Kumamotoya

This Japanese confectionary shop is located close to Omiya Shrine, a shrine which has attracted worshippers since ancient times as the area's protective shrine. Situated across from the shrine's Toroden, the shop sells Yamaga yokan, a famous confection from the Yamaga area which consists of koshian smooth sweet bean paste wrapped in gyuhi soft rice cake. A favorite of many since the Meiji period, these tasty treats have a simple, lightly sweet flavor. The confection's gyuhi is made with rice flour instead of glutinous rice, ensuring that it stays pleasantly soft for an extended period of time. In the past, Yamaga yokan was made by many teahouses in the area, but today only three establishments including this one produce the confection.