Saiundo Wagashi Shop

Saiundo

This is Saiundo in Matsue.(Head office)

We had whisked Matcha and a cool summer wagashi.
Can you see the goldfish swimming inside it?

What’s Saiundo

Saiundo is a Japanese sweets (Wagashi) shop in Matsue city, Japan.

This shop was established 136 years ago. 

This shop is famous for Wakakusa, a wagashi that represents the fresh spring grass.

Saiundo sells more than 30 kinds of wagashi that change according to the season.

You can buy wagashi and enjoy them in the shop with a hot bowl of frothy green tea (matcha).

Saiundo kindly lets us examine their books on wagashi

and served us green tea and more sweets!

This bird is made entirely from sugar!

Visit to Saiundo

We visited Saiundo, and we were able to ask Mr.Yamagachi, the chief executive of Saiundo a few questions.

Here is some of the information he shared with us…

Wagashi and the tea ceremony are inseparable.  Wagashi matches green tea because wagashi is sweet and green tea is bitter.  Wagashi were generally made especially for the purpose of the tea ceremony.

The tea ceremony is held in a small tea ceremony room.  The room directs us to another time and space. 

There are four seasons in Japan. The difference of each season is clear.

Wagashi represents the nature of each season.  

But, it is very difficult to make wagashi well. Even the moisture and temperature in the air are important factors for making them.

A high level of skill and experience is necessary to make wagashi.  A typical craftsman needs 10 years or so to become an expert.

Mr. Yamaguchi loves wagashi, so he wants many people to know more about wagashi.  We want to thank him for taking the time to teach us a little about wagashi in Matsue.