This 200-Year-Old Dango Shop in Tokyo Is Blowing People Away

羽二重団子 本店

“Habutaedango Honten” (referred to hereafter as “Habutae Dango”), a historic teahouse founded in 1819, has its main shop in Tokyo’s Nippori neighborhood. For over 200 years, it has been beloved by locals and visitors alike.

With such a long history dating back to the Edo period (1603–1868), the shop has appeared in the works of many Japanese literary giants, including Natsume Sōseki, Masaoka Shiki, Izumi Kyōka, and Ryōtarō Shiba.

What has made Habutae Dango so beloved for generations? Let’s explore its appeal alongside the shop’s diverse lineup of traditional wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets).

A beloved teahouse featured in classic literature

The main Habutae Dango shop is just a three-minute walk from Nippori Station, which is directly accessible from Narita Airport via the Keisei Skyliner.

With a temple right in front of the station and plenty of greenery in the area, the surroundings offer a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Habutae Dango interior

Interior of Habutae Dango

Inside the shop, you’ll find handwritten manuscripts from literary greats, documents related to the store, and displays that convey its long and storied history.

It’s a quiet space where you can truly feel the passage of time that Habutae Dango has lived through.

I Am a Cat

I Am a Cat by Natsume Soseki, in which Habutae Dango was featured

In front of the shop, there’s also a sign explaining the origin of the dango (traditional Japanese dumplings made with rice flour, often served on skewers).

Habutae Dango

The Signature “Habutae Dango” with an addictive texure

The shop’s namesake and signature dish is “Habutae Dango,” comes in two varieties: “An” (sweet bean paste) and “Yaki” (grilled).

In the café space inside the shop, you can enjoy them in any combination you like.

Habutae Dango

“羽二重団子(煎茶付),” Habutae Dango (with sencha tea) 660 JPY (tax included) for two skewers

At the store, the price of the dango includes a complimentary serving of sencha green tea.

If you would like a refill, feel free ask the staff.

Habutae Dango

Unlike typical dango made with glutinous rice, these are made with regular non-glutinous uruchi rice. The Habutae Dango uses a premium brand of rice called Haenuki, grown in Yamagata Prefecture. Rice from Yamagata’s Shōnai area is traditionally used to craft these treats.

There are only two flavor options: An, a smooth red bean paste made with Hokkaidō azuki red beans and lightly sweetened, and Yaki, grilled with a coating of pure soy sauce. Most customers opt for both, wanting to try each kind.

You can also order extra dango for 330 JPY each (tax included), choosing whichever flavor you like and as many as you’d like.

Habutae Dango

“Good dango can be made with enough effort. If others pound the rice 300 times, we pound it 600 times”—this is the philosophy that has been passed down through generations at Habutae Dango.

The thoroughly pounded dango have an unexpectedly soft and chewy texture, hard to believe they’re made from non-glutinous rice. The surface is finished with a glossy sheen as well.

Matcha

“抹茶(お薄),” Matcha (Ousu) 495 JPY (tax included)

For drinks, they also offer “Matcha (Ousu)”—ousu being an honorific term for usucha, a light matcha brew—which they make by adding hot water to powdered green tea and whisking it to incorporate air.

Each skewer typically holds four dumplings, but a popular option is the “Matcha Set” (869 JPY including tax), which includes two mini-size Habutae Dango skewers with just two dumplings each, along with a serving of matcha.

After enjoying the sweet dumplings, sipping the matcha provides a pleasant bitterness that refreshes the palate. The delicate aftertaste that lingers in your mouth seems to gently soothe the soul as well.

Time-honored Japanese sweets to savor slowly

At Habutae Dango, you can also enjoy other traditional Japanese confections.

Zenzai

“ぜんざい,” Zenzai 770 JPY (tax included)

The “Zenzai” (sweet red bean soup), made with large, flavorful red beans from Tamba city in Hyogo Prefecture, is available either hot or cold, depending on your preference.

This comforting dish features the delicious taste and refined sweetness of the red beans. A popular variation includes shirayaki—plain, grilled rice dumplings—so we highly recommend giving that a try as well.

The “Yaki Dango Shirayaki-iri,” a version of zenzai with shirayaki dumplings, is available for 957 JPY (tax included).

Yuzu drink

“ゆずドリンク,” Yuzu Drink 660 JPY (tax included)

The “Yuzu Drink,” made with Japanese yuzu citrus, is refreshingly fragrant and simply irresistible.

It’s available both hot and iced, with the iced version offered either with cold water or soda water—your choice.

The sweetness is kept subtle, so feel free to add a bit of syrup to adjust the flavor to your liking.

Take-out sweets

Take-out sweets are also available

Inside the shop, a variety of wagashi, including their signature Habutae Dango, are available for takeout.

The “Sōseki Monaka” was created in homage to Natsume Sōseki’s famous novel I Am a Cat. Shaped like a cat, this monaka (a traditional Japanese wafer sweet) is filled with “Shizuku-an,” the same smooth red bean paste used in the shop’s Habutae Dango, along with small, chewy dango pieces.

Soseki Monaka

“漱石もなか,” Soseki Monaka 405 JPY (tax included)

You assemble it yourself, allowing you to enjoy the delightful contrast between the crisp monaka wafers, the smooth sweet bean paste, and the chewy texture of the dumplings hidden inside the filling.

If you’re dining in, you can order the “Soseki Set” for just 742 JPY (tax included), which includes one grilled Habutae Dango, one Soseki Monaka, and a cup of sencha green tea.

Habutae Dango English pamphlet

Inside the shop, you’ll find English pamphlets introducing the products, so you can learn about the history of the store and “Habutae Dango” while you wait.

Just one bite is enough to understand why Habutae Dango has been beloved for over 200 years.

Located about a 20-minute walk from Ueno Park, the shop makes a perfect stop during a stroll around Ueno—why not take a little detour and pay a visit?

Information

Store name 羽二重団子 本店
Habutaedango Honten
Address 5-54-3 Higashinippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo
Access Nippori Station 3-minute walk from Nippori Station East Exit
  • JR Yamanote line(JY07)
  • JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line(JK32)
  • JR Jōban Line(JJ22)
  • Keisei Line(KS02)
  • Nippori-Toneri Liner(NT01)
Phone number 03-3891-2924
Reservations Not accepted
Payment
  • Cash
  • Credit cards(American Express・Diners・Master・JCB・VISA)
  • Transportation-related electronic money(Suica, etc.)
  • Electronic money(iD・nanaco・QUICPay・Rakuten Edy・WAON)
  • QR code payment(au PAY・d Payment・PayPay・Rakuten Pay)
Hours Mon-Fri. 9:30-16:30
Sat-Sun. & nat’l holidays 10:00-16:30
Closed No fixed holidays
Unscheduled holidays
Seating 15 seats
3 counter seats, 12 table seats
Smoking All seats are non-smoking
Official website http://www.habutae.jp/
Other information
  • Menus are available with Japanese language only
  • No allergy-friendly, vegan, vegetarian, or halal menus
  • Wheelchair-accessible
  • Take-out service available (for certain menu items only); delivery service is not available
  • Luggage storage space is available
  • Wi-Fi is not available
  • Posting of food photos and videos on customers’ personal SNS accounts is allowed
  • Separate billing is not available

※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of July 2025.