Habutae Mochi: Where to Eat, Prices & Hours (Fukui)

Habutae mochi is a signature confection of Fukui. It is named for habutae, the smooth silk fabric once woven in great quantity here, and it is a refined, tender sweet. Habutae was regarded as the finest silk fabric, and the sweet is said to have been created to resemble its color and texture.

Highlights

The gyuhi dough, made by kneading rice flour with sugar and starch syrup, is as smooth as silk and soft on the palate. Its modest sweetness and refined taste make it a perfect companion to tea. Its pure white, glossy look is beautiful, and it is welcomed as a gift. Silk weaving was Fukui main industry from the Edo period, and copying that symbol into a sweet is said to be the origin of habutae mochi.

Enjoying the Seasons

It is a standard confection that can be enjoyed all year. Chosen as a souvenir to close a trip, it lets you savor the afterglow of Fukui once you are home.

Access and Basic Information

It is made at Japanese sweet shops across the prefecture, starting in Fukui City. It is an easy to find souvenir at stations and gift shops, and each shop has its own character in softness and sweetness.

Practical Travel Notes

• A standard souvenir sweet sold year round, it is easy to find at Fukui Station and gift shops.
• As a gyuhi sweet it is soft, and while many products keep relatively well, checking the use by date at purchase is reassuring.
• Paired with green tea or matcha, its modest sweetness and silk like melt stand out all the more.
• Since softness and sweetness differ by shop, comparing several Japanese sweet shops is a pleasure of the trip.

A Quick Tip

It is soft, so handle it gently. Paired with green tea, its refined sweetness stands out.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Main area where it is sold: Central Fukui City. The main store of Matsuokaken, the head confectioner of habutae mochi and said to be where the sweet originated, is at 3-5-19 Chuo, Fukui City.
• Where you can try it: Matsuokaken main store / 9:00-18:00, closed only on January 1. The Japanese-style cafe attached is open 11:00-17:00 (last order 16:30) and is closed on Thursdays for the time being. Telephone 0776-22-4400.
• Access: There is also a Matsuokaken outlet inside Kurufu Fukui Station, the shopping complex at JR Fukui Station, open 8:30-20:00, so you can buy some while waiting for your train.
• Points to note: The official website notes that it is also sold at department stores outside the prefecture, such as Shoku no Kuni Fukui-kan in Ginza, Tokyo, and the Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi main store.

* Opening hours and prices at individual shops vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Matsuokaken, head confectioner of habutae mochi, official website, Store Information; Kurufu Fukui Station official website; Fukui.com, The Shop Where Habutae Mochi Began)

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourist information for Fukui Prefecture together with information published by the individual shops. Prices and product details are subject to change, so please check the official information of each shop for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: From several hundred yen to the 1,000-yen range per box
• Where to buy it: Confectionery shops and souvenir shops throughout Fukui Prefecture, and Fukui Station
• Recommended time of day: Available all year round, ideal for last-minute shopping at the end of a trip
• Avoiding the crowds: Souvenir versions are well stocked and easy to buy
• Enjoy it together with: Other Fukui specialities such as mizu yokan and Satsukigase, as a treat with tea