Visit the newly renovated Niigata Station! Introducing recommended stores for "Sasa-dango" (bamboo grass dumplings), a staple of Niigata souvenirs!

  • Niigata
  • Souvenirs
Image courtesy of Tanakaya Honten

Introduction of Sasa-dango

One of Niigata's most popular souvenirs and gifts is the fluffy, sweet, and nostalgic "sasa dango," a specialty of Niigata, a rice-producing region.
Sasa dango are bale-shaped dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves and tied with a string of sedge or other material.
Sasa dango has been eaten in the Chuetsu and Shimoetsu regions of Niigata for about 400 to 500 years. It is said that "Kenshin Uesugi used to carry sasa dango as a portable food" because sasa has a sterilizing effect and it was considered a portable preserved food in the Warring States period. There is also a theory that it originated from the wisdom of farmers who were struggling to pay tribute and devised a way to keep the little rice they had left tasty.

Today, it is known as a Japanese sweet wrapped in red bean paste, but it is also said to have served as a staple food in the old days, filled with side dishes such as kinpira gobo (burdock root) and simmered seaweed. Even today, there is a custom of making it in ordinary households when there are festivals or events.

When buying sasa dango at Niigata Station, there are so many stores and varieties to choose from that it is difficult to know which one to buy. We will now introduce you to all the stores selling sasa dango at "CoCoLo Niigata 2F EAST SIDE," which opened on March 27, 2024.
Then, in April 2024, "CoCoLo Niigata" will open at Niigata Station with about 170 stores, including local souvenir stores, restaurants and eateries. There will also be local souvenir shops and restaurants.

Tanakaya's directly-managed store, known for its "Akane-chan" sasa dango character.

Tanakaya Honten is one of the many stores in Niigata City.
" Tanakaya Honten Niigata Station Building CoCoLo Store" demonstrates the production of sasa-dango (bamboo grass dumplings). The sasa dango are made from carefully selected ingredients, including rice grown in Niigata Prefecture, and each dango is hand-rolled with love. Tsubu-an (sweet bean paste) is always available and can be purchased by the unit of 1 piece. Other types of red bean paste (koshian, chamame, arame, and kinpira) are always available in quantities of 5 or more. Please contact the store directly before visiting as some items may be out of stock.

Location: CoCoLo Niigata 2F EAST SIDE
*Newly opened on March 27, 2024
Tanakaya Honten

Niigata Shinrin-no-en (Niigata Forest Farm) for sasa dango directly from farmers.

Farmer's handmade sasa dango "Niigata Moribayashi Noen" are completely homemade and handmade one by one with rice grown on the company's own farm by the staff with great care and attention.
The sasa-dango (bamboo grass dumplings) that make the most of the rice ingredients have a rich aroma of yomogi mochi (mugwort rice cake) and are characterized by their low sweetness. The shop always sells both tsubu-an and koshi-an, but the most popular is the tsubu-an.
You may be able to find a different taste directly from the farmers than at other stores.

Location: CoCoLo Niigata 2F EAST SIDE
*Newly opened on March 27, 2024
Niigata Forest Farm

Echigo Shishi no Sakataya" for traditional sasa dango with the same taste and shape.

Sakataya's traditional method of making sasa-dango is to fill the dumpling with bean paste, roll it in bamboo grass and steam it. The dumplings have always been made the same way, one by one, with care and attention, so they are always delicious and somehow nostalgic. The dumpling dough is soft and filled with sweet red bean paste.
Factory-direct sasa dango are always available in two types, tsubu-an and koshi-an, and can be purchased in single units.
Since the assortment is popular, early business hours are recommended. Delicious rice balls made from Niigata rice are also available.

Location: CoCoLo Niigata 2F EAST SIDE
*Newly opened on March 27, 2024
Echigo Lion Sakataya

A wide variety of sasa-dango made by a long-established rice cake confectionery store [Takataya

Takataya's sasa dango boasts a fresh, mellow aroma and soft, chunky texture. They are produced with an emphasis on local production for local consumption and additive-free production. In addition to the standard Koshi An and Tsubu An, unusual flavors of Sasa Dango such as Strawberry An and Edamame An are available for purchase.
The wide variety of red bean paste is one of the appeals of this shop. For those who want to try different flavors of sasa dango, we recommend the "Two-flavor sasa dango" assortment, which comes with both tsubu-an and koshi-an. In addition, Okowa, skewered dango, Daifuku, and other items are also available. You can enjoy the taste of freshly made dumplings, which are handmade only for the day.

Location: CoCoLo Niigata 2F EAST SIDE
*Newly opened on March 27, 2024
Takataya
As you can see, there are many stores that sell "sasa dango," so it is a good idea to compare the different types of sasa dango you can try. Sasa dango are sold mainly at Japanese confectionery stores and souvenir stores, but some of them offer a hands-on experience of making sasa dango.

Tanakaya Honten, located near Niigata Station, sells a wide variety of sasa dango and has a workshop where visitors can try their hand at making sasa dango.
From here, we would like to go further and take a deeper look at Tanakaya Honten.

About Tanakaya Honten/Minato Kobo

Tanakaya Honten was founded in 1931 in Juban-cho, Furumachi.
Since the current third generation took over, the company has focused on sasa-dango (bamboo grass dumplings), which are unique to Niigata, among other rice-based products, and has been aiming to become the best in the region.
Then, in 2007, Tanakaya Honten Minato Kobo was opened as a hands-on store and workshop where visitors can see, make, and taste sasa dango.
It is a facility where visitors can experience everything about sasa dango, with the store and factory on the first floor and a seminar room (usually free space) for holding sasa dango classes on the second floor!

The Shinano River and Toki Messe are right in front of the store, and nearby is the Niigata City History Museum "Minatopia" where you can learn about Niigata's history and culture, making it convenient for sightseeing in Niigata.
Exterior view

You can purchase freshly made sasa dango while observing the actual sasa dango rolling process!

At Tanakaya Honten Minato Kobo, the bamboo grass dumpling production factory is located so that you can see it from the store, and you can purchase freshly made bamboo grass dumplings while observing the actual bamboo grass rolling process!

In addition to the standard "tsubuan" and "koshian," there are five other types of sasa dango: "chamame sasa dango" made with Niigata Prefecture's Kurosaki tea beans, "kinpira sasa dango" with handmade kinpira gobo, and "arame sasa dango" with side dishes made with sea weed arame, walnuts, hijiki mushrooms, and sweet and spicy sauce!

Tanakaya Honten Minato Kobo always has a variety on hand and can be purchased in quantities of as little as one.
Scene of bamboo grass-rolling operation

We also sell other products such as these!

In addition to the sasa dango, the shop offers a variety of seasonal Japanese sweets such as chestnut daifuku (rice cake with chestnuts) and bean-jam-filled rice cakes, which are befitting of Niigata, a rice-producing region, as well as sekihan (red rice) and various rice balls. In addition, handmade soft ice cream with a Japanese flavor is available only at Minato Kobo!

You can eat your purchases in the open space on the 2nd floor overlooking Niigata Minato.
Please be sure to try them along with the sasa dango.

Please be sure to try them with our sasa dango. *We may be out of various types of sasa dango, so please inquire directly with the store before visiting.
An example of our products
Tanakaya Honten Minato Kobo details:

Experience the making of sasa dango!

Tanakaya Minato Kobo offers a "Sasa Dango Class" where you can try your hand at making sasa dango.
This course was started to preserve Niigata's food culture and specialty, sasa-dango, for a long time.
There are three types of courses available:

Course A: Experience and talk about making sasa-dango from dough making to sasa-maki (about 2 hours)
Course B: Experience and talk about sasa-maki (about 1 hour)
Course C: Talk about sasa-dango (about 1 hour)

I experienced the most popular course B!

～The process of making sasa dango

The materials are bamboo grass, Igusa (Japanese mugwort), and Yomogi dango.
In the B class, you can experience making five Sasa dango.

The instructor showed us how to wrap the bamboo grass and we started our experience.
We actually wrapped the dumplings in three pieces of bamboo grass and tied them into a bale shape with Igusa (Japanese mugwort).
It was difficult to tie the dumplings with the Igusa while shaping them, and with the help of the instructor, we managed to complete the process!
It was difficult to find the right amount of force, and the first memorable bamboo grass dumpling turned out to be disappointing, but by being aware of how to wrap and position the rush grass, they quickly improved.
It took about 40 minutes to make five of them.
The finished bamboo grass dumplings are placed in a steamer and steamed for 20 minutes.
Steaming raises the temperature of the dumplings to about 100 degrees Celsius, which is said to sterilize them. Bamboos have antiseptic and sterilizing properties, and because they last for a long time, they used to be made by households in Niigata Prefecture as a preserved food.

Freshly made sasa dango are ready!

When you peel the bamboo grass, you can smell the delicious aroma of yomogi (Japanese mugwort).
The freshly steamed bamboo grass dumplings are sticky and the bean paste inside is mellow!
It was one of the most delicious sasa dango I have ever had.

Why don't you try this unique experience as a memory of your trip to Niigata?

We are looking forward to seeing you!

The sasa dango workshop is by reservation only, so please call us by the morning of the day before if you would like to attend.

Sasa-dango course】
Tel: 025-225-8822
Hours: 9:00 - 18:00
Number of people accepted: from 5
Fee: Courses A and B: 2,200 yen (including materials and consumption tax)
Course C: Free
Sasa dango lecture details:

Visit the newly renovated Niigata Station

Have you ever wondered what kind of sasa dango you can make?
They may look the same in taste and shape, but in fact, they have a completely different taste. They do not last long, but if they become hard, you can warm them up in a microwave oven with the whole bamboo grass to restore their softness, making them perfect as souvenirs. If you stop by Niigata Station, how about buying some Niigata's specialty "sasa dango" as a souvenir?
CoCoLo Niigata 2F EAST SIDE store details:

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