Nagatoya (会津長門屋 七日町店) is one of the top traditional confectionery makers in Aizu. The maker, which opened in 1848, takes pride in its handmade sweets. Their Nanukamachi shop, located on Nanukamachi-dōri Street, opened in 2011. You will be amazed by the sweets on the shelf, especially by their infamous Fly Me to The Moon~Yōkan Fantasia! Apart from the shop, it also features a pleasant resting area for customers to relax. The great news is that the sugar level of their confectionery is reduced, so even those who are not sweet-toothed can still enjoy their products!
Nagatoya’s Fanciful Yōkan
Its top seller is a yōkan called Fly Me to The Moon ~Yōkan Fantasia (Fly Me to The Moon～羊羹ファンタジア～). Introduced in 2017, the yōkan is magical. Many people call it edible art. It will entertain your eyes and taste buds at the same time. The pattern on the cross-section of the sweet changes every time you cut it. It would be like the yōkan showing you a brief clip about a bird perched on the crescent moon, gradually flying towards the full moon. The night sky also slowly falls on the landscape.
Not only was the yōkan carefully designed, but the image on its package was created by Japanese painter Masuda Reika (舛田玲香), who was born in Fukushima Prefecture.
Of course, the yōkan is tasty. In fact, it has an elegant taste to it. Unlike the traditional yōkan with a bean taste, you can taste champagne and lemon when eating Fly Me to The Moon ~Yōkan Fantasia!
Tip: The patterns on the cross-section are best if you cut the yōkan into 7 slices.
Other Recommended Traditional Sweets at Nagatoya
- Kaisennen (貝千年)
- Different shell-shaped wasanbon sugar is packaged in a clamshell. When you open the shell, jewel-like confectioneries will appear.
- If you have several Kaisennen, you can play the traditional game from the Heian period called Kai-awase (貝合わせ), also known as shell-matching.
- Because clams don’t mix with other shellfish, giving clams to newlyweds has the meaning of hoping for them a healthy and great relationship.
- Aizu Okiagari Koboshi (会津 起き上がり最中)
- Okiagari Koboshi (起き上がり小法師) is Aizu’s traditional lucky charm. As it stands up quickly after falling, the figure symbolizes the spirit of “fall seven times, get up eight”. It is also a symbol of tenacity and health.
- The monaka in the shape of Okiagari Koboshi comes with two types of bean paste. The idea is for you to enjoy filling the monaka yourself.
- Kagunokinomi (香木実)
- It is another signatory confectionery at Nagatoya.
- Made using Aizu’s Manchurian walnut (also known as monkey nuts or tigernut) and red bean paste, Kagunokinomi has an elegant taste.
- The bite-sized sweet is great for various occasions, including afternoon tea time and celebrations. In Japanese, walnuts can also be written as “久留美”. Presenting walnuts to others means wishing the recipient a lifetime of happiness and beauty.
- Depending on the walnut harvest condition, Kagunokinomi might sell out quickly. We recommend heading to Nagatoya first thing in the morning.
- Wasanbon Sugar Stirrer (和三盆糖シュガーマドラー)
- The perfect gift for those who drink coffee and/or black tea with sugar.
- Wasanbon sugar is the finest sugar in Japan. The fine sugar is then forged into different classic Japanese-style patterns, so choose the ones you like!
Nagatoya Nanukamachi’s Business Hours and Access Information
- Nagatoya Nanukamachi is open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.
- The shop closes early at 5 pm in winter.
- It closes from the end of December to the beginning of January.
- The shop is a 2-minute walk from JR Nanukamachi Station.
Discover the Stunning Scenery Along the Tadami Line
The Nanukamachi-dōri Street, where Nagatoya is located, is the starting point of Japan’s most stunning train line, the Tadami Line. From the local train’s window, which runs through the mountains, breathtaking natural views unfold one after another throughout the year. Several tourist spots that are worth checking out are also dotted along the Tadami Line, enriching your visit to Japan’s rural towns.
Refer to our Tadami Line article for more information on expanding your itinerary to include a couple of scenic spots!
