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2024.5.24
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Warabimochi Special

[2024] 13 of Kyoto's Best Strawberry Cake Mochis

Although warabimochi has an image of being a summer wagashi, it is said that it was originally a spring seasonal word. Nowadays, it is a popular wagashi regardless of the season. In this issue, we introduce some of Kyoto's best warabimochi, from new stores to long-established sweet shops! Compare and contrast the specialty of each store, which is particular about its ingredients.

1.Founded more than 300 years ago [Ise Genroku Tachibanaya Main Store] Melting Honnama Warabi Mochi / Sanjo Horikawa

Since its establishment in 1708, Ise Genroku has continued to make Japanese sweets using only the finest ingredients. Hon-nama Warabi Mochi is very popular for its melt-in-your-mouth texture. The hand-cutting process results in an uneven cross-section, which allows the kinako (soybean flour) to be covered tightly and the flavor of the kurojyu-soybean kinako to be felt even more.

Ise Genroku Tachibana and Honnama Warabi Mochi

Honnama bracken rice cake 378 yen. Bracken-starch dumplings eaten chilled with delicious twists

Ise Genroku Tachibanaya Main Branch

  • Isegen Roku Tachibanaya Honten
  • 16 Higashizume-cho, Sanjo-dori, Horikawa Higashiiriru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 6-minute walk from Subway Nijojo-mae Station
  • Tel.075-221-1912
  • Eat-in not allowed

2.[Soft] warabi mochi is a reward sweet born from a black diamond / Nagaokakyo

Jyu-Mi" (Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture) opened in 2022 as a specialty store specializing in warabimochi (rice cakes) to provide Nagaokakyo with a rewarding sweet treat. The strawb cake made with Japanese black straw flour, known as "black diamonds," has a natural sweetness and a fluffy, bouncy texture.

soft bracken-starch dumpling

Warabi mochi 600 yen. A dish that takes time and effort to cool slowly over a day after cooking

softness

  • Softness
  • 1-8-12 Kotari, Nagaokakyo City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • A short walk from JR Nagaokakyo Station
  • Tel.075-951-1234

3.[Fumonchaya] Enjoy the large bracken rice cake with ice cream sandwiched between the wafers / Shimizu

[Fumon Chaya (Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) offers reasonably priced Japanese sweets in a space inspired by a modern teahouse in front of the Kiyomizu-dera Temple gate. The specialty, large warabimochi Kiyomizu -KIYOMIZU-, is about three times the size of a typical warabimochi. It is served in the middle of the rice cake with red bean paste and ice cream.

Fumonchaya Warabimochi

Large Strawberry Rice Cake Kiyomizu -KIYOMIZU- 990 yen. [The beautiful strawbali rice cake is made to resemble the "clear water of Otowa-no-taki," from which the temple Kiyomizu-dera got its name.

Fumon Chaya

  • Fumonchaya
  • 2-246 Shimizu, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 10 minutes walk from bus stop "Shimizu-michi".
  • Tel.075-533-8282

4.Torolli warabimochi [Kinokoto Torori] produced by a well-known store / Gion

Kinako to Torori" (Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a new brand derived from "Kissho Karyo," a kinako (soybean flour) sweets specialty store, and is a take-out sweet store specializing in warabimochi (rice cake). The strawbimochi are cooked daily in the store and covered with the deep-roasted soybean flour that is the specialty of Kissho Karyo, creating an irresistible "melt-in-your-mouth" fresh taste.

Kinokototorori Gion Main Store

Kinako and Torori Warabi Mochi 610 yen and up. A gem of a rice cake, the thick rice cake is cut into bite-size pieces and gently wrapped in kinako (soybean flour). You can enjoy various combinations such as our signature deep soybean flour, green tea soybean flour, and koshi-anko (sweetened with sugar).

Kinokototorori Gion Main Store

  • Kinko and Toro Gion Honten
  • Kyoto prefecture Kyoto city
  • 5 minute walk from Higashiyama Subway Station
  • Tel.075-708-5608
  • Eat-in not allowed

5.[Kyoto Niomon Arashiyama Warabimochi] 3 flavors of fluffy raw warabimochi / Arashiyama

Kyoto Niomon Arashiyama Warabimochi (Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a take-out store specializing in raw warabimochi (straw dough cake) owned by the Japanese sweets store Kyoto Niomon. There are three types of soft raw warabimochi: roasted soybean flour, Uji green tea, and choko. Not only is each ingredient kneaded into the rice cake itself, but it is also poured generously on top, allowing the aroma and flavor to be fully appreciated.

Kyoto Niomon Arashiyama Warabi Mochi Warabi Mochi (5 pieces) Roasted Soybean Flour

Warabi mochi (5 pieces) roasted soybean flour 400 yen. The kinako (soybean flour) carefully roasted by the hot-air roasting method is darker in color and more aromatic than most. Take-out: 850 yen for 10 pieces or more.

Kyoto Niomon Arashiyama warabimochi

  • Kyoto Nioumon Arashiyama Warabimochi
  • Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Ukyo Ward, Saga Tenryu-ji Temple Road Street
  • A short walk from Randen Saga Station on the Randen Line
    2 minutes walk from JR Saga-Arashiyama Station
  • Tel.075-354-6661
  • Eat-in not allowed

6.[Ichijoji Nakaya] Zaru bracken is the best of both Japanese and Western / Ichijoji

Ichijoji Nakatani (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a Japanese confectionery that has been in business for three generations and is known for its Dechi Yokan, a local specialty of Ichijoji. The summer favorite is the colander warabi. The strawbutter is made with fresh Hokkaido cream and placed in a small colander. Served with Hateruma-grown molasses and soybean flour, this blend of Japanese and Western flavors is a hit with children and adults alike.

Zaru Warabi of Ichijoji Nakaya

Zaru Warabi 680 yen. A cool dish inspired by the shape of zaru-dofu. The exquisite texture of this collaboration of a Japanese confectioner and a patissier is not too soft and is addictive.

Ichijoji Nakaya

  • In the middle of the day
  • 5 Ichijoji Hananokicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 6 minutes on foot from Eiden Ichijoji Station
  • Tel.075-781-5504

7.Warabimochi from [Honke Tsukimochiya Naomasa] with light strained bean paste / Sanjo Kiyamachi

Honke Gakimochi-ke Naomasa (Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a long-established Japanese confectionery store that has been popular among tourists for more than 200 years. The shop began making warabi mochi around the 1950s, and it is now their signature product along with moon cakes. The authentic taste of the product has been passed down through the years, and the same authentic taste as in the past continues to be passed down today. The fluffy rice cake and light red bean paste are exquisite.

Naomasa's bracken-starch dumplings

From 870 yen for a pack of 3 warabi rice cakes. The flavorful and aromatic kinako (soybean flour), which is freshly roasted in the store, and the soft and thin warabimochi rice cakes are wrapped in a discreet red bean paste that complements each other's flavor.

Honke Tsukimochiya Naomasa

  • Honke Mochimochiya Naomasa
  • 530-1 Kamiosaka-cho, Sanjo-agaru, Kiyamachi-dori, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 3 minutes walk from Keihan "Sanjo Station"
  • Tel.075-231-0175
  • Eat-in not allowed

8.The "strawbaked rice cakes" at "monna" have changed the stereotype that "they don't last long" (Higashiyama Gojo)

Breaking the stereotype that warabimochi do not last long, monna (Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) sells warabimochi by mail order and in person. The owner, Yusuke Kadona, who has experience at a famous store, has developed a five-day lasting warabimochi and delivers them all over Japan.

monna warabimochi

A set of 12 monna warabimochi (straw dough cake) is priced at 1,800 yen. The rice cake is so soft that it seems to overflow when you lift it up, yet it has a strong firmness. Best-before date: 5 days (room temperature) *Cooling is required in summer.

Kyoto Shimizu bracken rice cake monna

  • Kyoto Yomizu Warabi Mochi Monna
  • 6-538-25 Gojobashihigashi, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 9 min. walk from Gojozaka bus stop.
  • Tel.075-201-8158

9.Shiki Warabi" (strawberries) from Rakusha-an, captivatingly soft to the taste buds.

Rakusha-an (Kita-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a store specializing in warabimochi (bracken rice cakes), which the owner, Mr. Nakano, used to make as souvenirs, but they became so popular that he opened his own store. The charm of the shop is its soft texture like melted water that stretches as far as the mouth can go.

Seasonal bracken at Rakushaan

Shiki Warabi: 800 yen for 8 pieces, 1,450 yen for 16 pieces (reservations only). Not only the rice cakes, but also the noshi, box, and toothpick holder are carefully made one by one, so be sure to make a reservation at least one day in advance!

Rakushaan

  • Rakushaan
  • 22, Shitake-Shimashibamoto-cho, Kita-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 3 minutes on foot from the bus stop "Kamihorikawa"
  • Tel.075-494-2551
  • Eat-in not allowed

10.[Gion Tokuya] Cool-looking bracken-starch dumplings / Gion

Gion Tokuya (Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) has a reputation for its sweet treats made with carefully selected ingredients and freshly prepared delicacies, such as hot rice cakes baked by customers themselves on a dedicated stove and warabimochi made from domestic warabimochi flour. Their signature item, the warabimochi, has a melt-in-your-mouth texture and a gentle flavor unique to real warabi flour.

Gion Tokuya Warabi Mochi

Tokuya's Honwarabi Mochi (rice cake): 1,320 yen. At the end, the remaining ice in the center can be poured over with molasses to make it shaved ice-like.

Gion Tokuya

  • Giontokuya
  • 570-127 South Gion-cho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 5 min. walk from Exit 6 of Gion-Shijo Station, Keihan
  • Tel.075-561-5554

11.Freshly made strawbaked rice cakes at Saryo Hosen / Shimogamo

At Saryo Hosen (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture), run by Hosen-do, a Japanese confectionery store established in 1952, you can enjoy sweet treats while gazing at a Japanese garden in a tatami room built in the traditional sukiya style. The lusciously glossy warabimochi, which are made to order, are unparalleled in their elasticity and softness.

Bracken rice cake of Saryo Hosen

The specialty, Warabimochi, made with Japanese strawbeech flour and carefully kneaded, is 1,400 yen. Enjoy the change of taste by pouring Hateruma's Kuromitsu (molasses) from Okinawa to your liking.

Teahouse Hosen

  • Saryo Hosen
  • 25 Shimogamo Nishitakagicho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 3 minutes on foot from the bus stop "Shimogamo Higashi Honmachi"
  • Tel.075-712-1270
  • No takeout

12.[Enjoy a casual drink of straw rice cake at [sweet shop Kamakura] / Ginkakuji Temple.

Kamakura (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture), located in front of Ginkakuji Temple, offers a popular strawbaked rice cake drink that is made with plenty of finely cut, soft and chewy strawbaked rice cakes. The drink is made with a moderate sweetness, which enhances the taste of the strawbimochi even more.

Kamakura Warabimochi Drink

The most popular Warabimochi drink, Asakawaen's Matcha green tea S size 620 yen and Warabimochi luxury strawberry milk S size 650 yen, has a moderate sweetness and is easy to drink. Mix well and enjoy!

Sweets shop Kamakura Kyoto Ginkakujimae store

  • Kamakura (Kamakura) Kyoto Bank Park
  • 14-8 Ginkakujimaecho, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 3-minute walk from the bus stop "Ginkakuji-mae"
  • Tel.075-771-3715
  • Eat-in not allowed

13.[Mitsuya] bracken rice cake using rare natural bracken / Saiin

Mitsuya] (Ukyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a store specializing in warabi mochi (rice cakes) made from natural real warabi (straw). Made with natural strawbeech flour from Akita Prefecture, the purity of the starch is higher than that of ordinary strawbeech, making it stickier and more elastic and giving the mochi a strong rice cake texture. The gentle sweetness and generous amount of Kyoto kinako (soybean flour) make it a simple yet unmistakable delicacy that everyone will love.

Mitsuya

Plain 800 yen. Stretchable, firm, and very satisfying. There is a rich lineup of varieties, including one with azuki beans and cacao nibs, and a total of six varieties (five standard and one limited-time-only) are on standby!

Mitsuya

  • 8 Saiin Kozanjicho, Ukyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
  • 2 minutes on foot from Hankyu "Saiin Station"
  • Tel.075-311-9999
  • Eat-in not allowed
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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