The best traditional Japanese sweets (wagashi)
The top 3 according to 13 votes from people: Yokan · Dango · Sakura mochi. (Updated Aug 22, 2025.)
The most representative traditional Japanese sweets, based on explanations by Wagashi no Kisetsu, Sazae Foods and the confectioner Daiya: from yokan and daifuku to nerikiri and monaka.
Automatically translated (original in 日本語). See the original
Top 15
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1
Yokan
Bar of red bean paste set with agar, in firm and soft 'mizu' versions.
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2
Dango
Rice-flour dumplings on skewers: mitarashi, bean paste or three-colour.
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3
Sakura mochi
Spring mochi wrapped in a salted cherry leaf, in Kanto and Kansai styles.
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4
Konpeito
Star-shaped sugar candy introduced by the Portuguese.
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5
Monaka
Crisp mochi-wafer shells filled with bean paste.
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6
Nerikiri
White bean paste and gyuhi shaped into seasonal flowers, a fine confection.
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7
Ohagi / botamochi
Sticky rice coated in bean paste or kinako, eaten at the equinoxes.
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8
Kashiwa mochi
Mochi wrapped in an oak leaf for Children's Day.
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9
Imagawayaki
Round griddle cake filled with bean paste.
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10
Daifuku
Mochi wrapped around bean paste; strawberry and bean versions are popular.
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11
Dorayaki
Two castella-style pancakes sandwiching sweet bean paste.
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12
Warabi mochi
Translucent bracken-starch mochi with kinako and black syrup.
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13
Taiyaki
Fish-shaped cake filled with bean paste.
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14
Castella
Moist sponge cake from Nagasaki, introduced by the Portuguese.
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15
Anmitsu
Agar jelly, fruit, shiratama and bean paste with black syrup.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
練り切りは見た目も美しい。