To welcome each new season, the Japanese often celebrate with rituals in the form of art and food. Hence, when spring arrives in Japan, cafes and confectionary companies begin to sell cherry blossom-themed sweets to mark the nationwide festivities.
Sara Aiko, the founder of boutique travel agency Curated Kyoto, highlights some of the must-try snacks to treat yourself to at your next hanami (blossom-viewing) gathering.
Sakura mochi
Sweeter than your average mochi, sakura mochi is a Japanese wagashi confection consisting of a sweet, pink-coloured rice cake with a red bean paste filling, wrapped in a pickled cherry blossom leaf. The leaf is entirely edible, but as it’s a little salty, it goes well with hot green tea. One of the best and most iconic places to try sakura mochi in Kyoto is Honke Sakura-mochi Kotokiki Chaya in Arashiyama. Located on the north side of the Togetsukyo bridge, this 100-year-old sweet shop serves two different kinds of sakura mochi. Get it to-go so you can enjoy your mochi by the riverside underneath the cherry blossom.
Best places in Kyoto for sakura mochi: Honke Sakura-Mochi Kotokiki Chaya, Kogetsu, Kyoto Isetan
Cherry blossom kakigori
Shaved ice in Japan, or kakigori, is soft and creamy, and so fine it melts in your mouth. The delicious syrup is often made with seasonal natural ingredients. Although typically eaten in the summer, an increasing number of cafes have started serving shaved ice in spring – dipped in cherry blossom powder or made out of matcha-flavoured condensed milk.
Best places in Kyoto for cherry blossom kakigori: Tea and Sake Room Tasuki, Gion Niti, Ozu Kyoto
Cherry blossom parfait
When it comes to cherry blossom-themed parfaits in Japan, the word “excessive” is an understatement. Take, for example, the cherry blossom-themed parfait served at Tsujiri, which consists of cherry blossom-flavoured yatsuhashi confectionary, cherry blossom meringue, creamy green tea ice cream and cherry blossom-flavoured bean paste.
Best places in Kyoto for cherry blossom-flavoured parfait: Tsujiri, Gion Komori, Zen Kashoin
Special mentions
In Japan, we have a phrase called ‘betsubara,’ which literally translates to ‘separate stomach.’ It’s the place for dessert, and, no matter how full you are, there is always room here. Here are more spring treat recommendations to fill up your ‘betsubara.’
