In Ginza, where the streets are wide and the people polished, you’ll find Higashiya Ginza—a shop and teahouse that makes fine wagashi, the refined confectionery that accompanies green tea in Japan. (The name Higashiya means “daily sweetshop.”) Each morsel offers no more than a few mouthfuls, though the diminutive bamboo picks with which they are served allow diners to stretch out the experience with tiny birdlike bites. In the adjoining café, diners can sample a wagashi flight with tea or liquor pairings. The confections change seasonally, but may include yuzu domyojikan, using citrus rind, agar and mochi rice; or the natsume butter sweet, which combines fermented butter, walnuts and date palm sugar. This story is from Kinfolk Issue Thirty-Two Buy Now Related Stories Food City Guide Issue 32 Takemura A family teahouse. Food City Guide Issue 32 Lawn A classic kissaten. Food City Guide Issue 32 Okomeya A rice specialist. Arts & Culture Food Issue 47 Object Matters An itemized history of the menu. Arts & Culture Food Issue 46 At Work With: Deb Perelman The little blog that could: An interview with Smitten Kitchen’s unflappable founder. Arts & Culture Food Issue 46 Consider the Mango An ode to the world’s sweetest fruit.
Arts & Culture Food Issue 46 At Work With: Deb Perelman The little blog that could: An interview with Smitten Kitchen’s unflappable founder.