Ginza Akebono

Even if you come for daifuku, Ginza Akebono may tempt you to pick up some senbei as well. One customer praised the salt senbei for its light crunch and balanced seasoning, and the prawn senbei for its crisp texture and prawn flavour. They also recommended the cheese senbei, which they said was popular at the shop. It is a good option when you want something savoury between sweet Japanese treats, or would like to include something other than sweets in a gift.

The shop’s signature daifuku also offer plenty of choice. The menu includes strawberry and apricot daifuku, Hime-kuri monaka made with chestnut, and rich matcha mizu-yokan. You can choose among different flavours, including seasonal offerings. One customer tried daifuku with both chunky and smooth red bean paste, enjoyed both, but said they would choose the smooth version. They also noted that the mochi was not overly sweet and had a pleasing chew. If you are undecided about the texture of the filling, comparing the two is part of the fun. When seasonal daifuku are available, you could try one alongside a classic. A customer who chose the limited-season muscat grape daifuku was impressed by the sweetness of the white bean paste, the size of the fruit and the mochi’s soft, chewy texture without stickiness. Another customer enjoyed daifuku with sakura or plum flavour. Seasonal varieties change with the time of year, so choose from what is on offer that day.

For something other than daifuku, consider the ohagi. One fan of ohagi made with whole grains of glutinous rice said the rice’s sweetness comes through as you chew. A customer who bought kashiwa-mochi also remarked that the filling was gently sweet, while the miso-an had a rich flavour. Ginza Akebono’s main shop in Ginza’s fifth district is a convenient place to choose a treat for yourself between shopping stops or to look for a gift.