Our Picks: 8 Wagashi Shops We Love in Tokyo and Kyoto
From seasonal beauty and Japanese lucky motifs. Wagashi are “works of art can eat” that beautifully capture the split of Japan. Their appeal lies in their delicate craftsmanship, refreshing clarity, and elegant packaging filled with heartfelt wishes.
In this post, we will introduce several Japanese confectionery shops where you can delight both your eyes and your palate.
5 Wagashi Spots in Tokyo We Love
Toraya
With a history spanning over 500 years, Toraya is a prestigious confectionery shop with deep roots in Japanese tradition. Their most celebrated offerings include “Yoru no Ume,” an ogura yokan (sweet bean jelly) produced since the Edo period, and “Seasonal Yokan,” which beautifully captures the essence of the four seasons.
These exquisite treats are perfect as souvenirs or gifts. The Akasaka flagship store also features an on-site tea room (Kaya), where guests can enjoy tea, wagashi, and light seasonal meals such as udon.
Shiose Sohonke
A long-established shop that created Japan’s first manju (steamed buns) and azuki bean paste, famous for its manju tradition spanning over 600 years. These sweets have long been used for celebrations and are beloved as gifts.
In the main store located in Chuo City, there is a Karesansui (dry landscape garden) where you can experience traditional Japanese beauty.
Kantan na Yume
Based on the concept of ‘’making Japanese sweets more accessible,’’ this is a Japanese sweets cafe and bar. Its charm lies in ‘’new Wagashi’’ (Japanese sweets) that combine traditional and beautiful nerikiri with ingredients typically used in Western confectionery, such as cream cheese, rum, and dried fruits.
In the daytime, you can enjoy these sweets with matcha or black tea, while in the evening, you can enjoy them with alcoholic beverages like original cocktails in a quiet atmosphere.
Okashitshkasa Sirakaba
This is a very popular Japanese sweets shop famous for its “Tarafuku Monaka,” a traditional pastry shaped like a lounging beckoning cat. The filling inside is made from rare white azuki beans, known as ‘white diamonds,’ offering a refined and light sweetness. With its vibrant red packaging—a color considered auspicious in Japan—it is a popular choice for souvenirs.
The shop also offers other traditional treats like classic dorayaki and continues to be dearly loved by the local community.
Naniwaya Souhonten
This is a famous, long-established shop where taiyaki is said to have originated. They continue to uphold the traditional method of making “tennen taiyaki” (natural taiyaki), where each piece is individually hand-baked to order. The thin, crispy crust is filled with plenty of red bean paste, creating a flavor loved by many.
In the cafe space on the second floor, you can enjoy not only taiyaki and tea sets but also a wide variety of menu items, such as shaved ice and yakisoba.
3 Wagashi Shops to Visit in Kyoto
Haku
This popular Japanese confectionery shop is known for its “ohagi” (sweet rice balls), which come tightly packed in a box woven from bamboo skin. These popular ohagi feature a refined sweetness and texture, made with adzuki beans cooked with wasanbon sugar and soft, chewy glutinous rice.
The shop also offers other elegant treats that are as beautiful as they are delicious, such as fruit jellies made with whole fruits and dried red tomatoes paired with chocolate. You can enjoy a relaxing time in the shop, where warm, natural light pours in.
Saryo Hosen
Run by the long-established confectioner Hosendo, this cafe offers a relaxing atmosphere where you can gaze out at a Japanese garden. Their most popular item is the cafe-exclusive warabi-mochi, which features a gentle sweetness and is served with brown sugar syrup.
They also offer other treats such as zenzai (sweet red bean soup) and sets featuring matcha and nerikiri (sculpted sweets) whose designs change with the seasons. You can spend a luxurious time in this tranquil Japanese-style residence and moss garden.
Ryokuju-an Shimizu
This is the only shop in Japan specializing in konpeito (traditional sugar candy). In addition to classic flavors, they create and sell a wide variety of unique konpeito, including chocolate, black tea, and fruit flavors. Their seasonal konpeito, known for their gentle taste, are particularly popular.
With various packaging options such as small bags, tins, and boxed gift sets, they are highly recommended as souvenirs.
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