What is Kuzu-manju, a specialty of Obama City, Fukui Prefecture? Check out our seasonal wagashi recommendations!
Kuzu manju, a traditional confectionery of Obama City, is a Japanese sweet with a pleasantly cool and smooth texture during the hot season. Obama City has many wagashiya (Japanese confectionery shops), and in addition to kuzu manju, a variety of other famous confections are available. In this article, we will explain what kind of wagashi Kuzu-manju is and introduce recommended wagashi by season in Obama City and the Reinan (Tsuruga and Wakasa) area.
What is Obama City's specialty [Kuzu Manju]?
Kuzu manju (kuzu buns) have been made in Obama City for a long time and are characterized by their cool appearance. First, we will explain what kind of Japanese confectionery is Kuzu-manju. If you have never had it, please take this opportunity to check it out.
Wagashi with koshi-an (sweet bean paste) wrapped in transparent kuzu
Kuzu manju is a traditional Japanese confectionery that has been made in Obama for centuries. Kuzu manju is made by kneading transparent kuzu and wrapping it with koshian (sweet red bean paste), then chilling it. The sweetness of the bean paste and the plump texture of the manju are its characteristics, and by changing the color of the bean paste inside, the manju can be made to look different. The beautiful kuzu manju made from the clean water of Obama City is a famous confectionary loved by people of all ages.
A summer tradition in Obama
Kuzu manju is a common snack eaten from spring to summer. Kuzu manju is perfect for the hot summer months because of its cool and smooth texture. The bean paste is only Koshi-an, and the sweetness is not too strong. They are often chosen as souvenirs.
[Spring/Summer] Recommended Reinan Area Confectionery
In addition to kuzu-manju, there are many other famous confections in the Reinan area, including Obama City. Here are some recommended confections and popular stores by season. If you visit Obama City, be sure to stop by!
Kuzu-manju (kudzu manju) ｜Long-established Japanese confectionery shop "Iseya" transmitting tradition to the present
Kuzu manju (kuzu manju) is one of Obama's most popular spring and summer wagashi. Introduced here is "Iseya," a long-established Japanese confectionery shop established over 190 years ago. It manufactures and sells a variety of wagashi, including seasonal confections such as "Kuzu-manju" in summer and "Chochi-yokan" in winter.
Kuzu manju is a limited product available only from April to early October each year. Kumagawa kuzu from Wakasa, one of the three major kuzu species in Japan, is used, and its elegant flavor is exquisite. Unjosui, a high-quality underground water selected as one of the 100 best waters in Japan, is used, and its clear, beautiful appearance is one of its charms.
| Address | 1-1-6, Obama-shi, Fukui 917-0071 (福井県小浜市1-1-6)
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| Telephone number | 0770-52-0766 |
| Business hours | 8:30-17:30 |
| Closed | Wednesdays Please confirm details in advance. |
| Reference site | Iseya (伊勢屋) |
Wakasa Ume no Dorayaki｜Shihoju manufactures its own specialty red bean paste
Shihoju's Wakasa Ume no Dorayaki
Citation meta. homely woman (esp. one with a small low nose, high flat forehead, and bulging cheeks)
Wakasa Ume no Dorayaki, made with plums, a specialty of Wakasa, is another famous confectionary recommended for spring and summer. The dorayaki is filled with plum jam or nectar, and the sourness of the plum helps prevent summer fatigue and may help you overcome the severe heat.
The store introduced here is Shihoju, a long-established store that has maintained its traditional taste for more than 200 years since its establishment in 1806. The slightly sour plum jam used is a perfect match with the special anko (red bean paste) that is produced in-house. It has an elegant taste and a refreshing aftertaste.
Other items on sale include dorayaki with sweet and sour fig jam and dorayaki filled with seasonal chestnuts. The assortment of products will surely make great souvenirs.
| Address | 1-8 Unpin, Obama City, Fukui 917-0096 (福井県小浜市雲浜1-8)
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|---|---|
| Telephone number | 0770-52-0599 |
| Business hours | 9:00-18:00 |
| Closed |
Open all year round
*Please confirm details in advance.
|
| Reference site | Shihoju (志保重) |
Kuzubar｜Kikusuido Wagashidokoro, a long-established Japanese confectionery established over 50 years ago.
Kuzubar is a stick-type ice cream made from kuzu flour. Since it is made from kuzu flour, it is known as a strange type of ice cream that does not melt. The sticky texture will become addictive.
A wide variety of flavors are available, including melon, blueberry, mandarin orange, white peach, chestnut azuki bean, and Anno sweet potato. They are manufactured and sold by Kikusuido, a Japanese confectionary store that has been in business for over 50 years.
| Address | 36-8-1 Inokuchi, Wakasa-machi, Fukui 919-1542 (福井県若狭町井ノ口36-8-1)
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| Telephone number | 0770-62-0024 |
| Business hours | 8:00-19:00 |
| Closed | Tuesdays Please confirm details in advance. |
| Reference site |
Wagashidokoro Kikusuido (和菓子処 菊水堂)
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Hishimochi｜Nakanishi Seika, where you can taste handmade Japanese sweets one by one.
Hishimochi is an essential part of the Peach Festival, but the hishimochi made by Nakanishi Seika in Mihama Town is different. While most hishimochi are made from glutinous rice, Nakanishi Seika's hishimochi are made from gyuuhi, a mixture of rice flour and sugar.
It has a soft texture like Daifuku, and when you put it in your mouth, you will feel a slight sweetness and the fresh flavor of mugwort. It is manufactured and sold for a limited time each year.
| Address | 18-11, Kugushi, Mihama-cho, Mikata-gun, Fukui 919-1123, Japan (福井県三方郡美浜町久々子18-11)
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| Telephone number | 0770-32-0130 *Please confirm details in advance. |
| Reference site | Nakanishi Seika (中西製菓) |
[Autumn/Winter] Recommended Reinan Area Confectionery
Next, we will introduce famous confections from Obama City and other areas in the Reinan area that are recommended for "autumn and winter. Why not enjoy the seasonal delicacies?
Strawberry Daifuku｜Shihoju, a treasure house of famous confections
Shihoju's Big Strawberry Daifuku
Citation meta. homely woman (esp. one with a small low nose, high flat forehead, and bulging cheeks)
Daifuku, made with strawberries, which are in season in winter, is also recommended. Manufactured and sold by Shihoju, which was also introduced in Wakasa's Dorayaki. The winter seasonal product "Okkii Strawberry Daifuku" is a popular item. Freshly harvested strawberries are encased in daifuku.
Large, sweet and sour local strawberries are matched with sweet red bean paste. The perfect balance of sweetness and sourness makes this famous confectionery loved by people of all ages. The "Okkii Strawberry Daifuku" has a shelf life of three days, including the day of production. Why not enjoy the taste while it is still fresh?
| Address | 1-8 Unpin, Obama City, Fukui 917-0096
(福井県小浜市雲浜1-8)
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|---|---|
| Telephone number | 0770-52-0599 |
| Business hours | 9:00-18:00 |
| Closed |
Open all year round
*Please confirm details in advance.
|
| Reference site | Shihoju (志保重) |
Wakasa Kuzu Yokan｜Inoue Koyoan develops products made of kuzu (bean curd) dough.
Dechi Yokan, a local confectionery of Fukui Prefecture, is customarily eaten during the winter season in Obama City. Inoue Koyoan sells Wakasa Kuzu Yokan, which is based on Kuzu Manju in summer and Dechi Yokan in winter, and is a popular product that has been selected for in-flight meals on JAL domestic first-class flights.
A flat box is filled with yokan hardened with kudzu, which are then cut into desired sizes with an attached wooden spatula and eaten. They are made with local Kumagawa kudzu and famous water from Uriwari-no-taki waterfall, using the traditional dechi yokan technique. It is characterized by its smooth, smooth texture and the gentle sweetness of the azuki beans.
| Address | 9-17 Minamikawa-cho, Obama City, Fukui 917-0075 (福井県小浜市南川町9-17)
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|---|---|
| Telephone number | 0770-52-0199 |
| Business hours | 8:00-18:00 |
| Closed | Tuesdays Please confirm details in advance. |
| Reference site | Okashidokoro Inoue Koyokan (お菓子処 井上耕養庵) |
Tsuruga Fuwasse｜KOBORI Hinode-do, the first confectionery store in the Reinan area
This is an autumn/winter-only sweet that offers the exquisite harmony of Tsuruga mandarin oranges and Koshihikari rice. The dough, baked without any flour and made from 100% brand-name rice from Fukui Prefecture, Koshihikari, has a soft and fluffy texture that melts in the mouth. The rich and flavorful Tsuruga mandarin orange jelly is a refreshing addition.
KOBORI was the first confectionery store established in the Reinan area, and has been in business for over 100 years. It continues to create new confections using traditional manufacturing techniques.
| Address | 1-2-34, Kagura-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture 914-0063, Japan (福井県敦賀市神楽町1-2-34)
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|---|---|
| Telephone number | 0770-21-0141 |
| Business hours | 9:00-19:00 |
| Closed | Wednesdays *Please confirm details in advance. |
| Reference site | KOBORI StrawberryCandle |
Let's go eat Obama City's kuzu manju and other famous sweets of the Reinan area!
Obama City and the surrounding Reinan area are home to many famous confections, including kuzu manju. Among them, seasonal menus will allow you to enjoy the taste of the season. If you are interested in famous sweets unique to the Reinan area, please visit the stores introduced here.
The information is current as of February 2024. Information is subject to change without notice.