An upscale wagashi specialty shop with more than a century of history, selling a wide variety of delicate Japanese sweets. Yokan is a classic favorite, and during the holidays, you can always see many Japanese people lining up to buy it. It makes an elegant, high-quality gift.
A great deal of care goes into making the yokan, with close attention paid to everything from the ingredients to the water quality. It has a delicate texture and a sweet flavor. However, traditional Japanese sweets tend to be quite sweet, so they're best enjoyed with a pot of hot tea.
Limited-edition products are also available at Haneda Airport. The packaging is cute and refined, making them great souvenirs.
Toraya Akasaka Branch | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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KITKAT matcha
There is a wide variety of matcha-flavored snacks. If you want to buy the whole box and distribute it to friends and family, "KITKAT Adult's Sweet Matcha" is the most suitable gift.
Besides the matcha flavor, I also highly recommend the dark chocolate flavor. The chocolate taste is richer than regular milk chocolate, with a slightly bittersweet flavor and more mellow sweetness. The crispy wafers pair well with the rich cocoa aroma, creating layers of flavor without being overly sweet or heavy. It's perfect for people who like rich chocolate or slightly bitter flavors, and the individually wrapped pieces are great for sharing with coworkers.
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Picchio
Picchio is located in the popular tourist resort area of Karuizawa Hoshino Area, adjacent to the Karuizawa Wild Bird Forest. It offers a variety of tour plans where visitors can observe forest creatures up close. The visitor center sits beside Kera Pond, formed by streams flowing from the forest, in a beautiful and open setting where you can enjoy tours that provide encounters with wildlife throughout the seasons.
During this stay at Hoshino Resorts in Karuizawa, the on-site facility that impressed me most was definitely Picchio in the Wild Bird Forest. It's not only a place to enjoy the natural scenery; you can also sign up for a guided forest tour and follow professional staff into the woods to look for birds unique to Karuizawa while learning a lot about the ecosystem. It's a very interesting nature experience.
I visited right as fall was turning into winter. The staff explained that once the pond freezes in winter, the park offers a seasonal ice-skating experience. You can rent skates and buy gloves and other supplies there, which is very convenient. Luckily, we arrived just in time for opening and were among the first visitors to try the rink. Since only hotel guests could use it, it wasn't crowded and was especially comfortable to skate. Even beginners can borrow skating aids, so there's no need to worry at all.
I couldn't skate at all, and when I first put on the skates, I was so nervous that I kept holding onto a staff member's hand and wouldn't let go. But after practicing for an hour, I could already skate slowly with an aid, which gave me a real sense of accomplishment! Before I knew it, I'd been there for two hours and reluctantly left. On the way out, I happened to meet three ladies from Taiwan, and I couldn't help recommending that they give it a try. I wonder if they also managed to challenge themselves and make some wonderful memories of Karuizawa? -
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Coffee at MARUYAMA COFFEE
MARUYAMA COFFEE is a specialty coffee shop with its main store in Karuizawa. The high-quality coffee beans are purchased directly from overseas by Kentaro Maruyama, the company's representative, who goes to the production areas as a buyer.
Maruyama Coffee is a well-known specialty coffee shop in Karuizawa. Besides freshly brewed coffee, it offers coffee beans and drip bags in many different flavors, making them great souvenirs for anyone looking to take home a favorite blend.
The Harunire Terrace location is surrounded by greenery and elm trees, with a book area and outdoor seating where you can enjoy coffee along with Karuizawa's relaxing natural scenery. The store-exclusive “Harunire Terrace Blend” is also worth trying. It has a mild, smooth taste with a subtle sweetness. -
