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2022.11.7
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Saichu Special

[2022] Recommended as a souvenir! 7 Cute Monaka in Kyoto

Monaka is a simple and tasty snack with anko (red bean paste) sandwiched inside the skin. In addition to the traditional shape, unique products such as cute shapes and original bean paste have been appearing one after another.
We have selected six Kyoto monaka that are now attracting renewed attention! Compare and contrast the different types of monaka that are full of individuality.

1.Three ingredients show their individuality [Kagijin confectionery] Norinko / Gion, Tokyo

It was established in 1921 as a branch of Gion's Kagizen Ryobo. URINKO" is a cute monaka in the shape of Uribo, a child of a wild boar, and was created because the Zenjuian, the pagoda of Kenninji Temple, famous for its guardian boars, is located nearby. It is filled with bean paste for monaka with agar added and other ingredients, making it a satisfying one-size-fits-all snack.

Confectionery Chef Kagijin no Urinko
Monaca Cross Section of Kagijin

URINKO: 216 yen per piece. With candied chestnuts, homemade black soybeans, and dried figs. Carefully packed by hand upon order, so you can enjoy the crispy skin.

Gokashiji Kamijin

  • Often comes in handy when one is complaining about something
  • 140 Komatsu-cho, Shijo-sagaru, Yamato-oji-dori, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 3-minute walk from Keihan Gion-Shijo Station
  • Tel. 075-561-4180

2.The savory aroma of nuts fills your mouth with the seeds of Taneka Shoten / Karasuma Oike

Original "monaka" store by a store specializing in monaka seeds, which has been wholesaling monaka seeds to famous Japanese confectionery stores for over 70 years. Here you can enjoy three types of original monaka seeds (almond, walnut, and peanut) with three types of nuts kneaded into the dough. The seed seeds are filled with red bean paste and nut paste, allowing you to enjoy the marriage of nuts and red bean paste.

Seeds from Tanega Shoten
Monaka Cross Section of Taneka Shoten

Seeds and nuts (peanuts, tonsils, walnuts) 250 yen each. Peanut with peanut butter and tonsil with almond butter. Walnuts with caramelized walnuts.

Tanega Shoten

  • Taneka Shoten
  • Kyoto prefecture Kyoto city
  • 2 minutes walk from Subway Karasuma Oike Station
  • Tel.075-201-3016

3.Captivated by the cute appearance! [Teddy Bear Sakana by Itotatsu / Omuro

Itodatsu is a Japanese confectionery store loved by a wide range of wagashi fans, from girls on their way home from kindergarten to elderly men. [Mr. Ito, who was trained at Sasaya Iori and other confectionery shops, offers wagashi with traditional flavors and exciting shapes. The popular teddy bear monaka, inspired by icing cookies, is a sweet looking and tasting item filled with red bean paste.

Omuro Japanese Sweets Itotachi no Monaka
Monaca Cross Section of Itotachi

Itotatsu no monaka: 350 yen per piece. Inside is filled with brown sugar sweet bean paste with Ikkyuji natto.

Omuro Japanese Sweets Itatatsu

  • Itotatsu
  • 5-17, Ryoanji-Tonoshita-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 5 min. walk from Myoshinji Sta. on the Randen Line
  • Tel. 075-203-6243

4.[Fancy monaka of various colors at Tsuruya Yoshinobu IRODORI Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit/Kyoto Station

Tsuruya Yoshinobu is a Japanese confectionery store established in 1803. From this long-established store with a long history comes "IROMONAKA," a cute monaka with the appearance of Western-style confectionery. Inspired by macaroons, these bite-sized monaka are made by coloring monaka seeds with natural ingredients and filling them with red bean paste made from rare Umaji Dainagon azuki beans. In addition to the three standard types, seasonal an (red bean paste) such as rose and yuzu are also available, as well as a set for handmade.

IROMONAKA by Yoshinobu Tsuruya IRODORI
Monaka Cross Section of Tsuruya Yoshinobu

IROMONAKA individually wrapped from 216 yen per piece. Four types of colorful bite-size monaka are on standby: Ogura, Koshian, Maccha, and seasonal. [IRODORI] Limited edition

Tsuruya Yoshinobu IRODORI Kyoto Station Hachijo Exit

  • Tsuruya Yoshinobu Irodori Kyoto Ekihachijoguchi
  • 8-3 Higashishiokojicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
    JR Kyoto Station, Hachijo Exit 1F, Asty Road
  • Tel.075-574-7627

5.[Ice cream monaka made with high-grade matcha green tea from Otanien Tea Shop / Tofukuji Temple area

For 95 years since its establishment, this specialty store has sold Uji tea purchased directly from the market at reasonable prices. The trust of long-time regular customers has been supported by the third-generation tea connoisseur, who holds a 5-dan certificate in tea judging techniques. The Uji green tea ice cream monaka is filled with ice cream made from high-grade matcha green tea, which was selected to balance the milky taste, inside a monaka that resembles a tea urn.

Uji Matcha Ice Monaka from Otanien Tea Shop
Monaka Cross Section of Otanien Tea Shop

Uji green tea ice cream monaka: 150 yen per piece; the second-generation owner started selling them about 20 years ago.

Otanien Tea Shop

  • Otani Enchaho
  • Kyoto Prefecture, Kyoto City, Higashiyama Ward, Imakumano Wanomori-cho 7
  • 8 minute walk from JR Tofukuji Station
  • Tel.075ー561ー4658

6.Monaka set by Nakamura Seianjo, a long-established store that supports Kyoto's wagashi shops/Kamishichiken

Founded in 1908, this monaka set was created about 100 years later. Anko (red bean paste) made from high-quality ingredients is sandwiched between hand-baked crusts, giving it a crisp, delicate texture and an exquisite azuki bean flavor. The set comes in four types of bean paste: light tsubu-an, Dainagon tsubu-an with a strong bean assertion, koshi-an, and shiro-an, with a choice of two types of seeds.

Nakamura Tamba Set
Nakamura Seianjo's Monaka Cross Section

Anko shop's monaka: Tanba set, 1,600 yen. The set includes 500 grams of Tamba Dainagon sweet bean paste and 10 pairs of monaka skins. The chrysanthemum-shaped seeds can be either all plain or half plain and half hojicha.

Nakamura Seiinsho

  • Nakamura Proposal
  • 88 Daito-cho, Ichijo-dori Gozen-nishiiru, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 6 minutes on foot from Randen "Kitano Hakubaicho Station"
  • Tel. 075-461-4481

7.Bungaku Monaka (Literature Monaka) by Kanaya Masahiro, the sixth generation owner of this confectionery / Nishijin

Kanaya Masahiro is located on Shimochojamachi Street in Nishijin. It was founded in 1856 at the end of the Edo period. Wataru Kanaya, the sixth generation owner, creates confections with a new sensibility while cherishing the store's history. One of them is the "Bungaku Monaka" (Literature Monaka), a cat-shaped monaka with the characters "I am" and "is" in front and behind it. characters in front and back of the cat-shaped monaka. It is a fun trick that makes you giggle.

Kyoto Confectionery Master Masahiro Kanaya Collaboration Japanese Sweets & Monaka

(upper left) Sold at the Museum Cafe [ENFUSE] of the Kyoto Kyocera Museum of Art until November 13, 2022 (eat-in only). Yoichi Onagi's "Lungs and Kidneys" collaboration wagashi: 500 yen (bottom right) Inside the cat-shaped monaka is carefully cooked red bean paste made from Hokkaido azuki beans. New item released this year: Bungaku Monaka (Literature Monaka) 216 yen

Masahiro Kanaya, Kyoto Confectioner

  • Kyokeikabushikasa, Masahiro KANAYA, Masahiro
  • 712 Yoshino-cho, Kuromon-higashiiru, Shimochojamachi-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
  • 3 minute walk from Horikawa Shimocho bus stop.
    20 minute walk from Marutamachi Subway Station
  • Tel. 075-441-6357
*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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