This might be the most delicious steamed bun I've ever had. The prune flavor is subtle, with a chewy texture that is not too sweet, making it satisfying and not boring, simply delicious. The most popular one is the "saba miso shiso mayo" with saba fish filling that is not fishy at all, fitting perfectly in the steamed bun. The staff at the shop were very kind and welcoming.

During the consecutive holidays, I went to Higashikawa Town to take pictures of manhole covers. I also took pictures of the manhole covers I came for, so I decided to explore Higashikawa Town. There was a roadside station nearby, so I decided to stop by. Inside, it was quite crowded. As I was looking around, I noticed a crowd gathering next to the entrance. They were selling various types of steamed buns. I found out that they were using natural yeast for these steamed buns. Other people were buying them one after another, so I decided to get one before they sold out. There were different types to choose from, but I chose the ones that seemed popular. I got the steamed buns with red bean paste and soybeans. The steamed buns made with natural yeast had a moist and chewy texture. The soybean one had plenty of sweet red beans kneaded into it, providing a gentle sweetness and a delicious taste. The red bean paste one had red bean paste wrapped inside the dough, creating a good balance between the chewy texture of the dough and the right amount of sweetness from the red bean paste. It was satisfying to enjoy delicious steamed buns after a long time. I would like to try different steamed buns if I have the chance in the future. Thank you for the meal.

My wife is very natural and wild, but not a yeast. She's not very helpful, you know? She brought me to a steamed bread shop in Higashikawa while singing "Desert Moon". Do you get that Higashikawa vibe? If you nodded, you might be a bit strange. I've been hospitalized at least once a year recently, but I thought I wouldn't this year and yet here I am. It's not a serious illness, but it's not easy either. Anyway, I came to Higashikawa and I don't really know why. I'm just following my notes... Next stop is the steamed bread shop. Steamed bread... My mom used to make it often, with sweet red beans. I didn't like steamed bread, but I didn't mind sweet red beans. So are we going to buy some steamed bread? I can eat it now, you know. I thought about going to a keema curry shop, but I stumbled upon it at a roadside station. There were many different kinds, but none really caught my eye. Later, I wondered why I chose it in the first place. It's keema curry. I forgot about the steamed bread and just reacted to the keema curry. It smelled good and was fluffy and chewy, and it was curry, and quite spicy. The texture was like a meat bun. My wife was saying something about it being heady. It was delicious... steamed bread. And just when I thought she had said enough, she goes, "Meat buns are delicious too." Oh, you...

On the way back from Asahikawa, I found a small shop in Higashikawa Town while looking at the map. I decided to stop by and was greeted by a very friendly couple. The shop had shelves filled with cute steamed buns. They even allowed me to take photos, which I appreciated. I bought several steamed buns: "Sweet Red Bean" (151 yen), "Keema Curry" (183 yen), "Chocolate Banana" (194 yen), "Kinpira Mayonnaise" (162 yen), and "Edamame Bacon Cheese" (205 yen). Each steamed bun had a perfect balance of sweetness and savory flavors, with a chewy texture. I was told that they offer about 20 different varieties of steamed buns daily, so I would love to try more when I visit Higashikawa Town again. Thank you, Shitoa, for the delicious food!

It has been one year since the steamed bread specialty store "Shinopan" left from Higashikawa. Shinopan has relocated to Tokyo and seems to be popular there as well. Of course, the food is delicious. When Shinopan hinted on Facebook about leaving, they also mentioned that a new bakery would be opening in their old location in Higashikawa. Last summer, the new owner's shop opened, and I finally had the chance to visit recently. The shop is called "Natural Yeast Steamed Bread Sitoa" specializing in steamed bread. The address is Nishi 5-jo Kita 28, Higashikawa-cho, Kamikawa-gun, and the map link is provided. The shop is open from 10:00 to 17:00, with irregular holidays. They have parking and takeout available. Please contact the store for the current status of opening, closing, and takeout services. The exterior of the building remains the same, as they took over the previous shop. The atmosphere outside is nice, with rice fields turning golden. The steamed bread machine appeared, and it was fascinating to see how delicious rice is made. The shop opened, and there were only four groups waiting in line. I bought three steamed bread items - Yuzu Cream Cheese for 190 yen, Shiratama Chocolate for 180 yen, and Kinpira Mayonnaise for 150 yen. The Kinpira Mayonnaise was delicious, with a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors. The Shiratama Chocolate was surprisingly good, with a nice combination of colors and flavors. Lastly, the Yuzu Cream Cheese was refreshing with a hint of citrus. Overall, the steamed bread was tasty, but I felt it could be a bit more moist and fluffy to match the level of Shinopan. Nonetheless, I will definitely visit again, and I recommend trying the Kinpira Mayonnaise steamed bread.

In the outskirts of Higashikawa in September 2020, there is a quiet countryside landscape where a steamed bread bakery called San is located. The shop is a small house where the owner lives, with a simple and tasteful interior that can fit three people closely. There are 24 varieties of steamed bread on the shelves, all made without eggs, oil, or dairy products, using natural yeast that is fermented at low temperatures for a long time. The dough has a chewy texture and a gentle sweetness that feels nostalgic. I tried the Very Berry Cream Cheese for 170 yen, with a red color from strawberries at the bottom and a creamy cheese and blueberries on top. It was delicious. I also tried the White Chocolate Banana Almond for 220 yen, a seasonal limited edition with ripe bananas and white chocolate that complement each other well. Thank you for the delicious meal!

In a serene rural landscape that makes you wonder "Is there a shop here?", there is a "steamed bun specialty store". The building looks like a regular house, but the sales space feels full with just a couple of customers. The store opens at 10 o'clock, and I visited around 12:30, but some items were already sold out. It's better to come early. They offer steamed buns in savory and sweet varieties. The available items vary each day, including regular, seasonal, and weekly specials. I bought four different kinds to enjoy at home by reheating them in a steamer. The buns are quite substantial with a chewy texture. They look beautiful and are filled with ingredients like onigiri. I tried all four flavors with my partner. The "Yuzu Cream Cheese" (160 yen) has yuzu-flavored dough on top and regular dough on the bottom, with yuzu peel on top and cream cheese inside. The sweet and sour yuzu and the tangy cream cheese complement each other well. The "Kinpira Mayonnaise" (150 yen) features delicious sweet and savory kinpira, with a sprinkle of shichimi on top and mixed with mayonnaise inside. It would make a great snack with drinks. The "Berry Berry Cream Cheese" (180 yen) has blueberries on top and a mix of blueberries, strawberries, and cream cheese inside, creating a delicious sweet and sour flavor. The "Mont Blanc" (190 yen) has candied chestnuts on top and mont blanc cream inside, offering a cake-like taste. There were many other tempting steamed buns I would love to try. I definitely want to revisit this shop!

A traditional steamed bun specialty store that does not use eggs, oil, or dairy products, and is particular about using ingredients from Hokkaido, has opened in Higashikawa Town. The previous owner of "Shinopan" has apparently returned to Honshu, and the store remains the same as before. There are various types of steamed buns, some not sweet at all, which could be good as a snack. The steamed buns have a slightly heavier texture compared to convenience store ones, with fillings inside and a moist and flavorful dough. They have a subtle sweetness from "heavenly sugar" and are great for children's snacks or as a treat for tea time. The new store is run by a lovely couple who create a peaceful atmosphere, reflecting their kind personalities in the steamed buns. They can be stored in the freezer and it is recommended to reheat them in a steamer or silicone steamer to avoid uneven texture when using a microwave. Another wonderful store has been born in Higashikawa.

I saw this place on TV and decided to visit. Inside, the products were lined up like in a bakery. I observed that they had toppings on top, so I thought they were steamed buns, but it turned out they were not. I bought some unusual items like mackerel and shiratama anmitsu. The mackerel and shiratama had fillings inside, just like regular bread. The steamed bun dough was slightly sweet, which created a unique harmony with the saltiness of the mackerel. The shiratama was too sweet for my liking. Personally, I think the dough itself is quite sweet, so I feel savory fillings would be a better match. I didn't buy the plain one thinking it might be less sweet, but now I regret not buying it. Since it's far away, I don't have the opportunity to go often, but when I do go, I plan to buy the plain one!

It was late, so the choices were a bit limited, but this time I got these three. I can't imagine Margherita pizza. Looking forward to it!

Today, I usually go for sweet desserts, but since I missed a meal, I decided to try a cooking dish! I chose the popular number one dish, Kinpira Mayo! Thick burdock and carrots with a strong mayonnaise flavor. The sprinkle of shichimi adds a nice kick. It was delicious!

In addition to plain steamed buns, there are various types such as sweet ones like chocolate, as well as steamed buns with stew, curry, etc. My favorite is the one with stew. The combination of the sweetness of the steamed bun and the sweetness of the stew makes me feel happy. There are still more options that I'm curious about, so I might try something different next time. Thank you for the meal!

Delicious! Berry berry and sweet potato.

I was taken to Higashikawa Town to get Pokefuta, but there were so many interesting shops around! They were selling them at Michi-no-Eki Higashikawa "Michikusa-kan". The steamed buns were surprisingly popular among the women, so it was a bit crowded. There were about 10 different flavors, from sweet ones to savory ones like beef stew. - Apple Cinnamon: It had a strong cinnamon flavor and a crispy apple texture. - Sweet Red Bean: It had a mild sweetness and a smooth red bean paste. The dough for both was quite dense as it is, but when heated, it became more like a Chinese steamed bun. Personally, I preferred them heated. I was glad to unexpectedly have the chance to try them this time! Thank you, Wu-ta!