Still wrapped in the afterglow of kabuki, I headed to Suzukake, a wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) shop beside the Hakataza. Anmitsu with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top: a quiet solo moment, savoring the lingering glow of the performance.
What kind of place is Suzukake?
Suzukake is a long-established wagashi shop born in Hakata. The main store sits just in front of the Hakataza, with a cafe called chaho attached.
Plenty of people seem to drop by after a show. It was full this time, and the waiting area was busy too. Its sweets include anmitsu, shiratama zenzai, and desserts made with seasonal fruit; there are savory dishes as well, such as Napolitan spaghetti and baked curry.
It is popular, so depending on timing you may wait a little. Cafe seats cannot be reserved, and staff call guests as seats open. There are counter and table seats, and I settled in at the counter. Even on your own, it is a calm space in which you can take your time.
Anmitsu, after all!
A quiet bowl of anmitsu with vanilla ice cream at Suzukake, right after a kabuki performance at the Hakataza.
1 item
Anmitsu + vanilla ice cream
Fresh fruit, shiratama, agar jelly, and kuromitsu on the side. Adding vanilla ice cream made the after-theater sweetness feel even more luxurious.
Closing thoughts
A bowl of sweets so close to the theater made a lovely finish to the performance. The parfait tempted me too, but I can imagine choosing the fruit-filled anmitsu again next time.
