About Torobisen Honpo Katsuta Store
"Toro Bisen Honpo" is a long-established specialty shop for okaki and senbei that has been beloved in the Ibaraki Prefecture area for many years. The shop offers a wide range of products suited for various purposes, from gifts to personal use, and its "Torohi-yaki" senbei is a popular item found in supermarkets throughout the prefecture.
The Katsuta store is located along the street and has a welcoming atmosphere. You’ll often see regular customers chatting casually with the staff. You can really feel the warmth of a shop deeply rooted in the community.
The Signature "Kagami-age"
The signature "Kagami-age" is a meticulously crafted item made by sun-drying traditionally pounded Kagami-mochi rice cakes and hand-frying them in rice oil. It is produced by skilled artisans under HACCP-based quality control, without the use of additives.
With its rugged appearance, it’s satisfying to eat, featuring a perfect balance of crisp texture and saltiness. It comes in three flavors—soy sauce, salt, and black pepper—and is available in both regular and small sizes. I’ve heard the black pepper flavor pairs well with alcohol.
Store-Exclusive "Mito Manju" and a Wide Selection
The "Mito Manju" karinto manju, sold exclusively at the Main Store (Mito Oarai), Miwa Store, Katsuta Store, and Ushiku Store, is also a popular item. It is handmade every morning and often sells out, so we recommend making a reservation if you want to ensure you get one. The well-fried dough is incredibly crispy. The smooth red bean paste inside has a refined flavor with a subtle sweetness.
Additionally, “Shimikomi Curry Sen”—rice crackers soaked in curry—is a spicy, addictive favorite.
Inside the store, you’ll find several varieties of the classic pot-style "Kagami-age" snacks, as well as value-priced items in simple packaging or pre-packaged bags, and individual pieces of okaki and rice crackers. The selection also includes sweet treats like the soft-centered "Toro Bis" sablés, as well as melt-in-your-mouth items like "Sakutto Age-sen" that are easy for even young children to enjoy.
While Torobisen Honpo’s products are available for purchase online, the store also stocks many items not sold online. When I actually visited, I was surprised by the extensive selection unique to the physical store.
Take a Relaxing Break in the Eat-In Area
The store features an eat-in area where you can enjoy complimentary coffee, tea, and ume-konbu tea. Soft sunlight streams into the seats at the back, creating a peaceful atmosphere where you can relax. It’s a welcoming space for everyone, from seniors to young children.
Perfect for gifts or personal use, the shop also offers shipping. It’s also a great spot to take a break while sightseeing. Visiting this store, you’ll understand why it’s so beloved by the locals.
A long-established rice cracker shop in Ibaraki, in business since 1950
Toro-bi Sen Honpo was founded in 1950. Based in Ibaraki PrefectureMito City, it is a long-established confectionery shop that has been beloved by the local community for over 75 years.
Our fundamental approach to product development is simple yet rigorous: “We use carefully selected ingredients, such as red beans from Hokkaido and domestically grown rice,” and “we use absolutely no additives.” The reason for our long-standing popularity lies in this commitment to ingredient selection and time-honored production methods.
Our manufacturing process is managed in accordance with HACCP standards, and our products are finished by skilled artisans who hand-fry them.
Eight stores within Ibaraki Prefecture, each with its own unique character
Torobisen Honpo operates eight stores within Ibaraki Prefecture. These include the Mito-Oarai Store (Headquarters), Miwa Store, Katsuta Store, Ushiku Store, Mito-Keisei Store, Naka Store, Tsukuba Gakuen-no-Mori Store, and the Kasumigaura Store, which opened in December 2024.
Another appealing feature is that each store offers exclusive products, such as the “Mito Manju,” which is sold only at four locations: the Katsuta Store, the Main Store (Mito-Oarai), the Miwa Store, and the Ushiku Store. When driving through Ibaraki, you can enjoy visiting each store to discover different products.
A Wide Range of Gifts for Gifting or Personal Use
Toro Bisen Honpo is a long-established shop highly regarded for its gift items. We offer a wide variety of gift products to suit any occasion, including our "luxury rice crackers, popular for gifts thanks to their elegant packaging" and "Junmai no Mori, recommended for gift-giving."
The lineup extends beyond traditional rice crackers and senbei to include items such as the semi-moist sablé "Yawaraka Cookie Torobisu," "Shirabee"—a fried rice cracker with whitebait kneaded into the dough—and "Miwa Ichichome," a set of seven types of baked goods.
The shop also operates an online store (torobisen.jp) and ships to customers nationwide. Since the store carries items not available online, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: the pleasure of visiting the shop in person and the convenience of online shopping.