On your way to the Fukisarashi-Yu open-air bath, you’ll come across the quaint Sakurai Beekeeping shop, easily recognizable by its delightful bee paintings. A favorite purchase for those fresh out of the baths is their original Honey Gelato. Made with honey extracted from the blossoms of the Japanese pepper tree, native to Japan and other parts of Asia, this gelato offers a unique blend of refreshing spice and creamy sweetness, making it irresistibly tempting to revisit.
The honey from the Japanese pepper tree (Zanthoxylum piperitum) is not only a key ingredient in their renowned Honey Gelato. It also stars in the exclusive craft beer Honey Pils brewed at the nearby Takumishuku artisan center. Beyond these uses, Sakurai’s honey is making waves across the restaurant industry, thrilling gourmets with its unique flavor profile. The current owner, who took over from his father five years ago and represents the third generation, is deeply committed to preserving and nurturing this natural treasure of Izumigaya. He shares that all the honey-collecting bees are female, and the secret to a successful relationship with them is to treat them with the gentleness of a lady.
The sale of natural honey at Sakurai Beekeeping varies seasonally based on the flowers available. From April to May, the honey is primarily from renge blossoms, transitioning to mandarin from mid-May through June. From late June to October, a mix of various floral nectars known as “hundred flowers” dominates, offering a fruity honey enriched with mandarin and Japanese holly blossoms. Honey from the Japanese pepper tree is available from mid-August through the start of the new year.
The Izumigaya area has a long history of mandarin cultivation. Although some fields have recently ceased production, the Japanese pepper trees growing on these former orchard lands are contributing to the new flavors.
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The Honey Gelato and Izumigaya Honey Pils can also be purchased at the COTOCOTO STORE in Takumishuku, among other locations.
