The shop I am introducing this time is "Ikebukuro Sannendo" located at the west exit of Ikebukuro in Tokyo. I visited this shop for the first time...!! The name of this shop reminded me of "Kuriimu Pan no Hachitendo" in Mihara City, Hiroshima. This shop is located about a 2-3 minute walk from Ikebukuro Station's west exit and is a well-established Japanese confectionery shop. When you enter the shop, you are greeted by the iconic "Ikebukuro Owl Senbei." I purchased a pack of two Ikebukuro Owl Senbei and asked the staff for the popular items among regular customers. The answer was "Salt Senbei." I bought these two items as souvenirs and enjoyed them at home.

The appearance is quite unique and cute...! It would make a great souvenir. The red bean paste is very smooth and has a refined sweetness. The fact that the skin sticks to your mouth is just part of the charm of this snack. It's quite large, so it might not be suitable as a dessert after a meal. I think it's perfect for a snack or as a gift. Thank you for the meal.

- The Ikubukuro mochi was packaged in a cute package. When I opened the package, it had a nice aroma of crispy mochi skin. It was filled with plenty of sweet bean paste, and the outer layer was slightly sweet and delicious. Truly a famous sweet from Ikebukuro. - The Kura dorayaki had a delicious combination of honey sweetness and fluffy pancake-like dough. It was a small size, perfect for a quick snack. The price was a bit on the higher side, but it might be expected given the location.

I always receive a souvenir at gatherings of a certain group. Due to the coronavirus, there haven't been gatherings for a while, so it's been a long time since I've had it. It's still cute and delicious. The skin is crispy, and the sweet red bean paste is not too sweet. It used to come with salted rice crackers, but this time they were missing, which is a shame. They were thin and refreshing, and I really liked those rice crackers.

Today, I had a field survey in Ikebukuro! I arrived earlier than expected, so I waited at the west exit. I remembered a sweet shop called "Miharado" that I visited a few years ago, so I decided to go there until the scheduled time. Unfortunately, the "sweet shop" was closed... So, I decided to buy the famous sweet potato manju, but I was captivated by the adorable owl design... I ended up buying the popular "Ikefukurou Monaka" instead. Also, I bought some "salt senbei" that caught my eye. *It goes well with beer! Highly recommended!!!

I visited "Ikebukuro Sanyodo," a 3-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station. I arrived around 2:00 pm on Saturday and there was no wait. I was able to pay smoothly. I bought a dorayaki from the store for 280 yen. The dorayaki had a moist skin and a well-balanced sweet bean paste filling. It was delicious until the last bite.

Cute monaka in the shape of an owl. It had "Ikebukuro" written on its belly. The popular red and white Ikebukuro owl was sold out. The monaka had a nice crispy texture and a sweet bean paste filling. The azuki beans were soft. The aroma of the monaka was delightful! Unfortunately, the dessert shop on the second floor was closed that day. It was very disappointing. The staff member at the time seemed a bit rushed. I wish they had smiled more.

It's right near the west exit of Ikebukuro Station, facing Mizuki Street. They sell a special treat called "Ikefukurou," a wordplay on Ikebukuro and owl. I bought it as a souvenir. The Ikefukurou treat comes in a pack of 2 for 540 yen. They also have a red and white version, but it was sold out when I visited. It had sweet bean paste with mochi filling.

Matcha Creme Brulee ¥930 This matcha creme brulee is unique! I had never tried matcha creme brulee before, so I decided to give it a try when I saw it on the menu. It's a perfect blend of Japanese and Western flavors. The top is crispy while the inside is creamy and smooth, almost like a pudding. It's smoother than I expected, with a creamy texture. Surprisingly, it doesn't have a strong matcha flavor - there's no bitterness or astringency, just the aroma of matcha. It's a creamy type that would appeal to everyone.

Edogawa Ranpo loved "Joyo Manju" which is a type of sweet bun. It is located just a 1-minute walk from Exit C9 of Ikebukuro Station. I bought the "Joyo Manju" and the unique "Ikebukuro Fukurou Monaka". The Joyo Manju is made by mixing yam, rice flour, and sugar and wrapping it in sweet bean paste. You can choose between chunky or smooth bean paste. I chose the chunky bean paste on this day. It has a nice level of sweetness, not too overwhelming. The individually packaged bun has a shelf life until the next day, while the box of 4 buns can last for about 10 days. It would make a great gift. The Ikebukuro Fukurou Monaka comes in a cute owl package. I heard they had a special Amabie version, but unfortunately, it was already sold out. It can last for about 2 weeks. The package is an owl, and the inside is filled with chunky bean paste and mochi. The mochi adds a different texture to the sweet bean paste. There is also a slightly spicy kick, adding some excitement to the flavor. It's cute, lasts long, and would make a great souvenir.

Before heading back from Ikebukuro, I decided to stop by "Mihara-do" for something sweet. Located at the entrance of Romance Street, this shop has a first-floor store and a second-floor tea shop. I usually enjoy their handmade manju, where you sandwich red bean paste between the dough yourself. The crispy, crumbly texture of the dry dough is delicious, and it comes with a cold matcha tea, making it a great deal. Today, however, I was in the mood for something summery. With a variety of shaved ice options all priced around 1000 yen, I chose the Uji Kin-to. It came in a matcha tea bowl-shaped bowl with a generous amount of matcha-covered ice, three mochi balls, and plenty of red bean paste. The shovel-shaped spoon that came with it was cute. It was fun to play around with the mountain of ice using the shovel... It cost only 950 yen! The ice was finely shaved, slightly rough, and refreshing. The ice was topped with sprinkled matcha powder mixed with sugar, not matcha syrup, giving it a dry sensation at first. The matcha powder seemed to absorb the moisture in my mouth momentarily... but after a while, the ice melted, and the matcha blended in, making my mouth moist. The bitterness and astringency of the matcha were distinct, with the sweetness coming later. The red bean paste was firm and sweet, with a strong bean flavor. As I dug deeper into the ice, I found more red bean paste at the bottom. Mixing the ice, red bean paste, and matcha powder created a creamy matcha-flavored sherbet. Despite its generous portion, it was easy to eat. It was a satisfying treat. Now, it's time to head home.

Blog "Eating and Walking along the Tokyu Line" - https://asante.blog/ I stopped by this shop on my way to a drinking party in Ikebukuro. Located at the west exit, this shop also offers a traditional Japanese sweet called "Ranpo no Kura," which was favored by the famous author Edogawa Ranpo. Although the second floor allows for dining in, it was already closed when I visited around 4:30 pm, so I bought some sweets to take home on the first floor. The display showcased a variety of beautifully designed Japanese sweets, making it enjoyable yet challenging to choose. In the end, I bought the following to enjoy at home with tea: - Ikebukuro Manju x2 for 230 yen each - Ranpo no Kura Cheese Butter for 230 yen - Ranpo no Kura Apricot Jam for 230 yen - Goldfish Fan for 160 yen - Kura Dorayaki for 250 yen. It was nice to be able to buy a little bit of each. First, I tried the "Ranpo no Kura," which resembled a "Nabona" in appearance. The soft texture of the dough was to my liking, and the balance with the cheese butter and apricot jam was excellent. The "Ikebukuro Manju" was a cute package with delicious red bean paste and mochi inside, providing a full course of Manju in a small size. The red bean paste was also very good. It made sense that Edogawa Ranpo favored these sweets. Overall, the Japanese sweets were truly delicious. Thank you for the meal.

In the middle of the drinking district near Ikebukuro West Exit, there is a solitary Japanese sweets shop, with a dessert shop on the second floor. They offer dishes like anmitsu and zenzai, as well as noodles like simmered noodles and udon. However, their specialty is shaved ice, a summer tradition. They have fruit flavors, but being a Japanese sweets shop, I recommend the shaved ice with sweet red bean paste. It comes with homemade sweet red bean paste and mochi balls on top, which is truly impressive. The dish is filled with sweet red bean paste all the way to the bottom of the shaved ice plate, making it a satisfying experience until the end.

Walking from Ikebukuro Station North Exit, this shop may look like a souvenir store at first glance, but the second floor has a cozy tea space. This time, I ordered a set of Awazenzai and Tokoroten. You can choose between coarse and smooth red bean paste for the Awazenzai, and I chose the coarse one this time. Wow, was coarse red bean paste always this delicious? I was really surprised! The texture was smooth, and the sweetness was gentle and not overpowering, spreading throughout my mouth. It paired perfectly with the mochi inside. This is so delicious! I can't believe there's a shop like this.

There is a shop in front of Romance Street in Nishi-Ikebukuro Ichome that is famous as a confectionery loved by the literary master Edogawa Rampo. Established in 1937, it's a shop I've always wanted to visit. The dessert shop is on the second floor, up a slightly steep staircase. From the window seats, you can overlook Romance Street. Currently, the dessert shop is operating with shortened hours. I tried the An Shiratama (including tax: 820 yen). You can choose between smooth or chunky anko. On this day, I chose chunky. It was served promptly. The rich and sticky chunky anko is delicious. The azuki beans also maintain a firm texture. The robust sweetness is impressive. The homemade shiratama is chewy and perfectly soft, with a smooth texture in the mouth. The combination of anko and shiratama is perfect. It's been a while since I've had chunky anko and shiratama this delicious. If I have the chance, I would love to visit again. Thank you for the meal!

A long-standing dessert shop in the bustling area of the west exit of Ikebukuro. The prices are a bit high, probably because they cut the fruits after ordering, which is why the banana slices look clean without discoloration. They have a wide variety of anmitsu, so you can choose your favorite.

A historic Japanese confectionery shop. I tried the famous Ikedoriu owl-shaped monaka and "Kura no dorayaki." The dorayaki is a classic style, with plenty of sweet bean paste filling. The beans are firm and the aroma is not compromised. It's delicious! The sweetness is not overwhelming, it's well-balanced. The monaka is also delicious, filled with plenty of bean paste and has a satisfying weight. The owl-shaped cowhide is like a heart accent. The aftertaste is refreshing. Not too sweet, so it's also good as a gift. You can enjoy the authentic taste. I'm curious about the café as well.

It was a lively Sunday in February at the chocolate-filled depachika in Ikebukuro. Seeking some sweetness, I visited Sanendo. Stepping through the curtain of this establishment, which was founded in 1937, I got the "Ikebukuro Monaka" and "Kura Dorayaki" to go. It seems that the famous writer Edogawa Rampo, who used to live in Ikebukuro, was a regular here, as the dorayaki had a stamp of his home's storehouse. The monaka had a perfect balance of not-too-sweet red bean paste and mochi inside, providing a satisfying experience. The charming shape of the monaka seems to bring happiness. The dorayaki was also just the right size and could easily become addictive. As we age, it seems that traditional Japanese sweets become even more delicious.

I bought some adorable owl-shaped monaka as a souvenir and for home use! The monaka, featuring an owl motif symbolizing Ikebukuro, not only looks cute but also tastes delicious. It has a refined sweetness with smooth red bean paste filling. The mochi is just a subtle accent. Highly recommended as a souvenir from Ikebukuro! I heard there is also a café on the second floor, so I will definitely check it out next time.

Located about a 5-minute walk from Nishi-guchi, this traditional Japanese sweets shop is surrounded by izakayas and exudes a sense of history. They offer several wagashi sweets featuring an owl motif, which seem perfect for souvenirs. I purchased the Ikebukuro Monaka, which was filled with red bean paste made from Tokachi beans, and had just the right amount of sweetness. It was delicious. This product is probably only available at this shop, so I highly recommend it. You can purchase just one to try it out.