●Kaki-Gori Machine (Ice Shaver)

Everyday hot isnt it?

When it is hot, I like to have some cold things such as iced tea or ice cream.
One of my favorite is Kaki-gori; shaved ice with syrup.

Shaved Ice with Strawberry and Milk

Shaved Ice with Matcha, Red Beans and Milk

My favorite flavor is strawberry milk!
It is tasty- sweet and cold, I can feel cooler even in a hot place.

Japan has some cute self-ice shaving machines :)

 Polar Bear

Hello Kitty- Mermaid :)

Anpanman

Chopper from One Piece!

Mickey Mouse

Pikachu from Pocket Monster

Doraemon

Penguin

Antique Design

And unique syrups-

Japanese Green Tea Syrup

Ume (Japanese Plum) Syrup

Yuzu Syrup

Mango Syrup

Kuro-Mitsu (Brown Sugar) Syrup

Let's enjoy Summer!!

●Hi-gashi

Japanese sweets are very cute and high quality, especially Jonama sweets:

They need excellent techniques! They all are amazing, and you may want to bring back to your hometown as Omiyage.

However, they are raw sweets and need to keep warm. They also are short lasting, so are not good for Omiyage.

Now, how about Hi-gashi?

Hi-gashi is dry and keeps relatively longer than other Japanese sweets.

They are made of Japanese traditional sugar and flour, and the designs are all cute!

For autumn

looks like bento (Lunch box)!

Violin

I am sure that you will be surprised the real ones, because they are not only cute but also very small!

●Yokan

2012 is ending soon, How do you spend?

In Japan, a lot of people go back to their parents house and spend at home with family. (Some young people like to be with friends though)

When we go back hometown, Omiyage is required...!

I used to went back home with Japanese Wagashi, for example-

Yokan

Yokan is a Japanese traditional sweets made from Anko (Red bean paste) and agar.

One of famous brands in Tokyo is Kuri (chestnuts) Yokan by"Tokyo Yokan"

Kuri(Chestnuts) Yokan by Tokyo Yokan

They have traditional Yokan, the package and shops are also traditional style!

Tokyo Yokan Shop

Also, if you prefer a bit arranged ones, these are also good for Omiyage-

Imo(Sweet Potato) Yokan by Funawa

Funawa is very famous shop for this Imo Yokan.

Sakura Yokan by Yagi-Kashi-Ho in Hokkaido

Mt Fuji Matcha Yokan by Kindaruma

Enjoy Yokan with hot Japanese green tea at home!

●Sugar Butter Tree

Hello guys, what do you usually have for breakfast?
Fruits, breads, pies, or maybe Natto? haha
(Natto is Japanese traditional food, which smells so strong! But Japanese love it!)

I often have serial. Do you like serial?

Today I'm introducing sweets made from serial!

Sugar Butter Tree by Gin no Budou

The serial is very crunch and sweet.
Sugar Butter Tree has some verities,

Sugar Butter Tree Plain (left) and 

Sugar Butter Sand Tree (Right)

Chocolate Butter Tree

serial coated with white chocolate

I like the Chocolate Butter Tree the best, others too crunch for me.

If you want to love crunch ones, Sugar Butter Sand is the best for you!

They also have gift box for Christmas!

Sugar Butter Tree Christmas Box

Bring it to Christmas party?

●Yoku Moku

When you get Japanese sweet Omiyage for friends, you might want to get traditional ones.

But if your friend likes western things better, I can recommend you this!

Yoku Moku Cookies

Yoku Moku provides mainly cookies, they are really light. Since they are not hard at all, they are also good for elderly. It is sweet but not too much, I always eat too much haha!

The most Famous products in Yoku Moku are;

Yoku Moku Cigar

Yoku Moku Billet au Chocolat au Lait

(cookies coated by sweet chocolate)

I also recommend you these follows -

Yoku Moku Bateau de Macadamia

Yoku Moku mille-feuille  Limited until March!

You can find Yoku Moku shops at department stores, or main Airports in Japan - Im sure Haneda Airport has the Yoku Moku products :)

If you cannot decide to buy, they also have assorted packages!

Enjoy tea time with Yoku Moku!

●Kibana

Omiyage from Hokkaido!
I found very Yummy Omiyage in Hokkaido, the name is

Kibana by Tsuboya

Maybe you all do not know it, oh i did not know either.
But after i tried once, i cannot forget the taste.....
i should have some boxes for myself!
Kibana is very sweet, so good to have with black tea or coffee.

Put White chocolate between almond galette, Kibana is very simple sweets but the taste is not ordinary. The chocolate is very elegant, and the galette is crispy but soft.
Well, i cannot explain! anyway try them!

Kibana has been won Monde selection, the world sweets contest for 25 years!! Now i can understand why....
Kibana is much yummy than you imagine. i promise!

Oh,, now i miss Kibana! Guys, please get them for me when you go to Hokkaido!

●Hiyoko Manju

Do you like Japanese Manju?
(What is Manju? -- Click here to jump to wiki!)

When you hear Manju, the shape may round or elliptic.
But today im introducing very cute shaped Manju : Hiyoko !

Hiyoko

Cute isn't it?

Hiyoko means a chic, thats why this Omiyage named Hiyoko :)

Package

Bigger than normal Manju

White Filling from head to hip!

There are some flavors and variations depends on seasons;

Chestnuts flavor

"Family" Pack -Cute!!

Big Hiyoko (1 each in a box)

Right one  is normal Hiyoko and Left is Big Hiyoko

By the way, Hiyoko has long history, this year 2012 is 100th birthday!

Every Japanese must know this Hiyoko Manju, but there is a funny thing.

If you have a Japanese friend, try asking him/her "Hiyoko is Omiyage from where"?

Some people answer Tokyo, others Hakata (kyushu).

Hiyoko is originally made in Hakata (Kyushu area), and later they moved to Tokyo.

So there are "Hakata Hiyoko" and "Tokyo Hiyoko" and it caused confusion.

Still a lot of people do not know whether hiyoko is from Hakata or Tokyo, but actually both Hiyokos are completely the same, expect the package- well, package designs are also same, the difference is only that Tokyo one is written "Tokyo Hiyoko" and Hakata one "Hakata hiyoko".

Anyway Hiyoko is loved for 100 years in Japan, you should have them!