Exquisite sweets from all over the country will be on display! Highly anticipated "Sweet Potato Festival/An Festival" (Hakata Hankyu)

The two biggest autumn and winter flavors, sweet potato and red bean paste, are coming together at Hakata Hankyu!

We would like to introduce the Sweet Potato Festa/An Festival, which will begin on Wednesday, November 27, 2024.

[November 27th - December 2nd, 2024] First ever "Sweet Potato Festival/An Festival" at Hakata Hankyu

The Sweet Potato Festa/An Festival will be held for the first time at the 8th floor event hall of Hakata Hankyu for six days from Wednesday, November 27th to Monday, December 2nd, 2024.

Sweet potatoes are ripe now, as their starch turns to sugar as they ripen after harvest, making them sweeter. Red bean paste is also used in winter dishes, as the red beans that are its main ingredient are harvested in autumn and available in the market.

Sweet potato and red bean paste shops from all over Japan will be gathering together! Popular sweet potato products will be available from 14 shops (8 of which are opening for the first time) and red bean paste products will be available from 15 shops (7 of which are opening for the first time).

There will also be a special talk show and event hosted by two specialists, Ayuki Hashimoto, Representative Director of the Sweet Potato Ambassador Association and CEO of Sweet Potato Company Ltd., and Nishii Anko, President of the Japan Anko Association (check the official website for details).

Featured products at the "Sweet Potato Festival"

There's a wide selection here, from classics like roasted sweet potatoes to more evolved sweets that can be enjoyed in a variety of arrangements!

[Demonstration] Kobe Imoya Shimoto, Hyogo

"Mitsu Haruka" (Small size 648 yen, Medium size 756 yen)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

Kobe Imoya Shinmoto, a baked sweet potato shop that was named the first No. 1 in Japan in a taste comparison vote of over 50,000 visitors to the 2020 "National Baked Sweet Potato Grand Prix" (Sweet Potato Expo Executive Committee), has been named the No. 1 in Japan three times in 2023 and 2024, earning a place in the Hall of Fame. The shop sells carefully selected "Beni Haruka" sweet potatoes, with a focus on preservation and baking methods such as long-term aging and low-temperature cooking, as "Mitsu Haruka." These baked sweet potatoes have a strong potato aroma and a sticky sweetness.

[Demonstration] Aichi "Kakuozan Yoshiimo"

"Yoshiimo Hanabi" (691 yen per pack)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

Introducing their signature product from "Kakuozan Yoshiimo". "Yoshiimo Hanabi" is made by slicing raw sweet potatoes into thin strips, deep-frying them twice in rapeseed oil until crispy, and coating them in a rich, homemade syrup. Although it is deep-fried to a golden brown, the inside is moist and soft. It's a sinful taste that you won't be able to stop eating.

[Demonstration/First time at Hakata Hankyu] Osaka "Romantic Yakimo Imonosu"

"Salted Butter Brulee Baked Sweet Potato" (880 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

The first appearance of the "romantic baked sweet potato cafe, Imonosu," which offers a selection of carefully selected baked sweet potato arrangements. The "Salted Butter Brulee Baked Sweet Potato" is a dish that adds the richness of salted butter to creamy baked sweet potato, with a caramelized surface that gives it a crispy texture.

[Demonstration/First store opening at Hakata Hankyu] Yamagata "Yakiimo DoCo? No. 2"

"Purple Sweet Potato Chocolate Cheese Crepe" (880 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

The "Purple Sweet Potato Chocolate Cheese Crepe" is a crepe filled with chunks of roasted cube sweet potatoes made from "Beni Azuma" and "Purple Sweet Potato" and topped with cream cheese. It has a great visual impact!

[Demonstration, first store in Hakata Hankyu, exclusive to Hakata Hankyu] Fukuoka "Imoya Minou Sabo" - A baked sweet potato specialty store

"All-you-can-eat sweet potato parfait" (750 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

The "All-you-can-eat Sweet Potato Parfait" will be available exclusively at this event from "Imoya Minou Sabo," a baked sweet potato specialty store. The smooth and sweet potato soft serve ice cream is made with plenty of aged baked sweet potato paste, with a layer of sweet potato paste underneath and a sweet potato financier at the end. It is topped with fragrant caramel sauce, sesame salt, and aged sweet potato. This is the ultimate all-you-can-eat sweet potato parfait! The sweet and salty flavors are exquisite.

[First store in Hakata Hankyu] "Flanders Frites", a specialty sweet potato shop in Fukui

"Mitarashi sweet potato cream Mont Blanc" (701 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

The "Mitarashi Sweet Potato Cream Mont Blanc" from "Flanders Frits, a specialty sweet potato shop" is a fragrant mitarashi dango filled with plenty of sauce, topped with sweet potato cream made with "Tomitsu Kintoki" and sweet potato Mont Blanc! You'll be amazed at the wonderful combination.

Featured products at the "An Festival"

A wide range of sweets are available, from traditional Japanese sweets to neo-anko sweets. This lineup will allow you to rediscover the charm of "anko," which is familiar yet profound.

[Demonstration] Tokyo "Yusoku Taikashi Honpo Amane"

"Taikashi Tsubuan" (281 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

"Amane" is one of the most popular taiyaki shops in Tokyo, and their crispy, winged "Taikashi" sweets are made with a chewy, thin skin filled with plenty of sweet bean paste! It's a delicacy that you should try at least once.

[Demonstration] Shimane "Izumo Sakaneya"

"Izumo Zenzai" (eat-in with pickles and tea 701 yen per person, take-out 674 yen per person)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

From "Izumo Sakaneya," we have "Izumo Zenzai," made with large, soft, and flavorful Dainagon red beans. The red and white rice cakes are gorgeous! The sweetness is modest, allowing you to fully enjoy the deliciousness of the red beans.

Kanagawa "Japanese Confectionery Shop Izumiya"

"Karintou Manju Black Karin" (6 pieces for 945 yen)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

The popular product of the long-established Japanese confectionery store "Izumiya" which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year is "Karintou Manju Kuro Karin". The crispy bamboo charcoal karintou is filled with plenty of homemade koshian paste that has been passed down since the first generation. It is also recommended to warm it up lightly in the toaster before eating.

[Demonstration, Hakata Hankyu exclusive, limited to 200 pieces per day] "Chidori Manju Souhonpo" in Fukuoka

"Japanese Chestnut Cream Dorayaki" (648 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

"Chidoriya (Chidoriya Manju Souhonpo)" is offering a limited edition "Japanese Chestnut Cream Dorayaki" that combines the cream of their popular "Mont Blanc" cake, bean paste, and Japanese chestnuts from Kumamoto Prefecture. You'd be missing out if you missed out!

[First store in Hakata Hankyu] Osaka "Wakaron. Specialty store Waka"

"Special Red Bean Butter" (461 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

"Wakaron. Waka Specialty Store" sells fresh dorayaki with a chewy texture that allows you to enjoy both Japanese and Western flavors at the same time. "Special Koshian Butter" is a perfect ratio of Hokkaido pure butter mousse sandwiched on top of koshian. It's full of volume and has a great impact. It's even more delicious when chilled!

[First store in Hakata Hankyu] Kyoto "Toshoan"

"AN DE COOKIE" (10 pieces, 594 yen each)

Image: Hakata Hankyu

"AN DE COOKIE" is the signature product of "Tomatsuan", a specialty sweets store born from Kyoto's "Tosei An". It uses "nama-an", the raw material for smooth bean paste, without using wheat flour. You'll be surprised at the texture, which crumbles easily like Japanese sweets!

We have only introduced a small part of the lineup. There is so much to choose from, you will be sure to be distracted. Please come and check it out at the venue. (Text/ARNE Editorial Department)

<Sweet Potato Festival/An Festival>
Date and time: Wednesday, November 27, 2024 to Monday, December 2, 2024, 10:00-20:00 (until 17:00 on the final day)
Location: Hakata Hankyu 8th floor event hall (1-1 Hakataeki Chuo-gai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)

*This article is current as of the time of publication. *Prices include tax (8% for take-out items, 10% for eat-in items).
*The photo is for illustrative purposes only. *Due to weather, traffic, and other circumstances, there may be delays in delivery, changes to the limited number, or cancellation of sales.
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