Moist and Elegant Rakugan with Chestnut Paste: Senbon Tamajuken’s ‘Momijigari’
Recommended by: Fujita Yu (藤田 優; Food Planning Editor)
This rakugan (落雁; a traditional hard, dry sweet made from rice flour and sugar) comes from a Japanese confectionery store nestled in Kyoto’s Senbon Imadegawa (千本今出川) area.
“In spring, they have a cherry blossom pattern with cherry blossom paste (sakura-an, 桜あん); in summer, an aokaede (青楓; green maple) pattern with smooth bean paste (koshi-an, こしあん); and in autumn, a maple leaf pattern with chestnut paste (kuri-an, 栗あん). The way the filling and design change with the season is truly characteristic of a long-established Kyoto shop.
It is quite a luxurious experience to enjoy these bite-sized han-namagashi (半生菓子; semi-dried confectionery that are slightly soft inside) that you can pick up with your fingers, appreciating the layered colours and the intricate design of the wooden mould. The autumn ‘Momijigari (紅葉狩)’ is particularly graceful, with its layers of soft yellow and vibrant orange. The fact that there are two different patterns is an elegant touch. You can savour the soft, yet slightly crisp texture and the gentle sweetness of the chestnut.”
●Senbon Tamajuken (千本玉壽軒) DATA
Address: 96 Jōzenji-chō, Senbondōri Imadegawa Agaru, Kamigyō-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: +81 75-461-0796
Hours: 8:30 – 17:00
Closed: Wednesdays
Website:https://sentama.co.jp/
A Signature Dessert Inherited from the First Head Chef: Palace Hotel Tokyo’s ‘Marron Chantilly’
Recommended by: Fukuda Noriko (福田詞子; Fashion Planning)
A beloved flavour since the Palace Hotel opened in 1961.
A rich chestnut flavor that defies its fancy appearance!
You can really feel that the true star is the chestnut, with the fresh cream playing only a supporting role.
It’s light and airy, yet the chestnut’s aroma and little bits linger in your mouth. That’s because the syrup-soaked chestnuts are intentionally mashed only coarsely, and when placed atop the genoise base, they’re gently mixed to let in just a touch of air
“A rich chestnut flavor that defies its fancy appearance! You realise that the chestnut is the star, with the fresh cream merely playing a supporting role. The cream is light and fluffy, yet the flavour and subtle grains of the chestnut remain on your palate. This is because the chestnuts—boiled in syrup—are deliberately mashed roughly and then gently folded with air when placed atop the génoise (sponge cake) base.
While you can buy it at the pastry shop ‘Sweets & Deli’, it is truly best enjoyed at the lobby lounge, ‘The Palace Lounge’. The elegant frill of fresh cream at the base also adds to the glamorous mood.”
●Palace Hotel Tokyo DATA
Address: 1-1-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Phone: +81 3-3211-5211 (Main)
The Palace Lounge Hours: 11:00 – 23:30 (Last Order)
Closed: Open Daily
Website: https://www.palacehoteltokyo.com/
Simple is truly best! Savouring the True Taste of Chestnut: Hayashi Manshodo’s ‘Carefully Selected Large Sweet Chestnuts’
Recommended by: Tanaka Miho (田中美保; Travel & Food Editor)
A specialty shop for sweet roasted chestnuts (amaguri, 甘栗) established in 1874 (Meiji 7).
“When I arrive in Kyoto, the first thing I do is stop by the main shop on Shijō Street to buy some as snacks for my stay—and I always finish them right away.
On my way home, I pick up another box at JR Isetan in Kyoto Station to take as a souvenir.
With its refined sweetness that brings out the pure flavour of the chestnut itself, this masterpiece completely changed my idea of sweet chestnuts.
They use Hebei Chestnuts from Hebei Province in China—carefully selected by the owner for their rich natural sweetness, high nutritional value, and skins that peel easily, making them ideal for sweet chestnuts. I’ve heard they even adjust the roasting method depending on the chestnuts’ shape, firmness, and the climate.
My dream is to one day eat an entire large wooden box of sweet chestnuts all by myself!
●Hayashi Manshodo (林万昌堂) DATA
Address (Shijo Main Store): 3 Otabiyamamotomachi, Shijodori Teramachi Higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
Phone: +81 75-221-0258
Hours: 10:00 – 19:00 (until 21:00 on Dec 31st only)
Closed: Wednesdays, New Year’s Day
Website: https://www.hayashi-mansyodo.jp/
Exquisite chestnuts carefully cultivated at a specialty orchard — Shimaki Farm’s Shibukawa-Simmered and Sweet-Simmered Chestnuts
Recommended by: Yamamoto Tsuyoshi (山本 毅; Japanese Art & Travel Planning Editor)
Original products from a chestnut farm with over 100 years of history in Kasumigaura City, Ibaraki (茨城) Prefecture, one of Japan’s leading chestnut production areas.
“The size of the Shibukawa-simmered (渋皮煮; chestnuts simmered with the inner astringent skin for a deep flavour) is astonishing—about 4 to 5 cm per piece—yet the sweetness is light and clean. Despite the simple ingredients of chestnut, sugar, and syrup, you can feel the robust flavour of the carefully grown chestnuts. They are perfect not only with green tea but also as a nibble with alcohol.
The Fukumase Ni (ふくませ煮; lightly simmered chestnuts) is characterised by its delicate texture and natural sweetness. While delicious on its own, I use it in dishes like kurikinton (栗きんとん; sweetened mashed chestnut), savoury chawanmushi (茶碗蒸し; savory steamed egg custard), and shira-ae (白和え; tofu and vegetable salad). Their chestnut gelato and the winter-only kurikinton are also exquisite.”
●Shimaki Noen (四万騎農園) DATA
Address: 1020-24 Kamitsuchida, Kasumigaura-shi, Ibaraki
Phone: +81 299-59-2038
Hours: 9:00 – 17:00
Closed: Thursdays
Website: https://shimakinoen.com/
All listed prices include tax.
Prices, business hours, and other details are current as of October 2025 and may change. Please check the official websites for the latest information.
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/travel/286850/
