7 Too-Beautiful-to-Eat Japanese Sweets

Japanese sweets or wagashi are not only about taste but also about its appearance. It is an art form that the sweet artisans are proud of and in this article we will introduce to you some of those Japanese sweets.

1. Toraya’s Goldfish (虎屋　「金魚の上生菓子」)

Don’t be fooled. The goldfish is not a real goldfish and Japanese do not eat goldfish although the goldfish in this sweet looks as good as the real one. Well, you can get one of this at one of Japan’s famous sweet shop, Toraya. It is truly a beautiful sweet that you shouldn’t miss out on.

English site: https://www.toraya-group.co.jp/english/index.html

2. Minamoto Kitchoan’s Ryokansui　(宗家 源 吉兆庵 「涼観水」)

This Japanese sweet, Ryokansui represents the beauty of a lake in a traditional Japanese garden. One is taken into a cooling breeze just by looking at this sweet making it a perfect sweet for a hot summer.

English site: http://www.kitchoan.com/

3.Ame-agari (雨上がり)

This sweet is from the shop, Baisao that has been around since 1947 that still maintains its traditional eccentric ways like not owning a phone or distributing its goods to other places to be sold. In other words, you would have to head to their one and only store to have their famous Ame-agari sweet and it is all worth it.

Address: ３ Kasugamachi, Aoba Ward, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0821

4. Temari (創作和菓子 手毬)

Temari is the brainchild of the very talented Misonoi Yuko, Japan’s famous sweet artisan. You can tell from her sweets that she has poured her soul and heart into it through its delicate fine features. There are classes available at the store too on certain days.

Official site: http://www.temari.info/ (Japanese only)

Address: 1418, Yamanouchi, Kamakura, Kanagawa prefecture

5. Kameya Kiyonaga’s Hoshi Zuku Yoru (亀谷清永「星づく夜」)

Kameya Kiyonaga offers different sweets to match each season and one of their popular summer sweets would have to be the Hoshi Zuku Yoru, which represents the starry night in summer. This sweet is not only delectable to eat but looking at it would make you remember of past summer nights and its moon.

English site: http://eng.trip.kyoto.jp/spot/db/kameya-kiyonaga/

6. Senbontamajyuken’s Peony (千本玉寿軒 「牡丹」)

Of all the Japanese sweets out there, the peonies are probably the most famous ones and the peonies prepared by Senbontamajyuken should not be missed as even the famous temples and shrines in Kyoto like Kinkaku-ji, Daikaku-ji and Ninna-ji vouch for this sweet artisan.

Address: Senbondori, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto

7. Murasaki no Gensui’s Sakura no Ariheito (紫野源水 「桜の有平糖」)

Be prepared to have your breath taken away with this sweet that looks like precious glass. Although the technique used here is not originally from Japan but this store has mastered it so well to make this beautiful fine piece of sugar art.

Address: 78-1 Koyamanishionocho, Kita Ward, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture