Have you ever tried Japanese traditional style "parfait" called "Anmitsu (あんみつ)"?
If you would try in Tokyo, a traditional style cafe, Takemura is a perfect place for it.
We are not sure if we should call it "cafe", because it is completely different from the one from Western world. It is called "Kanmi-dokoro (甘味処, sweets place)" in Japanese, representing a place serving Japanese traditional dessert plates with Japanese tea. Usually they do not provide coffee nor a piece of chocolate cake but do Japanese tea and traditional dessert. At least it can be in same cateogry as a place where people can enjoy sweets & drink as well as chatting or taking a break in cozy atmosphere. As Japan is modernized, many of such traditional space has been disappeared unfortunately. Takemura with over 80 years history is a valuable "Kanmi-dokoro" in central Tokyo.
Takemura is accommodated in traditional wooden house, which is registered as Tokyo's historical heritage.
The intereior is also typical and rustic Japanese style with wood beams and paper sliding doors "shoji". We are quite sure that the scene would never change since it opened in early 20 century.
A part of seats are on tatami floor, where we can be relaxed after removing our shoes.
Upon arrival,we were welcomed with cherry flower in hot water,
instead of ordinary Japanese tea.
To visit the sweets house will be already a romantic moment to experience Japanese traditional culture, whatever you have there...
But at the same time, whatever you order, all are Japanese traditional food. Takemura's specialities are "age-manju (fried Japanese style cake with bean paste inside)" that can rarely be found in other places and "oshiruko (sweet bean soup)" served since the cafe's opening.
Our recommendable menu is "Anmitsu", a kind of Japanese style "parfait". As the name comes from "an" (餡, red bean paste) topped with "mitsu" (syrup), red bean paste is one of the essential ingredients of Anmitsu. It also has clear cubes of "kanten" (agar, jelly made from a kind of seaweed) and some pieces of fruits in syrup.
Anmitsu often appears on menu with several variations...
with a scoop of vanilla ice cream - Cream anmitsu (クリームあんみつ)
with shiratama (chewey starch dumplings) - Shiratama anmitsu (白玉あんみつ)
with beans - Mitsumame (みつ豆)
At Takemura, you can also find
with dried apricot - Anzu anmitsu (あんずあんみつ)
It is upto what you want! In any case, you can enjoy some different types of ingredients all won't be too sweet like a chocolate cake. In addition, they are healthy with beans and seaweed jelly. Surely they are better match with Japanese tea served with your Anmitsu bowl.
Enjoy a time trip to an old day in Japan with the fancy Japanese traditional sweets.
Takemura is about 10 minutes walk from Akihabara, the biggest electronics town in Japan. You could take a good journey to Takemura after shopping in the modern world.
Takemura is also close to another heritage, two soba noodle restaurant "Kanda Matsuya" and "Yabusoba" both already introduced on our blog previously. Some people drop by Takemura for dessert after enjoying traditional noodle at either of the soba restaurants.
Cafe name: Takemura (竹むら)
Address: 1-19 Kanda Sudacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
No official website!
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