Maruya

The dango displayed in the shop window have a firm, springy bite, with the simple roasted aroma of mochi coming through in every piece. The range includes classic mitsudango, browned and coated in a sweet-savoury soy glaze; sesame dango fragrant with a generous coating of black sesame; smooth red bean paste dango; and versions wrapped in seaweed. You can buy them one skewer at a time, making it easy to choose just what you fancy.

Alongside the sweets, a selection of rice dishes is another draw for regulars. The shopfront may feature old-fashioned thick sushi rolls, hand rolls and rolls such as ume-kurage, as well as sekihan (red bean rice) and okowa (sticky rice); depending on the timing, some rolls may be made to order on the spot. Seasonal mochi sweets round out the selection, including kusa mochi dusted with kinako (roasted soybean flour), kashiwamochi with smooth or chunky red bean paste, and ohagi. It is easy to find yourself choosing something for a meal as well as a treat.

Along the route to 川崎夢見ヶ崎動物公園, the shop is also a familiar stop for picking up a lunch box or a snack before a walk. It opens at 7:30 am, but popular items often sell out before the afternoon, so an earlier visit in the morning is recommended. Payment is cash only; having small change ready can make buying at the counter easier.