At these long-established Japanese sweets shops loved by the locals, discover famous Japanese delicacies that shine a light on the unique charms of each city! Stop by and check these out next time you’re in town. Eat them right away or take them home as a souvenir.

★ Sake no Tsuyu (Sake Dew): an Itami original from the birthplace of sake (Itami City)

Itami City is the birthplace of sake, brewed here since ancient times. The sake bun Sake no Tsuyu (565 yen including tax for 6 pieces) is the specialty of the Japanese sweets shop Nakaman, founded in 1931. The mellow fragrance of sake goes perfectly with the delicate red bean paste and the moist dough steamed with their own original manufacturing method.
Address: 3-7-7 Miyanomae, Itami City, Hyogo
Access: 12-minute walk from JR Itami Station
https://www.facebook.com/nakaman.itami

★ Otome Mochi (Rice Cake), named after a shining star of the Takarazuka Revue (Takarazuka City)

The signature product of the Japanese sweets shop Kineya in Takarazuka is Otome Mochi (10 pieces, 1,200 yen including tax; best eaten within 3 days). Named after the great Takarazuka Revue star of the day in 1926, Otome Amatsu, it has been a beloved treasure for over 90 years. Let the elegant sweetness of the soft mochi covered with soybean flour make your tastebuds sing.

Address: Sorio Takarazuka GF, 2-1-1 Sakaemachi, Takarazuka City, Hyogo
Access: 2-minute walk from JR Takarazuka Station or Hankyu Takarazuka Station
https://sorio.jp/food/shop_detail/kineya/

★ Tawara Monaka (Straw-bale-shaped Monaka): the rapture of rice (Sanda City)

Sanda is one of the leading rice-producing areas in the Kansai region. The specialty of the centuries-old Sanda City store Nishimura Seigetsudo is Tawara Monaka (380 yen including tax for 3 pieces). In the shape of straw bales used to preserve rice, these fragrant morsels with a crisp exterior are made from glutinous Sanda-grown rice. The homemade bean paste from an age old recipe is also excellent.

Address: 2-7-1 Miwa, Sanda City, Hyogo
Access: 15-minute walk from JR Sanda Station or Shintetsu Sanda Station
*There is also a store at Hankyu Kippy Mall (1-minute walk from Sanda Station)
http://www.uranus.dti.ne.jp/~seigetsu/

★ Mokujiki Manju: modeling the Buddhist statue of Mokujiki, which is called “Smiling Buddha” (Inagawa Town)

Inagawa Town has many properties with great historical and cultural value. The celebrated sweets around here are Mokujiki Manju from the Japanese confectionery Umase, founded in 1936 (170 yen/piece, excluding tax *Prices subject to change without notice). These buns are decorated with the face of the “Mokujikibutsu” Buddhist Statue enshrined in temples in the town.

Address: 15-1 Goshogaichi, Kizu, Inagawa Town, Hyogo
Access: From Nose Electric Railway Nissei Chuo Station, take the Hankyu Bus to Kizu stop, and walk one minute.
*Also available at Road Station Inagawa (70-1 Takezoe, Manzen, Inagawa-cho, Hyogo)
http://www.andalpha.com/umase/

★ Kikusumi Monaka (Charcoal Monaka), inspired by the traditional high-class charcoal (Kawanishi City)

The specialty of Kawanishi’s long-established confectionery shop Uemasa is Kikusumi Monaka (190 yen including tax). Kawanishi City is famous for the chrysanthemum shaped high-grade charcoal used in the tea ceremony called Kikusumi or Hitokurasumi (Kiku/Hitokura charcoal). The fragrant exterior of these buns resemble the cross section of chrysanthemum charcoal and enclose two types of bean paste, one made from carefully selected Dainagon azuki beans and the other from white azuki beans emitting the refreshing aroma of yuzu.
Address: 2-36-8 Mino, Kawanishi City, Hyogo
Access: 1-minute walk from Nose Electric Railway Yamashita Station
https://uemasa.co.jp/