Asakusa’s specialty, Dorayaki shop Kameju

Do you know “Dorayaki”?

Probably, dorayaki is known as the Doraemon’s favorite food as internationally. It looks like burgers, but actually it is more like a small pancakes with red bean paste sandwiched in between, is called as “Yummy bum” in English. There are many theories about the history and origin of dorayaki, but its current form seems to have appeared around the beginning of the Showa period (1926-). It is also one of the most popular souvenirs in Asakusa.

There are some Dorayaki shops in Asakusa area, but The GATE HOTEL Kaminarimon staff recommend Kameju’s dorayaki. Located diagonally across from the Kaminarimon gate, the store has a long line of customers waiting in line even before 10:00 a.m., when the store opens. Founded at the end of the Taisho era (1912-1926), Kameju has a history of nearly 100 years and is one of Asakusa’s long-established shops.
It is a one-minute walk from THE GATE HOTEL Kaminarimon (if you don’t wait for the traffic light) and right in front of Asakusa Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.

What is the secret of its popularity?

The charm of Kameju’s dorayaki is its volume, the carefully hand-baked crust, and the fluffy texture of the crust! Although the dorayaki is quite large in size, it is so delicious that you can finish it easily. The “black bean” made from azuki beans produced in Tokachi, Hokkaido, is a standard item, but we also recommend the gently sweet “white bean” made from tebomame beans. The price is 360 yen per dorayaki.

Dorayaki with the standard red bean paste (left) and gently sweetened white bean paste (right)

Popular items other than Dorayaki

If you unfortunately missed the dorayaki, don’t worry. In addition to dorayaki, Kameju also offers a variety of other Japanese sweets that have long been loved by the common people, such as “Matsukaze,” a brown sugar-flavored fluffy dough wrapped in red bean paste, and “monaka,” a large chestnut filled with a large amount of red bean paste. The cute candies lined up in the store are also suitable as souvenirs for children and foreigners. Kameju does not currently offer mail order services, so if you are in Asakusa, be sure to stop by.