Get Fukushima’s specialties and the latest souvenirs! 3 recommended souvenir shops in Koriyama

Koriyama city in Fukushima prefecture is known as a big commercial city after Sendai city in Tohoku area. Koriyama Station, the main station in the city, is easily accessible by Shinkansen or bus, so many people visit here for business and sightseeing. Therefore, in the surrounding area, you can find various attractive souvenir shops including long-established and the latest shops selling Japanese confections and local sake, traditional crafts and so on.

This time, we’re going to introduce three recommended souvenir shops from ones located in Koriyama city.

“Takashiba Deco-Yashiki” having been making handmade folk crafts since the Edo period

In “Takashiba Deco-Yashiki,” there are factories that have been making Fukushima’s folk crafts since the Edo period. Most of their buildings are traditional Japanese houses (kominka) with a retro atmosphere, and it’s said that the oldest house was built about 400 years ago. Each factory sells handmade folk crafts such as Miharu Koma and Miharu Hariko Doll originated from here, Daruma and Akabeko. Besides, you can also experience painting on Hariko Doll or join a factory tour. If you want to take a break, we recommend that you stop by at ‘Oichi Chaya’ located at the entrance of Takashiba Deco-Yashiki. Let’s have a relaxing time while eating specialty foods unique to Oichi Chaya such as Oichi Dango Mochi and Dattan soft cream!

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 5:00PM ※Please check opening hours and business day on the official website because they may vary depending on each shop.
Address	169 Tateno, Takashiba, Nishita-machi, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture
Access	A 10-min drive from Miharu Station which is 2 stations away from Koriyama Station on the Ban-etsu-East line
URL	https://www.gurutto-koriyama.com/detail/index_203.html

“Kashiwaya Honten” famous for Manju stuffed with high quality sweet bean paste

“Kashiwaya Honten” is a long-established shop founded in 1852, well-known for Fukushima’s representative confection ‘Usukawa Manju’ (steamed bun). Their Manju is one of the three greatest buns in Japan along with Shihose Manju (Tokyo) and Ote Manju (Okayama). It seems that sweet bean paste wrapped with a soft and thin-skinned outer layer is made from carefully selected red beans. They make 2 types of Usukawa Manju, Koshian (smooth sweet bean paste) and Tsubuan (mashed sweet bean paste), so you can enjoy different sweetness and texture. It might also be a good idea to buy both of them and compare their taste and texture because they’re bite-sized.

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 7:00PM Closed day in 2020: 18th Feb, 17th Mar, 7th Apr, 12th May, 2nd June ※Please check closed day on the official website because they may vary.
Address	11-8 Naka-machi, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture
Access	A 1-min walk from Koriyama Washington Hotel
URL	https://www.usukawa.co.jp/

“Fukushima Ouse Winery” allowing you to drink booze made from fruits grown with great care by farmers in Fukushima

Fukushima whose production of peach, pear and apple is within the top five in Japan is also called ‘Fruit Kingdom.’ “Fukushima Ouse Winery” sells booze including wine, liqueurs and brandies made from fruits such that. All of the booze has a rich flavor because they use fresh fruits sent directly from farmers all over Fukushima. By the way, even if drinking various booze made from the same fruit, you can enjoy flavors varying depending on a place of production, alcohol content and a way of processing. Why not find your favorite flavor while tasting all kinds of them (500 yen)?

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 4:00PM　Closed on Monday (In winter, it opens only on Wednesday and Saturday)
Address	2 Goshi, Goshi, Ouse-machi, Koriyama City, Fukushima Prefecture
Access	Close to Ouse-winery-mae bus stop where it takes 40 mins by bus from Koriyama Station
URL	https://ousewinery.jp/