Take them Home as Souvenir! 5 Superb Sweets from Yokohama

1. Renga no Yuwaku from Yokohama Motomachi Mutekiro

Mutekiro is a French restaurant that opened in 1981 at Yokohama’s Motomachi district. While the French cuisine that is served here has earned rave reviews from customers even by word of mouth, it also offers many different kinds of exquisite Western pastries. Of all its sweets, the bestseller is the chocolate fondant that looks like a brick (“renga”) that is called Yokohama Renga (238 JPY (incl. tax) per piece). It is a rich chocolate cake that is made by mixing walnut sauce with freshly made chocolate, and then finishing it off with the refined aroma of apple and brandy. For souvenir, it would best to get the half-size series called Renga no Yuwaku (162 JPY (incl. tax) per piece). Its bite-size packaging is perfect for souvenir. Aside from the Mutekiro restaurant, this delicacy is also available in department stores and other establishments.

2. Yokohama Harbor Double Marron from Ariake

The Yokohama Harbor Double Marron (178 JPY (incl. tax) per piece) is a chestnut-based cake shaped like ship that has been loved as a classic souvenir from Yokohama since it began to be sold in 1954. The light and soft castella cake dough outside and the chestnut paste filled with chopped chestnuts inside are truly a perfect match! With such as pleasant taste, it is so delicious that you would probably end up eating more than you’d expect. This pastry comes in different variants, including the Kurofune Harbour Choco Banana (178 JPY (incl. tax) per piece) and the Yokohama Harbour Milk Pumpkin (108 JPY (incl. tax) per piece), so how about buying some as souvenir of your trip to Yokohama? These sweets are available at Ariake’s directly-operated outlets, as well as in department stores, train station kiosks and other shops.

3. Rum Ball from Kikuya

Rum Ball (480 JPY (excl. tax) for two pieces) is a popular pastry that is known as the classic sweet that best represents Yokohama. It is a chocolate pastry made of rum-flavored dough with an adult taste, covered in sweet chocolate. Coming in a size that is almost as big as a golf ball, this cake can be quite filling. It is finished with that refined flavor of robust rum, so it is perfect when paired with tea and coffee, or even alcohol like whisky. You will get addicted once you try it. The Rum Ball can be purchased at the shop’s branch in Motomachi, as well as in Sotetsu JOINUS.
※Must be refrigerated in summer

4. Yokohama Mille Feuille from Yokohama Francais

The Yokohama Mille Feuille (540 JPY (incl. tax) for four pieces) is a variant of the famous mille feuille that is limited to this region. It is a sandwich that is created by putting black tea cream between layers of freshly baked crispy pie, and then coated in milk chocolate. The combination of the aroma of the fine black tea and chocolate is truly outstanding! It comes in a packaging that is inspired by the port city of Yokohama that is also easy to carry, so it is perfect as souvenir. This delicacy is available in department stores and other spots.

5. Banpin from Chungking Chinese Szechwan

The Banpin is said to be the standard souvenir for people who go to Yokohama’s Chinatown. It is a baked goodie with a thin crust filled with sweetened red bean paste and lots of roasted walnuts on top. The mild texture and the strong aroma of the walnuts will further whet your appetite. Now, the thick filling of red bean paste does look sweet, but it actually has a refreshing taste, so you might find yourself gobbling up this pastry. The Banpin comes in two sizes, the Large (918 JPY (incl. tax)) and the Small (270 JPY (incl. tax)). It is available at the outlets of Chungking Chinese Szechwan in Chinatown, in department stores and many other places.

Please use this article as reference and get those delicious sweets when you go sightseeing in Yokohama!