chestnut harmonized well. This one also had an elegant taste. Thank you for the meal!

"Fukumanju 240 yen - I've always wanted to try Fukumanju. I heard that reservations are required by phone, but the Nishiki Market store sold them individually. The name Fukumanju itself sounds delicious. I love wheat gluten so much, I want to buy it as a souvenir to take home."