Mochi Making & Matcha Experience in Asakusa

 

ASAKUSA MOCHIYA HANBEI（浅草餅屋半兵衛）

Did you know you can experience authentic mochi making right in Asakusa?

Opened in July this year, MOCHIYA HANBEI offers a unique space where you can enjoy both Japanese culture and art.

The first floor is for mochi making, the second floor features a café and gallery, the third floor offers calligraphy and tea ceremony experiences, and the fourth floor is a sake bar.

The friendly staff also speak English, so don’t worry if you don’t speak Japanese!

This time, I’ll introduce two experiences that are perfect for first-timers and international visitors — mochi making and easy matcha experience! 

You can enjoy a café and art gallery on the second floor.

Mochi Making Experience

10-Tsuki (pound) Challenge Course

At MOCHIYA HANBEI, anyone can try the “10-Tsuki Challenge Course”, a fun and casual mochi making experience.
No reservation is required—just walk in and join!
For 1,000 yen per person, you can pound the mochi 10 times and enjoy a freshly made kinako mochi.

It’s open to everyone, from kids to adults, and solo visitors are welcome too. (For groups of seven or more, please contact MOCHIYA HANBEI in advance.)

It’s also super photogenic!
Ask the staff, and they’ll lend you a yukata（浴衣）or haori（羽織）for free so you can enjoy the experience in traditional Japanese attire.
The whole activity takes only about 5 minutes, making it a perfect stop during your sightseeing in Asakusa!

Incredibly stretchy freshly pounded mochi!

MOCHI MASTER COURSE

For those who want to enjoy a more authentic mochi-making experience, MOCHIYA HANBEI offers the ultimate “MOCHI MASTER COURSE”!

In this course, you’ll pound rice using a traditional stone mortar and wooden mallet.
Since the rice needs to be steamed beforehand, reservations are required at least one day in advance (available through the official website).

The fee is ¥5,500 per person, and you can choose from around ten different flavors to enjoy and compare.

The mochi making itself takes about 20–30 minutes, and including tasting time, the entire experience lasts roughly one hour.

Mangetsu Mochi

Matcha, kinako, caramel nuts, and fried mochi with grated daikon

At MOCHIYA HANBEI, the mochi is made from Mangetsu Mochi, a rice of royal heritage.
This special glutinous rice is known for being planted every year by His Majesty the Emperor in the Imperial Palace rice fields. It’s regarded as one of the finest varieties of mochi rice, featuring a silky texture, rich flavor, and a subtle sweetness. Be sure to try it and experience its elegant taste.

Easy Matcha Experience

At MOCHIYA HANBEI, you can enjoy not only mochi making but also an Easy Matcha Experience. 🍵

It’s perfect for those who have never whisked matcha before or aren’t familiar with Japanese tea ceremony etiquette.

The friendly staff will kindly guide you through the process, so even beginners can enjoy it with ease. The experience costs ¥1,000 per person and no reservation is required.

Steps

➀Add around two scoops of matcha powder into your tea bowl.

②Smooth the surface in the tea bowl.

③Pour in some hot water (be careful not to add too much).

④Use the bamboo whisk (Chasen) and move it quickly back and forth, 

touching the bottom of the bowl.

⑤Once it’s nice and frothy, it’s ready!

For those who wish to experience a more traditional tea ceremony, a session is available in the tea room on the 3rd floor. You’ll learn about the basics of the tea ceremony, its utensils, and the tea room, and then whisk your own matcha.

The instructor will kindly guide you, so even beginners can enjoy it with ease.

The experience also comes with a set of tea utensils, including a tea bowl and whisk, so you can enjoy tea ceremony at home.

Reservations are required, and booking about three days in advance is recommended.

On chilly days, enjoy a warm bowl of Oshiruko (sweet red bean soup with mochi) along with your matcha.

Would you like to try it yourself?
At MOCHIYA HANBEI, located in the heart of Asakusa, you can easily enjoy authentic Japanese cultural experiences.
Each activity is sure to make your visit to Asakusa even more memorable.
You can also try calligraphy or visit the sake bar at HANBEI, so if you’re interested, be sure to check out their official website!

The bright and friendly staff will welcome you, and you’ll find yourself smiling before you know it! 

*All photos were taken with HANBEI’s kind permission.

Basic Information

🏠 Name: ASAKUSA MOCHIYA HANBEI
📍 Address: 1-15-3 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
🚶‍♂️ Access: 4 minutes on foot from Kaminarimon / 3 minutes from TX Asakusa Station
🕘 Hours: 9:00–17:00 (13:00–20:00 during summer)
💤 Closed: Wednesdays
💴 Payment: Credit cards accepted

If you want to see more delicious food in Asakusa, be sure to check out my Instagram too📸✨

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