Japanese confectionery– tag –

Ishikawa Prefecture is a place where the culture of eating rice cakes has been rooted since ancient times. For example, various mochi dishes such as "Aburi mochi", "Hippari mochi", "Tobitsuki mochi", and "Tochi mochi'' are eaten thr...

きびだんご Kibi dango is a traditional Japanese sweet dumpling from Okayama Prefecture, and one of the most famous wagashi souvenirs in western Japan. Small, soft, and lightly sweet, each dumpling is made from millet or glutinous rice fl...

Ningyo-yaki (人形焼) is a small, soft baked sweet from Tokyo. Each cake hides a filling of sweet red bean paste inside a fluffy sponge shell. These bite-sized treats are especially famous in Asakusa, sold warm near Senso-ji Temple. The n...

If you come to visit Asakusa, there are so many good souvenirssaminari Okoshi is a well-known specialty of Asakusa (Tokyo). In Japanese, Kaminari means "thunder". But why is it called “thunder”? Is it because it makes a crunching so...

There are hundreds of matsuri (Japanese traditional festival) all over Japan when summer comes. At matsuri, you can enjoy a lot of Japanese traditional food such as yakisoba, yakitori, ikayaki, etc. Today, we would like to introduce Kaki...

Japan's food world goes far beyond sushi and ramen. One treat that often surprises first-timers is 水羊羹 Mizu Yokan, a chilled wagashi made from adzuki beans, kanten jelly, and sugar. It looks simple. But the moment you taste it, someth...

Melon pan is a Japanese sweet bread with a crisp cookie crust and a soft, fluffy center. It usually does not taste like melon. You can find it in bakeries, convenience stores, and supermarkets across Japan. Melon pan (メロンパン) is a ba...

Akafuku mochi is a traditional Japanese sweet from Ise City, Mie Prefecture. It has soft mochi topped with smooth sweet red bean paste. Its wave-like shape represents the Isuzu River near Ise Jingu. Many travelers in Japan recognize the ...

When it comes to the cold season, a lot of Japanese will think of the sweets "zenzai" and "oshiruko". The harmony between the fragrant baked mochi and the gentle sweetness of red beans will warm your mind and body. By the way, what ...

Speaking of sweets that represent Kyoto, you can't miss Yatsuhashi. It has a very long history and is said to have been born in the second year of Genroku (1689). Then what is the story behind the birth of this sweet? Let's find out...

Nerikiri (練り切り) is a traditional Japanese wagashi (confection) made from white bean paste (shiro-an) mixed with rice flour, molded into intricate seasonal shapes such as flowers, leaves, and animals. It is one of Japan's most visuall...

If you are living in Japan, have you ever noticed that everytime when you go shopping in convenience stores or supermarket, you might come across this animation character called Garigari kun? So who is this character and why it is so pop...

In today's article, we are going to introduce one type of dessert that is very familiar in Japan. However, the interesting fact is that this dessert dish does not come from Japan. What we are talking about is Baumkuchen. Let's see what i...

Ningyo-yaki (人形焼) is a small, soft baked sweet from Tokyo. Each cake hides a filling of sweet red bean paste inside a fluffy sponge shell. These bite-sized treats are especially famous in Asakusa, sold warm near Senso-ji Temple. The n...

Chinsuko is a traditional Okinawan sweet prominent in the rich pantheon of Japanese confectioneries. While mainland Japanese sweets are often intricate, soft, and designed to pair with bitter green tea, these sweets provide a different e...

Speaking of Japanese traditional sweets (or Wagashi), you might think of Mochi, Dorayaki, Anmitsu, etc. But have you ever heard of Imo Youkan? This lesser-known delight adds a unique twist to Japan's sweet offerings. In this article, we'...

Konpeito (金平糖) is Japan's most iconic star-shaped sugar candy. This colorful Konpeito has delighted people in Japan for over 400 years. Originally a rare gift for warlords and nobility, it became one of the country's most beloved trad...

Oiri (おいり) is a traditional Japanese confection from Kagawa Prefecture consisting of small, colorful puffed rice balls with a light, melt-in-your-mouth texture. Originally given as a wedding gift symbolizing good luck, oiri is now wid...

Introduction to Taiyaki Now we have another Japanese sweet dessert that is popular worldwide as Japanese snacks and Japanese candies! Taiyaki is one of the most popular Japanese street snacks where you can see it almost everywhere in Jap...

Among wagashi (Japanese sweets), dango is one of the most popular even for Japanese people and foreigners. Since ancient time, it has been appeared and has a deep meaning in Japanese food culture. Although relating to rice, it is differe...