An Introduction to Okashi no Machioka 「「おかしのまちおか」 Okashi no Machioka」, is a video created by 「IKEBUKURO GOURMET」. It introduces the sweets shop "Okashi no Machioka" which is a very popular destination for those visiting Japan. Over 1000 varieties of sweets are sold here at extremely low prices, making this the perfect place for sweet lovers, or those who are looking to buy Japanese souvenirs. This article will introduce the charm of Okashi no Machioka. What is Okashi no Machioka? Source of photo :YouTube screenshot Okashi no Machioka is a popular sweets shop in Japan managed by the Minoya corporation (株式会社みのや, Kabushiki-gaisha Minoya), and there are over 150 Okashi no Machioka locations throughout Japan. A wide selection of snacks from various brands are sold here. As seen from 1:27 in the video, snacks such as candies and gum are sold at very reasonable prices. This shop is popular among people of all ages, from the young to the elderly. The Greatest Attraction of Okashi no Machioka: Unbelievably Low Prices Source of photo :YouTube screenshot Sometimes, up to a 90% discount is available for selected sweets. Information about limited-time campaigns or opening sales is available on online or on flyers, so do make sure to check those frequently. The secret behind the low prices of Okashi no Machioka is that products are displayed in bulk in cardboard boxes, thus reducing the need for additional fixtures and cutting operating costs. You can see the products lined up in the shop from 0:09 in the video. The Products of Okashi no Machioka Source of photo :YouTube screenshot Okashi no Machioka is also popular with foreigners. These visitors mostly purchase sweets as souvenirs. Matcha KitKats, Assorted Kit Kats, Chiroru Chocolate, Matcha Mochi, Kororo, Hi-Chew, and Matcha Oreo are some of the most popular items. Every year around the start of the new year, "lucky bags" are sold for 1,000 yen (~$9 USD). The bags are stuffed to the brim with sweets, making them well worth the price. These bags have received favorable reviews from many satisfied customers as well. Besides this, "dagashi," (駄菓子) or Japanese penny candy, and sweet assortments, are also popular. Where is Okashi no Machioka? Photo：Highrises in Shinjuku There are Okashi no Machioka shops in cities all over Japan. Besides the inner Tokyo shops in Kichijoji (吉祥寺, Kichijoji), Shibuya (渋谷, Shibuya), Shinjuku (新宿, Shinjuku), Ikebukuro (池袋, Ikebukuro) and more, there are also shops in Kawasaki (川崎, Kawasaki), Musashi-Kosugi (武蔵小杉, Musashi-kosugi), Kita-senju (北千住, Kita-senju), Funabashi (船橋, Funabashi), as well as other locations in the prefectures of Chiba (千葉, Chiba), Kyoto (京都, Kyoto), Saitama (埼玉, Saitama) and Osaka (大阪, Osaka). The opening hours vary by location, so we recommend double checking this information on the Okashi no Machioka official homepage. Okashi no Machioka summed up The video 「「おかしのまちおか」 Okashi no Machioka」, by 「IKEBUKURO GOURMET」, introduces Okashi no Machioka, a popular sweets shop in Japan. Sweets are sold at extremely low prices, and with over a thousand varieties of sweets available, just taking a stroll through the shop makes for an enjoyable experience. If you want to eat lots of sweets at reasonable prices, or buy sweets as souvenirs, then this shop is exactly what you're looking for. The producer of the video can also be seen purchasing sweets at 2:24 of the video. If this article has piqued your interest, definitely check out the video!

Delicious Snacks! Kracie's "Popin' Cooking" Series of Educational Confectionaries This video shows you how to make four different types of candy with Kracie's "Popin' Cooking" series of educational snacks. ・0:08: Delicious ramen ・2:30: Gummy trees, soda flavor ・4:27: Hamburger ・9:09: Festival food The "Popin' Cooking" series is fun for both kids and adults to enjoy. It's so much more exciting when you can make them look just like the real thing! Be sure to check out what they're like in the video. 【Official Homepage】Popin' Cooking - Product Introduction｜Kracie https://www.kracie.co.jp/eng/products/popin_n/okashi/

A Karumeyaki Demonstration! This video shows karumeyaki being made at a stall near the Japan Mint in Osaka Prefecture. Karumeyaki, also known as karuyaki, etc., is a traditional Japanese snack that looks like a large, puffy disk. From 1:10 in the video, you can see the vendor add granulated sugar and watch it swell. The taste you'll notice is caramelized sugar with a slightly charred taste and a macaron-like texture. You don't see karumeyaki stalls very often, but you can find demonstrations at festival and fair stalls, so if you see one, be sure to give it a taste!

A video on retro Japanese Dagashi Stores! This video introduces you to Japan's nostalgic "Dagashi Stores". To Japanese adults, this video reminds them of their childhood with its nostalgic feel. That being said, Its certainly very interesting to children and foreigners who don’t know about Japanese Dagashi Stores. When there weren't convenience stores in the past, children loved to go to Dagashi Stores where they chose special candies and toys to spend their allowances on. Enjoy the video showing the fun scenes of Dagashi Stores. What Are Dagashi Stores? What Kind of Things Do They Sell? Photo：Dagashi Store Dagashi Stores are shops that buy candies and toys from wholesale distributors and sell them in their own shops. In some regions, they are also called ‘Ichimon Candy Stores’. As seen from 0:32 in the video, Dagashi Stores attract children with their shelves of various candies and toys. Candies such as Kinakobo, Chocobat, BIG Katsu, Mochitaro, Umaibo, and sweets with toys and sweets with winning tickets are still being sold. Many candies that adults nowadays used to buy when they were young. You Can Buy Toys and Play Games, Too! Photo：Traditional Toys Dagashi Stores are popular among young children. They also sell toys such as spinning tops (独楽 Koma), Menko (めんこ), Taketombo Bamboo toys (竹とんぼ Taketombo), balloons and plastic models. Children enjoy playing candy lotteries with pictures of movie stars, Arcade games, and medal games with friends. Dagashi Stores are important socializing spots for children, too. Let's Check It Out! Photo：Sweet Shop Yokocho There are still some individually run Dagashi Stores left in Japan. The chained Dagashi Stores within AEON shopping mall should be easy to find. You should visit "Kashiya Yokocho" (菓子屋横丁), a popular tourist destination in Kawagoe, and if you're of legal age (20 in Japan), be sure to check out "Dagashi Bar" where you can eat candies with alcohol. At the unique chain shops "Private Dining Bar Rokunen Yonkumi" (個室居酒屋6年4組), they offer "All you can eat candy." You can also buy candies that are sold at Dagashi Stores on the internet. We recommend that you check out various online shops. Summary of the Introductory Video on Japanese Dagashi Stores Source :YouTube screenshot Today we introduced you to Dagashi Stores that are popular among children. After watching the video, if you're longing for a nostalgia filled trip or just want to experience the Japanese culture of Dagashi Stores, be sure to find and visit the address of a nearby Dagashi Store that's still open.

"Dagashiya," Japan's Classic Watering Holes For Kids This video, titled "[Japan's Old-Time Dagashiya] A Look at Toda in Fukaya, Saitama" (【昔ながらの駄菓子屋さん】埼玉県深谷市 の 「とうだ」ってどんな所？), was released by "Donna tokoro? TV" (どんな所?TV). "Dagashiya" are something that many of those who were born in Showa era Japan are familiar with. Dagashi are inexpensive snacks made and sold for children. They're essentially the equivalent of penny candy in the U.S. Each product is small and sold in small portions, many of them costing only 5 to 30 yen each. This makes it possible for children to buy them with their allowances. Many of the snacks come with extras or winning "lottery" tickets, and if you ever experienced this kind of candy culture as a kid you know how much fun it was. In this article, we take you inside Japan's "Dagashiya," the once popular hangouts for children. Be sure to follow along with the video as it explores "Toda," a Showa retro dagashiya in Fukaya (深谷市, Fukaya-Shi), Saitama (埼玉県, Saitama-Ken), in Japan's Kanto Region (関東地方, Kanto-Chiho). The History of Japan's Dagashi Photo：Dagashiya Do you know where the name "dagashi" comes from? It's actually a term that refers to all sorts of sweets made with unrefined brown sugar. Since refined white sugar and granulated sugar were expensive raw materials back in the day, it's said that making dagashi started as an attempt to reduce the cost of materials as much as possible and to make snacks using unrefined brown sugar that common people and children could eat with a sense of security. Because of this, dagashi became very popular among children, and it's said that during the Edo period (1603-1868 A.D.), many candy shops specializing in dagashi were established in various towns. Variations on the term "dagashi" also increased, and it became common to refer to inexpensive sweets for children as dagashi, in addition to sweets made with brown sugar. These are the roots of today's dagashiya shops. Let's take a look at some traditional dagashi. ・Sendai-dagashi Nowadays, it's considered a high-class Japanese sweet, but in the Edo period, it was a popular snack for the common people. Misopan (Miso bread) and karumera-yaki are typical Sendai sweets. ・Kokusen, Kankan-bo A typical roasted grain candy made from soybeans, sesame, and soybean flour. ・Kuro-bo A chunky textured, bread-like pastry made from flour, brown sugar, and eggs. ・Fu-chan A kind of fugashi (dried wheat gluten coated with sugar made from sugarcane). ・Karume-yaki Today, it's less common to see them at food stalls at festivals, but they're a type of dagashi with nice crunchy texture. Karumera-yaki from Sendai is the same thing. Photo：Konpeito ・Konpeito A very venerable confectionary that even the Imperial family has a custom of distributing during celebrations. As white sugar became more affordable, dagashiya stores began to carry it as well. ・Tirol Choco A prominent product that's still popular in dagashiya today. ・Umai-bo Considered an ace-class dagashi. ・Yotchan-Ika (Seasoned Squid) An excellent snack for drinks. ・Kyabetsu-Taro A popular snack that is now sold in convenience stores as part of a renewed boom in dagashi. There are a lot more popular dagashi, such as ・POTATO FRY ・Fruit-Mochi ・Tara-Tara-Shitenja-neyo (Fish paste chips) The Dagashi Sold at Toda, a Dagashiya in Fukaya, Saitama. Photo：Dagashiya The dagashi store in Fukaya, Saitama, shown in the video, has been run by one woman by herself since its opening. The appearance of the store is that of a dagashiya that was a familiar place for children to hang out during Showa era Japan. The store's name paint is now faded, and the red tent curtain on the roof, a symbol of a dagashiya, has also faded, but the entrance is lined with many gacha-pon machines, and the store is filled with nostalgic snacks, ice candies, toys, and stationery. The world may change but this sweets shop keeps on doing what it always has - selling candy. The video shows some of the most popular dagashi items that have been loved by children throughout the years. For those in their 40s and older, these items are a reminder of the good old days! They include Kamayaki Santaro, super ball lottery, medaka-chan game, candies, Maburu-gum, bubble gum, "Cola ball" (Coke Jell-O), yogurt, Choco-bat-Ace (home run bar), "lotteries" (if you win, you get snacks or toys), and more! However, the times have changed, now Reiwa era. However, the times have changed, and the wrapping paper of the candy is now printed with characters such as Fukka-chan, a mascot character, or characters from popular TV anime, clearly reflecting the current times. "Toda" is still a popular dagashi store where adult customers visit with their children. Summary of Japan's Dagashiya, the Once Popular Hangouts for Kids Photo：Kawagoe Candy Alley, Saitama Prefecture From the end of the Showa period to the Heisei period, the dagashi industry temporarily declined, and the number of dagashiya stores decreased drastically. Instead of dagashiya stores however, mass merchandisers (such as Niki's Confectionery, Kobe Bussan, etc.) that sell assorted dagashi in large quantities have become popular on retro shopping streets such as Ameyoko in Ueno. This has sparked a revival in dagashi. Besides these stores, self-service all-you-can-eat Dagashi-Bars or Dagashiya-Bar are also becoming popular. In these bars, you can enjoy a wide variety of delicious snacks, such as okaki (rice crackers) and surume-ika (squid), which go great together with drinks. In Kawagoe (川越市, Kawagoe-Shi), Saitama, there's "Dagashiya Yokocho" (Candy Alley) lined with dagashi manufacturers and wholesalers, making it a highly popular tourist spot in Saitama. The popularity of dagashi is still strong online, and there are even dagashi stores that specialize in online shopping! Consider experiencing the nostalgia of Showa Japan with the delicious dagashi of Japan's good-old days!

Japan's Delicious Baby Castella This video shows the artisans at Aoi Renga, which is said to be the best baby castella maker in Japan, making baby castella. Aoi Renga has a branch in Shimokitazawa, Setagaya City, and has been covered by various media outlets. The "Aoi Renga" baby castella, which are also delicious when eaten chilled, were certified by the Setagaya Ward as a "Setagaya Souvenir." In the video, you can see the Fresh Cream Fondue made with fresh cream from Hokkaido, the Fresh Chocolate Fondue made with bitter chocolate and fresh cream from Hokkaido, and baby castella being dipped in them. Be sure to check out the video to see the quick skills of the best castella chefs in Japan! ◆Baby Castella Specialty Store "Aoi Renga" Store Information◆ 【Address】2-25-4 Kitazawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo 【Access】44 meters from Shimokitazawa Station 【Castella Pricing】¥500+ 【Hours】11:00-20:00 【Closures】Tuesdays 【Parking】None 【Phone】03-5453-8711 【Official Website】Baby Castella Specialty Shop「Aoi Renga」 https://www.aoirenga.com/index.html 【Tripadvisor】Aoi Renga https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066455-d13294823-Reviews-Aoi_Renga-Setagaya_Tokyo_Tokyo_Prefecture_Kanto.html

This Long-Established Candy Store Has Been Located in "Candy Alley" in Kawagoe, Saitama, for 100 Years. How to Make the "Kumiame Sakura Stick" by Tamariki Seika This video shows the making of candy at "Tamariki Seika" in Kawagoe, Saitama. Tamariki Seika has been making handmade candies for over 100 years. The shop is located in "Candy Alley" (Kashiya Yokocho) a popular tourist spot in Saitama Prefecture, and offers a wide variety of kumiame candy. Kumiame is a type of rolled candy that when cut shows a picture or face, such as Kintaro Ame. In the video, they make "Flower Kumiame Sakura." The candy which was as big as a log, was stretched and stretched, and at the end, a cherry blossom pattern can be seen in the cut section. Be sure to check out the video to see the 100 year old techniques in action! ◆Tamariki Seika Store Information◆ 【Address】350-0062 Saitama, Kawagoe, Motomachi, 2 Chome−７−7 【Access】A 15-minute walk from Hon-Kawagoe Station 【Avg. Price】¥200+ 【Hours】10:00-17:00 【Closures】Mondays 【Phone】049-222-1386 【Tabelog】Tamariki Seika https://tabelog.com/en/saitama/A1103/A110303/11005857/

A Look at Kyo Tsukimachian's Broad Bean "Rice" Crackers Made Using Traditional Techniques! In this video, we see a craftsman baking bean crackers in Gion, Kyoto. The Gion branch of Kyo Tsukimachian offers a variety of bean crackers, made with plenty of broad beans and carefully baked using a traditional method. How about a souvenir from Gion? Check out the video to see how they bake the bean crackers! ◆Kyo Tsukimachian Store Information◆ 【Address】247-14, Gion Kitagawa, Higashiyama, Kyoto, Kyoto (京都府京都市東山区祇園町北側247-14) 【Access】A 1 minute walk from Gion-Shijo Station from the Keihan Electric Railway 【Admission Fee】¥110+ 【Business Hours】10:00-19:00 【Closures】None 【Parking】None 【Phone】075-533-0141 【Official Homepage】Kyo Tsukimachian Kyoto Branch https://www.kyo-tsukimachian.com/ 【Tabelog】Kyo Tsukianmachi Kyoto Branch https://tabelog.com/en/kyoto/A2601/A260301/26024783/

Jonamagashi - A Popular Japanese Sweet From Kanazawa, Japan This video, titled "Jonamagashi: Kanazawa Food Culture, Seasonal Japanese Sweets｜nippon.com" (上生菓子：四季を彩る金沢の菓子文化| nippon.com), was created by "nippon.com." Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture was a castle town of the Kaga domain during the Edo Period, and the traditional Japanese sweets produced here are some of the best in Japan, on par with those produced in Kyoto (京都府) and Matsue, Shimane (島根県松江市). There are three main types of Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets): Higashi (干菓子), Namagashi (生菓子), and Jonamagashi. Of these three types of wagashi, Jonamagashi is thought to have played an integral role in the development of tea ceremony culture in Japan. Kanazawa is a city steeped in culture and history, second only to Kyoto in Japan, and has a tradition of producing high quality, artistic Jonamagashi famously decorated with gold leaf. A high level of skill is required to make Jonamagashi, which is what makes them so special amongst Japanese sweets. They are a confectionary that appeals to all five senses and are a great way to celebrate the changing of the seasons. The History of Jonamagashi and Tea Ceremony Photo：Tea Ceremony Tea ceremony in Japan dates back to the Azuchi-Momoyama Period when it was systematized by Sen no Rikyu (千利休) who is considered the founder of tea ceremony. It wasn't until the 1,700's, during the genroku portion of the Edo Period, that tea ceremony really spread throughout the rest of Japan, and Kanazawa is thought to be the birthplace of Noto (能登) Jonamagashi. Tea ceremony is held based on a particular theme, and the tools used vary depending on the chosen theme. This is called "dougugumi" (道具組). Wagashi are carefully selected and only those which complement the tools used in tea ceremony are chosen. This is also taken into consideration when creating Jonamagashi, resulting in a variety of beautiful shapes and designs. Artisan wagashi makers must channel all of their skills into the creation of one type of wagashi. You can hear Ishikawa Prefecture Tea Ceremony Association representative Sosui Oshima (大島宗翠) speak more about the subject from 0:54 in the video. How To Make Jonamagashi Source :YouTube screenshot Second generation wagashi maker Hironobu Yoshihashi of the well-established wagashi store "Yoshihashi" (吉はし), which has been in business for over 70 years, is featured in the video from 1:17. Enjoy watching the skilled hands of the artisan wagashi makers. Since Japan has a very warm and humid climate, a high proportion of sugar is necessary to preserve the wagashi. However, in the past, sugar was a luxury product that could only be afforded by the rich and wealthy. A great deal of thought and care is put into the taste, texture, design and feel of Jonamagashi. Jonamagashi are often referred to as the ultimate wagashi, with an extremely high level of artistic quality. From 1:58 in the video, you can take a look at Jonamagashi which have been designed to represent each month of the year. Summary of Kanazawa's Jonamagashi Source :YouTube screenshot From 0:45 in the video, you can see "Ajisai" (紫陽花), the most famous Jonamagashi. This is one of the items available for purchase at Kanazawa's wagashi store, "Yoshihashi". You can purchase Jonamagashi from Yoshihashi by ordering online before visiting the store. Beautiful Jonamagashi from the wagashi store Yoshihashi are the perfect souvenir to take home from your trip to Kanazawa! Jonamagashi are also a great way to enjoy the changing seasons, a treat which is pleasing for both the eyes and taste buds!

日本伝統の「和菓子」紹介動画について こちらの動画は「Japan Video Topics - 日本語」が公開した「伝統の和菓子が魅せる新しい世界」です。 日本人の伝統料理「和食」が無形文化遺産に登録されたのが2013年。 和食はたちまちブームになり、世界中に日本料理店ができました。 そして今、日本食の中でも伝統のお菓子「和菓子」が人気を集めています。 日本特有の季節の風情を反映させ、おもてなしの心が込められる和食と和菓子は、その繊細な見た目と味、そしてヘルシーさが世界中で評価されているのです。 美しい様々な和菓子やその歴史、作り方をこちらの動画でお楽しみください。 日本伝統のお菓子「和菓子」の種類と原料 和菓子には、生菓子、半生菓子、干菓子の大きく3つの種類があります。 生菓子はおはぎや羊羹、練り切りなど水分量が30％以上のお菓子のことを言い、干菓子は落雁（らくがん）やあられなどの水分量が10％以下のもの、半生菓子は最中や饅頭などの生地や餡を組み合わせたものを指します。 いずれの和菓子も基本的な原料として、豆、米類などが使われていて、砂糖以外の食材の甘味を生かしています。 食材は和食のように種類豊富ではありませんが、出来上がるお菓子はその形や色で季節を感じさせてくれます。 見る人の目を楽しませる「練り切り」とレシピ 様々な種類がある和菓子ですが、中でも見た目が美しくて繊細なのが「練り切り」です。 練り切りの材料には、白いんげんなどの白い豆が使われています。 修行を積んだ職人が、豆を煮て潰し、それを練り上げ、色をつけて形を整えて作られます。 この形を整える過程で様々な繊細な細工が施され、四季を色鮮やかに表現することが特徴です。 日本の伝統的なおもてなしの場で 練り切りは、お客様を日本伝統の「お茶」でおもてなしをする際に古くから使われています。 苦味の強いお茶の味を、見た目が美しい和菓子の繊細な甘さがまろやかにするのです。 アートとしての練り切り このように見た目が美しい練り切りを、お菓子の枠を超えて一種の芸術として表現しているのが、和菓子職人の三堀純一氏です。 食べる和菓子としての完成品の練り切りのみならず、その練り切りを作るための様々な小道具、作る過程の和菓子職人の所作など一つ一つに、一般的には見られることがなかった趣があります。 三堀氏は、この練り切りが作られる過程を楽しんでもらう空間を作り上げ、たちまち世界で評価されるようになりました。 見たこともないような専門道具を使いながら繊細な曲線を描き、華やかなアート作品に仕上げていく。 舌を楽しませる前に、目と心を楽しませ、伝統を感じさせる、まさに日本が誇る“おもてなし”の空間を作っていると言えるでしょう。 日本伝統の「和菓子」紹介まとめ 和菓子は四季の情景、静寂、繊細さを感じさせる特有の美しさを持ち合わせています。 ため息が出るほど美しい職人技。 日本のおもてなしの心を伝える和菓子の動画をぜひご覧ください。