Asakusa Umezono: Home of Authentic Japanese Desserts

It’s one of the oldest original Japanese shops I’ve seen in Asakusa, and they’re famous for one thing: Unchanging Flavor

There’s a certain charm with old, vintage things new things can’t quite capture. Perhaps it’s the elegance, the age, the mystery of how it’s survived all those wars, and economic downfalls unscathed. Now, translate that into cuisine – like a wine that’s aged well —deep tasting, classic, luxurious. That’s exactly how I felt when dining inside Asakusa Umezono; imagine Troy or Odyssey turned into soup and sweets. Wouldn’t it be amazing to taste history and taste the nectar and ambrosia only Japan could offer? 

Today we’ll be visiting a century and a half old restaurant and discover what makes their recipe stand the test of time, join me and let’s enter the halls of Asakusa Umezono. 

Upon arriving at the entrance of the shop, you will find displays of souvenirs you may take home with you and samples of the menu which you may order from the inside.  In the entrance you will find the original “Noren” or cloth dividers which the shop have used since it first started operating. after entering you will have to go to the counter to order your food, you will then be given your meal ticket. 

The staff will deliver your food based on the meal ticket you have. You may notice that there are a lot of staff waiting and welcoming the customers which may seem odd at first, but it was explained to me that for traditional Japanese family restaurants this is the norm. 

When we arrived in Umezono it was a little over noon and the place was quite crowded with foreigners and locals alike. At first I was a bit shocked to see a lot of staffs just standing and waiting at a corner but I quickly found out that it’s the way of traditional family-owned Japanese restaurants. 

From the samples outside we chose two of their most popular food and ordered inside because there wasn’t any english menu available. We tried their Anmitsu which is a dessert made from agar jelly and red beans. The sweetness of the beans goes well with the taste of the jellies and creates a perfect balance of flavor and texture. There were mochi and small fruits as well inside the bowl which made it more perfect.

We also tried their Cha-soba which is noodles infused with green tea which makes it become light green in color. The infusion of green tea gives it a subtle kind of taste which makes it stand out when compared to other sobas. 

TRIVIA

• Japan is home to over 300 Michelin-starred restaurant
• Tipping is not practiced in Japan, even in big hotels and restaurants
• Washoku was added as one of UNESCO’s culturally significant food.
• Visit their website for upcoming sales and events here: http://www.asakusa-umezono.co.jp/

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