Shuei-Do Manju Shop

217 Jackson St, San Jose, CA 95112, United States
+1 408-294-4148
$$$ Japanese confectionery shop
(309 Reviews)

Shuei-Do Manju Shop is a straightforward, no-frills Japanese confectionery spot located right in the heart of San Jose’s Japantown. Known for its traditional manju and mochi, this small shop operates primarily through a walk-up window, which gives it a casual, almost nostalgic neighborhood feel. It’s the kind of place you drop by when you want an authentic taste of Japanese sweets without the fuss of a sit-down café.

The shop caters well to folks who appreciate tradition and variety in Asian confections — with items like chi chi dango, butter mochi, and kinako manju regularly drawing local fans. Because some popular flavors tend to sell out quickly (sometimes by mid-afternoon), many customers opt to preorder online or in person to secure their favorites. Expect a limited but focused daily selection that often leans into classic flavors such as yomogi (mugwort), green tea, and peanut butter-infused mochi.

Atmospherically, Shuei-Do leans more into its cultural roots than modern styling. Its walk-up window encourages quick visits rather than lingering, which fits into the everyday rhythm of the Japantown neighborhood, often bustling on weekends or during community events. The staff’s friendly and welcoming nature adds to the experience, especially for those who might be making their first foray into Japanese sweets.

This is a spot well suited for anyone seeking a fresh, traditional mochi fix — whether you’re a longtime local who remembers Benkyodo days or a visitor curious about old-fashioned Japanese confections. Early mornings and weekdays are ideal times to visit if you want the best chance at the broader selection before popular items run out. While the store doesn’t spotlight every sold-out item in advance, keeping an eye on their Instagram can help with planning.

  • Best for: fans of handcrafted Japanese sweets and those interested in cultural food traditions
  • Atmosphere: simple, familiar, with an authentic neighborhood vibe
  • Visiting tip: preorder to guarantee rare flavors, and arrive early for the widest choice
  • Popular items: butter mochi, peanut butter mochi, yomogi manju, kinako manju
  • Location context: nestled in Japantown San Jose, tying into local heritage and community life
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

Closed

Tuesday

Closed

Wednesday

Closed

Thursday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Friday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Saturday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

309 Reviews
aq xin

24 Dec 2025

Since Benkyodo closed a while ago, I'd always wanted to find a local spot with high-quality manju and Shuei-Do does it well! I like the variety in their selection and popular items sell out quickly by the afternoon. Some of my favorites are yomogi, habutai, green tea, kinako, and their butter mochi. They take pre-orders online if you'd like to guarantee your picks, and also in-person orders. Recommend everyone to give this place a try!

Lana H

14 Dec 2025

It’s recommended to check their Instagram for updates, but even then they won’t tell you what’s out of stock each day. I feel that some of their items run out fast even in the morning, so I don’t get a chance to try the good stuff like the Chi Chi Dango. I couldn’t taste the mugwort in the Yomogi or the Matcha in the Green Tea items. The Butter Mochi and the Peanut Butter items were very good!

Wei Fan

14 Nov 2025

Old fashioned manju and mochi shop run by generations. Amazing! Not only the taste but the culture, tradition and blend of Japanese and American make every bite meaningful

Krystine L

06 Nov 2025

Delicious fresh mochi! It's a small place with a walk up window for ordering which was unexpected, but the prices are reasonable and the quality is very good. I prefer traditional mochi (habutai), but the green tea was really good too. My friend wanted the peanut butter and brown inaka, but I think the habutai is definitely better imo.

Sophia Ward

06 Nov 2025

I traveled all the way from Alaska for this mochi and it was 100% worth my time. Sweetest employees and the butter mochi is perfectly buttery, not overly sweet and has a nice semi-soft flaky topping. The strawberry dango is lightly flavored. The portions are amazing. I spent $30 for a box of 12 pieces.

A S

03 Nov 2025

Shuei-Do has always been one of my go tos for homemade mochi in the Bay Area and even more so now that Benkyodo closed down. Highly recommend the butter mochi, white bean mochis, Monaka, and if you’re curious to try other ones, kinako. They do run out on the weekends and towards the end of the day. While mochi is vegan/ gluten free, they sometimes use non gluten free and dairy ingredients.

Vivian Anne

21 Oct 2025

I pre-ordered items from Shuei-Do Manju via email. It was easy and there is a separate window to pick up pre-ordered items so you can avoid the line. I got a box of 8 items and the total was $20. By the time we got there around noon on a Saturday, there was a short line but they were sold out of all of the chichi dango and butter mochi. I am not Japanese so I'm not an expert, but I will try to do my best to describe the items we got! Peanut butter - this was my favorite item from the shop. It's mochi that is filled with peanut butter (and maybe lima bean according to the website) and coated in kinako. The mochi was so tender and chewy and it had just the right amount of peanut butter in it. Mango & strawberry chichi dango - again, the mochi itself had a wonderful texture. The flavors were quite subtle and kind of reminded me of hi-chew candies. White manju - this was like a steamed bun filled with azuki (red bean paste). The bun itself is quite thin (so not like dim sum style buns). I haven't had manju before so I enjoyed trying it. Kinako - another mochi item with great texture. I think it has a filling but I didn't notice much taste wise and it was coated in kinako powder. Brown inaka - this is similar to the white manju except the red beans were whole and it's made with brown sugar. Again, fun to try. Overall, I really enjoyed everything we got but if I were to return, I would get the peanut butter mochi. I also want to try the butter mochi and monaka on my next visit!

Tim

16 Oct 2025

Pretty solid mochis. Got a box of 4 (yomogi, green tea, peanut butter, butter mochi) for $10. Can mix and match flavors however you like. Mochis were a nice texture, the ones with red bean paste were really sweet though. I think the best ones are the butter and peanut butter, but overall their not on Japan level. Maybe the best we got here. They take contactless payments and are very efficient. It is just an order window and as soon as you pay they will hand you your order. Street parking but free residential street parking a block or 2 north

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