Tabelog's top 100 sweets shops. The image of the manju was like "I don't think it's the first thing I want to eat," as it was also a joke in "Milk Boy." It's delicious, but the skin sticks to the mouth, so I think it's better to just eat the sweet bean paste. However, looking at the reviews of this shop, it has amazing ratings. "If you don't make a reservation in advance, you can't buy it" and "Even if you try to make a phone reservation, you can't even get through." If I hadn't known this information, I wouldn't have been able to buy it. I tried calling for a reservation on Monday at 1:00 p.m. It was indeed busy on the phone. I kept hitting the green "redial" button on my smartphone every time it showed up, and kept calling. And on about the 10th try, I got through! When I confirmed, I was able to make a reservation for this Saturday! Lucky me. Since the minimum order is 10 pieces, I ordered 10 pieces for home. I had planned to pick them up around 11:00, but I forgot that I had plans to go to a ramen shop. However, it seemed like it would take a long time to call again, so I adjusted my schedule to go to the ramen shop earlier. I visited around 11:10 on Saturday. After eating Chinese soba at "Ginza Hachi-go." I was able to eat on the first round, so I managed to make it in time. There were two groups of customers picking up inside the store. It was overflowing with reservations. Although there were customers outside, they left after seeing the notice of being sold out. I entered 5 minutes later. I received the manju I reserved. The previous customer had purchased 10,000 yen worth! Amazing! ・Soraya Manju (10 pieces) 1,100 yen I shared it with my family after returning home. The outer skin was crispy and fragrant, and it didn't stick in the mouth. The crispiness of the skin was also nice! The sweet bean paste inside also oozed out when eaten. It was just the right amount of sweetness. I could eat it up quickly. I'm glad I was able to eat it this time. It's also affordable for gifts. Thank you for the meal.

I called around 10 a.m. on Monday to place an order, and then went to pick it up at the specified time of 11 a.m. The restaurant had a nice atmosphere with a strong sense of history. I bought a pack of 6 monaka for 1,100 yen and enjoyed them at home later. The monaka were bite-sized and easy to eat, with a sweet and elegant taste. I was so happy to receive them as a treat! It made me want to work harder to be able to enjoy such delicious monaka again in the future. Thank you for the meal!

A must-visit longstanding restaurant that requires reservations! The crispy and fragrant monaka here is filled with a not-too-sweet red bean paste, making it irresistibly delicious. This traditional treat has been passed down since the Meiji era and remains extremely popular even today. While it's possible to purchase without a reservation, it's often sold out due to high demand, so it's recommended to book in advance to avoid missing out.

I received it as a souvenir~ The perfect balance between the crispy shell and not too sweet filling is still delicious~!!! I heard that now it's booked for years in advance... it's so popular?! I will gratefully enjoy it. If I have the chance, I might buy it myself.

It's a gift I received, and it has a very gentle taste. The filling is coarse sweet bean paste, not too sweet. I don't usually buy traditional Japanese sweets for myself, but when I receive them as gifts, they are usually so delicious that I can't stop eating them. I have to resist the temptation to eat too many at once and limit myself to a reasonable amount. ✨

Kuuya, which you can't buy without a reservation. I made a reservation a few days in advance to visit on Saturday. It had been a while since I had been to the restaurant, and I didn't remember my last visit, haha. There are restaurants in Ginza that serve Kuuya monaka as a final dish. It feels like a kind of proof of doing business in Ginza. When I went to pick it up, there were also fresh sweets available. I bought a box, of course. I opened it at home and had the monaka after a long time. It's so sweet... was it always this sweet? A bit confusing haha. It balanced well with the bitterness of the strong green tea I had. I could only eat two at a time. On the other hand, the fresh sweets were less sweet. The yokan was on the lighter side. The next day, I toasted the skin in a toaster to recreate the crispy texture. When I gave it to someone who likes Japanese sweets, they were delighted. It's a classic gift item.

National Famous Sweets Series Tokyo Edition - Sora-ya in Ginza is a place I've always wanted to try but never had the chance to because you need to make a reservation in advance. This time, I made a reservation well in advance. Now I can finally taste their cream puff. I bought some as souvenirs and for home. The aroma of the cream puff's outer shell is irresistible. The sweet red bean paste inside is just right, not too sweet. I thought I couldn't eat too many cream puffs, but with these, I feel like I could have several. Truly amazing. I've encountered a splendid masterpiece.

I tried buying it because it had high ratings, but it tasted like a very ordinary monaka. Personally, I prefer the monaka from "Jusan Shoku Monaka Honpo" in Sendai. When eating Kuya's monaka as is, the skin sticks a bit and has an unpleasant texture, but when lightly toasted in the oven, it becomes quite delicious. However, "Jusan Shoku Monaka Honpo" monaka is delicious enough to eat as is without toasting. I made a phone reservation and purchased it, and when I went to pick it up on a weekday afternoon, there were plenty of same-day sales available.

Reserved a box of 15 monaka the day before. Got through on the phone right away this time. Visited around 11 am on Wednesday. No wait. Customers before and after me were able to buy monaka without a reservation. Enjoyed it three days later after letting the red bean paste settle. A monaka that is the ultimate in simplicity, with a hint of the red bean skin. It's just right for most people, but a bit too sweet for me.

【Soraya】I had heard about Soraya in Ginza for a long time, and even though I pass by this area often, it was my first visit. I was able to purchase without a reservation ♡ I tried the set of monaka and fresh sweets. Yes, it was delicious just as the reputation says. I especially liked the yokan and matcha fresh wagashi, they were incredibly delicious and my type. It was so delicious that I finished it in no time even after having lunch.

The monaka here is definitely different even though it's called monaka. I've seen similar products being sold elsewhere recently, but it's a bit disappointing. They often sell out due to reservations for gifts, but today I happened to encounter some leftovers. I wish I could have tried all the monaka, but it was only available in a seasonal wagashi combination. It was a bit disappointing, but the seasonal items here are also delicious.

I got takeout. I was able to buy it with the miraculous lineup of three people!! Haha, usually there are about 30 people lined up, so I bought it at the perfect moment. It has an elegant taste and is delicious. The scent of the monaka comes in smoothly, it's nice. However, I'm a drinker so I don't have many opportunities to eat at home, so this is a special occasion. Haha.

Before actually going to the restaurant, a friend bought me a Kuya Monaka. The rich aroma of the red bean paste was not too sweet and extremely gentle, pairing perfectly with the crispy shell. It is truly worthy of being called a famous store. Established in the year 1884 (Meiji 17). I hope they continue to weave together history and tradition. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

I was really happy to finally try the monaka from the long-established Ginza restaurant "Soraya," which was founded in the 17th year of the Meiji era. The skin doesn't stick to your mouth!!!! It's delicious even after some time has passed. The price is also reasonable. I want to make a reservation early next time so I can buy some as souvenirs. If you haven't tried it yet, I highly recommend trying Soraya's monaka.

I visited during the early afternoon on a weekday. I usually make reservations, but on this day at this time, they were also selling items for the same day (which I was told is very rare). Many ladies were visiting one after another. Since you can only purchase items here, they were very pleased when I gave them as gifts. I also took some items home with simple packaging for myself.

I went to buy something for a bit of business, and I still think Sunaya is the best after all. The sweetness of the red bean paste, the flavor of the mochi, and the fact that each one is individually wrapped in a bag - I thought I bought it that way, but in reality, they are stored in the box as they are, which is quite innovative. It's like a gold coin, and it's great. It's a bit disappointing that you can't purchase it without a reservation for 1000 yen per box, but I think it's the best souvenir.

I had some errands to run and went to buy them, but I still think that the nama (raw) style of monaka from Kuranoya is the best. The sweetness of the anko (sweet red bean paste), the flavor of the monaka, and the fact that I thought they were individually packaged but they are actually stored raw in a box - this uniqueness is like a gold coin and it's wonderful. It's a shame that you can't purchase them without a reservation for 1000 yen per box, but I think it's the best souvenir.

I used it as a souvenir for the first time in a while. If you have time, there are same-day sales, but it's better to make a reservation. By the way, I made a same-day reservation. I bought three in gift boxes and one in simple packaging for home use. It had been a while since I last ate it, but it was delicious ♡ The simple ingredients were wonderful. It can last for a week.

★This manju here is said to be the best among the long-lasting sweets at Ginza Joon. On a weekday morning, I called and bought 10 for home use on the same day. Later, I reserved a wooden box and a gift box for a gift by phone, but I heard that they are asking for same-day delivery to prevent the scent of the wooden box from transferring to the manju. If it takes a few days until delivery, the gift box is recommended! They swiftly processed the payment, thanked me several times during that time, and made me feel glad that I bought here, creating a wonderful loop where I can feel good about giving gifts that are also well-received ☺︎ The manju has a thin skin with plenty of sweet bean paste and is delicious. A collaboration T-shirt was previously sold at UNIQLO in Ginza. This manju shop is loved by everyone for its high value available only at this store, without online shopping!

[August 5, 2023 revisit] This is Monaka-ya, a place I have visited many times. It's almost impossible to drop by and purchase on the day, so please make a reservation in advance. There is always a line of people who have come to pick up their orders. It's a small shop and it seems they have no intention of expanding sales, so this seems to be their style. Check out the reel video at https://www.instagram.com/p/CvidHOsAANv/. While it doesn't last long, I think it's a valuable souvenir that you can only buy by visiting this shop, as you can't get it at department stores or online shopping.

My previous review (although it was just a score) was about 5 years ago, but I think it's been about 20 years since I actually visited the restaurant. I used to bring souvenirs for people who came from the countryside, but I haven't done that in a long time. I remember that "Kuuya" used to sell various natural products for a while, and I got hooked on it at one point. I even bought expensive an butter at an event. I happened to remember that there was a set of fresh sweets in the review by Mairevi-san, so I immediately made a reservation by phone. The phone response is truly traditional, Kuuya. My daughter who was supposed to go with me was picked up on the way, so this time we didn't go, it was really unintentional coincidence. ◯ Fresh sweets set 1,500 yen As for the contents, there are proper labels on the box: Mizuyokan, Hisui, Kinugyoku, Kuzumanju, Geshimochi, and Kuuya Senjishi. They are slightly small in size. Since they are fresh sweets, the expiration date is the same day. Roughly speaking... Mizuyokan -> quite firm. It can pass as a regular yokan. It has a roughness of azuki beans and a strong flavor. Hisui -> the bottom is matcha yokan and the top is kinugyoku. It looks cool, but personally, the sweetness of kinugyoku interferes with it. The difference in hardness between the yokan part and the top is too much. Kinugyoku -> Oh, the one I don't like, kinugyoku (laughs). It's a firm agar with a strong texture. There is a mixture of smooth red bean paste and shiratama flour on top, which makes it taste much better. I wonder what this wavy part represents? Kuzumanju -> The kuzumanju from "Ikkoan" has a shape where the inside is like kuzumochi, but Kuuya's version is made of firm kuzumochi dough. It's slightly sweet, a mysterious thing between mochi and kuzu. The inside red bean paste is slightly dry and smooth, which is a type I really like. Geshimochi -> The inside red bean paste is the same as kuzumanju. This geshimochi is incredibly delicious. Is it better than the very famous Kansai geshimochi? I wish they would sell this in a pack of 6 or something. Kuuya Senjishi -> It's called tsubuan, but it's different from the red bean paste in a monaka. It sandwiches the red bean paste between something like a wafer and monaka skin. It's moderately sweet, including the skin, but the fragrant taste of the skin is nice. Even though the ingredients haven't changed drastically, I was once again reminded of the interesting variety of expressions that traditional Japanese sweets can have. Even just one type of red bean paste can have different flavors and textures in monaka, fresh sweets, and smooth red bean paste. When it comes to Kuuya, it's definitely monaka, but they also have various fresh sweets. The cost performance is also good. And I really want to recommend the geshimochi! I wish they would sell only this.