下呂市・萩原町の和菓子処「かつぶん」──旅の余韻を包む、昔ながらの甘味

下呂といえば温泉。湯上がりの火照りと、山あいの澄んだ空気。その“余韻”をもう少しだけ持ち帰りたくなったら、和菓子という選択肢がしっくりきます。岐阜県下呂市萩原町にある「かつぶん」は、派手さよりも、手の届くところにある確かな技で、旅人にも地元の人にも愛されてきた和菓子屋さんです。昔ながらの製法で、すべて手作業。昭和初期の開業から三代目へと受け継がれてきた──そんな言葉だけで、店の空気が想像できるはずです。

“季節で通いたくなる”のが、かつぶんらしさ

かつぶんの魅力は、季節がそのままショーケースに並ぶところ。春の「あねかえし」、夏の「梅のつゆ」、秋の「栗きんとん」、冬の「ゆず菓子」と、四季ごとの和菓子が人気だと紹介されています。
同じ土地に暮らしていると、季節は少しずつ“当たり前”になっていきます。でも旅先だと、桜の色や川風の匂いが、急に輪郭を持って迫ってくる。そういう感覚を、甘味が上手に受け止めてくれるんですよね。今日の気温、空の高さ、湯上がりの体の軽さ──その全部と相性のいい和菓子が見つかる店、というのは意外と貴重です。

名物「あねかえし」は、タイミング勝負の“ごほうび”

かつぶんの代名詞として挙げられているのが「あねかえし」。
口コミでは、春の限られた時期に登場する季節菓子として触れられており、事前予約で購入できたこと、そして休日の昼前には売り切れが出るほど人気だった、という声もあります。
こういう“期間・数量のゆらぎ”があるのも、手作業で作る店らしさ。確実に狙うなら、旅程の早い段階で立ち寄る／可能なら予約や取り置きの相談をする、という動き方が安心です（特に繁忙期）。

味わいの想像を少しだけ。よもぎの香りって、強いのに清々しい。口に入れた瞬間の青さが、湯上がりの体にすっと入ってきて、甘さがあとを引かない。旅先で食べる季節菓子は、景色の記憶と一緒に脳内保存されるから不思議です。

地元の物語をかたちにした最中「おすわさま」

もうひとつ注目したいのが、諏訪神社ゆかりの菓子として紹介されている「おすわさま」。獅子をかたどった最中で、香ばしい皮に餡と大きな餅が入り、食べ応えがある──とされています。
“神社ゆかりのお菓子”は、その土地の時間の積み重ねがギュッと凝縮された存在。観光の思い出としても、手土産としても、言葉を添えやすいのがいいところです。「これ、地元の諏訪神社にちなんだお菓子なんだって」と一言つけるだけで、箱の中に小さな旅が生まれます。

立ち寄り方のコツ：温泉街だけで終わらせない

下呂温泉の中心部を歩くのも楽しいけれど、少し視野を広げると“暮らしの町”が見えてきます。かつぶんがある萩原町は、JR高山線「萩原」駅から徒歩7分と案内されています。
温泉街でのんびりした翌日、チェックアウト後に寄り道して、家に着くころにちょうどいいおやつを買う。あるいは、旅の最初に寄って「帰りに食べる分」も確保しておく。どちらもおすすめです。

そして、和菓子のいいところは“温度管理が旅向き”なことが多い点（もちろん商品によります）。車内で香りが立ちすぎない、荷物の中で形が崩れにくい、コーヒーでもお茶でも受け止める懐の深さがある。帰宅後にお湯を沸かす時間まで含めて、旅の続きになります。

店舗情報（訪問前のメモ）

• 店名：かつぶん
• 住所：岐阜県下呂市萩原町萩原1282-11
• TEL：0576-52-1076
• 営業時間：8:30～19:00
• 定休日：日曜日
• アクセス：JR高山線「萩原」駅より徒歩7分
• イートイン：不可

温泉の記憶は、帰宅すると少しずつ薄れていきます。でも、和菓子は最後まで残る。最後のひと口で、景色がふっと戻ってくる。下呂を訪れるなら、湯と一緒に“甘い余韻”も、ぜひ連れて帰ってみてください。

Katsubun in Gero, Gifu — Traditional Wagashi That Lets Your Trip Linger a Little Longer

Gero is synonymous with hot springs. After a soak, your body feels lighter, your cheeks are warm, and the mountain air seems unusually crisp. In moments like that, you often want to take a little piece of the experience home—not as a souvenir you’ll tuck away, but as something you’ll actually enjoy.

That’s where wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) fit perfectly.

In Hagiwara Town, part of Gero City in Gifu Prefecture, there’s a small, well-loved wagashi shop called Katsubun. It isn’t flashy. You won’t find trendy packaging designed for social media. Instead, Katsubun has something far more enduring: careful craftsmanship, seasonal sensibility, and the kind of steady reliability that makes locals return again and again—and travelers feel like they’ve discovered a true slice of everyday Japan.

According to local introductions, Katsubun has been making wagashi by hand and passing its techniques down through generations, with roots going back to the early Shōwa era. The emphasis is simple: traditional methods, handmade sweets, and a strong connection to the seasons.

A Shop Where the Seasons Are Displayed in the Showcase

One of the best ways to understand Katsubun is to imagine its display case as a small calendar. The shop is known for offering seasonal sweets such as:

• Anekeshi in spring
• Ume no Tsuyu in summer
• Kuri Kinton in autumn
• Yuzu-gashi in winter

This “season-first” approach is very wagashi—because wagashi isn’t only about sweetness. It’s about timing. It’s about fleetingness. It’s about noticing what’s changing in the air and on the hillsides, and letting that awareness shape what you eat.

If you live in one place, seasons can become background noise. But when you’re traveling, the shift in temperature, the scent of trees, the color of the sky—everything feels sharper. A good seasonal sweet meets you exactly there, and gently holds that moment.

The Signature Sweet: “Anekeshi” — A Seasonal Reward Worth Chasing

Among Katsubun’s best-known items is Anekeshi. It’s described as a spring specialty featuring yomogi (Japanese mugwort)—a fragrance that’s earthy and bright at the same time.

What makes Anekeshi especially appealing is that it’s seasonal and limited, the kind of sweet that can sell out depending on timing and demand. Traveler reviews also mention that it may be possible to reserve it in advance, and that it can be sold out by late morning on busy days.

That sense of “you have to catch it while it’s here” is part of its charm. It reflects the reality of small-scale, handmade production—and it’s also exactly what makes a seasonal wagashi feel special. When you do get it, you’re not just eating a sweet; you’re tasting a specific window of time.

If you’re hoping to try Anekeshi, a good strategy is to stop by earlier in the day, especially on weekends or during travel seasons. If your schedule is tight, it can also be worth asking about availability or reservation options.

“Osuwasama” Monaka — A Local Story You Can Eat

Another standout is Osuwasama, a monaka (crisp wafer sandwich) connected to the local Suwa Shrine tradition. Katsubun’s Osuwasama is described as a shishi (lion) motif monaka—fragrant wafers filled with sweet bean paste, plus a large piece of mochi, giving it a satisfying, hearty bite.

Sweets tied to shrines or local folklore have a special appeal as souvenirs because they come with a built-in story. They’re easy to gift, and easy to explain:

“This is a local sweet inspired by the Suwa Shrine.”

Just that one sentence turns a simple box into a tiny extension of your journey—something your friends or family can taste while hearing about where you went.

How to Visit: Don’t Let Your Gero Trip End at the Hot Spring Streets

Many visitors spend most of their time in the central Gero Onsen area, strolling through the main streets, soaking, and sampling snacks. That’s absolutely part of the fun.

But if you widen your map just a bit, you’ll start to see Gero not only as a resort town, but as a place where people live their everyday lives. Hagiwara Town has more of that local rhythm, and visiting a shop like Katsubun can feel like stepping into the “real” Gero—quietly, naturally.

Katsubun is introduced as being about a 7-minute walk from JR Hagiwara Station on the JR Takayama Line, making it relatively easy to reach if you’re moving through the region by train.

A few enjoyable ways to work it into your trip:

• After checkout, stop by to pick up sweets for the ride home (and for later at home).
• On your first day, buy some for your evening snack and secure a small souvenir before crowds and sellouts.
• As a detour, combine it with a short walk through the more residential side of Gero.

Wagashi also travel well compared to many other souvenirs (though it depends on the specific item). Many hold their shape, don’t overpower your bag with scent, and pair beautifully with tea or coffee once you’re home. The moment you boil water and open the box a day later, the scenery can come back in a flash.

Practical Info (Quick Memo Before You Go)

Here’s the basic information commonly listed for Katsubun:

• Shop name: Katsubun
• Address: 1282-11 Hagiwara, Hagiwara-cho, Gero City, Gifu
• Phone: 0576-52-1076
• Hours: 8:30–19:00
• Closed: Sundays
• Access: About a 7-minute walk from JR Hagiwara Station (JR Takayama Line)
• Eat-in: Not available (takeout only)

A Sweet Ending That Keeps the Trip Alive

Hot springs fade from your skin faster than you’d like. Photos get buried in your camera roll. Everyday life returns.

But wagashi have a quiet power: they can preserve the feeling.

One bite, and you’re back in that mountain air. Back in that warm, softened body after the bath. Back in the gentle pace of travel. If you’re visiting Gero, consider bringing home not just a souvenir—but a sweet afterglow.