When exploring the realm of Japanese sweets, one often encounters the familiar delights of daifuku, dango, dorayaki, mochi, taiyaki, Japanese pancakes, and melon pan, among others. These treats are abundant, readily available even at convenience stores like Lawsons, Family Mart, or 7-Eleven.
However, my little journey has led me beyond the usual suspects, uncovering hidden gems scattered across Japan. While I couldn't visit as many places as I have hoped, the ones I did discover left a lasting impression. Allow me to share a few of these delightful finds that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Amairo Café Taiyaki 鯛魚燒 [あまいろ コーヒーとたい焼き]
Address: 242 Kugikakushicho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8423, Japan
Opening hours: Wed – Fri (12:00pm – 6:30pm), Sun (12:00pm – 6:00pm), Mon, Tues and Sat (closed)
Taiyaki, deriving its name from the Japanese words "tai" (sea bream) and "yaki" (cooked/fried), is a fish-shaped dessert cooked similarly to imagawayaki, another popular treat.
The main distinction between taiyaki and imagawayaki lies in their shape; while taiyaki resembles a fish, imagawayaki is round.
In 1909, Seijiro Kanbei created taiyaki by reshaping imagawayaki to boost sales, giving birth to this beloved dessert.
At Amairo Café Taiyaki 鯛魚燒, you'll find a unique twist: round taiyaki with the traditional fish print. They offer two flavors—tsubuan (chunky sweet red bean paste) or custard—or a combination of both for the adventurous.
Located near Shijo Station, this café might be a bit tricky to find, but keep an eye out for the small chalkboard at the entrance.
Highly recommended for its freshly made taiyaki that strikes the perfect balance of sweetness, Amairo Café Taiyaki 鯛魚燒 is truly a hidden gem in Kyoto.
Nakatanidou [中谷堂]
Address: 29 Hashimotocho, Nara, 630-8217, Japan
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (10:00am – 7:00pm)
No trip to Nara is complete without savouring Nakatanidou's freshly made yomogi mochi (mugwort mochi), a local delicacy. If you're fortunate enough, you might even witness the traditional mochitsuki (mochi pounding) ceremony.
Mochitsuki, a centuries-old Japanese New Year tradition, involves pounding rice to make mochi. It's believed that consuming mochi during the New Year brings good health and fortune.
Indulging in this treat while exploring Nara adds an authentic touch to your experience.
Kaya Café Naramachi [カヤカフェ ならまち店]
Address: 25 Tsurufukuincho, Nara, 630-8393, Japan
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (11:00am – 7:00pm)
Kaya Café extends its charm to two other locations in Japan:
KAYA cafe 神戸もとまち店 (Kobe)
Kaya café (Osaka)
Stumbling upon Kaya Café on Google Maps was a stroke of luck, revealing a delightful twist on tiramisu: it's made with tofu!
Exploring their seasonal tiramisu offerings, we indulged in the Chestnut Tiramisu, generously adorned with chestnuts, and the Brown Sugar Kinako Tiramisu with Shiratama. Both showcased a light, satisfying texture with just the right sweetness, providing guilt-free indulgence.
Even tofu skeptics should give it a try; you might be pleasantly surprised by how enjoyable tofu can be, especially in tiramisu form.
P.S.: While we also tried the Omurice, it unfortunately fell short with its overly salty flavour, proving less than satisfactory.
里雀 (Sato Suzume)
Address: 4 Chome-20-18 Meieki, Nakamura Ward, Nagoya, Aichi 450-0002, Japan
Opening hours: Mon – Tues (4:30am – 12:00pm), Thurs – Sat (4:30am – 12:00pm), Wed and Sun (closed)
As the saying goes, "the early bird gets the worm," and at 里雀, you can catch the proverbial worm as early as 4:30 am!
里雀 is a Japanese sweets shop boasting an array of delectable treats, leaving me spoiled for choice. I couldn't resist purchasing whatever caught my eye. Originally intended for the train journey from Nagoya to Gotemba, these sweet delights ended up being indulged in the guesthouse we were staying at in Yamanakako.
If I find myself back in Nagoya, I'll surely return to 里雀 for more and make a point of arriving even earlier to explore all the tempting options.
Tokyo Restaurant Confectionery [東京屋製菓]
Address: 1 Chome-5-1 Tatsugaoka, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi 403-0014, Japan
Opening hours: Wednesday – Monday (9:00am – 7:00pm), Tuesday (closed)
At Tokyo-ya Seika, you'll find an extensive array of Japanese sweets at reasonable prices, all crafted in-house with local ingredients. Their monthly rotation of seasonal treats adds an extra layer of excitement to the experience.
Unable to resist, I indulged in one of each of their December seasonal sweets—they were simply too adorable to pass up. Despite their petite size, each treat boasted impeccable taste and quality.
Among our purchases were:
Fuji Monaka: featuring the iconic shape of Mount Fuji inside the monaka shell.
Fuji Dorayaki: a flawless combination of red bean and chestnut paste, achieving dorayaki perfection.
Daifuku: a classic choice, executed exceptionally well at Tokyo-ya Seika.
Fuji Mizuho Dango: surpassing all others I've tasted, this dango stole the show!
Though tempted to buy more, I exercised restraint. Every item at Tokyo-ya Seika is crafted with care and love, resulting in delicious treats that leave you wanting more.
Tokyo-ya Seika is one of those places where I wish I could indulge endlessly without consequence—it's truly a haven for sweet lovers.
葡萄屋kofu ハナテラスcafé
Address: Japan, 〒401-0305 Yamanashi, Minamitsuru District, Fujikawaguchiko, Oishi, 字前浜１４７７−１ D棟
Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs and Fri (10:00am – 4:30pm), Tues (9:00am – 5:00pm), Sat – Sun (10:00am – 5:00pm)
Nestled within Fuji Oishi Hana Terrace, this café celebrates the luscious fruits of Yamanashi Prefecture.
I couldn't resist trying their seasonal fruit parfaits, and the Strawberry Parfait stole the show with its exceptionally sweet Kannahime and Tochiaika strawberries.
Don't just take my word for it—the photos don't do it justice. Treat yourself to this delightful experience. You won't regret it.
Seijuken [清寿軒]
Address: Japan, 〒103-0012 Tokyo, Chuo City, Nihonbashihoridomecho, 1 Chome−4−16 ピーコス日本橋ビル 1F
Opening hours: Monday – Friday (9:00am – 5:00pm), Saturday – Sunday (closed)
If you're a fan of "Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman" on Netflix, you'll recognise this Tokyo gem: Seijuken.
Founded in 1861 and now in the hands of its 7th-generation owner, Seijuken is all about tradition and quality. They craft their treats from scratch using the finest ingredients, meticulously cooked to perfection.
Back in 2018, I made the rookie mistake of arriving post-lunch, only to find Seijuken completely sold out. Lesson learned: it's a "first come, first served" spot, and when they're out, they're out.
This time, I arrived 30 minutes before opening, but the caterpillar-long queue proved me wrong. After exactly an hour of mouth-watering anticipation, it was finally my turn to indulge!
The koban dorayaki was a highlight, generously packed with perfectly cooked anko. Though it doesn't seem like a well-balanced ratio for a dorayaki, this was surprisingly not the case as the anko had just the right amount of sweetness and kept me going back for more. I also grabbed a Kokura and a Kuri Monaka, freshly filled to order. The kuri monaka, with a whole chestnut inside, was amazing, I honestly regretted not buying more! Sadly, the kuri manju sold out within the first 10-15 minutes, much to my disappointment.
I bought enough dorayaki to feed a small village and packed it in my carry-on. Mid-flight to Melbourne, I realised I couldn't bring food in, so there I was, thousands of feet in the air, stuffing my face with dorayaki.
Next trip to Tokyo, Seijuken will be my first stop. Everything in that shop is calling my name!
Imo Pippi [芋ぴっぴ。浅草店]
Address: 2 Chome-3-24 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Opening hours: Monday – Sunday (11:00am – 6:00pm)
We couldn't resist a trip to Imo Pippi for their legendary sweet potato goodies—especially since our little miss is a sweet potato fanatic!
At Imo Pippi, the sweet potatoes are aged for three months and slow-baked for three hours right in the store, giving them an irresistible natural sweetness.
We indulged in the baked sweet potato with honey and butter, and the crème brûlée. These were, hands down, some of the sweetest, most delicious baked potatoes we've ever tasted!
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