Malt candy originated in the Egyptian era and became popular as a sweetener with the development of agriculture. In Japan, it was widely used in Toyama's pill-making industry by the late Edo period, and many candy shops existed in the Taisho era. However, with the advent of the Showa era, the popularity of sugar and the decline in pill-making artisans led to its decline, leaving only Shimakawa Candy Store. At this shop, you can enjoy traditional malt candy while learning about its long history.

Founded in Showa 11 (1936), the first generation, Minoru Ikeda, established the shop in its current location as a Japanese-Chinese herbal wholesaler. Shortly after the war, the shop began manufacturing and selling "Hankontan," a medicine that was popular in the Edo period. Today, the shop continues to pursue the world of Japanese-Chinese herbal medicine, focusing on traditional Japanese medicines. Here, you can learn about the history of medicine in Toyama.