There is no online ordering available. Price, size, and shelf life also introduced.
- Tokyo Souvenirs
- Who Makes “Kuromatsu”?
- Shop Location
- How Long Do You Wait in Line?
- Packaging
- Size and Calories
- Cutting It Open
- Summary
- Here is the Medium version of this article
Tokyo Souvenirs
In Tokyo, there are famous dorayaki shops collectively known as the “Three Great Dorayaki of Tokyo.”
These are:
- Usagiya in Ueno
- Kuromatsu Main Shop Sōgetsu in Higashi-Jūjō
- Kamejū in Asakusa
This time, I visited Kuromatsu Main Shop Sōgetsu in Higashi-Jūjō, and here is my tasting review of their dorayaki, “Kuromatsu.”
Who Makes “Kuromatsu”?
The dorayaki “Kuromatsu” is made by Kuromatsu Main Shop Sōgetsu.
Looking at the product name printed on the back of the individual wrapping, it reads:
“Product Name: Sōgetsu Kuromatsu.”
So the official name seems to be “Sōgetsu Kuromatsu,” though everyone simply calls it “Kuromatsu.”
In this article, I will use “Kuromatsu” consistently.
Shop Location
Kuromatsu Main Shop Sōgetsu is located at:
2-15-16 Higashi-Jūjō, Kita-ku, Tokyo.
The nearest station is JR Higashi-Jūjō Station, about a 5-minute walk from the south exit.
How Long Do You Wait in Line?
I visited on a Friday in mid-November 2024, around 11:00 a.m.
There was already a line. From the time I started queuing until reaching the entrance, it took about 30 minutes.
Even inside the shop, customers continued lining up.
Packaging
The dorayaki is wrapped not in a typical airtight package with oxygen absorbers, but in a film-like wrapping.
Price: 216 yen (tax included) per piece
Shelf life: 3 days including the purchase date.
The box insert notes:
“Approx. 2–3 days in summer, 3–5 days in winter.”
Size and Calories
- Size: approx. 8 cm diameter × 2.4 cm height
- Calories: not listed on the package.
Cutting It Open
The batter is a light brown shade, suggesting the use of brown sugar.
The texture is fluffy, and the coarse-grained sweet bean paste matches well.
The bean paste has a refined sweetness with a hint of honey flavor.
The brown sugar gives a pleasant depth of sweetness.
The balance between the distinctive batter and the bean paste is excellent.
Delicious.
Summary
- One of Tokyo’s Three Great Dorayaki: Kuromatsu from Kuromatsu Main Shop Sōgetsu.
- Price: 216 yen per piece (tax included).
- Shelf life: 3 days (purchase date included).
- Size: approx. 8 cm diameter × 2.4 cm height.
- Taste: Fluffy batter with brown sugar, paired with refined sweet bean paste.
A dorayaki with a unique character, well worth lining up for. Truly a rare treasure if you can enjoy it outside Tokyo.
