12 MUST TRY ‘KAWAII’ SWEET TREATS IN JAPAN
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YOUR JAPAN TRIP IS NOT COMPLETE WITHOUT TRYING THESE SWEET TREATS!
Japan Travel Resources
Accommodation: Find your perfect hotel in Japan! One of our favourites was this Traditional Japanese Ryokan Hostel in Matsumoto. During our time in Tokyo we stayed at a Hotel staffed by DINOSAURS near Tokyo Disney, a perfectly situated hotel in Asakusa, and a great hotel in the technology district of Ikebukuro!
Flights: Find CHEAP FLIGHTS to Japan!
Activities: Klook has ALL of the BEST activities you can do in Japan, from Mario-karting around the streets of Tokyo, to learning how to become a Sumo Wrestler! Use our code GOFORLAUNCHKLOOK to get discounts off your tickets!
Transport: Book your Shinkansen tickets ahead of time to allow stress-free ULTRA FAST travel around Japan!
Japan is a food lover’s paradise, and for those who love all things cute, kawaii foods in Japan are a MUST TRY! These colourful and whimsical dishes range from animal-shaped sweets to vibrant desserts that are as fun to look at as they are to eat. Whether you're in Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka, there’s no shortage of adorable foods that will make your Instagram feed pop! Let’s explore some of the most popular and Instagram-worthy kawaii foods you can find during your travels in Japan.
The cutest little hedgehog crepe we’ve ever seen!
ANIMAL CREPE
Location: Asakusa, Tokyo
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pTETye8rBdw5ZSrh9
Trust us, you can not get more ‘kawaii’ than this!
At Cota & Bread you can choose a crepe with whipped cream, or a tub of ice cream, that arrives as a cute little animal.
Animals on offer include a hedgehog, bear, rabbit, panda… SO. CUTE.
But beware, you might leave feeling like a monster! Hidden inside the dessert is the cute little animal’s heart… (it’s just a strawberry but it still hurt my soul!)
Like a lot of sweet treats in Japan, this is a real sugar overload, so we’d recommend picking it up almost as a main-meal replacement rather than an after-meal dessert!
Let us know what kawaii animal you choose! Send a pic to our instagram @goforlaunchvideos
3D coffee foam art from Cafe Reissue in Tokyo
2. 3D coffee art (CAFE REISSUE)
Location: Harajuku, Tokyo
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/4iFzsbgg2RPEX4dN8
Keeping on theme with cute animals, we’re heading to Harajuku in Tokyo to Cafe Reissue. Here you can request custom 2D or 3D foam art to top off your beverage! And you can get as creative as you like!
Having been away from home for over 6 months, of course Rosh had to get our Dog Ted’s face on hers! Being in the birthplace of Pokemon and Eevee-obsessed, Stace opted for an Eevee on hers!
They also serve typical cafe food options here, but almost everyone comes for the coffee art!
Each foam artist has their own little business card-type thing that the waitress brings over to you with your drink, so you can get to know a little bit more about the talented barista!
Want discounts off activities in Japan? Use our code GOFORLAUNCHKLOOK for some sweet discounts! Check out some of the activities available here
Taiyaki from the famous Frog Street in Matsumoto
3. Taiyaki
Location: Nawate St, Matsumoto
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hLKgRYR3bUJn9j3p7
Taiyaki is a traditional Japanese street food that’s been around for hundreds of years! Crispy on the outside, but warm and moist on the inside, this fish-shaped waffle-type cake is 100% worth trying.
The best part about this snack is that you can tailor it to suit whatever you are craving - whether that be sweet or savoury!
Because we have a (or multiple!) sweet tooths, we tried custard as the filling. Having tried so many sweet treats during our travels across Japan, this definitely wasn’t as sweet as we expected it to be, but it was still delicious!
If you’re looking for something that’s even less sweet, the red bean paste filling is a great option!
Other filling options include chocolate, cheese, or even sweet potato!
Taiyaki is available all over the place in Japan, you’ll be sure to see it in train stations, on popular touristy streets, and even pre-packaged in stores!
We tried Taiyaki for the first time during our time in Matsumoto. Speaking of Matsumoto, we spend a few days in this beautiful town in the mountains and LOVED it! We even got to visit the traditional village of Narai. You can check out what we got up to here.
The day daifuku changed Rosh’s life
4. DAIFUKU
Location: Pretty much anywhere in Japan, but we got ours in Asakusa, Tokyo
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/9LSxep6THgm95sZA9
Whilst it may not be as kawaii as the other sweet treats, its presentation is still pretty darn cute and we couldn’t leave it off this list because it was SO DELICIOUS.
What exactly is it? Think mochi-esque with lots of filling (like a donut would have). In our experience, daifuku is a bit more chewy in texture than mochi, and often sweeter.
During our time we tried two different fillings inside our daifuku - red bean paste, and custard. BY FAR our favourite was the custard filling because (in case you haven’t noticed) we really like sweet stuff!
BUT if you’re looking for something less sweet, the daifuku with red bean paste is a great option.
Side note, our hotel in Tokyo was staffed BY ROBOTIC DINOSAURS. You can check it out here!
Fried sandwiches… only in Japan, am I right?
5. fried sandwiches (Age.3 GINZA)
Location: Ginza, Tokyo
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Kj34Mv1xX3Q2p4qa8
If you’re looking for the viral deep-fried Japanese sandwiches, then look no further than Age.3 Ginza! It’s as though Captain America visited and screamed “INSTAGRAMMERS… ASSEMBLE!” But trust us, the hype is real.
Age.3 Ginza offer both sweet and savoury options. We shared the creme brûlée sandwich which was as sweet as it sounds! We really wanted to try the egg sandwich too as we’ve been told it’s delicious, but ended up too full after the creme brûlée one! So take it from us, order savoury first and then sweet!
*HOT TIP* They offer a free whipped cream sandwich if you leave a google review!
Before Stace almost impaled herself while trying the best Japanese strawberries in tanghulu!
6. TANGHULU
Location: Strawberry Mania, Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, Osaka
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/MR864LNX1wissNCt8
Japan is known to have some of the best strawberries in the entire world, so of course we had to get tanghulu.
It’s essentially strawberries coated in candied sugar on a stick - what’s not to like?!
Whilst it’s technically not Japanese (it actually originated in China!), we couldn’t resist those juicy looking strawberries! It’s a great street food snack option.
We got our first tanghulu from Strawberry Mania in Osaka, but you’ll find tanghulu available from loads of places in Dotonbori!
The jiggly rabbit pudding
Delicious frozen s’more in Osaka, Japan
7. Jiggly rabbit pudding
Location: Hello! Donuts 鶴橋店
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/kVV8sMoARJcuXkrE6
They come in multiple flavours but we went with the basic milk pudding flavour! It’s super sweet so we definitely recommend sharing between 2 people. The texture can become quite sickening so we highly recommend sharing. Our best description? It’s kind of like flan. Or a snack pack! But obviously way cuter.
8. FROZEN S’MORE
Location: Dotonbori, Osaka
Link: we can’t find it, sorry!
If you’re anything like us, it might take a little while to wrap your head around it… how can a s’more be frozen if the whole s’more appeal involves melting chocolate and marshmallow over a fire?! Allow me to explain…
First you choose your ice cream flavour (when we visited we had the options of chocolate or vanilla). This will be a cube of ice cream that they cover with a marshmallow coat. And then, they toast it right in front of your eyes, giving you… the frozen s’more!
It’s a fun unique treat that’s a great little snack to break up your walking in Osaka.
We’re sorry that we can’t find the exact location, we stumbled across this on a walk from Dotonbori to Nipponbashi. Good luck on your search and let us know if you find it!
9. harajuku crepe
Location: Takeshita St, Harajuku, Tokyo
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SditcaLvp4nvDaSq6
When visiting Japan, we have one rule.
Jokes, we actually have a lot of rules.
But ONE of our rules is that you can NOT visit Tokyo without getting a crepe from Takeshita Sweet.
You’ll find multiple crepe shops on this famous walking strip known for its fashion, culture and gatchapon shops.
With so many different filling options (both savory and sweet options) you might feel a little overwhelmed. We usually go simple, with a strawberry and cream crepe (because Japan has the best strawberries, remember?), and it never disappoints.
Mitarashi Dango is a MUST TRY when visiting Japan!
10. Mitarashi Dango
Location: Shinsaibashi, Osaka
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6dby9vA4a9WzNJdBA
If you’re looking for something totally unique, mitarashi dango is an absolute must-eat during your trip to Japan. We have never had anything like it! It’s difficult to describe, but I’ll give it my best…
It’s like doughy pancake balls coated in a sweet soy sauce drizzle… *drools*
A more technical description would be Japanese rice dumplings.
It tastes both sweet AND savoury at the same time!
There are plenty of locations where you’ll find Mitarashi Dango. We picked up ours during our self-made Osaka street food tour (check out the video here:) in the streets of Shinsaibashi. The rice dumplings are skewered on a stick, making them a super easy to eat treat to break up your shopping!
11. Fluffy Pancakes
Location: Micasadeco & Cafe Kyoto, Japan
Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/pUWqXNeibEiAngfL8
As fluffy as clouds, as light as a feather. No matter how hard Rosh tries to recreate these pancakes at home, they never live up to the ones you find in Japan.
These fluffy Soufflé pancakes are bouncy tall delights. Whilst we’ve heard that Tokyo is sometimes referred to as the ‘Pancake capital of the world’, we enjoyed these in Kyoto on a rainy morning. The airy pancakes really lifted our mood! If you’re not a fan of egg then these might not be for you, as they can sometimes have quite an eggy taste.
Micasadeco & Cafe Kyoto offer a range of different style and flavoured pancakes. Rosh ordered the cheesecake soufflé pancakes and Stace went ultra basic with classic flat pancakes and syrup (they cater for everyone!)
*Beware* This place is extremely popular. We waited in a line outside the store before it was even open, so we definitely recommend scheduling your pancake-ing in and arriving early! Enjoy!
12. PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING FROM TOKYO DISNEY
Green alien mochi = MOST KAWAII THING ON EARTH
We’ve saved the best for last!
Mickey shaped icy-poles, Mickey shaped waffles… Mickey shaped CHICKEN NUGGETS.
Honestly, if you’re looking for the cutest food in Japan, you’ll find it at the Tokyo Disney Parks!
Some of our unmissable food snacks in Tokyo disney include the green alien mochi (filled with either strawberry, chocolate or plain custard), Stace’s favourite tropical Minnie icy pole (it really hits the spot in Japan’s summer!), and the totally unique flavours of popcorn!
The Tokyo Disney Parks are some of, if not THE, Best Disney Parks on Earth! The rides, the merch, the culture, THE FOOD. You are guaranteed to have an unforgettable day.
We always purchase our Tokyo Disney tickets through the Klook app. It’s super easy as there’s no language barrier and we can pay with our regular cards.
Location: Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea
Link to tickets: CLICK HERE
we hope you enjoy all the sweet treats in japan!
Before you go, check out some of our FAVOURITE moments from Japan down below!
