Must-try century-old dessert shop at Senso-ji Temple – The popular combo is soba noodles with red bean paste

Text & Photos /Nata

Senso-ji Temple, a must-visit spot for first-time travelers to Tokyo, features a huge red lantern with the "Thunder Gate" (雷门) above its main gate, leaving a deep impression on visitors. Among the famous local souvenirs, ningyo-yaki (Japanese dolls-shaped cakes) and Senso-ji mochi are the most well-known. As for traditional local delicacies, I really wanted to try both Oden from Daimaru<和梅园甜品都是我很想尝试的，虽然有点可惜当天只吃了梅园，但梅园甜点的好滋味至今仍让我感动，化成美好的美食回忆。

Established in 1854, the Baigan Main Store at Senso-ji Temple originated as a small tea house within one of the temple’s branch shrines. It has stood firm in the Asakusa area for over 160 years, boasting a super long history. Having usually tried modern sweets in Japan, this time I made up my mind after reading a travel guide to finally sample the desserts of a traditional old shop. After walking around Senso-ji Temple and nearby streets like Denboin Dori, my legs were a bit tired, so I followed the directions in the book and came straight here. Of course, I went in right away to rest and recharge.

The dessert models at the entrance alone made me drool – shaved ice, red beans, mochi balls, sweet soup... Even though I’m not a big fan of sweets, I couldn’t help but be captivated. The prices of the sweets are a bit high, but considering the craftsmanship passed down through a century, it’s definitely worth it, right?

Surprisingly, when I actually ordered, I noticed many Japanese customers were ordering matcha soba noodles paired with a red bean paste dessert – seems like a popular combo！

There’s a minimum order of one item per person.

After looking around for a while, I decided to go for the matcha red bean mochi with chestnut dessert (I just can’t resist the classic Japanese dessert combo—matcha + red beans—and it also comes with smooth mochi and candied chestnuts, how could I not order it?)

Matcha Red Bean Mochi with Chestnut Dessert 756Q?/strong>
The red bean was truly the unbeatable signature of Baigan. The red bean paste in this dessert had plump, high-quality beans with visible whole grains, yet they were cooked to a soft, sandy texture that melted in your mouth. It had the perfect balance of moisture—neither too wet nor too dry—and the sweetness was at just the right golden ratio. The cooking skill was amazing.