Wagashi at Tokiwagi-Yokanten

Shizuoka has popular hot-springs site called Atami. Where there is a hot-spring, there are souvenir shops. In fact, there are dozens of souvenir shops surrounding onsen and always hard to decide what to buy. 90% of what you'd probably choose in the area should be satisfactory, that I would imagine.

Tokiwagi Yokanten is Japanese sweet (wagashi) shop has been running for 4 generations. As its name says so, it is Yokan shop. Yokan is a bar of sweetened and jellied bean paste, which is maybe one of the sweetest of all wagashi.

At the shop you'll get to see not only yokan, but also other wagashi.

Let me start with yokan.

Yokan. (A bar of sweetened and jellied bean paste)

Price: ¥1,100 a bar

What makes yokan suitable for souvenir is not only its sweetness but also has longer expiration dates than other wagashi.

Tokiwa makes variation of flavors such as chestnut, matcha, yuzu (Japanese citron), ume (plum), and some other citrus flavors.

Macaron monaka.

Price: ¥650 (4 in a box)

Price: ¥1,100 (8 in a box)

Flavors are "sakura", "mikan", "yuzu" and "matcha".

Sakura: Leaf of cherry blossom is mixed with adzuki bean jam. Tenderly aroma of sakura and mild sweetness.

Mikan: Japanese orange. Peeled mikan is mixed.

Yuzu: Japanese citron. Yuzu used in this bean jam is harvested in Kochi.

Matcha: Green tea. Matcha used in this bean jam is harvested in Shizuoka.

Zenzai monaka.

Price: ¥1,300 for 6 pack

Small mochi is inside adzuki bean jam, covered by crispy monaka. Soft mochi makes monaka's even crispier.

Kibimochi.

Price] ¥1,100 for 8 pack

Widely sold sweet in Yugawara and Atami area. Mochi is powdered with kinako, roasted soy bean flavor is mixed with sugar. You can buy a single pack for ¥130.