[Shioyoshiken's Famous Confectionery, Juraku]

Walking along Kuromon-dori from the Imadegawa Showroom, just before you reach Horikawa-Nakadachiuri, you will find an impressive Japanese sweets shop with a long black-dyed brick. The name of the store is Shioyoshiken. The vertical lines of the latticework and mushikomado, characteristic of Kyoto machiya houses, are in harmony with the long noren, making it very beautiful. When the noren flutters in the wind, one often stops to admire it. The building is designated by Kyoto City as an important landmark, a historic landmark, and a building of historical design.

Shioyoshiken was founded 140 years ago in 1882 by Yoshijiro Takaya, the founder of Shioyoshiken, as a branch of the famous Kyoto store Shiojiken, which is said to be descended from Rin Join, who came to Japan from China in 1341 and is said to have made the first steamed buns in Japan.

Shioyoshiken's representative confectionery is "Juraku," which has continued from the first generation. After Toyotomi Hideyoshi united the country, he built a magnificent castle called "Juraku-dai" in Kyoto. The famous confectionery "Juraku" was named after Shioyoshiken because of its proximity to the site of Juraku-dai. Contrary to the image of the gorgeous and gorgeous Jurakudai, Juraku has a simple design with the seal of "Tensho" stamped on it. The red bean paste is said to have been cooked exclusively for Juraku.

I am ashamed to admit that I first became aware of Juraku when I lived in Nishijin for 10 years. When I was researching to expand my repertoire of "Kyoto souvenirs," I wanted to learn more about the wagashi shops in Nishijin, which I usually pass by on my daily walk. Long-selling confections representing famous stores have various episodes and stories behind them, and I think one way to enjoy confections is to become interested in the historical events and people associated with them as you savor each one.

Shioyoshiken is about a 13-minute walk from the Imadegawa Showroom. Why not find your favorite Japanese confectionary in the store with a sense of history behind the black-dyed noren?

Shioyoshiken
https://www.kyogashi.com/
Imadegawa Showroom
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/imadegawa.html
Otera Kohachiro Shoten's Kanamari S
https://www.shokunin.com/en/otera/kanamari.html
Tanzogama's Slipware Mamezara
https://www.shokunin.com/en/tansou/slipware.html