【Luxury Time】A Tour of Traditional "Mitarsashi Dango" Shops in the Sagamihara and Zama Area

When I go to the convenience store, I always find myself buying dango, but I really want to try the authentic dango made by traditional wagashi shops! So, I decided to explore the long-established shops in the Sagamihara and Zama area. After tasting them, I might never go back to convenience store dango!?

The chewy texture & sweet sauce create a perfect harmony at "Toyodaya"

The first place I visited was "Toyodaya," located in Zama City. Since its establishment in 1966, it has been a beloved wagashi shop by locals. I parked my car in the adjacent parking lot. The shop's historical ambiance makes my heart flutter.

Inside the store, there are delicious wagashi lined up, including the "Zamako," which is certified as a recommended product from Zama City, and sake manju. While I was pondering which to choose, I discovered a notice in the tray of skewered dango that read, "Freshly baked!" When I asked the staff about the types available, it seems they have my favorite, mitarashi dango.

As for the "mitarashi dango" (120 yen), as soon as I tried it, the mochi was soft and chewy, and the mitarashi sauce had a sweet flavor. As a fan of mitarashi dango, I was also pleased that the sauce was plentiful. The deliciousness is incomparable to convenience store mitarashi dango, and it left me wanting to eat more right away.

Toyodaya
Location / 4-23-6 Sagamioka, Zama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business hours / 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM

The fragrance is addictive! "Okashidokoro Mikiyoshino"

Next, I stopped by "Okashidokoro Mikiyoshino" located in Sagamihara City. This shop also has over 40 years of history and is a long-established traditional Japanese sweets store rooted in the local area. It's right next to a residential complex, and there were familiar customers present when I visited.

As I stood in front of the shop, the cheerful owner greeted me with, "It's cold today!" and we engaged in a friendly exchange that made me feel as if I were a long-time regular customer in no time!

On this day, I wanted to compare flavors, so I thought I would buy one of each, but... drawn in by the owner's personality, I found myself buying two. The "Mitara-shi Dango" (120 yen) has a delightful roasted aroma that tickles the nose. Taking a closer look, the dango has a nice charred surface.

The mochi has just the right amount of chewiness, and the more you bite into it, the more the flavor of the rice spreads. The mitarashi sauce balances sweetness with the roasted aroma of soy sauce, creating an addictive flavor combined with the slight bitterness of the char. This is the skill of a long-established shop. How happy I would be if there were such a store in my neighborhood. I could find myself going there every day.

Okashidokoro Mikiyoshino
Location: 4-11-20 Sagamidai, Minami Ward, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 6:30 AM - 6:30 PM

The exquisite balance of the mitarashi sauce at "Seikodo Sagamihara Mison"

While intoxicated by the deliciousness of the mitarashi dango, I arrived at "Seikodo Sagamihara Mison," the third stop of the day in Sagamihara City. According to their official Instagram, the dango here is made by craftsmen from early morning. There is also a showcase outside the store where you can leisurely savor the wagashi sold there.

After checking the reviews in advance, there was feedback such as "there's nothing bad" and "you can sense the dedication," which heightened my expectations.

The "mitarashi dango" is priced at 180 yen each, which is a bit higher compared to the other two wagashi shops.

Excited, I took a bite and was amazed by the chewy and elastic texture of the dango. While there is a strong sweetness, the roasted flavor can also be felt, resulting in a well-rounded taste overall. The balance of each element is exquisite, and there’s even a sense of elegance. At first, I thought, "this is a bit pricey," but it offers satisfaction beyond the price!

Seikodo Sagamihara Mison
Location: 3-37-19 Mison, Minami Ward, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Business Hours: 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM

The mitarashi dango I tried this time consists of four pieces. This is said to be designed so that one can easily buy them with a single four mon coin.

Nowadays, there are no four mon coins, but even a bit luxurious dango costs 120 to 180 yen. What you need is not money, but a little willpower and time to extend your journey. How about exploring nearby long-established dango shops on the weekend?

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