Shopping, souvenirs

A long history of making monaka

Since its foundation in the Meiji Period, Eirakuan has devoted itself to creating monaka (bean jam filling in thin, crisp rice-flour shells). The store’s two-bite-sized pieces of monaka are handmade one at a time in the store. Long-time fans include Ichizō Kobayashi (the founder of Hankyu Railway), writer Seiko Tanabe, and the Takarasiennes (Takarazuka Revue performers). Overseas tourists love the eight different shapes of monaka, which represent the eight traditional treasures.