Nippon-Ya

Japanese confectionery shop · Japantown ·

Nippon-Ya

Japanese confectionery shop · Japantown ·

Regional Japanese confections, snacks, tea, wine, gifts & more

Information

1737 Post St, San Francisco, CA 94115 Get directions

@atlasobscura

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Benkyodo – San Francisco, California - Gastro Obscura

"This unassuming, family-run Japanese confectionery store in San Francisco may be the oldest business in Japantown. Today, it’s run by Ricky and Bobby Okamura, grandchildren of Suyeichi Okamura, who opened the shop in 1906. It may also be the place where fortune cookies—everyone’s favorite Japanese treat mistakenly thought to be Chinese—were first mass-produced in the United States. The story goes that a Japanese immigrant named Makoto Hagiwara, who opened the Golden Gate Park’s Japanese Tea Garden in the late 1800s, made it a practice to leave visitors with a sweet taste in their mouths: On their way out, he served them green tea and senbei, a flattened Japanese cookie, folded and bent over itself while still fresh, with a small note inside. When demand for these “fortune” cookies exceeded Hagiwara’s ability to make them by hand, he approached a local confectionery specialist—Suyeichi Okamura—for ideas. In 1911, Okamura developed a machine to mass-produce fortune cookies in his shop and gave them their signature vanilla flavor, hoping it would appeal to the American palate. It worked. The cookies soon spread throughout California, inciting numerous claims of inventor-ship. Benkyodo became a mainstay of the J-Town community in its original location until 1942, when the vast majority of San Francisco’s Japanese community was forced into internment camps. This mass internment contributed to the false association between Chinese restaurants and fortune cookies, as Chinese businesses replicated and sold the Japanese confectioners’ recipes in their absence. With the family freed from internment in 1945, Benkyodo reopened in 1951 in a cozy, light-filled coffee shop with classic red countertops and stools, lined on one side with glass cases full of Japanese treats. Shop favorites are the fruit mochi, with real fruit paste tucked into the pillowy rice ball; dorayaki, consisting of red-bean filling sandwiched between honey pancakes; and suama, a celebratory, fruity, steamed rice cake. The overlooked lunch menu features an understated deviled egg sandwich; coffee and tea are served all day as well. Those looking for the original fortune cookies, however, are out of luck: The shop no longer makes them. Know Before You Go The store is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It's cash only." - ernmony, rcgauna81, lukefater

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/benkyodo-japanese-confectionery-san-francisco

Nippon-Ya

Daniel C

Google

The customer service was fantastic! It's so fun to see what interesting and unique flavors they have. I was luckily able to pick up a limited edition flavor of mochi. I'm excited to see what else they come out with! I also wanted to mention the wrapping service. They allow you to select a wrap (partially dependent on the size of your order) and secure your purchases neatly. Makes for a great presentation when giving a gift!

Nixon C.

Google

Another must-visit spot when you're in SF Japantown. Since my first visit, it's become a regular stop, and I consistently end up making a purchase. Even as someone who typically only enjoys mochi ice cream and isn't a fan of regular mochi, the offerings here are too tempting to resist. We sampled the chocolate mochi in-store, and after they generously allowed us to try a whole piece, we were impressed. Although we enjoyed that flavor, we ultimately chose the strawberry mochi, which turned out to be exceptional. The sweetness was perfectly balanced, neither overwhelming nor bland. It's an ideal place to pick up gifts for your travels or simply treat yourself. The selection includes candies, savory senbei/rice cracker snacks, mochi, teas, cookies, and more. Personally, my favorites to indulge in are the Harajuku Mochi Chocolates in matcha and strawberry flavors! Moreover, they offer intriguing collaboration items featuring series like Demon Slayer and characters like Hello Kitty and Kumamon. Each item is elegantly packaged and ready to be presented straight from the shop. It's worth noting that many items here are directly imported from Japan, offering a unique selection beyond what you'd find in the snacks/gift section at places like Tokyo Central, Nijiya, Mitsuwa, etc. Whether you're a fan of Japanese sweets and snacks or someone who enjoys trying new and different things, a visit here is highly recommended! I'll definitely be returning for their mochi. Their store is located within Japan Center West Mall. If you spot the prominent signage outside, simply proceed straight in, and you'll quickly find their store.

Wang W.

Google

A nice selection of Japanese confections primarily mochi and cookies in nicely wrapped boxes at affordable prices. Will definitely buy again the next time I'm at San Francisco if the business is still open then.

David L.

Google

The mochi boxes are beautifully packaged, and they have a lot of samples. However they don't make their own mochi locally. Instead, they are imported from Japan. Ingredients show artificial colors and flavorings. They have San Francisco Japantown gift boxes.

Crystal C.

Google

This is my first time writing a review for any shop, so when I write a review, that's how you know this place is worth the visit! Was super busy when I came for the first time. The ladies working were so friendly to me (I regret not getting their names) and more than willing to guide me around the store, as well as share a few samples :) I really felt that they cared for their customers, which I find to be rare. All in all, the customer service was phenomenal and the mochi was fantastic! $9 for one of their boxes (I believe) and worth every penny! Would definitely pay them a visit the next time I'm in town!

Jonathan C.

Google

Strawberry mochi was pretty good and only cost ~$11 for a box.

AJ C.

Google

They have some really good candy that they sell here as well as mochi boxes. If you haven't tried mochi, they have free samples here too! I love how it's brightly lit and organized. It's very colorful in here it kind of reminded me of Tasty Sugar except the colors weren't visually overwhelming. Definitely would love to come back here! I recommend this place.

Patrick R.

Google

Just an honest opinion the confections sold here are amazing but some of the people that work there are definitely not . Went today the person working was highly stuck up rude attitude acted like they were above everyone else and made the experience of being there not very good . Not a very friendly place to shop when you have people working that act and treat people like that . What made it even worse was I was with my kids and went to get a sample the person made it her duty to say the kids already had one almost shaming them in a way I will definitely not be returning here as a customer will source elsewhere.

May A.

Yelp

Thank you very Mochi! [Japantown, San Francisco CA] These are beautiful Japanese confections located on the West Mall at Japantown in San Francisco. The confections are fun, fresh and yummy. We were given samples of the Harajuku mochis in strawberry and chocolate flavors. Ooh the chocolate just hit you at first bite... it's like Nutella with a doughy texture. I preferred the chocolate over the strawberry but these little soft pillows are so heavenly delicious. The packagings and canisters are amazing. Beautiful selection of wrapped traditional Japanese food gifts! They also have some packaged candy and mochis that come in cutesy Hello Kitty tin cans. My daughter couldn't stop with the oohs and ahhs LoL ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Nippon-ya is located on the West Mall at Japantown in San Francisco. Instagram: @nipponya.sf Review #3378

Ann T.

Yelp

Another MUST if you're going to SF Japantown. After the first time I went here, I always make a stop and I ALWAYS make a purchase. It's a great place to get some gifts to bring back from your travels or just to indulge in yourself! There's candies, savory senbei/rice cracker snacks, mochi, teas, cookies, etc. My go to favs just to get for myself are the Harajuku Mochi Chocolates, matcha & strawberry flavors! Additionally they have some neat collaboration items with series like Demon Slayer and characters like Hello Kitty and Kumamon. Everything is packaged nicely and ready to give as is from the shop. I just want to add that a lot of the items here are imported straight from Japan and aren't the usual fare that you would find in the snacks/gift section at Tokyo Central, Nijiya, Mitsuwa, etc, so going here is definitely worth going to! Both for those who love Japanese sweets and snacks or those who like trying new and different things.

Daisy G.

Yelp

For someone who dislikes mochi and only eats mochi ice cream, the mochi here is so good to pass up. We tried the strawberry mochi in store, as they were kind to let us try an entire piece, we really liked that flavor but decided to go with chocolate mochi. The chocolate mochi was SO GOOD. It was perfectly sweet, where the sweetness wasn't overbearing nor was it bland. My sister wanted the hello kitty tin, so we tried yuzu seaweed. We were pretty surprised with how good it was! It was pricey tho. Our total for the mochi and seaweed was about $20. Definitely will come back for their mochi.

Jenny T.

Yelp

Cute little shop for food souvenirs in Japantown! This store reminded me of the mini shops in Japan for omiyage, to be gifted or enjoyed with friends/families. I'm a sucker for Japanese snacks and sweets, so I couldn't leave empty handed! All of these are top quality snacks/sweets - specialities of Japanese flavors such as sesame, yuzu, etc. I picked a few items for my sister's fiancé and boyfriend as well which I think they'd enjoy. The prices are reasonable and there's many products to look at, I wonder if they swap out items during the season.

Sherri W.

Yelp

Happy to see Nippon-Ya has more selection since a couple of months ago. Our favorite is the Matcha Chocolate Mochi, & Strawberry Chocolate filled Mochi. The Matcha Mochi is generously sprinkled with matcha powder so you taste the true flavor of the tea leaves. While the Strawberry Mochi has a fresh fruit flavor. The Mochi is a little thicker than I would like, but it has a nice chewy texture to it. Because it is packed for ultimate freshness the shelf life is only 2 months. I bought the Orange Mochi with White Bean bc it was a summer special. It had a hint of citrus flavor & I could taste the white bean in this small bite size Mochi. Although I would prefer the red bean Mochi, it was still fun to try a new flavor. The seaweed chips are fresh & packed with a lot of flavor, so it would be a perfect match with rice. The roe/fish flavored chips definitely had a fish like smell & bits of red roe, so if you enjoy fish flavor, this would satisfy your palate.

Kortney S.

Yelp

Very cute store. Well organized and the cleanest spot In the mall. We purchased the cracker coated cashew a spicy and a not spicy flavor. We also got some hard candies . The owner was very kind.

Sydney J.

Yelp

I stopped by here while I was visiting the Japantown malls and was intrigued by the Harajuku mochi chocolate strawberry, so I decided to buy it since it was a reasonable price ($10.95 for the box). The mochi itself was delicious; reminds me of chocolate truffles because of the generous amount of chocolate, and has sugary strawberry filling. A great place if you have a sweet tooth or want to buy edible gifts!

Fancypants X.

Yelp

I'd forgotten Nippon-Ya existed! It's a small store in Japantown that sells beautifully-wrapped edible gifts. Their tins are especially eye catching. I don't speak Japanese nor am I familiar with Japanese snacks, so the contents of any given package is a mystery to me until I do further investigation. I ended up with a tin of Gaufres, giant wafers (comical in size, really) filled with chocolate, strawberry, & vanilla cream, and with a box of delicately-wrapped mochi. Four varieties: the white bean paste was best, followed by red bean paste topped with sesame; red bean paste with chestnut pieces & white bean paste with egg custard were just ok. Decent price point, I believe each item was under $12. Not my usual cup o' tea (they have that, too!), but a good specialized store to have in your back pocket when buying for Japanese snack aficionados.

Juliet T.

Yelp

I was exploring japantown with a friend and came across this shop! There was a variety of mochi, teas, matcha, and chocolates around the shop. Also cute anime items closer to the cashier. Items: Strawberry Mochi: The mochi was very soft and chewy, good for a small snack or pick me up in the middle of the day. The strawberry flavor was there and was lightly sweet. The packaging is really cute inside too! White Chocolate Strawberry: One was enough for me. It's sweet and hits the spot! I liked how the freeze dried strawberry complimented the white chocolate. This would be good to drink with tea to wash it down.

Lera L.

Yelp

The sore has a very diverse assortment of sweets straight from Japan and beyond. All products are made in Japan. By the way, I've been told by them that you can buy the most of products they sell (I dont remember if they were talking about all products) only in this store and they are not sold anywhere else in the USA. I was just buying gifts for my Japanese friend and her daughter, and did shopping for myself here as well. I highly a recommend this store! I know that my friend is asking her Japanese friends to bring her sweets from Japan, because she cannot find them here in the USA and this is a great solution to this problem, I think. Definitely 5 stars

Nancy L.

Yelp

Tried to get some strawberry chocolate mochi but they were closed. Today we got 5 boxes for friends. It melts in your mouth. Love the flavor too.

Ishita R.

Yelp

All I wanna say is this place is legendary. The prices are reasonable, and their mochi tastes spectacular. I will say that their flavored mochi have really mild flavors, in case you're expecting a burst of flavors. Personally, I like the mildness!! I've been here a couple times for birthday/celebratory gifts and my friends have loved their gifts!

Altaïr I.

Yelp

I've been coming here for years so I figured it's time to give my review. Basically 5/5 they have an amazing selection of mochi.

Helen T.

Yelp

This is tucked away at the Japan Mall. There were a handful of selections, and I couldn't decide which one to buy so I got the one I sampled. It was smaller than I thought, very bite sized. The bitterness of the matcha powder contrasted the sweetness of the mochi dough and the chocolate filling. Chocolate filling wasn't very rich or dark, kind of reminds me of cheap Hershey's chocolate, but the mochi was incredibly soft and chewy.

S.K. Y.

Yelp

21.09.17. One of many visits Someone reported it was closed? When? I purchased quite a few items last SAT! with Nijiya "Hokkaido Fair" Where they feature rarely [in SF] products from that region! An annual even. So, either the intel about closure is incorrect. Or I shopped at a imaginary shop ... runned by a imaginary friendly staff [Laughing Hard]

Kimberly J.

Yelp

A great place to find gifts. Nippon-Ya has a variety of omiyage from different regions of Japan. The presentations were too cute. I appreciate that each piece is individually wrapped, perfect for sharing. Their cookies are not overly sweet, light, and just melt in your mouth. They also offer mochi, cakes, chocolates, tea, wine, candy, gift sets, and accessories. If you're in the area and looking for a gift for loved ones, this is an excellent place to check out.

Wendy H.

Yelp

I wandered in here because all those boxes caught my eye. They sell all sorts of mochi. Cutely wrapped and packaged. I bought a box of sesame mochi for my folks. I picked up a box of butter cookies with chocolate filling. The butter cookies are crisp and tastes like butter! Items are reasonably priced for Japanese imported desserts. They pack a lot of inventory in this small store. Service is friendly. They also let you browse without doing a hard sell.

Sue S.

Yelp

came here while we were walking around "japan town" back in march 2020 just before covid hit and this was one of the stores i really liked. they gave out free samples (which definitely benefited them since it made me buy a couple of boxes of the mochi LOL). the staff was super sweet and everything was pretty convenient ! definitely check this place out if you're into Japanese sweets and items!

Elizabeth A.

Yelp

This store is OPEN. They did close for a few days earlier in the year and their hours are now very limited. 1130am-4pm the cashier said. She didn't even know they were marked as closed on Yelp.

Eva M.

Yelp

Nippon-Ya is my favorite Japanese sweets shop in San Francisco. Located inside Japantown, 2nd floor, it's a modest size store that has a sizeable collection of mochi sweets, chocolate filled-mochis, French style wafers done in a Japanese style (I like the matcha filled version), and pretty tiny candies. Excellent treats for yourself and even better for gifts. All are packaged very pretty. They are $10-ish, some higher closer to $15. They also have little ones that are sold as 3 packs, great for distributing to coworkers or lots of friends. Since they are made in Japan, they tend to be less sweet which is great.

Deanna Y.

Yelp

Nippon Ya is my not-so-secret gateway to squishy mochi and other Japanese sweets and treats! Many items are imported straight from Japan, and I can confirm this after my recent visit a few months ago. I was pleasantly surprised to find the same boxes of mochi that I saw at Tokyo station for only a few dollars more here! The store carries mochi filled with more traditional fillings like red bean, but most of their mochi contain white or dark chocolate or even jams with cream inside. The colorful boxes of mochi keep for about 3 months and are great for gifts. These mochi are not to be confused with the larger fresh mochi at Benkyodo that are filled with fruits, lima bean paste, etc. Other fun items to pick up are the bunny-shaped bean paste manju, Japanese flavored kit kats, and freeze dried strawberries coated in white chocolate. They have a variety of keychains and trinkets near the check out line and they can wrap your gifts in beautiful furoshiki wrapping cloth for a couple dollars more. I also always buy a 40g tin of ceremonial grade uji matcha powder when I'm here for $12.50, which is a fantastic price. Just keep in mind that everything is packaged here, but this can be a good thing if you're not planning on eating your treats right away or want to gift them. Japanese sweets don't contain preservatives though, so don't wait too long...but that shouldn't be a problem! Prices are pretty reasonable and their items are a great introduction to mochi if you're unfamiliar with them. Nippin Ya is a must-visit store for me in Japantown!

Ellie O.

Yelp

Very good imported Japanese candy ! Colorful & not too sweet . They wrap beautifully for gifts . I have a friend who wanted some items & she could not get over to the shop . She is a total fan . Ha ha Japantown is awesome & this authentic sweet shop is legit !! Prices are reasonable & service always friendly. Check it out !

Janet S.

Yelp

The cutest small, local shop of Japanese imported sweets! I'll admit - I was quite hooked on their specialty mochi. I always passed by this store, but never really went in and check it out. After I did, I got hooked, my boyfriend, and even my office did too (ops!). Boxes of mochi here are priced $10 - $15, which is average priced. They have standard flavors of chocolate, chocolate strawberry, banana, matcha, and even grape (and more). They can wrap beautifully for gifts too. Some mochi may be seasonal though. They also have smaller candy that are similar to Altoids candies, but they aren't really my favorite... Additionally, they carry Japanese inspired SF merchandise because it is located in Japantown. This shop is located on the right side mall with Sophia's crepes and the photobooth machines, but it's easy to walk by because it's small.

Clyde F.

Yelp

Great treats. Very friendly staff. Will go back there whenever we are in the area. Worth the time.

Mel Q.

Yelp

Favorite mochi shop in SF!! The store has a wide variety of collections and the one I got is a limited edition from a famous Japanese company! The store clerk is SUPER nice and friendly!! He explained the flavor of each collection very patiently. Will come back!

Anita N.

Yelp

Omg Omg Omg! Ahhhhh favorite little place in Japantown! Sooooo mad that I didn't buy anything because of analysis paralysis!!! From floor to ceiling: mochi, chocolate, biscuits, candy - name the Japanese sweet indulgence and they FOSHO have it. There's stuff that I had never even seen before despite me going to Asian specialty stores almost weekly back home in Dallas. The best part is that if you need a quick place to grab a nice hostess gift or little treat for someone special - no wait screw them buy something for youself - everything is packed in nice little packaging and gift boxes. :) My fave finds: matcha dark chocolate truffles and taro mochi!!!

Mark W.

Yelp

Inexpensive, delicious and beautifully boxed mochi and candies from Japan. Purchased 5 boxes and received a complimentary box.

Alice X.

Yelp

This place is definitely my spot for fancy Japanese boxed dessert needs! If you buy enough of their boxed desserts, they will give you a discount on your parking ticket at the Japantown parking garage. Be sure to ask!!!!!!!! They have free samples of their popular mochis near their cash register! They also have a display in the front of the store displaying all their popular mochi products. Super helpful for those who don't know what's good and for those, like myself who wants to try something new!

Joy U.

Yelp

Nippon ya... Nippon ya... You've made a convert out of me. Not a person who likes Mochi but your Harajuku Mochi chocolates got my vote. Who would think luscious chocolate with coffee would be a great Mochi flavored delicacy? It was a rare treat to the mouth as I savored you. I didn't know if I needed to bite the soft Mochi that encased this treat. It was a luxury in the palate. And for 9 bucks a box it was reasonable after the first taste. Same for the strawberry chocolate. Think how they freeze dried each strawberry and then dipped into creamy white chocolate. It was science in your mouth and an adventure to your taste buds. The strawberry is like crunchy and dense with the tart of the fruit still present but the chocolate neutralizes that's tartness and so it was a gastronomic experience. Sadly these arE just two of the items I sampled and they have more in this quaint store. I will be back for sure and will try other stuff.

Roxanne C.

Yelp

Place is closed on Monday, 11/22, at 5:30, even though hours say it is open. Not happy bc we made a trip over for delicious pastries for an event.

Jennifer L.

Yelp

When I walked into this small store I was so excited to see so many of the delicious treats I had enjoyed in Japan 10 years ago. As I went to check out, I was going to ask if they had castella cake, because when I was in Nagasaki I loved it. Imagine my joy as I got to the register and right to the left of me was the exact cake I bought in Japan: Nagasaki green tea castella. I almost cried. This store was by far my favorite highlight of San Francisco and the prices are exactly what I would have expected! Now I am sadly back in Connecticut but I am enjoying my castella, mochi, and daifuku!

Debbie W.

Yelp

Nippon-Ya kindly gave every ZSFGH laboratory worker a box of delicious mochi. Generous and thoughtful during a tough time. Thank you.

Miriam T.

Yelp

Years ago the place was super crowded so I would never go there. I made the effort to shop there 2 years ago and bought various sweets from them to try out. It's small store which is rectangular in shape. Their sweets are on top of tall shelves and 3-level tables displaying their goodies. I've tried their sugar candies to eat and added to my coffee as a substitute for sugar. It had its own flavor of sweetness compared to sugar cane. I was there for the Cherry Blossom Festival but mainly to shop around. I bought their Harajuku Mochi Chocolate. The Cherry Blossom flavor one was sold out. The Harajuku Mochi Chocolates were encased in a nice flattering box to show how trendy it is. Opening the box, I see the lines of mochi all dusted w/ chocolate powder. I tasted it and the mochi was delicious. I'll eat this with coffee next time. If I'm in Japantown again, I will buy another box and see if they have something new.

Ange G.

Yelp

I appreciate Nippon-ya for being so generous and giving during this pandemic time. They gave our lab department personal mochi boxes! I definitely want to plan a visit at their store in the future.

Pawares P.

Yelp

All the fresh mochi places are closed in the area, sadly. So I googled it up and found that this place is highly recommended. Nevertheless to say I was so happy to find this place. The choice selections of Japanese desserts here were amazing. You can't find stuff here anywhere else or at least where I came from (Seattle). I ended up buying myself chocolate matcha green tea mochi in the fancy box, chocolate mochi and these bunny shape dessert that was recommended by the store worker. There were also tons of unique kit kat flavors. Idk, if you get a chance to be in the area, I recommend to check this place out and you won't be disappointed. The prices are also reasonable!

Stephanie L.

Yelp

Woaaaa this is definitely a gem in Japantown. Their mochi is so good, match and chocolate would be my favorite. It comes in very nice and minimal packaging so it is perfect for gifts. They also have variety of teas and fresh soba noodles. Yum!

Jasper D.

Yelp

It was great. Walk past 30 Dec 2021. Was locked up and shelves mostly empty. Prob closed down. Where to get boxes of mochi now. Sad.

G Y.

Yelp

Best Sencha quality and selection in the Bay Area! Go here if you are a green tea fan, and pick up any of the Sencha directly on the right-hand wall when you enter. (Fukuoka region is our favorite, $8 for a pack)) Wish they still did mail order, don't know anywhere else to get green tea this good except Japan.

Daniel B.

Yelp

Nippon-ya is the perfect place to buy prepackaged Japanese snacks and sweets. This charming little store is located inside Kintetsu Mall at Japantown. In addition to sweets, the store also has a respectable inventory of green tea and green tea products. If you're looking for a Japanese or confectionery gift (or heck, just a gift in general), look no further. Like most Japanese stores, especially gift shops, Nippon-ya has a cute design. In this case, pink paint, light woods, and cherry blossoms for decor. Even though the store space is small, inventory is neatly packed and organized. There are a bevy of products stacked high and everything is beautifully presented and displayed. The packaging is colorful and adorable -- yes, girls and people into "kawaii" things will love this stuff. Examples of nifty treats include: * Usagi Cream Daifuku Green Tea - mochi with a green tea-flavored white bean filling and cream center (the mochi balls look like little bunny rabbits). * Oideyasu Kyoto - shortbread cookies decorated with a chocolate image of the Kyoto temple. * Miyazaki Mango Eclaire - cream puffs filled with custard and mango puree, covered in milk and white chocolate, and topped with freeze-dried mango. * Mameta Tofu Crunch - rice puffs covered in white chocolate topped with black sesame seeds and freeze-dried tofu. Harajuku Mochi Chocolat is sold here as are a lot of other chocolate products. In addition, you can find cute keychains, lovable stuffed animals, and creative tea sets. Take a look at my photos and you'll see what I'm talking about. Most of the candies and gifts are under $10 per box or item. It's worth it because this stuff is imported from Japan, unique, and high quality. If you're traveling and packing your gifts away in luggage, Nippon-ya staff will nicely package your purchases to prevent damage. They accept online orders and ship (domestic or worldwide, I'm not sure). The staff is efficient and friendly.

Shanon Y.

Yelp

So what prompted me to visit Japantown was this picture of mochi shaped like bunnies from Nippon Ya. I love everything rabbit related and these mochis looked just too good to be true and well unfortunately they were. Nippon Ya carries a variety of Japanese treats from candy to mochi to various other gift items packaged in exquisite cute boxes. We picked up three flavors of the bunny mochi (green tea, coffee, and cherry). The display for the mochi looked absolutely adorable...white mochis with ears and eyes. Although when I opened a box I realized that it looked nothing like the display! You could hardly tell the mochi was a bunny :(. The markings were faded and it definitely wasn't cute at all. Hoping it would taste better than it looked I bought these back home and tasted all three flavors before gifting a couple to my friends. Sadly they were way too sweet and wasn't as good as I had imagined either. I haven't completely given up on Nippon Ya yet so I'll probably visit again during my next SF trip but I'll pass on the packaged bunny mochis and purchase freshly made ones instead.

Melinda Y.

Yelp

Whenever I see this store, I'm overcome with glee -- seeing the fully-stocked walls of yummy deliciousness! A sight for sore eyes for the beholder of an empty stomach. There was such a huge selection. Many different boxes and types to choose from. I prefer Nippon Ya (over Minamoto) for my Japanese confections, since I have an affinity for mochi -- in a variety of flavors in beautifully-wrapped boxes. They're ideal for gifting, like yourself (!). I bought myself green tea mochi and mango. You definitely get more bang for your buck, 30 mochi for $10?! That's unthinkable in a shop like Minamoto, where one large one costs $3 each.

Yen D.

Yelp

SO. MUCH. MOCHI. I'm talking peanut, black sesame, (real fragrant) red bean, mango, green tea, chesnut, and so much more.... sometimes rolled in the usual mochi powder, sometimes in cocoa, sometimes with sesame seeds, sometimes with matcha....the combinations are seriously endless! And then there's the GORGEOUS packaging. Looking at the colorfulness and care in individual wrapping of a lot of the boxes here, you would never guess they were ~$10 or even under sometimes (have you seen the bunny shaped white bean manju? SUCH A STEAL FOR A CUTE GIFT!!). If mochi isn't your thing, fear not, there's plenty of other sweets! Unheard of flavors of Kit-kat (roasted tea? HELLZ YEA!), French wafer/roll cookies, jelly based confections, star candy....Not big on the sugar? There's also hella fresh noodles, super cute knick knacks...I think I even saw some plushies on the side... I'm such a hyper squirrel everything I go here..everything gets me super excited! LOL If you are in Japantown, make sure you swing by and check this place out!

Mel T.

Yelp

Purchased a small pack of cookies for $8 and it did NOT taste good at all. In fact it tasted artificial and cheap like cookies I would get in Chinatown. It was worst than a rolled up sugar cone which was what it looked like but it tasted way off. This store sells pretty packaged items that taste like crap for ridiculous prices. Go to the Japanese Market across the street & get cookies there. Tourist trap.

Catherine W.

Yelp

The short: Ultimate place for Japanese sweets Ever craving some Japanese snacks, candies, and desserts? This place will probably be your number one stop for all those sweet tooths out there. I have never seen so many different mochi, kit kat flavors, tea, and a lot of other unknowns that I'm sure will taste really good! And all of the stuff is beautifully packaged, so the treats make great gifts for people ;)

Megan F.

Yelp

Oh my gosh, this is SUCH a little gem in Japantown! They have a wide selection of sweets and treats from Japan that are scrump-dilly-umptious. I bought freeze dried strawberries covered in white chocolate that my family loved! They also have a bunch of cute Hello Kitty SF Japantown merchandise which make great omiyage! The service was exceptional. I recently legally changed my last name, and the employees were very understanding about it and kind when they asked to see my ID with payment. I am definitely coming back here soon!

Karen W.

Yelp

I usually stop by this store, wistfully looking at the beautifully packaged and expensive mochi. However, in either late April or in May, they were having extraordinary sales since they were getting rid of their old stock. Prices were slashed as much as 60-75%! I now have a huge pile of accumulated mochi wealth, thanks to Nippon Ya. If they still sell it, I highly recommend the peach mochi. It comes in such a pretty box too.

Mimi T.

Yelp

They sell traditional mochi, chocolate mochi, unique flavored kit kats, and other snacks from various parts of Japan. Plus they have a star wars corner and tea corner. Currently there is bogo free with certain boxes so i got 3 boxes for only $20!! I haven't tried any yet since I'm giving them as gifts to my bfs family this weekend. They accept credit cards.

Nicole D.

Yelp

Small Japanese gift shop that houses many well-chosen Japanese treats, teas and gifts. At Nippon-Ya you will find luxury boxed Japanese chocolates, pretty packaged treats and gourmet teas. Indulge yourself --or that special person in your life--with Harajuku Mochi Chocolates, Cherry Blossom cookies, Green Tea Kit Kats or Chick-shaped steam buns filled with white bean. The Chick Steam Buns are so cute! I saw a lady filling her cart with these...they really do make a lovely gift. I walked out with a bag of matcha green tea and a box of the Harijuku Mochi Chocolates The matcha green tea is very good --I really look forward to having a cup or two during the day. The Harijuku Mochi Chocolates were a nice treat. They are the perfect after-dinner treat accompanied with a little red wine. I'll have to buy these again when I come back. Make gift shopping easy or pick up something special for yourself at Nippon-Ya. Very fun shop! Gonna make some tea now.

Liz N.

Yelp

My son n I love the chocolate and strawberry harajuku mochi's from here. They're soft and chewy little bites of heaven! One box has 16 mochi's each one is a little bit bigger than a quarter. $9 a box no tax...

Venus L.

Yelp

This place is surrounded by beautiful boxes of mochi! I mean, how could I have missed this place all these years!? I had bought a box of Harajuku mochi Sakura flavored and while the packaging and the inside were both beautiful and breath taking, they were not that good. On a scale of 1 - 10, it ranked a 6. Service here was alright. Not much interaction. Just scan, pay, and leave. You can go on to the Japantown website and print a 10% coupon for Nippon-Ya if you want to save a little cash. If you want yummy fresh mochi, I suggest you head over to Benkyodo across the street.

@atlasobscura

4,908 Postcards · 2,019 Cities

Benkyodo – San Francisco, California - Gastro Obscura

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/benkyodo-japanese-confectionery-san-francisco

Nippon-Ya

Daniel C

Google

Nixon C.

Google

Wang W.

Google

David L.

Google

Crystal C.

Google

Jonathan C.

Google

Strawberry mochi was pretty good and only cost ~$11 for a box.

AJ C.

Google

Patrick R.

Google

May A.

Yelp

Ann T.

Yelp

Daisy G.

Yelp

Jenny T.

Yelp

Sherri W.

Yelp

Kortney S.

Yelp

Very cute store. Well organized and the cleanest spot In the mall. We purchased the cracker coated cashew a spicy and a not spicy flavor. We also got some hard candies . The owner was very kind.

Sydney J.

Yelp

Fancypants X.

Yelp

Juliet T.

Yelp

Lera L.

Yelp

Nancy L.

Yelp

Tried to get some strawberry chocolate mochi but they were closed. Today we got 5 boxes for friends. It melts in your mouth. Love the flavor too.

Ishita R.

Yelp

Altaïr I.

Yelp

I've been coming here for years so I figured it's time to give my review. Basically 5/5 they have an amazing selection of mochi.

Helen T.

Yelp

S.K. Y.

Yelp

Kimberly J.

Yelp

Wendy H.

Yelp

Sue S.

Yelp

Elizabeth A.

Yelp

This store is OPEN. They did close for a few days earlier in the year and their hours are now very limited. 1130am-4pm the cashier said. She didn't even know they were marked as closed on Yelp.

Eva M.

Yelp

Deanna Y.

Yelp

Ellie O.

Yelp

Janet S.

Yelp

Clyde F.

Yelp

Great treats. Very friendly staff. Will go back there whenever we are in the area. Worth the time.

Mel Q.

Yelp

Anita N.

Yelp

Mark W.

Yelp

Inexpensive, delicious and beautifully boxed mochi and candies from Japan. Purchased 5 boxes and received a complimentary box.

Alice X.

Yelp

Joy U.

Yelp

Roxanne C.

Yelp

Place is closed on Monday, 11/22, at 5:30, even though hours say it is open. Not happy bc we made a trip over for delicious pastries for an event.

Jennifer L.

Yelp

Debbie W.

Yelp

Nippon-Ya kindly gave every ZSFGH laboratory worker a box of delicious mochi. Generous and thoughtful during a tough time. Thank you.

Miriam T.

Yelp

Ange G.

Yelp

I appreciate Nippon-ya for being so generous and giving during this pandemic time. They gave our lab department personal mochi boxes! I definitely want to plan a visit at their store in the future.

Pawares P.

Yelp

Stephanie L.

Yelp

Jasper D.

Yelp

It was great. Walk past 30 Dec 2021. Was locked up and shelves mostly empty. Prob closed down. Where to get boxes of mochi now. Sad.

G Y.

Yelp

Daniel B.

Yelp

Shanon Y.

Yelp

Melinda Y.

Yelp

Yen D.

Yelp

Mel T.

Yelp

Catherine W.

Yelp

Megan F.

Yelp

Karen W.

Yelp

Mimi T.

Yelp

Nicole D.

Yelp

Liz N.

Yelp

Venus L.

Yelp

Nippon-Ya

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Benkyodo – San Francisco, California - Gastro Obscura

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Benkyodo – San Francisco, California - Gastro Obscura