Old sweet parlor from my childhood

Growing up in the Shitamachi, “Mihashi” is a sweet parlor I keep coming back to whenever I visit the Tokyo National Museum in Ueno or Ameyoko.
*Low-lying area of filled with independent shops and factories, known for its friendly and stylish atmosphere (Ex. Ueno, Asakusa)

They have a wide selection in the menu.
The unchanging good service and uniform take me back to my childhood.

They have left a fan at the entrance for the customers.

The main Mihashi store in Ueno is usually very crowded, but I was able to get in very smoothly. Lucky me!

Looking around the café, I realize that the store is much more popular among women, but there are also some male customers enjoying the sweets by themselves.

The usual “Cream Anmitsu” for me

Even though I take a look at the menu every time, 99% of the time I end up choosing the “Cream Anmitsu”. It consists of boiled beans, cubes of gelatin, bits of fruits with sweet syrup and soft ice cream. I just love it that much!

It was a tough a choice between the summer specials anzu (apricot) and yuzu citrus shaved ice, but I decided to go safe and get the cream anmitsu I knew to be delicious.

As good as I remembered

One thing about this place is that they serve you right after you place your order! At least, that’s what it seems like.
So here it is, in front of me, my anmitsu from childhood. Even the bowl is the same!
I love it so much that I can’t help smiling!!

One spoonful of the anko (red bean paste). Sooo good!!

Then together with the gelatin. Yup, this is paradise.

I’m actually not a huge fan of “gyuuhi” (Turkish delight), but they make it really nice and mushy here.

Now now, let’s not forget the most important ice cream part.
I don’t know why, but the soft ice creams you get at sweet parlors seem to always be exceptionally delicious. The melting ice cream together with the anko and the gelatin is heavenly.

I always finish it entirely, including the kuromitsu (dark honey). I mix it with the ice cream, and it looks and tastes kind of like café au lait. It’s a mild flavor.

Everybody, men and women, children and elderlies, is truly enjoying their experience at Mihashi. Seeing that makes me happy too!
The power of wa-sweets (Japanese sweets) to bring joy to people is undoubtedly there.

writer：Yoko