[Shimane Prefecture] An Absolute Must-Try in Tsuwano! The Sweet Treat "Genjimaki".
"Genjimaki" is a must-try when visiting Tsuwano. It's a famous traditional confection that dates back to the end of the Edo period. Zenichiro, the owner of the official domain confectioner Mitsuma Jokando, is said to have created it and presented it to Koremi Kamei, the 11th lord of the Tsuwano domain.
The name is said to be inspired by a famous poem from the "Wakamurasaki" chapter of The Tale of Genji: "Plucked in my hand, when might I see it? The young grass of the fields, akin to the purple root." It also seems to have a connection to Lord Koremi's wife, Mitsuko👀
There is another legend from the Genroku era. The 3rd lord, Korechika Kamei, was humiliated by Kira Kozuke-no-Suke and resolved to strike him down. Realizing this, the chief retainer Geki Tago cleverly curried favor with Kozuke-no-Suke, successfully avoiding a crisis.
At that time, the "confection shaped like a wrapped gold coin" used as a gift to appease Kozuke-no-Suke became the prototype for Genjimaki. Well, that's another story told. Which one you believe is entirely up to you☝️
Genjimaki itself is an "an-maki" (bean paste roll) style sweet, where sweet red bean paste is wrapped in a pancake-like dough similar to dorayaki. In Tsuwano, there are about 7 to 8 shops making Genjimaki. Each has its own unique flavor, so it's a lot of fun to taste and compare them🥰
This time, I visited "Soke," a shop that has been dedicated to hand-baking Genjimaki since its establishment. You can find the shop right by the scramble crossing, with the stone torii gate of Taikodani Inari Shrine serving as a perfect landmark⭐️
The process involves spreading the batter on a hot iron griddle, placing smooth red bean paste in the center, and folding it over. The long roll is then cut and left to cool✨️ I heard this is the only shop where you can actually watch the hand-baking process right at the storefront☝️
If you happen to catch them at the right time, you absolutely have to try a freshly baked one. The warm, crispy texture of the dough's surface is a specialty you can only experience right off the griddle. Plus, it pairs incredibly well with cold Zara-cha (local roasted tea)🥰
Of course, it's just as delicious after some time has passed and the dough becomes soft and fluffy. The smooth red bean paste has the perfect amount of sweetness, making it a treat you could easily eat every day without getting tired of it. Though, for the sake of your health, maybe stick to just one a day😇
Since these don't have a very long shelf life at any shop (about a week at most), keep that in mind if you're buying them as souvenirs. They are absolutely perfect for teatime, so if you're a fan of traditional Japanese sweets, you definitely need to try this🥳
[ 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ]
📍 60-21 Ushiroda-ro, Tsuwano-cho, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane Prefecture
🚶 About a 10-minute walk from JR Tsuwano Station
🕗 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM
🗓️ Irregular holidays
🅿️ No dedicated parking
⚠️ Business hours and holidays are subject to change, so please verify before visiting
Visited on 2026.04.04-06, 07.20-21
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