I revisited Darumaya, a mochi confectionery shop in Kojyo that appeared on "The Lonely Gourmet." The shop is run by the energetic 80-year-old owner and his wife, the proprietress. I tried their persimmon shaved ice, which I have every year. It had a beautiful appearance like mango, but I felt the taste could have been a bit more matured. I'll come back again next year.

I arrived around 10:40 am on Thursday. No wait. There was only one group inside the restaurant. I ordered a Milk Uji Kanjitsu for 1,300 yen, which was a bit pricey for a usual lunch. After a short wait, a delicious-looking shaved ice arrived. It was made with natural ice, had a crunchy texture, and didn't melt easily until the end. The red bean paste was tasty, and I was pleasantly surprised to find more at the bottom. Although the shaved ice was a bit expensive, they also sold traditional rice cakes at the entrance for a reasonable price. The restaurant is located in the nostalgic Tenjin Ginza arcade shopping street, so it's convenient not to get wet even on rainy days. Thank you for the meal! I will definitely visit again!

I visited Darumaya Mochigashi, a Japanese confectionery shop in the Jūjō shopping street. I stopped by on a holiday afternoon after having ramen. I bought the last piece of grass mochi. It was a traditional grass mochi with sweet red bean paste inside. Thank you for the meal!

I had been curious about this restaurant for a while, but upon hearing that it might be closing by the end of the year, I decided to stop by while I was in Tojo. To make sure I didn't regret it, I tried the Coffee Cream Zenzai that I had been curious about, as well as the most expensive shaved ice, the premium Yame Kanjiku. - Coffee Cream Zenzai 900 yen This menu item has been on my mind ever since I found out about this place. In a way, the coffee and zenzai didn't quite match as I expected. The taste of the red beans was more dominant, and there wasn't much of a coffee flavor. The presence of the ice cream was almost non-existent. - Premium Yame Kanjiku 3,200 yen I usually only have fruit-flavored shaved ice, so I had hardly ever tried matcha Kanjiku before. I didn't realize it wasn't sweet (laughs). I didn't know that it was meant to be eaten with the sweetness of the red beans. The sweetness of the red beans was also mild. It wasn't satisfying for someone like me who loves very sweet flavors. The staff members were energetic, cheerful, and polite, which left a good impression.

In the essay "The Pillow Book" by Sei Shonagon, there is a description of shaved ice with sweet syrup poured over it and placed in a new metal bowl being considered elegant and beautiful. Shaved ice has been a beloved summer tradition in Japan since ancient times. Feeling as if remembering a forgotten summer homework, my wife and I visited a sweets shop in the Jutoginza shopping street in Jujo, where they serve popular shaved ice made with natural ice from the Yatsugatake foothills that has been frozen slowly over time in nature, and using carefully selected ingredients gathered from all over the country by the owner, Yuriko Kawada. This shop was featured in the TV show "The Lonely Gourmet" Season 2 Episode 10 "Saba-kun from Kita Ward Jujo and Sweet Tamagoyaki." We ordered the Special Milk Uji Kin Toki and Amao flavors. The ice had an excellent melt, light and airy, with a pure and high-quality natural ice that doesn't give you a brain freeze. The Uji Kin Toki flavor had the authentic taste of matcha with a refined and gentle sweetness from the red bean paste, while the Amao flavor offered a refreshing sweetness of strawberries and a fruity texture. The elegant natural shaved ice in Jujo was delicious. Thank you for the meal! ｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡

Waited a bit before entering. The atmosphere is like an old-fashioned sweet shop, prices are reasonable, and you can spend a leisurely time. The red beans are delicious, the bitterness and aroma of the coffee, and even the ice cream are good value for money. The amaou strawberries have plenty of syrup on them and have a refreshing taste. I would like to visit again.

In the past, Inari-san used to buy triangle bean mochi often. The dried gourd roll and rice dumplings are delicious at this confectionery shop. It's a popular shaved ice shop even in winter as seen on TV. When passing by the shop that day, luckily there were empty seats, so I went in for heatstroke prevention. I ordered the most popular Milk Uji Sweet Potato. The red bean paste and matcha were plentiful, with a smooth texture. It was refreshing to have natural ice, hydrating and lowering body temperature. The perfect sweetness healed my body, making me feel so happy. I found Yame Sweet Potato on the menu, made with Yame tea matcha from Fukuoka Prefecture. Hmm, I want to try this too. There are also other options like exceptional, top selection that make you wonder how they are different.

A nostalgic sweet shop in the Jūjō Ginza shopping street, exuding a Showa era ambiance. Established in 1947. Their signature menu item is the year-round offering of shaved ice using matcha, such as the "Uji Kanjou." Outside the shop, they also sell rice cakes and sweets like bean daifuku and botamochi as indicated by their name. They prioritize additive-free and organic ingredients, with the owner traveling nationwide to directly contract with producers in search of authenticity. ◆Location: 3 minutes on foot from Jūjō Station ◆Business hours: 11:00-18:30, open on Sundays ◆Closed on Tuesdays ◆Crowd situation: Visited on a weekend afternoon. Waited for about 5 minutes. ◆Today, I ordered the "Bekkaku Ume" (¥1800). While lining up, a kind elderly man outside mentioned, "Uji Kanjou is the most popular. It's big, but everyone finishes it before leaving!" in a cheerful tone. Although originally a regular store at Sweets Hyakumeiten, they were recently selected as a top 100 store for traditional Japanese sweets and confectioneries, hence the son from out of town assisting with customer service in the store. This son is so adept at engaging with customers that it's hard to find a moment when he's not talking. A savvy businessman indeed. Upon closer inspection, it turns out that the owner is the one from "Kyoto Uji Kanjouya," which holds the highest rating at the Sweets Hyakumeiten WEST on Tabelog. It's impressive to see a second-generation continuing the legacy of a top 100 store. The Bekkaku Ume features ice that is crispy and melts in your mouth, with the plum flavor evenly infused throughout. They avoid using too much sugar in their shaved ice, especially sticking to no high-fructose corn syrup for their matcha flavor. The addition of fresh sansho berries to the shaved ice creates a well-balanced combination of acidity and spice. The thick-skinned plum pieces on top resemble prunes. Although I was initially concerned about the portion size, I was able to enjoy it effortlessly until the last bite. It seems they are planning to close down in two years, so an early visit is recommended.

In the shopping street of Jūjō, there is a Japanese confectionery shop that handles carefully selected ingredients with great care, making it always a pleasure to visit. Lately, I have been coming here on purpose. Today, I wanted to go after work and drove there. After parking, I called. It was around 5:50 p.m. Hurriedly, I headed there upon receiving a response to come. It seems like the closing time is somewhat flexible, so for those casually passing by in the local area, it's probably fine if it's open... However, if you are specifically going to Daruma Mochi Kashiten, it's recommended to call ahead as the closing time can vary depending on the flow of customers. I managed to grab the last seat on a Friday evening. While eating, there was a constant flow of people coming and going, and by the time I left, it was almost full. Today, there was a flag for odango, and in September, the iri odango had resumed. Since it was in the evening, it was sold out. I got some inarizushi and kampyō maki. I enjoyed eating them inside the shop; both the inarizushi and kampyō maki were delicious. I usually don't order kampyō maki, but this one was so tasty that I was impressed. I had a strawberry milk kakigori, which was a classic with natural ice, and I was very satisfied. It's still hot, so it was perfect for cooling down. As always, I was glad I came and thinking about wanting to come again on my way back. It seems they are planning to close in 2024. The exact date is still undecided, but they plan to close within the next year. The young owner has another shop in Kyoto, which is a joyous occasion, but it seems to be making the succession difficult. Therefore, I believe it's a must-visit famous shop that you should definitely go to.

I always come here during summer vacation. I ordered the Milk Uji Kanjou for 1300 yen and the Milk for 800 yen. The Milk Uji Kanjou has a slight bitterness of Uji tea, combined with the perfect sweetness of milk and red bean paste. The Milk is delicious with plenty of condensed milk. I will come back again next year. The restaurant was bustling with locals and those who came specifically for this place. Luckily, we were able to enter without waiting, but it was full.

On a weekday around 1:30 PM, the customers were about half full. I ordered the special milk Uji matcha shaved ice and my companion had the regular milk Uji matcha for comparison. The special one had a stronger tea flavor. Well, I guess you won't know unless you try both. Anyway, it was a very delicious matcha shaved ice. It's a shame that they are closing next year.

There is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in the Jūjō shopping street that always handles carefully selected ingredients very meticulously, so I always look forward to visiting. Lately, I have been coming here specifically. Today, I requested the Uji milk flavor. The fluffy shaved ice with premium matcha and condensed milk was absolutely delicious. Perhaps because it's summer, they are currently not serving rice cakes. I heard they will be closed throughout August. As always, it was nice to come here and on my way back home, I thought I would like to visit again. It seems they are planning to close in 2024. The exact closing date is still undecided, but they plan to close within the next year. The young owner is opening another shop in Kyoto, which is a happy occasion, but it seems to complicate the issue of finding a successor. Therefore, I believe this is a must-visit famous shop.

Sweets Tokyo is famous for its matcha shaved ice. I visited the shopping street in Jojo on a Sunday evening for the first time, and there were almost no people waiting. I ordered the Milk Uji Kanji for 1300 yen and Anmitsu. Uji matcha is the specialty of this shop that focuses on tea, with menu options ranging up to 3300 yen for the finest tea ingredients. The shaved ice here has a nostalgic texture, unlike the trendy shaved ice shops. Made with natural ice from Yamanashi, the shaved ice has a satisfying texture and generous portion. Without milk, it's not too sweet, allowing you to taste the matcha through the ice. It's interesting how they differentiate between select, premium, and exceptional teas. They also serve shaved ice in the winter, but it's definitely a summer treat. This renowned shop is said to be closing in 24 years. For those who haven't been yet, hurry up. Thank you for the meal.

I went in the evening, but it was almost full. As closing time approached, it became a bit less crowded. They had a wide variety of shaved ice flavors. The price seems to vary depending on the intensity of the matcha. It's nice that red bean paste comes with the coffee. I will come back even in winter.

There is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in the Jūjō shopping street that always handles carefully selected ingredients very meticulously, so I always look forward to visiting. Lately, I have been coming here on purpose. Today, I ordered Uji milk. The fluffy shaved ice with top-quality matcha and condensed milk is absolutely delicious. Perhaps because it's summer, they are taking a break from selling rice cakes recently. As always, it was nice to come here, and I think I want to come back again on my way home. They are planning to close in 2024. The exact date is still undecided, but they plan to close within the next year. The young owner has opened another store in Kyoto, which is fortunate, but it seems to be making it difficult to find a successor. Therefore, I believe it is a must-visit famous store that you should definitely visit.

On a hot afternoon on the weekend, I took a train to get here. The atmosphere of the restaurant, especially within the shopping street, had a strong Showa era vibe, and the seating felt nostalgic, which was exciting. I chose the Uji matcha milk, and I was very satisfied to find red beans inside the ice. It's not the kind of place where you linger, so it's good for quickly cooling off.

Just a 3-minute walk from Jujo Station on the JR Saikyo Line, or a 9-minute walk from Higashi-Jujo Station on the Keihin-Tohoku Line. Located in the Jujo Ginza shopping street. The store opens at 10 a.m. I don't like to wait in line, so I went first thing in the morning. It's my first time in Jujo. There are many shops in the shopping street, looks like you can buy side dishes and more. As soon as the store opened, I went inside. It seems like they don't sell mochi sweets in the summer. Matcha shaved ice menu. There are so many varieties of matcha shaved ice. The prices vary depending on the grade: special selection, top grade, exceptional, each reflecting the difference in matcha quality. The higher the grade, the stronger the natural sweetness and flavor of matcha. In addition to matcha shaved ice, there is also hojicha shaved ice and coffee shaved ice. On the back of the menu, there are other shaved ice options, as well as anmitsu and drink menus. I ordered the recommended "Ichidaku Sencha" tea. I chose the top-grade Ichidaku Sencha, which they said is "ice brewed." When I touched the teapot as instructed, it was surprisingly cold! I had never tasted tea brewed with ice before. It was smooth, sweet, and a flavor I had never experienced before. After drinking it, I felt a calming sensation. I think it's because of the theanine in the tea. It was a hot day, but after drinking the tea, I felt refreshed and my mood improved significantly. The power of tea is amazing! The staff explained a lot about tea, and it was quite entertaining. It took about 30 minutes of explanation. The service was relatively quick after that. I chose the top-grade Uji Kanetoki. They use natural ice from Yamanashi. The shaved ice was crunchy. Of course, the red beans were cooked in the shop. Uji Kanetoki, it's been a while since I had it. Delicious! Furthermore, when I poured the Ichidaku Sencha on top, it became even more delicious! It was a unique tea experience that I had never had before. The staff's personality might be a bit strong, so it might be tough for those who don't like it. I'm actually not a big fan of that type myself (^◇^;) But the tea and Uji Kanetoki were delicious, so it was okay. It was quite a luxurious experience. Also, you can enjoy shaved ice here all year round. According to the staff, shaved ice in winter is recommended. Thank you for the meal.

After moving from Otsuka Tomiyama Curry to Jujo, I felt dizzy from the excessive heat, so I had shaved ice before my errands. Luckily, I was able to get in without waiting. I come here a few times every year, but this is my first time this year. The fluffy natural ice was delicious ^_^ I don't like anko, so I had Uji milk without sweet red beans. Please pour more milk (inner voice). Thank you for the meal, I feel revived.

I went to eat shaved ice made with natural ice! I was torn between Uji Kinjito, but I chose Amo with lots of strawberries. It was refreshing and delicious! It seems that they won't have natural ice around Obon time. Also, the source of natural ice changes depending on the year. When my friend who took me there was asked about the difference between natural ice and regular ice, they said, "Both are delicious." I personally can't tell the difference. It was written that there are strawberry and melon flavors available on weekdays only. I think it was 700 yen? This one uses regular syrup, right? By the way, the Amo with lots of strawberries costs 1800 yen!

This time, I visited the sweet cafe "Darumaya," which is about a 4-minute walk from Jujo Station. This legendary shop has been shining in the Sweets Top 100 since 2018. This time, I tried their famous "shaved ice."

--Today's meal--

・Milk Uji Matcha Sweet Potato (Premium)
・Amaou Strawberry + Milk Ice Cream
・Mitara Dango (Takeout)

Total 4500 yen
Approximately 2200 yen per person
----------------------------------Other Information--

Visit Date/Time: Weekday, 12:20
Seating: Available
Wait: None
Wait Time: None

※ It was relatively quiet at this time
※ Lunchtime might be a good time to visit
※ The shop can accommodate about 10 groups
※ Scheduled to close at the end of next year ◀︎ Extremely important

------------------

This time, I tried the Premium Milk Uji Matcha Sweet Potato, and it was truly "premium." The elegant, smooth, and rich matcha flavor that I had never experienced before overwhelms your palate.

At Darumaya, there are different ranks for matcha: "Regular," "Premium," and "Exceptional," all indicating the quality of matcha. The higher the rank, the more rare and richly delicious matcha you can enjoy.

If you ask the staff, especially the older sister, for more details, they will explain it in even more detail, so be sure to ask at the shop.

What makes this shop outstanding is not only the taste but also the "consideration," "care," and "atmosphere."

When I bought "Mitara Dango" as a souvenir on my way out, they even went out of their way to bring a cooling pack from the back, saying, "It's so hot that the dango might go bad..." They showed such care, going above and beyond what is typically expected, and I can't help but feel grateful.

Thank you for the delicious shaved ice. I will definitely visit again before the closure.

There is a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in the Jūjō shopping street where carefully selected ingredients are handled very meticulously, making it always a pleasure to visit. Although I no longer have business in this area and find it difficult to visit, it is definitely worth making a trip here. You will truly appreciate it when you visit. This time, I had a mixed shaved ice where you can feel the exceptional skills of the proprietress with a full combo of coffee, red beans, and milk. I also had cold brew coffee, and the condensed deliciousness is irresistible. As always, it was a good decision to come, and I think about wanting to come back on my way home. I was surprised to hear that they are planning to close in 2024. The exact date is still undecided, but they plan to close within the next year. The young owner is opening another store in Kyoto, which is a joyous occasion, but it seems to be making it difficult for the succession. I believe this is a renowned shop that you should definitely visit.