Umeya

Catching your eye right at the storefront, the signature mitarashi dango features exceptionally tender rice dumplings coated in a glossy, sweet-and-savory glaze. While modest in size, their fragrant glaze and wallet-friendly price make them an easy, everyday treat to pick up on a whim. The dumpling selection extends beyond mitarashi as well: smooth anko dango offers a delicate sweetness accented by a touch of salt, alongside other unpretentious traditional treats like kinako mochi dusted with toasted soybean flour.

Beyond its sweets, Umeya is equally dependable for satisfying savory bites. The deeply seasoned inarizushi enjoys an enduring following, sharing counter space with rice balls, simmered kanpyo gourd rolls, festive sekihan red-bean rice, and gomoku sushi. Packing a few inarizushi alongside your dumplings makes for an easy, comforting takeout lunch.

The shop opens bright and early from 8:00. Depending on the season, the cases fill out with treats like sakura mochi, chewy suama, and chestnut yokan, though stocks often run thin by the afternoon. If you have your heart set on specific specialties, aim for the morning hours, keeping in mind that the shop closes on Sundays and Mondays.