10 of the Best Desserts in Tokyo

Japanese desserts are known for their delicate flavors, elegant or impossibly cute presentation, and their use and emphasis on natural ingredients. From seasonal flavors and textures to uniquely local spins, exploring sweet treats when visiting Japan is not only exciting but a full-on gastronomical adventure! Looking for something sweet when visiting Japan? Here are 10 of the best desserts in Tokyo!

1.     Matcha Flavored Sweets

Photo by Saryo Suisen

One of the first things that comes to mind when in Japan is matcha (a special type of finely powdered green tea), a quintessentially Japanese flavor. When visiting Japan, you’ll find all sorts of matcha-flavored desserts, from parfaits to ice cream, cakes and cookies, mochi, and even buns and chocolate!

Saryo Suisen is a matcha dessert café with multiple stores all around Tokyo, Kyoto, and Yokohama. Using only the finest matcha from Uji, near Kyoto, they create a range of authentic desserts that balance the bitterness of the green tea with a natural sweetness. The Suisen Parfaits are a combination of matcha– or hojicha (roasted green tea)-flavored soft serve, Western-style confectionery, and a collection of traditional Japanese sweets, including Ogura (red bean paste), warabi mochi (bracken starch jelly), and brown sugar jelly. If you’re a fan of Japanese green tea, or if you’re curious about trying a collection of traditional Japanese sweets all at once, a Suisen Parfait might just be the choice for you!

Saryo Suisen (Shibuya PARCO)
Address: Shibuya PARCO B1F, 15-1 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0042Open daily from 11:30–22:00 (last order 21:15)

Also read: 5 of Tokyo’s Finest Tea Houses for a Relaxing Sip of Serenity

2.     Fluffy Soufflé Pancakes

Photo by A Happy Pancake

A major social media sensation, pancakes in Japan are just softer, thicker, and fluffier than their international counterparts. Known sometimes as hotcakes, these wonderful dessert (or breakfast) delights are so fluffy, they even jiggle when prodded with your fork! They are served with whipped cream, an assortment of fruit, drizzled with chocolate, and topped with ice cream. A Happy Pancake has multiple stores all around Tokyo, serving up the fluffiest pancakes that even come topped with freshly made granola.

A Happy Pancake (Omotesando Store)
Address: Kiyohara Building B1F, 4 Chome−9−3 Jingu Mae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001
Open weekdays from 10:00–19:00, weekends 9:00–19:30

3.     Soft, Fluffy Cheesecake

Chestnut-flavored cheesecake. Photo by Amigo

Another social media sensation, these baked cheesecakes are so soft that they, too, wobble as they come out of the oven. While the super famous one that you might have heard about is located down in Osaka, you can find delicious fluffy cheesecakes in Tokyo, too!

Located in the Tsukiji area, Amigo is a small bakery that sells fluffy and bouncy cheesecakes. Watch as the cakes get stamped with their signature mark as soon as they emerge from the oven, golden brown and steaming. While Amigo is a takeaway-only store, they offer cheesecakes in a variety of flavors, such as chocolate, matcha, and even a seasonal chestnut flavor – perfect to enjoy over the rest of your trip as breakfast, or as a sweet snack on the go!

Amigo Tokyo (Tsukiji Store)
Address: GY Tsukiji Building 1F, 2-10-10 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Open daily from 10:00–19:00, takeaway only (closes when sold out)

4.     The Cutest Donuts

Photo by Floresta Doughnuts

When visiting Japan, sometimes the best dessert in Tokyo is also the cutest dessert you’ve ever had. Floresta Doughnuts is known for making cute and creative donuts that resemble popular characters. While also being too cute to eat, they have made donuts in the form of My Melody, Cinnamonroll, Sumiko Gurashi, and Gudetama, and frequently switch up their cute offerings, depending on the season.

Floresta Doughnuts
Address: 3 Chome-34-1 Koenji Kita, Suginami City, Tokyo 166-0002
Open every day except Monday from 11:00 to 19:30

5.     Taiyaki

Taiyaki with a purple sweet potato filling.

Taiyaki are fish-shaped waffles that are traditionally filled with Anko (a sweet, red bean paste), although modern variations include fillings like custard, chocolate, matcha, sweet potato, and sometimes even ice cream! This delicious pastry resembles a tai (seabream), a symbol of good luck in Japanese culture. Often sold as street food, you can find Taiyaki at festivals, street fairs, and food stalls.

In Tokyo, you can pick up a Taiyaki (or two!) at Naruto Taiyaki Honpo. Crispy on the outside, and piping hot on the inside, enjoy seasonal fillings such as apple and sweet potato. You can also find the classic Anko and custard-filled ones here.

Naruto Taiyaki Honpo (Asakusa Bashi Store)
Address: 1 Chome-9-1 Asakusa Bashi, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0053
Open daily from 10:00–22:00

6.     Japanese Crepes

Photo by Marion Crepes

Crepes are a popular dessert among the youth in Japan, and are often served like an ice cream cone, generously dressed with a variety of toppings. While Harajuku’s Takeshita Street is known for its trendy fashion outlets, it is also known for its many creperies.

Marion Crepes serves a wide variety of rich and exquisite crepes. With over 70 items on their menu featuring both sweet, dessert crepes, and savory options to have as lunch or a snack, you’ll be spoiled for choice when deciding what to purchase. Sweet options range from a variety of fresh fruit, whipped cream, and even custard or chocolate sauce as the crepe’s filling. You even have the option to create a custom crepe – a sure hit for even the pickiest eaters!

Marion Crepes (Takeshita Street)
Address: Junes Building 1F, 1 Chome−6−15 Jingu Mae, Shibuya, Tokyo 150-0001
Open daily from 10:00–21:00

7.     Fruit Daifuku (Fruit-filled Mochi)

Photo by Benzaiten

Daifuku is a traditional Japanese sweet made with mochi (glutinous rice flour) that is often wrapped around sweet bean pastes. Fruit Daifuku can commonly be found in the spring and summer, at festivals and around fresh food markets. Strawberries are the most common filling in the spring, while other fruits – like Kyoho grapes, shine muscat, and melon – are popular in the summer.

Benzaiten Daifuku is a specialty fruit Daifuku store from Nagoya that uses a wide range of top-quality seasonal fruits, surrounded by a mild, white bean paste, and wrapped in a rich mochi covering. Fruit fillings include strawberries, pineapple, mango, fig, kiwi, mikan (mandarin oranges), and melon. The pillowy mochi gives way to the smooth and mild white bean paste, which allows the natural sweetness of the fruit to be the star of the show! There are 10 outlets all over Tokyo, so you can definitely choose a store that best suits your location.

Benzaiten Daifuku (Ginza Store)
Address: 4-12-1 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061
Open daily from 10:00–22:00

8.     Dorayaki

Known for being Doraemon’s favorite food, dorayaki is a classic Japanese sweet well-loved by people of all ages in the country. Small, round, and with a castella-style pancake filled with Anko, dorayaki is a sweet-tasting treat. The red bean paste provides a slightly nutty and earthy flavor that is complemented by the buttery, crumbly pancake around it, making this a great accompaniment to a cup of hot tea or coffee. You can find these easily at convenience stores, and even at malls and supermarkets.

Eitaro Sohonpo is a Japanese sweets café that serves a variety of traditional and modern Japanese desserts. The dorayaki here comes in a few flavors, so you can try the classic Anko, a matcha bean paste, or even a chestnut paste during the autumn!

Eitaro Sohonpo (Nihonbashi Main Store)
Address: 1 Chome-2-5 Nihonbashi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0027
Open every day except Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00

9.     Kakigori

A summer staple and specialty, Kakigori is a refreshing, shaved ice dessert that is drizzled with various flavored syrups and sometimes comes with fresh fruit, ice cream, or other delicious toppings.

Himitsudo is a specialty Kakigori store that serves a variety of these shaved ice desserts. With flavors like fresh melon, mango, strawberry, peach, Earl Grey, and even seasonal options like chestnut and pumpkin in the autumn, you can choose from 5 different styles of how you want your cool dessert served! Also serving options for hot meals, you can stop in the café at any season to enjoy a Kakigori here.

Himitsudo Address: 3 Chome-11-18 Yanaka, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0001, Open daily from 8:00–19:00

10.   Baumkuchen

While originally a German dessert, Baumkuchen is extremely popular in Japan and is often associated with celebrations and special occasions. You’ll be able to find it sold as snacks in the supermarket, in cafés served with ice cream or whipped cream, and even in the confectionery section of most department stores.

Club Harie is one of Japan’s most popular Baumkuchen makers and has many stores around the country. Most known for their “Dry Baum”, a soft and buttery Baumkuchen with a thin, crisp fondant coating, they also carry a range of other baked goods such as cookies and cakes. Their Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi store sells a variety of products, and while it is takeaway-only, the cakes are small and stylishly packaged, making them a must-try for those who are wondering what the hype is all about.

Club Harie (Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi Store)
Address: Nihonbashi Mitsukoshi B2F, 1 Chome−4−1 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0022
Open daily from 10:00–19:30

Photo by Saryo Suisen

Desserts often reflect a culture’s values, and Japan’s use of its natural seasonal ingredients, unique flavors, and cute-looking sweets is an endearing insight into what makes these culinary elements so special. With so many sweet treats to try, we hope you’ll discover your favorite out of the best desserts in Tokyo!

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