A famous confectionary that carries on the traditions of Tsurumi Tokaido, selected as one of the 100 best products of Kanagawa.

  • Kanagawa
  • Souvenirs
Tokaido Tsurumi's specialty "Yone-manju

A famous historical confectionery is revived around Tsurumi Station!

Ladies and gentlemen! Have you ever had a hard time finding a good souvenir around Yokohama? We at JR East Travel Service Center Yokohama hear from many customers who are troubled with souvenirs.
We would like to introduce some recommendations for those people.
"Gokashiji Seigetsu", located about 5 minutes walk from JR Tsurumi Station, sells historic souvenirs of Kanagawa Prefecture. The name is "Yone-manju. It is colorful, cute, and small, making it a perfect souvenir. We will introduce it in detail in the next section!

The history of "Yone-manju" from its birth to now

The history of "Yone-manju" is long, starting in the late 17th century. Yone, a daughter of Tsuruya, used to sell sweets under the Asakusa Waitanzan (Mt. Asakusa). The name "Yone-manju" was derived from the manju sold by Yone-san. From the Genroku era (1688-1704) to the Kyoho era (1868-1912), it was considered a famous confectionery in Edo (present-day Tokyo). Later, it spread throughout the country, and it is said that Tsurumi's "Yone-manju" became famous around the beginning of the 18th century. Steamed beans seasoned with salt and filled with rice cake, yonemanju was cheaper than soba noodles and was appreciated by travelers and palanquin carriers because it was filling. Also, yone-manju stuffed in bamboo baskets were very popular as souvenirs for travelers returning to Edo (present-day Tokyo).
However, since "Yone-manju" was targeted at people traveling on the highways, it disappeared with the opening of the railroad in 1872.
Later, this store, which has existed since the Taisho Era (1912-1926), revived it before the war, but there was a long interruption due to the war. It was not until 1982 that it was fully restored. The current form was created as part of the 30th anniversary project of the Tsurumi Confectionery Merchant Cooperative Association. The "Yone-manju" from the Edo period was rearranged in a modern style during the revival, and has evolved into a cute little Japanese confectionary with plenty of red bean paste wrapped in a thin Haniue mochi (rice cake).
(Quoted from "Tsurumi Meibutsu Rice Manju Kou" and Gokashiji Seigetsu's website, as described in III of "Soku Okashi Haiku Ron: Sweetness and Taste of the Times" by the author, Mr. Hiroji Tamura.)
Inside the store that continues to be loved as it has been for a long time

We interviewed the store owner!

Ekitabi Yokohama: What are the specialties of your products?
Gokashiji Seigetsu: Our products are carefully made using only the finest ingredients. They are also unique because there are no similar confections around. In addition, the paper bag has the store name "Gokashiji Seigetsu" and "Keihin Tsurumi Ekimae Odori" on the side.

Ekitabi Yokohama: How are "Yone-manju" sweets made?
Gokashiji Seigetsu: The softly cooked sweet bean paste is encased in a softer dough. It is very hard work.

Ekitabi Yokohama: What is the recommended way to eat "Yone-manju"?
Gokashiji Seigetsu: It is delicious just as it is, but in the summer, it is best to chill it or freeze it and eat it after it has thawed.
Gokashiji Kiyotsuki's paper bag for take-out

Yone-manju" was selected as one of the 100 best products of Kanagawa!

I actually tried eating it cold, as recommended by the owner. The mochi part did not become hard even after being chilled, but softened after a little while and was ready to eat. The rich red bean paste filled my mouth with a very luxurious taste. The smooth texture and just the right amount of sweetness made it a perfect match with hot tea or coffee. The Yone-manju contains three different flavors, so if you were to take turns eating the white bean paste, koshi-an, and ume-an, you would run out of them in no time.
Left: Small and colorful "Yone-manju
Right: Cross section of a Yone-manju

We also recommend this product!

In addition to Yone-manju, there are two other products at this store that we would like to recommend.
The first is a baked good called "biscotti. The large nuts make a big impact and are very satisfying. Compared to other biscotti on the market, the biscotti is about 20 cm in length, a size that is hard to find in other stores.
Top: Chocolat Bottom: Plain
The second is "Luna Piena," a type of rakugan. Ochigans are one of the three most famous confections in Japan, and are characterized by their soft and fluffy texture. The Luna Piena is a stylish new interpretation of the traditional rakugan, and the result is the Luna Piena. The word means "full moon" in Italian, and this product has two hemispheres attached to form a single sphere. The two half moons make a full moon, and the blue paper represents the night sky. It is a very romantic confectionary with a lot of attention to detail. The rakugan sold at this store is a one-of-a-kind product made with wasanbon (a Japanese sweet made in Awa) and homemade limoncello (Italian lemon liqueur). The moment you put them in your mouth, the flavor of lemon spreads and the taste is very elegant.
Luna Piena like a full moon

When in doubt, go to Tsurumi!

Of course, it is nice to receive famous souvenirs that everyone knows, but I think that long-established Japanese sweets filled with history are also unique and one-of-a-kind as a souvenir. They are sure to be appreciated! If you are wondering what to buy as a Kanagawa souvenir, please buy "Yone-manju" from "Gokashiji Seigetsu"!
Bottom: Yeonemanju Center: Biscotti Top: Luna Piena

Image courtesy of Gokashiji Seigetsu, photo by JR East Travel Service Center Yokohama staff

Gokashiji Seigetsu's website is here:
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