Shogoin Yatsuhashi Sohonten (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto), established in 1689, has been making Japanese sweets that have been loved for a long time under the slogan "Taste is tradition. The popular Sei (meaning "holy" in Japanese), which is made by wrapping fresh yatsuhashi with Nikki and matcha green tea in a sweet bean paste cooked in-house, is now available in a Gion Festival version for July only. On the back of the package depicting the Yamaboko floats, there is a map showing the location of the floats, which will help you enjoy the Gion Festival to the fullest.

Founded in the Meiji era (1868-1912), Narumi Mochi Honten (Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) has a nearly 150-year history. The shop sells products that are part of the Kyoto lifestyle, including its famous sekihan (red rice). The "Hoko Dorayaki" (float-shaped dorayaki) is a specialty of Narumi Mochi Honten during the Gion Matsuri (Gion Festival) season. The branding on the dorayaki is a symbolic representation of the Choto-boko (long sword), making it easy to tell at a glance that it is a confectionery associated with the Gion Matsuri Festival. The key to the flavor is the moist and fluffy dough made by hand and the red bean paste made from Dainagon Azuki produced in Tanba. Buy one for the number of friends or family members you have.

［Kyo-Agetsu (Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is a long-established confectionery shop founded in the Edo period. They offer sweets that incorporate the four seasons, and Choto Chimaki is one of them. When you open the package, which is designed in the image of the Nagatohoko float of the Gion Festival, you will find six freshly made bite-sized chimaki with the aroma of bamboo grass. There are three each of the green tea and azuki bean paste flavors in the package, so you can enjoy the different flavors. Chimaki is a type of zongzi that is indispensable for the Gion Festival to ward off bad luck. It would be a good idea to buy these as "edible chimakis.

Sanjyo Wakasaya (Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is located at the easternmost end of the Sanjokai shopping district. The Gion Chigo Mochi, their signature product, is introduced here. The story goes that the second-generation owner created the mochi in the Taisho era (1912-1926) based on a rice cake that was once served at the Gion Festival to bring good luck and ward off disaster. The design of the package, which is decorated with strips of paper wrapped in the image of bamboo bark, is also reminiscent of the history that has been passed down through the generations. The rice cake is skewered on a bamboo skewer, which keeps your hands clean when eating. It is a famous confectionary of the Gion Festival that evokes a sense of nostalgia.

Kyo-Ame Crochet (Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) is well known for its candy that combines the skills of Kyoto craftsmen with the beauty of European technology. Their colorful candies with Japanese designs are beautiful to look at and have many female fans. The Gion Yamaboko, featured in this issue, is a limited edition product available only during this time of the year, and will be in stores until around the end of July. The bright red and black color of this blackcurrant-flavored candy is eye-catching. The candy has a long shelf life of one year and is available in large quantities, so it is recommended to enjoy it a little at a time rather than eating it in a short period of time. If you enjoy it from time to time, it may remind you of the Gion Festival.