Savoring Wagashi: A Guide to the Seasonal Delicacies of Japan

By Priya Arora

Sakura Mochi

Spring delight, sakura mochi features sweet rice cake filled with red bean paste, wrapped in cherry blossom leaves.

Yomogi Daifuku

Summer's treat, yomogi daifuku is a chewy rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste and fragrant mugwort.

Momiji Manju

Autumn favorite, momiji manju is a maple leaf-shaped cake filled with various fillings like sweet potato or red bean.

Yuzu Yokan

Winter indulgence, yuzu yokan is a citrus-flavored sweet jelly made from red bean paste, agar, and yuzu.

Hinamatsuri Higashi

Celebrate Girls' Day with intricate, dry, and colorful higashi sweets shaped like seasonal symbols and dolls.

Kashiwa Mochi

Enjoy during Children's Day, kashiwa mochi consists of oak leaf-wrapped rice cakes filled with sweet red bean paste.

Zenzai Soup

A winter warmer, zenzai features sweet red bean soup with chewy rice cakes, often enjoyed during the New Year.