HIGASHIYA, an Ultra Modern Confectioner
The company reworks traditional Japanese confections by changing their aesthetic, without straying from their usual flavours.

© HIGASHIYA
Wagashi, traditional confections that accompany matcha during the tea ceremony, often come in plant-based or animal shapes. Thus, foodies can enjoy a sweet shaped like a leaf in autumn, while in spring, these sweets take the form of cherry blossoms.
However, in the confectionery shop HIGASHIYA, wagashi enthusiasts may be taken aback. Here, the sweets take the form of sticks, bars, little round balls like marbles, and even sushi from Nara, covered in a delicate leaf. ‘We enjoy it with our eyes, attentively listen to its sound and smell its subtle fragrance. We touch it with our fingers, feel it on our tongue—then finally taste it’, the confectioner’s website declares.
Preserved flavours
Although HIGASHIYA, who opened their first shop in 2003, shake up the traditional aesthetic of Japanese confections, they respect certain traditions scrupulously. As with classic confections, the ingredients for the wagashi made by HIGASHIYA change with the seasons; the sweets are made using fresh produce and even though their shape is reinvented, their flavours remain unchanged. Thus, red bean paste tends to be dominant.
Customers can taste the sweets in the HIGASHIYA shops, which also house, like HIGASHIYA GINZA, a tea room with a minimalist feel that offers drinks that marry perfectly with each of the sweet treats made by the confectioner.
More information about HIGASHIYA’s menu can be found on the confectioner’s website.
Address: Japan, 〒104-0061 Tokyo, Chuo City, Ginza, 1 Chome−7−7 Pola Ginza Building 2F

© HIGASHIYA

© HIGASHIYA

© HIGASHIYA

© HIGASHIYA
TRENDING
-
Undiscovered by Tourists: Shibamata, the Hidden Face of Tokyo
Shibamata district, located 20 minutes from Tokyo Skytree by train, is a place that retains its simplicity, charm and history.
-
The Tattoos that Marked the Criminals of the Edo Period
Traditional tattoos were strong signifiers; murderers had head tattoos, while theft might result in an arm tattoo.
-
Yukio Mishima and the Acceptance of his Homosexuality in Post-War Japan
In 'Confessions of a Mask', a novel inspired by his life, the author details the struggle to accept his difference in a conservative society.
-
The Vision of Toshiyuki Inoko, a Founder of teamLab
What exactly is teamLab, known as an art collective? To find out, we interviewed its founder and chief representative, Toshiyuki Inoko.
-
Kiyoshi Awazu’s Psychedelic Prints
During Japan’s post-war decades, the pioneering graphic designer’s vivid abstractions laid foundations for the country’s graphic design.