Funahashiya

At Funahashiya, the pleasure is choosing the Japanese sweets and snacks known as dagashi one by one, rather than buying them by the bag. Visitors say that being able to take just a little makes it easy to try a variety, and some have found the particular treats they were looking for. It’s a welcome option when you want to sample a few things without buying a large bag of each.

The shop is stocked with plenty of old-fashioned dagashi. Visitors enjoy browsing for nostalgic favourites and sweets they haven’t seen elsewhere. Some describe the tightly packed displays in the small shop as reminiscent of dagashi shops from years gone by.

Some visitors who came here with their parents as children have returned with their own children, enjoying the shared experience of choosing treats, picking them up and keeping track of the cost. Another visitor used the process as a chance for a child to practise shopping: putting the sweets in a basket, placing the money on a tray and handing it to the shop staff.

The shop is in Nakanocho, Ayanokoji-dori, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto. It is closed on Thursdays and open on the other days from 13:30 to 18:00. Payment is cash only, so it’s best to bring some with you.