I had always wanted to visit a shop that was selected as one of the top 100 sweets shops and is quite a long-established store, founded in the first year of the Edo period. They only open on weekdays and often sell out in the morning, so I was hesitant to go due to the long lines. However, this year's lucky food was adzuki beans, so I went to buy some. I arrived around 9:20 am and there were 25 people ahead of me... It took about 30 minutes to get inside as the line slowly moved. Everyone ordered with bags, mostly buying in units of 10. I purchased one for 250 yen and a larger one for 270 yen. The expiration date is 3 days, and the chestnut manju I wanted was sold out for my two servings. Those who missed out kept telling the staff they really wanted to eat it until they finished paying. If they go to that extent, it must be delicious! Next time, I want to line up earlier and get the chestnut manju. For now, I was satisfied to buy the dorayaki I came for. The adzuki beans inside the smaller and larger ones are large and sweet. The smaller one is wrapped in one layer of skin, so I recommend it for those who like red bean paste. The skin was a bit firm, but became soft when warmed up.

I bought some dorayaki from Seijukan for the first time in a while. I think the last time I came here was five years ago? (sweating) I sometimes check it out when I pass by, but they always seem to be sold out if you don't go in the morning. I arrived at 11 am on a weekday and there were still some left. I bought four small dorayaki and had them at home. They are packed with plenty of sweet bean paste. The skin is a bit crispy. It's not fluffy. It's more like a castella cake with a hint of brown sugar. Anyway, it's a popular dorayaki, so I'm happy I was able to buy it. lol

I bought a large-size and a small-size dorayaki, both priced at 300 yen each. They are quite expensive, aren't they? These dorayaki are very sweet. When I checked the ingredients, I found that there is more sugar than red bean paste! They also contain honey and mirin, which explains why they are so sweet. Maybe that's why they have a longer shelf life! I couldn't tell the difference in taste between the large and small ones, probably because I have an unsophisticated palate. I was able to use d払い for payment.

I visited the restaurant shortly after it opened. There was no wait. There were four staff members near the register, with one taking orders, one packing items into boxes, and one handling payments. They worked efficiently, making the shopping experience smooth. The chestnut bun, small round bun, and large round bun were each 300 yen. The box cost 250 yen, and the paper bag to put it in was 60 yen. Compared to red bean buns and sweet bean paste cakes sold in supermarkets, the red bean paste here is less sweet. Despite not being exceptionally large, the items are satisfying. Everything was very delicious and had a taste that makes you want to eat more.

After the fun live show yesterday, today is the day to return to Mito. I wanted to buy a souvenir for my companion, so I looked around and found a highly rated dorayaki shop near the hotel we stayed at. I arrived around a little before 10 o'clock. When I entered, I saw a medal from Tabelog's Top 100 Restaurants, so I took a picture. I love dorayaki the most among traditional Japanese sweets. I entered from the entrance and lined up in order. I ordered two large dorayaki (300 yen) from the staff. I found out later that this prestigious traditional Japanese confectionery shop was established in 1861, with a 162-year history this year. It is currently managed by the 7th generation with a strong commitment to manufacturing. It seems to be known as the best dorayaki in Tokyo. We enjoyed it as soon as we got back. The texture of the cake is fluffy and moist, and the sweet red bean paste is elegant with a mild sweetness, which pleased my companion. My companion had previously gone to Tokyo to learn about traditional Japanese sweets, so they mentioned that the red beans seemed to be cooked thoroughly and tasted delicious. Thank you for the delicious dorayaki.

★Dorayaki from a Famous Shop★ I went to buy them on a weekday afternoon. They tend to sell out quickly, so I recommend making a reservation before going. I bought both the small and large dorayaki! Despite being called small, they were anything but small, packed with plenty of sweet red bean paste. The red beans were plump and delicious. It's a dorayaki that proudly boasts its red bean filling.

Located right in between Ningyocho Station and Kodemmacho Station, this renowned shop has a long history, having been established in the first year of the Bunkyu era in Edo (1861), and has been beloved for a long time as a souvenir from daimyo families, samurai households, and traditional Japanese restaurants. They offer a large round dorayaki wrapped in two layers of skin, as well as a rectangular dorayaki wrapped in a single layer of skin and baked longer. The skin is not fluffy but rather firm, with a simple taste. The premium chunky red bean paste is made with red beans from Tokachi, Hokkaido, mixed by hand every day, and meticulously finished by artisans over a long period of time. I had the "koban dorayaki," generously filled with chunky red bean paste that almost spills out, providing a satisfying weighty texture. They are only open on weekdays and sometimes sell out within a few hours of opening at 9 a.m. due to their popularity, so it was lucky to be able to purchase without a reservation.

About a 20-minute walk from JR Kanda Station. The restaurant is small and can only accommodate about two people. Today, I bought a Kin Dora-yaki for 300 yen and a chestnut manju for 300 yen. - Kin Dora-yaki: It's filled generously with chunky red bean paste, which is delightful. The red bean paste is moist, and the slightly burnt skin adds a perfect touch, making it delicious. - Chestnut Manju: This one also has plenty of chunky red bean paste inside. The cut chestnuts are scattered throughout, the skin is quite thin, and the texture is enjoyable and tasty. I thoroughly enjoyed it until the end. Thank you for the meal.

I had work in this area in the morning, so I came in time for the 9 o'clock opening. There were already about 7-8 people in line, but the staff efficiently took orders, packed them, and processed payments quickly, so I was able to get my order in less than 5 minutes. I ordered 5 pieces of dorayaki individually, and there seemed to be a large size and a small size. The ones I had seen in photos looked like the small size, so I chose that. Many other customers were also buying chestnut manju. I'll try buying that next time. The small dorayaki was filled to the brim with red bean paste. The skin is soft like the type from Kameju. Compared to Kameju, Usagiya, and Kusatsuki, this one has the most red bean paste inside by far. It would be a surprise if you brought this as a souvenir.

Every year in September (during the Mid-Autumn Festival), I visit Seijyuken for their annual greetings tour, a tradition they have every year in September. I bought a box of dorayaki, not dango, which contains three large dorayaki (soft and sweet dough with refreshing red bean paste) and three small dorayaki (slightly firmer dough with plenty of red bean paste and interesting shapes). The taste of the dorayaki is always spot on. Sometimes the small dorayaki has too much red bean paste though... haha. This year, it's really hot, maybe because of the heat? Luckily, there wasn't much of a line so I could purchase them easily. September seems like it will continue to be hot... The full moon on August 31st was a Super Blue Moon. The full moon in September (9/29) will be a Harvest Moon. I hope it will cool down by the time of the moon-viewing! I will visit again.

There is no line, but customers constantly come to buy because it is very popular. The chestnut manju sold out in less than two hours. I bought a small round dorayaki (300), a large round dorayaki (300), and a chestnut manju (280). The small round dorayaki is a dorayaki with a long skin sandwiched with a lot of sweet red bean paste. The large round dorayaki is a regular dorayaki. The amount of red bean paste is the same. The red bean paste is shiny and moist. I think the sweetness is neutral. Eating one makes you feel full. It's hard to describe what kind of dorayaki it is. It's delicious. The chestnut manju is easy to explain. It is a chestnut manju with a smooth red bean paste and sweet chestnuts tightly packed, providing a very satisfying feeling despite its small size. It's very delicious. I think it's much more delicious than dorayaki that have long lines somewhere. The price is not high either. It's a dorayaki that won't disappoint as a souvenir. I think it's a dorayaki that won't be called famous but ordinary. Personally, I recommend the chestnut manju.

I stopped by around 9:20 before going to the Mitsukoshi British Fair in Nihonbashi. There wasn't a long line, so I purchased the following items: - Gold coin dorayaki for 300 yen - Chestnut manju for 300 yen. It was great that they last for 3 days. The red bean paste was packed and delicious. However, I personally prefer the freshly made red bean butter dorayaki from the original Senari Monaka in Sugamo. The freshly made one is amazing... or maybe it's because of the butter?

I stopped by because there was a line, and I finally got to try Seisuke, which I've been curious about for a while. They are closed on weekends, and even on weekdays, if you go late, they might be sold out, so it was a great opportunity. I bought two types of dorayaki (only one type shown in the photo) and when I tried them, the red bean paste was packed full, and I was very satisfied!

It seems that the prices have gone up quite a bit. Has it gotten a little bigger? The dorayaki with only one side of skin has also become the same price. It lost its elegance with the increased thickness, but it's a tough call because it's satisfying to eat. I prefer both sides though.

Visited on Thursday at 9:30 AM. This restaurant is closed on weekends and often sells out by late morning on weekdays, making it difficult to try. I remember coming around 11 AM before and they were already sold out. Today there were about 6 people waiting outside. The dorayaki here is filled to the brim with red bean paste, as you can see. I usually buy dorayaki from Usagiya nearby, and compared to that, the skin here is a bit drier. Also, the sweetness is subtle, but the amount of red bean paste is a bit overwhelming. I think it's a matter of preference.

At Seijyuken in Ningyocho, it feels like "how much sugar is in this," but I can't help but stop by when passing by. While it's hard to come across chestnut manju, I convinced myself that the monaka has less sugar and bought a chestnut monaka and a dorayaki with half the skin. I like the substantial feeling. ♡

The dorayaki here is not the typical size, it's more like a thick square that looks like the filling might burst out. The dorayaki is made by wrapping the filling with one layer of pancake for the small size, and two layers for the big size. The amount of red bean paste seems the same, but the flavor of the red beans is amazing. It's sweet, but the red beans are so delicious that it's almost savory. It seems to have a mix of sugar and honey, and the flavor is rich, like it has been simmered down. It's labeled as being from Hokkaido. It's about twice the size of a regular dorayaki, like a "Pac-Man" level. The pancake is moist and not fluffy, but thick. It's not as thick as another brand called Kameju. It has a fragrant taste, like mirin. The nutrition facts are interesting, considering how voluminous it is. The first bite is sweet, but surprisingly, you can finish it all in one go due to its size. The person who created this must be a genius, considering the size. However, some might find it too much, just like how some people might think the ramen at Eifukucho Daishoken is too much or just right. The chestnut bun is different from the red bean paste in dorayaki. It's sweet, but the balance with chestnut is about half and half (maybe a bit more chestnut). It's really good, with an incredibly thin skin. It tastes like something I've had before... what was it again? It's like a chestnut in a half portion of a thin-skinned bun... the crunchy chestnut is delicious. I really like this. Around 10:30, maybe because of the heat, there were fewer people compared to opening time, with only one customer. Some might find this off-putting.

Visited on a weekday in July at 11:40 am. Last time, they were sold out around the same time, but today, perhaps due to the heat or maybe that day was just unusual, either way, there were still plenty left today. I purchased a rectangular dorayaki for 300 yen and a chestnut manju for 300 yen, both including tax. The dorayaki has a very famous appearance. It has a dark brown grilled surface with an abundance of chunky sweet red bean paste reminiscent of Marron glacé. The paste has a firm texture with slightly less moisture. It has a typical sweet red bean flavor with a proper taste of azuki beans. The dough has a taste resembling brown sugar, although it's not listed in the ingredients. It might taste similar to caramelized sugar, with a moderate sweetness. There seems to be a lack of honey, so it doesn't have a moist texture. Well, after trying it, I realized that I prefer a moist texture, so I seem to be in the rabbit and duck camp. The chestnut manju also has a firm texture. Both the chestnut and the paste have a good amount of volume, giving the feeling of stuffing chestnut yokan into the manju dough. Yes, this one also fills you up nicely. I've always wanted to try it, so it was a good opportunity.

Located a 7-8 minute walk from Ningyocho Station, this long-established Japanese confectionery shop is on the first floor of a building just past the Horidome intersection on Ningyocho Street, turning left towards Nihonbashi. Their signature dorayaki is one of the top three in Tokyo for me, alongside those from Ueno Kuromoncho, Usagiya in Nihonbashi, and Kameju in Asakusa. I visited the shop when I was on my way to the Museum of Modern Art in Takebashi. Despite being a bit out of the way from Kamata, it didn't feel like an inconvenience. I arrived at the shop around 9:30 am, 30 minutes after opening. In the past, there used to be long lines at opening time, but luckily there was a sign outside saying "Dorayaki on sale." I was able to purchase five large dorayaki for 300 yen without waiting in line. The last time I bought dorayaki here was five years ago, when they were 220 yen each. This is my second visit since they moved to their current location, and my fourth visit overall. The large dorayaki, after a long time, still tastes delicious. The texture is a mix between the fluffy Kameju and the moist Usagiya dorayaki. The dense sweet bean paste is unique to this shop. I enjoyed it plain at first, then tried it with ice cream using the scoop I didn't have last time, and also with butter shaved using a grater. I found out that they haven't resumed sales from 1 pm as they did five years ago. It was a good find that I could buy without waiting in line by going early on a weekday.

Established in 1861 during the Edo period, this traditional Japanese confectionery shop has a remarkable history spanning through the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras. Renowned for its popularity among Tokyo's dorayaki confections, it is considered one of the best alongside "Usagiya," "Kameju," and "Kusudzuki." The dorayaki often sells out by afternoon, so I visited before noon today. Dorayaki, beloved by the Japanese, is a sweet red bean pancake with a strong and condensed outer layer showcasing a rich flavor with a hint of sweetness. The red bean filling is plentiful, well-cooked with minimal moisture, and has a dense texture. Despite its richness, the sweetness is balanced perfectly, creating a delightful experience. The volume of each piece is satisfying yet not overwhelming, striking a perfect balance. This dorayaki stands out from others with its refined taste, distinct from the delicate "Usagiya" and fluffy "Kameju." Thank you for the treat!

I had been wanting to go to Seisukeken for a long time, but since they are only open on weekdays, I couldn't go until today. I decided to go early after seeing reviews, and I arrived at 9:20. Was there no line? There were only two people inside, so lucky me. I bought 6 small dorayaki and 1 large dorayaki for 300 yen each. The small dorayaki looked so delicious. For those who love Japanese sweets, the visual is irresistible. The skin was slightly crispy, and the filling was packed with sweet red bean paste, with just the right amount of sweetness. I was so satisfied after eating the dorayaki. However, I think I prefer the skin from Usag○ya. The expiration date was in 3 days. It would make a nice little gift. It's just a shame that they are only open on weekdays, making it difficult to go. If you make a reservation, it seems that pick-up is only available in the afternoon.