K. Minamoto

About K. Minamoto

K. Minamoto is the American storefront name of Minamoto Kitchoan, a Japanese confectioner known for wagashi. Wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets made from ingredients such as rice, sugar, sweet bean paste and fruit. They are often shaped and colored to reflect the season. The Palo Alto shop is inside Stanford Shopping Center and is one of a small number of K. Minamoto stores in the United States.

The company's flagship is in Tokyo's Ginza district, where the ground floor sells confections and the upper floors hold a cafe restaurant. In the US, its location list includes stores on Fifth Avenue in New York, in Edgewater, New Jersey, at Westfield Century City in Los Angeles and at two Honolulu malls. Abroad it lists shops in London, Taipei, Singapore, Hong Kong and Ho Chi Minh City. For Bay Area shoppers, the Stanford store is the one to know.

One detail sets this brand apart from most sweet shops in town. K. Minamoto says all of its products are made in its own factories in Japan and then shipped to its stores around the world. The company also started its own farm in 2013 to grow Muscat of Alexandria grapes for what it calls its number one best seller in Japan, although that sweet is not sold in its US stores.

What you can buy

The brand's signature style is what it calls the Natural Series. These are confections built around a single fruit and shaped to look as close as possible to the real thing. Examples on its site include a dried persimmon filled with sweet white bean paste and a whole chestnut wrapped in chestnut flavored bean paste and soft rice cake. The fruit changes with the season, so the selection in winter will not match the one in summer.

The online shop groups the range into mochi, matcha, jelly, pastries and cakes, assortment boxes and gifts. It also flags vegan and gluten-free items, which is useful if you are shopping for someone with dietary limits. A separate section lists products sold in stores only, so the Stanford shop may carry things you cannot order online. Check labels in the store if allergies matter, since bean paste, wheat and nuts appear in many traditional sweets.

If you are new to wagashi, a mixed assortment box is an easy way to try several styles at once.

Gifts and seasonal boxes

Gift giving is a big part of this business. K. Minamoto packages many of its sweets in boxes meant to be given. Its online store also has a separate gifts section. Its 2026 holiday line includes gift boxes in several sizes sold by pre-order, with delivery windows in mid December. A fall collection runs before that.

The company also notes that its confectionery artists create decorative sweets that depict the seasons and nature. These pieces trace back to sweets made for the women's quarters of castles during Japan's Edo era. They are edible, made from sugar, white bean and rice, but most people buy them to look at as much as to eat.

Ordering and delivery

You can shop in person at Stanford Shopping Center or order from the company's US online store, which ships within the United States, excluding Hawaii. The location page for the Stanford store also links to Uber Eats and DoorDash for local delivery. For a specific gift or a large order, call the shop at 650-328-1830 to ask what is in stock.

Tips for visiting

Stanford Shopping Center has free parking in surface lots around the outdoor mall. The store does not post its hours on the company site, so call ahead if you are making a special trip. Fresh wagashi have a short shelf life, so ask staff how long an item keeps before you buy it for a party later in the week.

The shop pairs well with a broader afternoon at the center. Our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers parking and the layout. For more sweets around town, see our bakeries and desserts guide and our page on Japanese food in Palo Alto.

Location and getting there

K. Minamoto is at 180 El Camino Real, Suite 1160 (Stanford Shopping Center), Palo Alto, CA 94304, in the Stanford Shopping Center area of Palo Alto. Our Stanford Shopping Center guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away. That is roughly a 7 minute walk.

Parking: the center's own free surface lots.

What is nearby

• Jenni Kayne, store, under 0.1 mi
• rororiri, shop, under 0.1 mi
• Anthropologie, store, under 0.1 mi
• Tender Greens, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
• True Food Kitchen, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Stanford Shopping Center, under 0.1 mi
• El Camino Park, 0.2 mi
• El Palo Alto, 0.3 mi

Other bakeries, ice cream and sweets nearby: Bacio di Latte (under 0.1 mi); Pinkberry (under 0.1 mi); Läderach (under 0.1 mi); La Baguette (under 0.1 mi). Browse the full bakeries, ice cream and sweets list.

Before you go

• Popular items can sell out by early afternoon, especially on weekends. Go early for the best choice.
• Many bakeries take orders for cakes and large quantities. Allow a few days' notice for special orders.
• Seating is often limited, so plan to take treats to a nearby park if the shop is busy.

About this listing

Checked October 30, 2026 against K. Minamoto: Locations; K. Minamoto: About; K. Minamoto US online store. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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