Mihashi

Silky, moderately sweet strained bean paste, crisp cubes of agar jelly, tender red peas, and creamy soft-serve ice cream come together in harmony at Mihashi. This sweet shop brings the revered flavours of its Ueno flagship into the station concourse, making traditional treats easily accessible. Signature bowls of anmitsu strike a careful balance between gentle sweetness and the rich depth of kuromitsu brown sugar syrup, offering a soothing respite during long journeys or after a day on foot.

The standout choice is the cream shiratama anmitsu, combining chilled soft-serve with chewy mochi rice dumplings. Diners often blend the smooth ice cream with the bean paste as they eat, finishing with the sweet blend of melted cream and syrup at the bottom of the bowl. The menu offers plenty of variety, including tart apricot anmitsu, fruit anmitsu topped with mandarin oranges, and mamekankan, which highlights the simple contrast of red peas and agar jelly drizzled only with brown sugar syrup.

Beyond sweet bowls, savoury palate cleansers are on hand, such as firm tokoroten agar noodles dressed with vinegar soy sauce, nori, and mustard, as well as bowls of warming oshiruko red bean soup in the winter months. The hot green tea poured upon seating neatly refreshes the palate after each sweet bite, and attentive staff regularly make rounds to top up cups.

Set along the underground concourse of First Avenue Tokyo Station, the parlour frequently draws a queue, yet turnaround remains brisk and solo diners can step inside without hesitation. Packaged anmitsu and other sweets are also available to take away, making an ideal treat for the Shinkansen ride or a thoughtful souvenir.