Hatsune (Ningyocho)

A Japanese sweets house on Ningyocho-dori, open since 1837. It's a short walk from Ningyocho and Suitengumae stations.

What stayed with me was enjoying traditional anmitsu in an old-fashioned setting. The room still carries the air of the Showa era, and time seems to move slowly there. It has a calm charm that newer places don't.

The red bean paste is made from Hokkaido azuki, the black syrup from brown sugar from the Okinawa islands, and the agar jelly from Ogasawara seaweed, all made in-house. The shop's name comes from the Hatsune drum in the kabuki play Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura.

If you're walking around Ningyocho, stop here for a break.