Our Story

While the exact date is unclear, Toraya is said to have been established in the early 16th century. Known as a long-time purveyor of Japanese confectionery to the Imperial Court, the oldest records date back to the time of Emperor Goyozei's reign in Kyoto from 1586 to 1611. Only businesses with great skill and societal trust spanning two, three or more generations were chosen for service to the Imperial Court, suggesting that the wagashi maker was already a well-established Kyoto business in the 1500s. Successive generations of the Kurokawa family have run Toraya since its founding.

Enchu Kurokawa is regarded as the founder of the present-day Toraya. By the 1600s, he had established a prosperous confectionery business in Kyoto. The first clearly documented reference to Toraya is a temple record from 1600, and a document dated September 15, 1635, provides a glimpse into the business at the time of Enchu's death. The latter record includes a list of 20 confectionery types Toraya served to Empress Meisho upon her visit to the palace where her father had retired.

By the late 17th century, the Toraya name had become well known among many provincial feudal lords and prominent historical figures. Sales records from 1699 show that Toraya's business was thriving. However, the Great Fire of 1788 devastated Kyoto, burning more than half of the city to the ground, including the Imperial Palace and Toraya. To overcome the crisis, 9th-generation proprietor Mitsutoshi set about reforming the business by compiling a set of rules and an "employee manual." The standards he spelled out are still broadly applicable today.

The end of the Edo Period was a time of great political upheaval in Japan. The transfer of the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo in 1869 proved a major turning point for Toraya — a long-time purveyor to the Imperial Court. After pondering whether to move to Tokyo or remain in Kyoto, Toraya decided to establish a foothold in Tokyo, continuing to serve the imperial family while maintaining its Kyoto store. After several moves, Toraya settled into its present location in Akasaka, Tokyo, in 1964.

Having survived the Great Kanto Earthquake and the turmoil of World War II, the business was incorporated as Toraya Co. Ltd. in 1948. The company established its first department store location in 1962 and rapidly expanded thereafter, opening new stores within train stations and department stores. Toraya set its sights further, aiming to introduce wagashi culture overseas with a new Paris store in 1980, followed by another in New York in 1993 (closed in 2003). The year 1973 saw the establishment of the Toraya Archives (Toraya Bunko), which catalogues and preserves a wide range of materials related to Toraya and wagashi, including historical documents and literary works.

Toraya's current proprietor is the 18th generation, and the company now has approximately 80 stores throughout Japan, mainly in Tokyo and Kyoto. While retaining the core values we have held for centuries, Toraya endeavors to build upon the traditions we have inherited and pass on an even brighter legacy to future generations.