Food Japanese sweets Nagoya Features Nagoya Food

Wagashi in Autumn

Today is Autumnal Equinox Day. These days, due to the change of weather (i.e., despite the heat in the daytime, the air is getting cooler and cooler both in the morning and evening), Japanese people have started enjoying the coming of autumn. Officially, however, the autumn has come to Japan. Here are some pictures of Wagashi featuring Japanese autumn.

  The above picture shows a box of Kurikinton (English: Japanese chestnut sweets) which contain 6 delicate pieces of Kurikinton.

This is one piece of Kurikinton, which is made from Japanese chestnuts and a little taste of sugar. This small piece costs over $2. However, you can definitely enjoy the autumn with its delicate taste along with hot green tea. Kawakamiya, which is located in Nakatsugawa, Gifu prefecture, is one of the best Kurikinton manufacturers. You can check out their websites:

http://www.kawakamiya.co.jp/
http://www.kawakamiya.co.jp/webshop/user_data/products.php

This picture shows Ohagi (English: red-bean rice cake), which is also called Botamochi. This is made from red beans and a special type of rice called Mochigome. Ohagi is a generic name for this type of rice cake (the one on the left is a typical example of Ohagi), but has some varieties, which include Kinakomochi, Ohagi powdered with sweetened soybean flour (on the right of the picture) or covered with sesame.
  This is called Onimanjyu (English: sweet potato Manjyu or sweets), which is made from sweet potatoes and a little taste of sugar. This is steamed, not baked. Although you can taste this throughout the year, you can enjoy Onimanjyu made with newly-harvested sweet potatoes in Autumn.


The above picture shows Uirou (English: steamed cake), which is made from rice powder or flour. As you can see, there are several types of Uirou available. The one on the right has chestnuts in it. This shop sells particular types of Uirou featuring a season, along with standard types of Uirou. Nagoya is famous for Uirou.

This is a little different version of chestnut Uirou (from the right one in the previous picture).

This picture shows Gozasourou (English: baked bean cake). On the heated board (shown above), red and white beans are baked along with the solution of flour. You can eat this all the year round, but in Autumn you can enjoy Gozasourou with chestnuts in it.