Even though it is known as one of the three most famous Japanese karinto shops in Tokyo, Tachibana exemplifies the unassumingly brilliant hole-in-the-wall shops that make Tokyo such an great place to explore.
The charming, wooden exterior, tucked underneath a tower of concrete and granite, suggests a sort of resilience in the midst of the bustling, modern district of Ginza. Out front, you can see the shops’ products on display in the window. As for selection, there are only two products for sale at Tachibana: saeda karinto and kora karinto. They’ve been selling these traditional sweets–lightly fried rods of flour and sugar–since their founding in 1909.
The sliding door opens to a tiny, dimly lit-room halfway filled with sealed cardboard boxes, the other half featuring a counter, a shopkeeper, and a half-shelf of the famous karinto. Tachibana doesn’t have a website; you can only buy them at this unique little storefront or through online resellers.
The two types of karinto are distinguishable immediately by their size - the larger kora are crispy but soft on the inside, while the smaller saeda are slightly more crunchy. Both are made with white sugar, meaning they have a much lighter color than most other karinto made with brown sugar.
Tachibana only offers karinto for takeout, but the tasty snacks last about two months and make an excellent gift or souvenir to bring home, whether that’s near or far. The products come in a bag or in tins of various sizes. They also offer gift wrapping, which means the karinto are a great candidate for Tokyo omiyage.
Visit Tachibana to Buy Japanese Karinto in Tokyo
Access
Karinto Tachibana is a short walk away from Yurakucho Station (JR Yamanote) and Ginza Station (Tokyo Metro Ginza Line, Hibiya Line, Marunouchi Line).
Opening Hours
M-F (11:00-16:30)
Sat (11:00-15:00)
