Andesu MATOBA

On the first floor of the Matoba Seian headquarters building along Kototoi-dori, just north of Senso-ji Temple, sits the bakery Andesu MATOBA. The parent company traces its roots back to 1924, when it was founded as an independent workshop named Hakozaki Seian in Nihonbashi. After supplying provisions to the military and enduring a temporary suspension during World War II, the business revived in 1948 in Asakusa as Matoba Seian. In 1980, the company opened this bakery on the ground floor of its headquarters as a direct showcase to share its artisanal fillings with the public.

Inside, the shelves present roughly 20 distinct varieties of anpan (sweet bean paste buns) throughout the year. Beyond classic chunky ogura and smooth koshi-an, the selection includes white bean, green pea, chestnut, pumpkin, edamame (zunda), black sesame, and seasonal specials. Backed by generations of refined manufacturing craftsmanship, each filling captures the delicate, honest flavor of the bean with balanced sweetness, packed so generously into a soft, thin dough that each bun carries an unmistakable heft in hand.

The bakery also stocks a wide selection of everyday savory buns, sandwiches, and table loaves, catering to a steady stream of locals along Kototoi-dori. It offers an accessible, delicious window into the deep culinary resilience and history of backstreet Asakusa.