This article introduces three new shops that have opened within the last year in Okayama City and Kurashiki City, where you can enjoy "anko," a traditional Japanese sweet red bean paste. We visit a shop selling Flower Ohagi (Bean Paste Flowers), a popular Ohagi shop with long lines, and a dorayaki (red bean pancake) shop run by a parent and child.
2026.10.23Anko is a paste made by simmering red beans in sugar, and it is an essential ingredient in traditional Japanese sweets. In Okayama Prefecture, new shops where you can enjoy anko are opening one after another. There's the beautifully flower-like "Flower Ohagi (Bean Paste Flowers)," a new store of a popular Ohagi specialty shop that always has a line, and a handmade Japanese confectionery shop run by a parent and child. We actually visited three shops that opened within the last year and will introduce their anko sweets.
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Table of Contents
- 1. Mugi to An ties(Okayama City) | A tasting of 5 types of red bean paste and "An Flower Ohagi (Bean Paste Flowers) " shaped like a flower.
- 2. Yamato (Kurashiki Branch)(Kurashiki City) | A popular Ohagi ( rice cake) specialty shop with lines forming even before opening.
- 3. Ankodo Masa(Kurashiki City ) | A family-run Japanese confectionery shop offering handmade dorayaki and gently sweet treats.
1. Mugi to An ties(Okayama City) | A tasting of 5 types of red bean paste and "An Flower Ohagi (Bean Paste Flowers) " shaped like a flower.
" Mugi to An ties (Ties)" grand opened on April 3, 2026, near Saidaiji Kannon-in (a historic Buddhist temple) in Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple Ward, Okayama City. The shop was opened by System Ties Co., Ltd., a local company, with the aim of giving back to the community and creating a lively atmosphere in the town.
The shop is located in a building that has been renovated from a traditional Japanese storehouse. You can enjoy bread made with a blend of wheat from Okayama Prefecture, as well as menu items using red bean paste. There is an eat-in space on the second floor, making it perfect for taking a break between visiting the shrine or strolling around town.
We recommend the "Five-flavor Anko Tasting Set with Special Milk Bread (served with Hojicha)." Hojicha is a fragrant Japanese tea made by roasting tea leaves. The plate is filled with small portions of anko and arranged with flower-shaped butter, making you feel excited even before you take a bite.
There are five types of red bean paste: tsubuan (red bean paste with whole beans), shiroan (made from white beans), black sesame, matcha, and kinako (roasted soybean flour). We compare each one by spreading it on bread. The special milk bread is thick and fluffy, slightly sweet, and pairs well with the red bean paste. Each type of red bean paste has a smooth texture, and you can enjoy a different flavor with each bite, such as the aroma of red beans or sesame. When combined with butter, the saltiness enhances the sweetness of the red bean paste. Being able to adjust the amount of red bean paste and butter to your liking is one of the joys of eating it this way.
Another item worth noting is the "An Flower Ohagi (Bean Paste Flowers)."Ohagi is a traditional Japanese confection made by rolling glutinous rice and wrapping it in red bean paste. These Ohagi use " Himenomochi " glutinous rice from Okayama Prefecture and are decorated with roses and small flowers made from red bean paste. Each petal is hand-piped and finished, and the gentle colors are created using natural ingredients such as fruits and vegetables. The delicately layered petals are so beautiful that you'll want to gaze at them for a long time.
When combined with ohagi (rice cakes) topped with Ohagi like red bean paste or kinako (roasted soybean flour), you can enjoy not only the visual appeal but also the different flavors of each ingredient. Since they're available for takeout, they make a lovely and thoughtful gift.
[Mugi to An ties (Ties)]
Location: 3-4-3 Saidaiji, Higashi-ku , Okayama City , Okayama Prefecture Prefecture
TEL: 086-230-3311
Opening hours: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Closed on Wednesdays
Parking: Available ( Saidaiji Kannon-in Temple in No. 2 Parking Lot)
2. Yamato (Kurashiki Branch)(Kurashiki City) | A popular Ohagi ( rice cake) specialty shop with lines forming even before opening.
"Amato no Mise Yamato," a long-loved Ohagi (sweet rice ball) specialty shop in Tamashima , Kurashiki City , opened its second store in Kurashiki on August 20, 2026. The new store is located on the side road along National Route 2 Bypass in Horinan, Kurashiki City . You can purchase Ohagi made at the Tamashima main store here as well.
I arrived about 10 minutes before opening time, and there was already a line stretching outside the shop. When the shop opened at 10am, customers took turns ordering and purchasing. Most people were buying multiple items at once, which showed just how popular the shop is. The 5-pack of "anko" (red bean paste) was sold out before it was my turn. Nevertheless, I was able to purchase a set containing 3 anko and 2 kinako.
The first thing that struck me when I tasted them was the chewy texture of the glutinous rice. You can really feel the stickiness. The red bean paste, made with Hokkaido-grown adzuki beans, had just the right amount of fluffy texture remaining, and I enjoyed the aroma of the adzuki beans and the rich sweetness. When you put the Ohagi in your mouth, a fragrant aroma spreads gently. Since it has red bean paste inside, it's also recommended for those who want to enjoy both kinako and red bean paste.
The store closes once the day's stock is sold out. Currently, they often sell out by around noon. However, they plan to increase the number of items sold at the Kurashiki store in the future, so it may become easier to purchase. If you want to choose your favorite combination, it is recommended to visit early.
[Yamato (Kurashiki Branch) ]
Location: 600-1 Horinan, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
Opening hours: 10:00 AM until sold out
Closed on Wednesdays
Parking: Available (20 spaces)
3. Ankodo Masa(Kurashiki City ) | A family-run Japanese confectionery shop offering handmade dorayaki and gently sweet treats.
Ankodo Masa Masa, located along a small street near Kurashiki , is a Japanese confectionery shop that opened in November 2025. They sell dorayaki (a sweet made with soft, round pancakes filled with red bean paste) , Ohagi, dango, and other sweets. The owner is a mother, and the manager is her son. The shop's name, Masa, comes from the son's name.
The origins of her confectionery making lie in her experience raising children. Her mother used to treat her two sons, who played baseball, and their teammates to homemade Ohagi(rice cakes) and ichigo daifuku (strawberries wrapped in red bean paste and mochi). Wanting her children, who were working hard to build their bodies, to enjoy sweets as well, she carefully selected ingredients and made the red bean paste with less sugar, which led to the shop she runs today.
Our goal is to create comforting Japanese sweets, like the kind that mothers and grandmothers in Japan would make at home. We use brown sugar (made from sugarcane), and we make both the red bean paste and custard from scratch, cherishing the familiar flavors that make you want to eat them as an everyday snack.
The three classic types of dorayaki are "tsubuan" (chunky red bean paste), "koshian" (smooth red bean paste without any grains), and "an-butter." My recommendation is "an-butter," which uses Calpis Butter. Calpis Butter is a rich butter made by the dairy brand "Calpis." A fluffy dough is filled with moderately sweet red bean paste and butter. The saltiness of the butter adds an accent, and the flavor and mellow richness of the red bean paste spread in your mouth.
In addition to dorayaki, the shop also offered Ohagi and mitarashi dango (rice cakes with sweet and salty sauce). Depending on the season, they sometimes offer strawberry daifuku and warabi mochi (a Japanese sweet made from bracken starch with a chewy texture). The shop's aim is to allow customers to experience the unique joys of each season through Japanese sweets.
Because they are handmade, there is a limited number that can be prepared each day. Once they are sold out, sales will end, so if you want to be sure to purchase one, please contact the shop in advance to inquire about making a reservation.
[Ankodo Masa ]
Location: 11-23 Saiwaicho , Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture
TEL: 070-5528-1221
Opening hours: 10:30 AM until sold out.
Closed on: Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays (occasional irregular closures may occur)
Parking: Available (3 spaces)
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