I found Akafuku Mochi, a specialty of Ise, Mie Prefecture, at the gift shop. This traditional Japanese confection dates back to 1707 and is known for its soft mochi topped with smooth red bean paste. The outer layer of red bean paste symbolizes the Isuzu River in front of Ise Jingu, while the three ripples on the surface represent the flowing water. The first thing you notice is the smooth sweetness of the red bean paste, followed by the soft yet chewy texture of the mochi. The two complement each other perfectly. The ingredients are very simple—just glutinous rice, red beans, and sugar—making it a classic sweet full of traditional Japanese flavor.
Akafuku-Main store | Review by Linda Liao
Other Reviews by Linda Liao
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Hakone Gora Hot Spring: Toki no Yu Setsugetsuka
This authentic, Japanese aesthetic hot springs inn is located a conveniently short 1 min. walk from Gora Station. The lobby has a wide-open layout with complete with a full-on Noh theatre stage at its center.
When visiting Hakone, if you want to relax and enjoy a traditional Japanese hot spring inn, consider staying at Toki no Yu Setsugetsuka. The inn has an old-world atmosphere and is full of Japanese charm. Every guest room has an open-air hinoki cypress bath, and there is also a large public bath and free private open-air baths, so guests can fully enjoy the hot springs. For dinner, you can choose from different set meals based on your preferences, and female guests can select a yukata they like, adding to the Japanese vacation atmosphere. Best of all, the inn is right next to Gora Station, about a 1-minute walk away, making it very convenient for taking the mountain railway or exploring the Hakone area.
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Kuromon Nakagawa
A fresh food specialty store in Osaka’s Kuromon Market offering a wide range of fresh seafood, meat, produce, prepared foods, groceries, and more. Kuromon Nakagawa is the only 24-hour supermarket in Kuromon Market and serves both tourists and local residents shopping for their daily meals. The seafood section emphasizes seasonality and freshness, offering day-catch seafood from Akashiura Fishing Port every Thursday and Saturday.
If you’ve visited Kuromon Market, you’re probably familiar with the Kuromon Nakagawa supermarket. Its biggest feature is that it’s open 24 hours, which is very convenient for travelers. During the day, you can enjoy all kinds of food at the market, and at night, if you want to buy some fresh fruit or prepared food to enjoy back at your hotel, you can stop by anytime. The store carries a wide variety of products, from fresh ingredients to everyday groceries. Browsing here feels like getting a glimpse into the daily lives of Osaka residents, and you can also find many unique local products, which is another fun part of traveling.
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hibicare
The “hibicare” series of ointments is an effective treatment for chapped and cracked skin on your hands or heels in the winter.
Because the older members of my family are getting up there in age, their skin is more fragile, and dry, cracked hands and feet become especially noticeable every winter. This time, I saw hibicare ointment at a drugstore in Japan and immediately bought it for my family to try. The allantoin helps repair cracked skin, panthenol helps maintain normal skin function, glycerin moisturizes the skin, and vitamin E promotes blood circulation. After using it for a few weeks, the biggest difference was that their once-rough heels became much softer! Applying a thick layer before bed and then putting on socks for extra moisture really makes a difference the next day. It’s become a great help for caring for older family members’ skin in winter.
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