Confectionery Purveyor Toraya Get a Makeover in Akasaka

Toraya, an institution in traditional Japanese confectionery for the last 500 years, has had a facelift. Gone are the days of the nine-storey tower block built in 1964. The brand has now opted for purity and clarity with a fully glazed facade. Inside, natural takes precedence with a hinoki wood coating on the walls, embellished with touches of black, all bathed in daylight.

The gallery in the basement is a new addition and hosts exhibitions and thematic events around traditional Japanese culture. However it is likely to be the tea room on the third floor that will attract crowds. Visitors will be able to taste dishes and desserts specially developed for the Akasaka branch such as senri no kaze, a yokan (here a jellied mix of different beans) striped with red bean paste, a nod to the name of the house (tora means tiger in Japanese).