A Trip to the Sweets Factory! Milk Tsukigesho Manju Straight from the Source

Tsukigesho enjoys its reputation as one of Osaka’s most popular newcomer souvenirs. This delightful milk manju (sweet filled bun) went on sale in 2010 and it easily became a favorite due to its melt-in-your-mouth sweet smooth buttery flavor. 
I decided to find out more about what makes Tsukigesho so delicious, so I visited the factory. Here’s what I found—

The Birthplace of Tsukigesho is Less than Hour from Namba!

The Tsukigesho Factory is located just south of Osaka city limits in a town called Hannan. Since I’m so used to the city, I thought Hannan was farther than it is. But when I looked it up, you take the Nankai express from Namba Station and arrive in around 40 minutes. That’s not very far at all!


Plus you don’t have to change trains, which makes the trip easy.
The closest station to the Tsukigesho factory is Ozaki Station. From there it was about a 15 minute walk. Soon I saw the bright exterior of the factory and it seemed to shine. The moment I stepped inside I could smell the sweet fragrances mixed with butter and milk. That’s when I started to get excited!


No Reservations Needed! Find Out What Makes Tsukigesho So Delicious

There is no need to make reservations if you are visiting on your own. Simply grab a numbered ticket from the reception area and head to the Tsukigesho theater.

I couldn’t wait to see what was next.

First the original mascot character for Tsukigesho, Tsukiro-kun, explains all about what makes Tsukigesho so special. They aim for a delicate balance between sweet bean paste (an), butter, egg yolks, and sweetened condensed milk. This combination of western and traditional Japanese ingredients give the sweets a rich and unique flavor. Yum!



After learning about the sweets by video, I headed to the factory line to see how they are produced. It was amazing to look through the glass windows and see how quickly Tsukigesho are churned out, one after another.

A Whole New Sensation—Freshly Made Tsukigesho Manju

After the factory tour, you get to actually taste the sweets made here!
At the reception, you will have received a ticket. Simply show your ticket to exchange for a fresh manju.

The manju will be packaged exactly the way you buy them in stores, but it was still slightly warm. I opened it right away and of course it was delicious! The outer layer was crispier than usual and the filling was smoother and softer than the Tsukigesho I’ve bought in stores.

They also serve complimentary coffee and tea so you can enjoy your manju with a drink. It was very different from Tsukigesho I’ve had before, so I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is already a Tsukigesho fan. 


You can purchase other items from the shop that were made at the same time as your free manju, so if you are hungry for more, have a look at the shop.
You can also learn more about the ingredients used and the history of Aoki Shofuan, the creators of Tsukigesho, during the factory tour. And there are photo spots where you can snap a few pictures to remember your trip!

Japanese and Western Flavors Together in an Absolute Sweets Mecca!

Once you’re finished with the tour, it would be a shame not to look around the sweets shop! I always thought Aoki Shofuan were manufacturing Japanese sweets only, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. They make cakes, cookies, and breads too!
If you are someone who prefers Western style desserts, you will find plenty to enjoy here. 
Tsukigesho are just the tip of the iceburg. Why not try a sweet bean paste and butter filled mikasa (filled pancake sandwich) in winter or a pie-crust cookie filled with mochi?

So many of the sweets you’ll find here are a heavenly combination of Western and Japanese flavors. And some products are seasonal, which makes them uniquely appealing.

The factory also offers a chance to make your own sweets if you sign up for a sweets making class ahead of time. They do charge a fee and workshops are generally held on Tuesdays and Sundays.

Take a look at the website for more details and start planning your trip to the Tsukigesho Factory!