Toraya Wagashi Luxury Japanese Confectionery

Toraya is the oldest existing store of wagashi (Japanese confections).  It holds a significant place in Japan's cultural history.  Its roots can be traced back to the mid-sixteenth century in Kyoto, where it became a purveyor to the imperial court under the reign of Emperor Go-Yōzei (1571-1617).  Towards the end of the Edo period, Toraya relocated its centre of operations to Tokyo, leaving the original store in Kyoto behind.

The flagship store in Akasaka is a modern adaptation of the traditional Toraya; it offers a unique blend of the old and the new.  There are additional locations in in the leading luxury department stores around Tokyo.

The flagship store is currently located in Akasaka, with additional locations available in the leading luxury department stores around Tokyo.

The Toraya store, located on the lower level of Tokyo Midtown, a commercial, business, and residential complex in Roppongi, is a great example of the modern life of this 400+-year-old business.  It is an excellent location to go for delicious Japanese sweets.  This Toraya location also serves as an art gallery, a cafe, and an amazing wagashi-related souvenir shop.

Wagashi are Japanese confections.  In which the main element is azuki bean paste.  This is made by cooking the beans with sugar, mashing them, and finally straining the mix through a fine sieve to produce a smooth paste called gozen a (koshi an).  When the paste is not strained, it is called Ogura an (tsubu an).

[smartslider3 slider="55"]

In addition to bean pastes, other wagashi other unique ingredients like agar-agar, rice flour, Kanten (a fibre-rich gelatin made from seaweed) and the oldest domestic sugar, which is made with a rare kind of sugar cane from Tokushima prefecture.   These ingredients are skillfully combined to create a variety of moulded dried sweets (higashi)

Wagashi confections are based on the principle to appeal to the five senses: appearance, taste, texture, scent and sound.

In Kyoto, there are two locations:

The principal store, accompanied by a decent-sized tea house, is located on a street west of the Kyoto Imperial Palace and gardens.  The teahouse features a lovely, small library, and some of the tables offer a picturesque view of the garden.  Address: Karasuma-Nishi-iru, Ichijo-dori, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto

The other is located next to the Fujii Daimaru department store on Shijo-dori, the road that connects the Gion district with western Kyoto.Address: Gokomachi-Nishi-iru, Shijo-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto

There are many wonderful Wagashi shops throughout Japan, and trying the different styles, especially at Toraya, is a delightful experience.

Toraya Tokyo Midtown 
(81) 35.413.3541 
B1F, Tokyo Midtown Galleria, 9-7-4 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-6205
 www.toraya-group.co.jp