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Kobikicho Square: Top 6 Kabuki Souvenirs and Food at Ginza Kabukiza Theater!

Kobikicho Square: Top 6 Kabuki Souvenirs and Food at Ginza Kabukiza Theater!

Last updated: 5 August 2020

Kabukiza in Ginza is a place where you can experience traditional Japanese performing arts. Did you know that you can enjoy Kabukiza in a variety of ways aside from seeing a play? One of these is the Kobikicho Square, a gigantic souvenir store housed on the 2nd underground floor of Kabukiza. This place has an abundance of Kabuki souvenirs and food, so you can bask in the atmosphere of Kabukiza while shopping.

You can easily visit this place since it is directly connected to the train station. In this article, we will introduce 3 popular dishes and souvenirs sold at stores in Kobikicho Square. We hope this article will guide you when shopping here.

Table of Contents
  1. 1. Izushō’s Kintsuba: A proof that you visited Kabukiza
  2. 2. Kabukiza Bakery: The newest specialty - bread freshly baked every morning
  3. 3. Kumadori Nanban Udon: Enjoy the umami of chicken and kumadori-designed bread
  4. 4. Tenugui: Find your own favorite hand towel
  5. 5. Kumadori Eco bag for Kabuki makeup
  6. 6. Kabuki Face Mask: Feel like a kabuki actor

1. Izushō’s Kintsuba: A proof that you visited Kabukiza

Kintsuba, 260 yen per piece (with tax)
Kintsuba, 260 yen per piece (with tax)

Izushō's kintsuba is one of the must-buy souvenirs in Kabukiza. This sweet is anko (red bean paste) wrapped in thin flour dough and has been sold at the main branch located in Iida City for 200 years. The anko is made from the finest azuki beans from Hokkaido which have a natural sweetness.

Izushō's kintsuba is made right in front of you, so you can eat it while still piping hot. Of course, there are also packaged kintsuba which are perfect as Kabuki souvenirs.

It seems that the name "kintsuba" is from the fact that its shape upon being formed by fingers resembles the guard of a sword.
It seems that the name "kintsuba" is from the fact that its shape upon being formed by fingers resembles the guard of a sword.

At its peak, over 600 pieces of kintsuba are sold in a day. They usually run out of this sweet by night, so be sure to drop by early. Eating a freshly cooked kintsuba was a sign that one has visited the Kabukiza, so people of the olden days bought this sweet.

The batter is thin so the taste of anko stands out.
The batter is thin so the taste of anko stands out.

2. Kabukiza Bakery: The newest specialty - bread freshly baked every morning

2. Kabukiza Bakery: The newest specialty - bread freshly baked every morning

Kabukiza Bakery's bread is becoming the new specialty of Kabukiza. It is sold for a reasonable price at 150 yen (with tax) and is available in a wide variety of flavors. The bread is baked every morning at the bakery in the Kobikicho Square. All of the varieties are fluffy and have a delicious taste.

They also sell a unique bread decorated with the pattern of kumadori, or kabuki makeup. Aside from the kumadori bread and kumadori Ogura anpan sold for 170 yen (with tax), another popular bread is the salted butter bread, which features a crunchy texture and buttery flavor sold for 150 yen. We recommend this if you are feeling a little hungry.

Kumadori koshianpan designed with a kumadori seal sells for 170 yen (with tax)
Kumadori koshianpan designed with a kumadori seal sells for 170 yen (with tax)

3. Kumadori Nanban Udon: Enjoy the umami of chicken and kumadori-designed bread

Kumadori Nanban Udon (with mini sweets) for 700 yen (with tax)
Kumadori Nanban Udon (with mini sweets) for 700 yen (with tax)

A popular dish in Kabukichaya, where you can enjoy light meals and sweets, is the Kumadori Nanban Udon. The charcoal-grilled fragrant chicken goes really well with green onions! The soup packed with chicken umami is rich-tasting but is actually light.

This dish is also fun to look at because it is topped with a glutinous bread bearing a kumadori pattern. Kabukichaya is a great place to rest if you feel tired of shopping because it has Japanese sweets like matcha and zenzai or soft-bean jam.

Next, we will introduce 3 popular Kabuki souvenirs among foreign tourists in Kobiki Town. This list is filled with items for yourself and for souvenirs.

4. Tenugui: Find your own favorite hand towel

At the leftmost side is the Kumadori 5-kind Hand Towel adorned with various kumadori patterns and sold for 1,400 yen (with tax)
At the leftmost side is the Kumadori 5-kind Hand Towel adorned with various kumadori patterns and sold for 1,400 yen (with tax)

Kobikicho Square is known for its wide variety of thin hand towels made from cotton and linen. These can be used as towels and placemats. You can choose anything from towels with colorful designs or towels that look like paintings.

Patterns unique to Japan like kumadori, maiko or sakura flowers are popular. You can also turn it into an artwork by placing the towel in a special frame. Its thinness and small size make it a great souvenir. This is a practical item that can also be used as a regular towel.

5. Kumadori Eco bag for Kabuki makeup

Kabuki Eco bag for 1,300 yen (with tax)
Kabuki Eco bag for 1,300 yen (with tax)

Eco tote bags used in everyday life are also popular in Kabukiza. You can choose between white, brown and deep blue, but the latter color is the most popular among the three.

Kabukiza is promoting eco-projects and the use of plastic straws is prohibited in Kobikicho Square. They are also reducing the amount of plastic used in the packaging and containers of bento or boxed lunches. If you shop using this Eco bag, you will receive a 50-yen cash back from the total amount of your next purchase. (This promo is only until December 30, 2019, so be sure to make use of it.)

6. Kabuki Face Mask: Feel like a kabuki actor

The kabuki face mask is sold at the Isshindō Honpo.
The kabuki face mask is sold at the Isshindō Honpo.

This is a unique face mask designed with kabuki makeup patterns. It was recognized as an official souvenir in the 42nd G7 Summit held in Japan in 2016. The makeup pattern is actually done by Kabuki actors. You can pretend to be a kabuki actor while moisturizing your skin with 3 beauty components and plant extracts.

It is sold at an affordable price of 900 yen for 2 pieces and 300 yen per piece for the children's mask. Everyone in the family will surely enjoy this Kabuki souvenir!

The products introduced in this article are only a small part of the Kobikicho Square. There are many Kabuki souvenirs and more that can only be purchased here, such as notebooks made from recycled Kabuki costumes and seasonal items. Be sure to drop by at the fun-filled Kobikicho Square even just to looking around.

Written by: Medium KK

  • GINZA KABUKIZA Kobikicho Square
    歌舞伎座 木挽町広場
    • Address Ginza 4-12-15, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
    • Nearest Station Near Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Toei Asakusa Line Higashi-ginza Station Exit 3
    • Phone Number 03-3545-6563
    • Business Hours: 9:30 am to 6:30 pm
      Holiday: Irregular

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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