Visited around 12:00 pm on June 27, 2022 (Monday). The shop is located just 1-2 minutes' walk from Shibuya Station on various train lines, facing the scramble intersection in front of the station. It had been 10 months since my last visit. Summer is not the best season for Tianjin chestnuts (laughs) as I used to work at a Tianjin chestnut shop called "Hayashi Manshodo" in Kyoto, so I know sales drastically decrease in the summer. Chestnuts are more of an autumn food, after all. My visit was inspired by the first episode of a TV show called "Sensei no Otoriyose" featuring "Hayashi Manshodo" in Kyoto. They showcased Tianjin chestnuts in a paulownia wood box as a gift, but I don't need the fancy box, a simple paper bag is enough for me. Just before I wrote this review, the shop had 8 reviews with an average rating of 3.12. There were no other customers besides me, and a female staff member was running the shop alone. In addition to Tianjin chestnuts, they also sell shaved ice during the summer for 150 yen each (tax included), but I've never seen anyone buying it (laughs). The shaved ice seems to be a nostalgic treat that younger people of the Reiwa era might be avoiding, which is a bit concerning. There were plenty of pre-cooked Tianjin chestnuts ready to be served. Since it's not the harvest season yet, fresh chestnuts are not available, so they must be chilled or frozen. The chestnuts were quite large, similar to Japanese Tanba chestnuts. I wonder if they carefully select the chestnuts imported from China. Given my experience working at a Tianjin chestnut shop, it wouldn't be surprising to find smaller chestnuts in the mix. I'm looking forward to trying the new harvest in October, and I'd love to bring back the chestnuts in a paulownia box or a drawstring bag from "Hayashi Manshodo" in Kyoto as a souvenir. The total bill for the day was 1,000 yen. Thank you for the meal.

Visited around 12:45 pm on Friday, August 20, 2021. The shop is located just a 1-2 minute walk from Shibuya Station on various lines, facing the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. It's located in a corner of a pharmacy. There is a chestnut roasting machine installed, but it doesn't seem like they are roasting fresh chestnuts. Roasting fresh chestnuts results in about 10% of them cracking and not being suitable for sale, and they also make a loud popping sound when they burst, which can be dangerous. I know this from working at a chestnut specialty store about 35 years ago. The shop I visited had 65 reviews and a rating of 3.16 just before my review. I stopped by on my way back from visiting the "Setouchi Shunsai-kan" and "Kaorihime" antenna shops in Shinbashi. Despite the ongoing spread of the new coronavirus and the declaration of a state of emergency, Shibuya Scramble Crossing was bustling with young women around the age of 20. It's summer vacation now, so it makes sense. Back in my student days, I had plenty of time on my hands. Now, I cherish my time, thinking about how much time I have left in my life (laughs). How many more times will I be able to see cherry blossoms in full bloom? (cries) There were no customers before or after me. The shop was being run by a very cute young female staff member around 20 years old. I naturally purchased the chestnuts, but to my surprise, they also had shaved ice on the menu. I wonder if young people don't eat chestnuts or if shaved ice sells well. I usually buy 200g of chestnuts for 500 yen (tax included), but since new chestnuts won't be available until the end of September every year, the chestnuts now are from last year's harvest. Understanding that they are old chestnuts, I asked for 400g for 1,000 yen (tax included). Of course, if you haven't worked at a chestnut store before, you wouldn't know what kind of chestnuts they are. I brought them home and tried them right away. As expected, the thin skin (astringent skin) is hard to peel. Well, that's how it goes. Chestnuts don't do well in the summer. Despite complaining, I finished the 400g quickly. I look forward to visiting again when new chestnuts are imported from China in the fall. The total bill for the day was 1,000 yen. Thank you for the meal.

Visited on February 20, 2021 (Saturday) around 10:55 AM. The restaurant is located just a 1-minute walk from Shibuya Station, facing the scramble intersection. It is a long-established Tianjin sweet chestnut shop founded in 1962. For the meaning and preparation method of Tianjin sweet chestnuts, please refer to my review posted three months ago. The area around Shibuya Station in Tokyo is currently undergoing a large-scale renovation. It's hard to believe that this place was the model for the nursery rhyme "Spring Stream" about 100 years ago. By the way, "Spring Stream" has had its lyrics changed twice so far. The episode of "Ad-machi Tengoku" broadcast on February 13, 2021 (Saturday) was on the same theme as six years ago, "Showa Shibuya." Due to the spread of the new coronavirus, it seems that location shooting was not possible. There were many images taken in December 2020, as well as many from the past. In this broadcast, this restaurant ranked 20th. Just before I posted my review, the restaurant had 8 reviews and an average rating of 3.16 points. The eateries around Shibuya Station mainly consist of ramen shops, which have a high number of reviews, but this restaurant still only has single-digit reviews. There were no previous customers or subsequent customers. It seems that young people are not familiar with "Tianjin sweet chestnuts." Even in "Ad-machi Tengoku," it was mentioned that most young people nowadays don't know how to peel Tianjin sweet chestnuts. When I visited in November 2020, there was a 20% increase campaign, but this time they were selling at the regular price and volume. I ordered "200g for 500 yen (tax included)." The chestnuts used at this shop are most likely imported from China and unexpectedly good quality. Unless you have worked at a Tianjin sweet chestnut shop like me, you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference in chestnuts used. On this day, Tianjin sweet chestnuts were being roasted in a small pot that can roast 1kg, but I couldn't tell if they were roasting fresh chestnuts or thawing frozen ones. It's been 30 years since I roasted Tianjin sweet chestnuts, and chilled products are also available now, making it very difficult to distinguish. This visit was after a night shift. I had to work from 9 PM, but it didn't finish until 7 AM the next morning, resulting in overtime until 10:30 AM. Even though it was Saturday morning, there were many people around Shibuya Station. The effect of refraining from going out due to the state of emergency seems almost non-existent. It seems like many people are not interested in the new coronavirus infection. I brought the Tianjin sweet chestnuts home for takeout and enjoyed them right away. They are perfect as a snack with alcohol. Until around the time of the previous Tokyo Olympics, Tianjin sweet chestnuts were the go-to sweet treat. 200g is perfect for one person to finish as a snack with alcohol. I would like more quantity, but then it would be difficult to finish in one go. Chestnuts explode when heated in the microwave. This time, they provided a "chestnut claw" to make it easier to peel the Tianjin sweet chestnuts. Even with my short nails, I could easily peel the Tianjin sweet chestnuts, but I didn't know how to use the chestnut claw (laughs). In the TV show "Ad-machi Tengoku," there was a scene where they sprinkled syrup on the roasting Tianjin sweet chestnuts, but the sweetness of Tianjin sweet chestnuts comes from the natural sweetness of chestnuts and has nothing to do with syrup. When roasting, they sprinkle granulated sugar, but syrup or sugar cannot penetrate the hot chestnut skin. It's scary how people believe TV images without any hesitation, and the same goes for information on the internet, such as social media. It seems that many people don't verify whether the information is true or not. It seems like people believe that the information is correct because it is written by someone who always leaves comments. Products related to chestnuts often emphasize preserving the natural sweetness of chestnuts, and that is true. It is impossible for seasonings to penetrate the thick skin of chestnuts. The bill for this day was 500 yen. Thank you for the meal.

Visited around 9:00 PM on November 11, 2020 (Wednesday). The restaurant is located a 2-minute walk from Shibuya Station on various lines, facing the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. It opened in 1962 at this location, but the restaurant itself was established in 1956. It is managed by a company called Fujiyama Sangyo, and currently, the main business seems to be running a franchise of a major yakiniku restaurant. The restaurant was featured as the 20th place on the TV show "Shuchou! Ad-machi Tengoku" in the episode "Showa Shibuya" that aired on April 18, 2015. Being located facing the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, it seems to be quite well-known to many people. A book titled "Why Does This Restaurant Not Close Down?" has also been published about this restaurant. At the time of my review, there were 7 reviews with an average rating of 3.13. There were no other customers at the time, and the restaurant was being run by one male staff member. It is an old-established store for Tianjin candied chestnuts. Tianjin candied chestnuts are chestnuts shipped from Tianjin Port in China and roasted with very small stones to bring out a unique sweetness. The actual chestnuts come from Hebei Province, and roasting them with these very small stones brings out a distinct sweetness. Just to explain, I am familiar with Tianjin candied chestnuts because I used to work part-time roasting them at the old-established store "Kanro no Roushou Hayashi Mandou Honpo" in Kyoto over 30 years ago. Chestnuts that are difficult to peel are usually frozen. However, if chestnuts stored in the refrigerator are roasted in the summer, they are easier to peel but lose their sweetness. Therefore, for the past 10 years or so, most of the Tianjin candied chestnut shops in Japan have been roasting and freezing chestnuts from winter to spring. Otherwise, the sweetness of the candied chestnuts would be lost in the summer. At this time of year, "new chestnuts in stock" would be advertised at "Hayashi Mandou Honpo" in Kyoto, but they were not available at this restaurant. It can be easily imagined that last year's chestnuts are still available and new chestnuts from China have not been imported due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This kind of information may not be apparent to everyone. Tianjin candied chestnuts were being offered with a 20% increase in quantity. Unlike "Hayashi Mandou Honpo" in Kyoto, there were no chestnuts in paulownia wooden boxes or souvenir bags at this restaurant. I was handed chestnuts in a paper bag, which could be more appreciated as a gift if it had a more luxurious feel. It is suitable for everyday consumption as Tianjin candied chestnuts. The Tianjin candied chestnuts sold at festival stalls are mostly thawed frozen products. When roasting raw chestnuts normally, they make a loud noise and burst open. For every 10 kg roasted, 1 kg is discarded. It is amazing that someone turned those discarded broken chestnuts into products. The candied chestnuts at this restaurant are not bad. I would like to see a bit more effort put into them if they are to be used as gifts. The total bill for this day was 500 yen. Thank you for the meal.

If you have ever been to Shibuya, you have probably seen this chestnut shop. Located near the scramble intersection, it stands out in the streets of Shibuya. Although you may not see many customers around, it continues to exist. Originally priced at 120g, but with a 20% increase promotion, you get 144g for 300 yen including tax. It was the cheapest option, so I bought it. Even if it's a little over, it's still 300 yen. It doesn't seem to be sold by the gram. Hmm, it smells good. The surface may feel a bit dry, but the sweetness is just right, and when you actually taste it, the flavor gently spreads in your mouth, with a simple and delicious taste. With around 20 pieces in 144g, it's just the right amount.

When I was a child, I lived in Ikejiri-Ohashi, and although I ate chestnuts, I didn't have many opportunities to buy them, so I was curious and couldn't help but go. For 1000 yen, I got this amazing amount of chestnuts and a set of nail clippers to cut them. Is Shibuya always at the forefront of modernity? Update: The most you can get is around 1.5kg for 3150 yen... Can you even finish it?

Today's goal is simply "sweet chestnuts"! That's why I came to Shibuya (lol). Despite not liking candied chestnuts, Mont Blanc, or chestnut rice cakes, she has a soft spot for sweet chestnuts (lol). She said she wanted to eat sweet chestnuts in Shibuya... Even though she lives in Tokyo, Shibuya feels like a completely new place to her. Getting off the Toei bus at the west exit, she looked around to see where to go, and then she caught a whiff of a sweet scent... Following the scent, she looked up and saw the words "sweet chestnuts" (lol). She quickly made her purchase, with a big smile on her face. Or maybe it was because we were right in front of Hachiko crossing (^^;;

Merry Christmas!! X'mas is here, so I have to eat some chestnuts, right? Sorry, I used the same phrase as last year. ------- Now, it's Christmas Eve. I don't feel as excited about Christmas as I used to. When I got home and turned on the TV, I saw a show called "Akashiya Santa" and realized that today is Christmas Eve. So I don't need chicken, and if I buy a cake, it will just go to waste. But I'm sure everyone is having a fun party. As I was thinking about that on my way back from Shibuya Station, I noticed the long-standing Amaguri shop at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. It has remained unchanged amidst the redevelopment of Shibuya and has become a famous spot where foreign tourists wave selfie sticks and DJ Police performs. It's nice, isn't it? Oh, right! Let's have some chestnuts for Christmas. ◎ Amaguri (200g for ¥500) including tax. When I asked the guy for it, he said, "Here you go! It's freshly made," and gave me one, but it was hot from the steamer! (laughs) I also bought some Chamberry at the convenience store to enjoy with the chestnuts on Christmas. Combining Chamberry and chestnuts, it's Merry Christmas! (laughs) This is a lame joke that might make you cringe, but that's all I could come up with. However, the chestnuts themselves have a simple and unchanged sweetness from the old days. They are delicious. The skin is easy to crack and the chestnuts come out easily. The guy must be good at roasting them. So, not just Chamberry, I also want to drink some alcohol with the chestnuts tonight, so I'll have a Tris Highball with them...

By the way, it seems like there has always been a shop at this place since I was a child! A chestnut roasting machine spinning around, whenever I pass by this intersection, I could smell a sweet aroma! My mother, who was holding my hand, would always stop and say, "Next time, okay...!" When this season comes, the sweet smell intensifies about 100 times, stimulating my brain through my nose and making me stop in my tracks! I want to eat chestnuts! The shop only sells chestnuts, and the inside is about the size of two tatami mats! Relying on my childhood memories, I asked and found out that they have been in business here for 60 years! Amazing! Chestnuts are scored with a nail to split them open - it's easy to do and they taste delicious! You should definitely try them!

In Shibuya, a town for young people, there is a sweet chestnut and chestnut stand. I knew about sweet chestnuts, but they seemed expensive so I used to just pass by when I was in high school. Unlike Chinatown, they don't offer samples with a "big brother, big sister" approach, but quietly scatter the smell around. Despite not many people stopping to try, they seem to be doing well because they are always there. I once bought some with my grandmother when we met up, and they weren't as big as those in Chinatown, but they were delicious.

If you visit Shibuya, you will surely come across this famous shop that almost everyone has seen at least once. It's in a way, as well-known as Hachiko. I used to eat here a lot when I was young. Even now, I sometimes indulge in it with a feeling of nostalgia. The taste is decent. The price is reasonable. It tastes better in the cold season. Honestly, there isn't anything particularly special about it, but the fact that you can still enjoy the same taste in Shibuya makes it a valuable presence. Since women tend to like sweet chestnuts, it's worth remembering.