Tabisuru Shintora Market is a shopping center on Shintora Avenue in Tokyo where you can enjoy seasonal gourmet food and local specialties from all over Japan. The theme and participating municipalities change every three months, and the winter chapter, "Spring of the Ming Dynasty and Enlightenment - 150 Years Since the Meiji Era," began on January 9th. Three cities -- Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture; Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture; and Satsumasendai City, Kagoshima Prefecture -- have come together to showcase their specialties and masterpieces.

Traditional Hagi ware will be on display in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, which is blessed with one of Japan's largest deltas and is rich in nature. The lineup includes a beautifully color-contrasting mug (3,000 yen) by young Hagi ware artist Takao Tahara, and the "Cherry Blossom Design Couple Teacup" (5,000 yen) by Yuko Matsuo. Recommended gifts include Iwasaki Sake Brewery Choyo Fukumusume Junmai Ginjo (720ml/1,761 yen) and Okazaki Sake Brewery Nagatosaka Junmai Ginjo (720ml/1,761 yen), both of which are Hagi's finest sakes, known for their delicious rice and crispness. Facing the Sea of Japan, Hagi is also a thriving fishing town, and the shop will also stock unique items such as Iwakawa Hataten's tote bags (large 7,000 yen, medium 4,800 yen) and carrier bags (3,000 yen), which are made using fabric used for fishing flags.

Iwakawa Hataten tote bags (large: 7,000 yen, medium: 4,800 yen) and carrier bags (3,000 yen)

From Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, a warm city facing the Seto Inland Sea, we have selected Senzan Kiln's Kurawanka tea bowl (1,981 yen) and soba choko (soba cup) (1,210 yen), which can be used for both everyday use and for entertaining guests. The Hexagonal Kasuri Cushion (8,000 yen), made with a patchwork of Iyo Kasuri, one of Japan's three major kasuri fabrics, is a must-have item for interior design lovers. As the area is famous for Dogo Onsen, the "YUIRO Fuji Bucket" (7,500 yen) is also available to brighten up your bathing time. It is also a good idea to purchase it as a set with the "Minakuchi Brewery Dogo Beer Kolsch" (330ml/520 yen) to sip after your bath.

"YUIRO Fuji Oke" (7,500 yen)
"Soba Choko" (Checkered 1,210 yen / Tsuyukusa 881 yen) from Senzan Kiln

Satsumasendai City is located in the northwest of Kagoshima Prefecture. The must-have sweet potato shochu at this shop is "Shioda Shuzo Rokudaime Yuri" (720ml/1,419 yen), which retains the umami flavor of the sweet potato. Of course, to enjoy the shochu, there are also high-quality bamboo sake cups available, such as "Susutake Sake Cup" (3,500 yen) and "Susutake Ochoko" (1,500 yen), as well as "Colorful Tumbler" (2,200 yen), which makes the most of the unique shape of bamboo. Other bamboo-based items on offer include the soft-textured "Bamboo Paper Notebook" (A4 size 260 yen, B5 size 160 yen).

"Colorful Tumbler" (2,200 yen)

Also, from March 1st, the venue will have a wide selection of cherry blossom-themed Japanese sweets that are unique to this season. The lineup includes Eitarou's Sakura Jelly (3 pieces/973 yen) with cherry blossoms encapsulated inside, Tsuriganeya Honpo's Tsuriganeya Manju "Sakura An" (5 pieces/1,100 yen) with cherry blossom bean paste containing cherry blossom leaves wrapped in castella cake, Ichiroku Honpo's "Hitotori Ichiroku Tart (Sakura)" (3 pieces/450 yen) with a cherry blossom-colored sponge wrapped around azuki bean paste with Oshima cherry blossoms and yuzu, and Nakataya's "Kintsuba Sakura" (3 pieces/560 yen) cherry blossom-colored kintsuba decorated with salted cherry blossoms. All items will be on sale until March 30th (only Nakataya's Kintsuba Sakura is on sale until March 6th), so sweets lovers should definitely come and try them.
Eitaro Confectionery Shop's Sakura Jelly (3 pieces/973 yen)

Ichiroku Honpo's "Hito Slice Ichiroku Tart (Sakura)" (3 pieces/450 yen)