日本のよいものを世界へ

Established in 1816 (13th year of Bunka-Bunka)

Long-established shop that continues to make Asakusa’s famous “Thunder Gobstopper” confectionery

Since the end of the Edo period, Tokiwa-do Kaminari Okoshi Honpo has been making “Kaminari Okoshi,” a traditional confectionary that is representative of Asakusa. The store has been located at Kaminarimon in Asakusa for more than 200 years, and is a long-established company that has inherited the techniques of Edo craftsmen while also developing new products. The company adheres to the management principles of “Trust, Harmony, and Execution,” and now consistently manufactures and sells its products, and has established a nationwide sales network. The Kaminarimon main store also offers a demonstration of selling Kaminari-okoshi, and it is an attractive place to enjoy the freshly made dumplings. On the second floor of the store, you can also enjoy sweet treats while gazing at the Kaminarimon Gate.

The name “Kaminari-okoshi” comes from the Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate), and has been popular as a souvenir to ward off lightning and for pilgrims to the Kannon (Goddess of Mercy). The characteristic of Edo-mae okoshi is the use of carefully selected rice as ingredients and the soft, sugar-based finish, and in recent years, new products with a softer, gentler sweetness have been developed. In recent years, the company has developed new products with softer and gentler sweetness. New flavors are being developed one after another with the addition of secondary ingredients such as peanuts and coconut. While preserving the traditions that have been handed down since the Edo period, the company has developed products that meet the needs of the new era, and is a long-established business that has been loved for many years.

History

Tokiwando Kaminarikoshi Honpo is a long-established business founded in 1816 (Bunka 13) at the end of the Edo period. In 1892 (Meiji 25), the store was established in the current location of the main Kaminarimon store. Although the store was destroyed by fire during World War II, it was rebuilt after the war and reorganized as a joint-stock company in 1950. Since then, the company has diversified its business by opening stores in department stores and expanding overseas, and has continued to do so to the present day.

This Notable Item

Raijin Portable Can

756 yen

Kamiisobe Okoshi”, Tokiwa-do’s representative thunder koshi, is contained in a can with an embossed image of the god of thunder. Okoshi is an auspicious product that “okoshi” a house and “okosu” a name. It contains a good balance of white sugar, which is characterized by its smooth sweetness, and brown sugar okoshi, which is characterized by its rich, mellow sweetness. Individually packaged, it is ideal as a souvenir.

Churra Mix Can

1,296 yen

This is an assortment of soft okoshi developed uniquely by Tokiwa-do Thunder Okoshi Honpo. It contains three types of Western-style okoshi: caramel almond, milk peanut, and maple coconut. These lightning roasted rice balls have an elegant sweetness and enjoyable crunchy texture. The bite-size pieces make it easy to eat, making it a popular product among the elderly and others.

Namaokoshi (Large)

1,944 yen

It is a semi-raw type of okoshi made from glutinous rice seeds mixed with syrup, egg whites and anko (red bean paste). It is a new sweet with an unprecedentedly soft texture and unique elasticity. The assortment includes two seasonal flavors, in addition to the standard white sweet adzuki-bean paste and black sweet adzuki-bean paste. All of the flavors have a gentle sweetness that makes them easy to eat.

Let’s Try

Asakusa Workshop Tour

Visitors can observe the process from the production of thunder rice dumplings to the final product at the “Asakusa Kobo” where thunder rice dumplings are actually made. The tour is held on Tuesdays through Saturdays, and visitors can choose their starting time from 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning or from 13:00 to 15:00 in the afternoon. The tour takes about 30 minutes and reservations are required. A professional staff member will teach you about the history of the Tokiwando Kaminari Okoshi Honpo as well as trivia about Kaminari Okoshi. The tour includes a tasting of the rice dumplings and a gift of the rice dumplings, which is only available on the workshop tour.

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