DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
DEEPTOKYO
magazine
EN
2025.08.29
For over 100 years in a back alley of Ginza. A dorayaki specialty shop beloved by the Kabuki world.
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Behind the Kabuki-za Theater in Ginza stands “Kobikicho Yoshiya,” a Japanese confectionery shop with a history of more than 100 years. Its signature dorayaki (a popular Japanese sweet similar to small pancakes filled with red bean paste), cherished for generations by Kabuki actors and cultural figures, is distinctive for its half-moon shape. Fluffy, pancake-like layers enfold a generous portion of elegantly sweet red bean paste. The shop also offers a popular custom branding service, allowing customers to order their favorite design to be imprinted. Despite being located in Ginza, the store retains the warm familiarity of a traditional downtown neighborhood.
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Founded in 1922 (Taisho 11) in an alleyway behind the Kabuki-za, “Kobikicho Yoshiya” takes its name from the district’s former town name, Kobikicho. The business began as a wholesaler of Japanese sweets and, over time, transformed into a retail shop. Today, only one product is sold at the storefront—the dorayaki. Among Ginza’s many souvenir sweets, it is known as one that requires advance reservations. Due to its location, it has long been cherished as a gift or backstage treat for Kabuki actors and people in the entertainment industry.
Located in a back alley slightly removed from glamorous central Ginza, the shop retains the atmosphere of old downtown Tokyo.
The shop’s walls are decorated with autographs of numerous celebrities who have visited over the years.
A neighborhood cat named “Nyasha,” who has been visiting for about 14 years, is a beloved presence for customers.
Today, the shop is run by the second and third generations. The third-generation owner, Daichi Saito, is also actively involved in community projects such as the “Ginza Mono Hito Tsunagi Project.”
The shop’s specialty dorayaki is handmade in-store every morning from 4 a.m., with as many as 1,000 produced daily to meet demand. Its most distinctive feature is its “half-moon” shape: unlike the typical dorayaki, which sandwiches red bean paste between two cakes, Yoshiya’s uses a single cake folded in half to envelop the filling. The texture of the cake is finely adjusted through skilled craftsmanship so that it will not crack when folded. The small size is said to have been devised so Kabuki actors could eat them easily without disturbing their stage makeup.
The batter is hand-kneaded, creating a pleasantly chewy texture. Combined with the lightly sweet red bean paste made from Tokachi-grown azuki beans from Hokkaido, it offers a refined flavor. Its popularity is so high that all stock is sometimes sold out just through reservations. To be sure of getting them, it is recommended to place an order more than a week in advance.
The dorayaki has been made from the same unchanged recipe for generations, with simplicity as its charm. A set of five costs 918 yen.
Since each piece is individually wrapped, they are convenient for handing out one by one.
The boxes are carefully wrapped in warm yellow paper. Available in sizes from five to thirty pieces, they can be chosen according to the number of recipients.
“Kobikicho Yoshiya” first drew wide attention thanks to its custom branding service, started by the second-generation owner. Inside the shop, about 10,000 branding irons created over the years are on display, a sight that fascinates visitors. The shop can reproduce detailed designs such as letters, logos, and illustrations, and, depending on timing, may even accept last-minute orders—a flexibility possible only in a small shop.
Beyond souvenirs and gifts, the service is also used for special occasions such as weddings. Orders come not only from the Kabuki and Takarazuka theaters but also from major companies and professional baseball teams, earning the shop a high level of trust. To engrave a heartfelt message into dorayaki through a custom brand—this refined experience is one of the reasons “Kobikicho Yoshiya” continues to be so beloved.
The branding irons can reproduce even tiny characters and intricate patterns.
Once created, a branding iron is kept at the shop as your “personal stamp” and can be used again and again.
The shop also displays branding irons that were used in past years.
The information contained this article was correct as of 08/29/2025 (the time of publication)
