This is the first restaurant filmed in the "Kantaro" TV show. The place is extremely old-school, and is mostly visited by locals who are in the know. It is famous for its classic Japanese dessert "Anmitsu". The language gap was unusually more difficult than the usual experiences, but service still very kind and genuine. When we ask them about "Kantaro Anmitsu" the lady was extremely excited to know that we were fans of the show and even pointed us to a "Kantaro Menu". We ordered both the white Okinawan sugar and black Okinawan sugar varieties, and they were absolutely incredible. If you want to try something that is not overblown on social media, classic, and true to original Japanese desert history, this is it.

+3

Fantastic find, traditional Japanese sweets at its best. Highly recommend if you are in Ningyo-Cho.

+1

This long-established shop prides itself on its history, perhaps a little too much. It offers a wide range of traditional Japanese sweets such as kuzumochi, anmitsu and zenzai, as well as parfaits and soba. Prices are mostly over ¥1,000, which is understandable given the location, but still feels steep. Service is minimal and only cash is accepted. The modern yet quiet atmosphere adds to the experience. The tea, brewed in an iron kettle, is rich and aromatic. Signature items such as mamekan and shiratama anmitsu offer a choice of black or white syrup, highlighting the quality ingredients with delicate textures and subtle sweetness.

+3

Traditional tea house serving classic Japanese sweets and tea. I had the oshiruko, which was warm, sweet, and really comforting, and the owner speaks great English and is very welcoming.

+1

I enjoyed “kuri anmitsu” which has sweetened chestnuts and some canned fruits on it. There are cubes of kanten (寒天)/agar, a scoop of anko red bean paste, mame beans, and gyuhi (求肥) which is a kind of mochi rice cake, but softer. You can choose kuromistu/black syrup or shiromitsu/white syrup. I chose shiromitsu syrup. It is sweet, but not too much. I could enjoy both the original taste of the ingredients and also the delicate flavour of the syrup. One thing is that only cash was accepted for payment. You need a face mask and sanitise your hand when entering the shop. (as of December, 2023) Note that the menu doesn’t have many photos. You can try your Japanese reading skills. Or you can try your speaking skills by asking the shop staff for some advice and explanation. ;)

+1