Tsuruya Yoshinobu has been making wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) for the imperial household since 1803, and its main shop sits on the south side of the Imperial Palace garden. The confections -- seasonal namagashi in soft mochi, yokan, and higashi dry sweets -- are designed as tea ceremony accompaniments and change with the month.
The ground-floor cafe sells individual sweets with matcha tea in a quiet room overlooking the garden. The purchase counter stocks gift-boxed seasonal sets; the quality difference between Tsuruya and department-store wagashi is immediately apparent.