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Tokyo’s Top 15 Must-See Desserts List

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Tokyo’s Top 15 Must-See Desserts List

To all sweet lovers here’s a list of Top 15 must buy desserts, fruits and souvenirs in Tokyo.
Tokyo’s Top 15 Must-See Desserts List also covers shops selling seasonal time limited desserts.

The Japanese Classic Desserts in Tokyo

Traditionally Japanese meal didn’t include dessert.
But we’ve adapted foreign culture and customs since opening the nation, and invented many desserts using traditional ingredients.

Sesame ice cream / Gomaya Kuki

Gomaya Kuki

Gomaya Kuki is sesame ice cream shop run by Kuki Sangyo , the established manufacturer of sesame products since 1885.
The most popular menu item is super thick sesame ice cream aiming the thickest icecream in the world.
Gomaya Kuki’s sesame ice cream uses 9,000 grains of sesame per cup.
Shop’s best recommendation is topped sesame ice cream with extra sesame and sesame oil.
Try this innovative style of ice cream !!

URL: https://gomayakuki.jp/

3 min walk from Tokyo Metro Meiji-jingu mae station
Opens: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
No regular closing day

Matcha gelato / TEA&SPOON Nanaya Aoyama

TEA&SPOON Nanaya Aoyama

TEA&SPOON Nanaya Aoyama is Matcha ice cream shop run by Nanaya, the established Matcha shop in Shizuoka pref., known for its tea green tea production.
TEA&SPOON Nanaya Aoyama specializes the thickest Matcha gelato in the world and serve Matcha ice cream with 7 different thickness.
The more number the thicker and No 7 is the thickest.
No 1 is as thick as commercially available Matcha ice cream.
No 3 is regular in thickness.
TEA&SPOON Nanaya Aoyama also serves Japanese black tea, roasted green tea, and seasonal original gelato other than Matcha ice cream.

URL: https://nanaya-matcha.com/?mode=f4&sid=50

Opens: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Closing day: Tuesdays (when public holiday falls on Tuesday, next day will be off)

Kakigori / Himitsudo

Kakigori Himitsudo

Located at the entrance of Yanaka Ginza shopping street, Himitsudo Shaved ice shop uses natura ice from Nikko area famous for its shaved ice.
Himitsudo serves over 132 different shaved ices using seasonal peas, beans, vegetables and fruits including geratine shaved ice and chestnut shaved ice.
Himitsudo syrup is all home made, natural, and additive-free.

URL: http://himitsudo.com/

4 min walk from JR Nishi Nippori West Exit
Opens: 10:00am to 6:00 pm (sometimes 7:00 pm), or earlier
Closing day : Mondays (Tuesdays between November and June)

Japanese traditional sweets / TORAYA TOKYO

TORAYA TOKYO

Founded in the early 16th century in Kyoto, Toraya is one of the most established Japanese confectionery shops where has served to the imperial household.
When the emperor moved to Tokyo in 1869, they opened its branch in Tokyo.
TORAYA TOKYO is a café of old established Japanese confectionery shop where serves not only traditional confectionery but Japanese / Western taste sweet of red-bean jelly with pear and caramel flavor.
The main menu is Japanese sweets called Yokan popular among from children to adults.
Unique confectionery like “Poir caramel Yokan” uses plenty of original caramel rich in pear flavor.

URL: https://www.toraya-group.co.jp/toraya/shops/detail/?id=14

1 min walk from JR Tokyo station Marunouchi South Exit
Opens: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm everyday
No regular closing day

Fluffy pancakes / Gram

Fluffy pancakes Gram

Fluffy pancakes called Premium pancakes are served only 20 sets at 11:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 6:00 pm respectively, so you should visit there around the given time.
A set of fluffy pancakes consists of three pieces of pancakes with five centimeters or two inches thickness each.
Premium pancakes are very soft and smoothly dissolve in the mouth, but not so sweet.
You can adjust the sweetness with whipped cream, butter, and maple syrup.

URL: https://www.cafe-gram.com/sp/shop/shop_detail/daikanyama.html

122 m from Tokyu Toyoko line Daikanyama station

Opens: 11:00 am to 8:00 pm

No regular closing day

Crepe / PARLA

Crepe PARLA

Very stylish crepe shop, where they serve various flavored crepes only to-go.
If you look for a high quality dessert, Crepe PARLA is a place to go.
Crepe PARLA’s toppings sound very appetizing such browned meringue and whipped cream, blue cheese and wine flavored fig, and caviar and sour cream.
Crepe dough containing nut is crispy and delicious.

URL: http://par.la/gaien.html

10 min walk from Tokyo Metro Ginza line Gaienmae station
Opens: 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
No regular closing day

An-mitsu / Mihashi

An-mitsu Mihashi

A long-established Japanese sweet shop founded in 1948 when Ueno area was in chaos after the World WarⅡ．
The most popular menu is anmitsu, a traditional Japanese sweet, which consists of sea weed jelly, red peas, sweet mochi rice cake, mandarin orange, sweet red bean paste, ice cream, and black sugar syrup.
You can add or exchange topping, like adding dumplings, chest nuts, strawberries, or change ice cream to Matcha ice cream, etc.

URL: https://www.mihashi.co.jp/

3 min walk from JR Ueno station
Opens: 10:30 am to 9:30 pm
No regular closing day

Fantastic Fruits Desserts in Tokyo

Japan has clear cut four seasons and produces a lot of seasonal fruits. So natural sweet desserts with fresh fruits are popular among people.

Fruit cake / HARBS

Fruit cake HARBS

A cafe and restaurant where handmade and freshness have been pursued and you can enjoy light meals and handmade cakes full of fresh fruits.
The showcase displays a large whole cake with 24cm in diameter, classic Mille crepes tiramisu and coffee-flavored Italian dessert.
Seasonal time limited are likely sold out soon, so you should visit early.
Peach Mille-feuille is sandwiched with peach comport, mix cream and fluffy choux pastry.
Seasonally selected drinks are served and you should order with the cake.
During the lunch time meals including half-sized handmade cake are served.

URL: http://www.harbs.co.jp/

1 min walk from JR Tokyo station Marunouchi South Exit.
Opens: 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on Mondays to Saturdays
11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Sundays and public holidays
No regular closing day

Fruit parfait / Senbikiya

Fruit parfait Senbikiya

Founded in 1834 Senbikiya is the established luxurious fruits shop where you can enjoy parfait and dessert featuring seasonal high-quality fruits.
No 1 specialty is “Senbikiya special parfait” consisting of lots of selected fresh fruits in the world in good combination of fruit sauce, ice cream and whipped cream.
If you find favorite fruits, ask the shop staff to cut.
The cafe has cutting specialists, so you can enjoy beautifully cut delicious fruits there.

URL: https://www.sembikiya.co.jp/shop-list/main-store

Directly accessible from Tokyo Metro Ginza line Mitsukoshimae station.
Opens: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
No regular closing day

Fruit parlor / Kajitsuen

Fruit parlor Kajitsuen

Kajitsuen is a cafe and restaurant where you can enjoy desserts full of fruits.
You should visit in the morning when the shop serves fruits sand witch, pan cake and bunch of fruits with toast and drink bar.
You can enjoy morning menu within 1000 yen.
In Japan, fruits may be a bit more expensive than your country, but the breakfast special of this cafe is a good deal. The shop sometimes holds all-you-can-eat style buffet.
Time schedule is not fixed and open on their Twitter account.

URL: http://kajitsuen.jp/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kajitsuen

2 min walk from JR Shinjuku station South Exit
Opens: 7:30 am to 11:00 pm on Mondays to Saturdays
7:30 am to 10:00 pm on Sundays
*Breakfast special: 7:30 am to 11:00 am
Lunch: 11:00 am to 2:30 pm
No regular closing day

5 Best Sweets Good for Tokyo Souvenirs

If you search for some good souvenirs for family, friends and neighbors, here are five best sweets as Tokyo souvenirs.

Tokiwa-do Kaminari-Okoshi

Tokiwa-do Kaminari-Okoshi is traditional long established Japanese sweet cracker for more than 200 years.
Mainly made of rice puffs Kaminari-Okoshi is cut in small pieces and good for kids.
Since the main store is located next to Kaminarimon Gate, this Kaminari okoshi was named after Kaminarimon Gate or Thunder Gate of Sensoji temple.

Tokiwa-do Kaminari-Okoshi serves various flavored rice crackers, such as peanuts, sesame, and sea weed.

Price ranges : 300 yen or more. Popular item: mixed okoshi 540 yen
Next to Kaminarimon gate, 131 m away from Tokyo Metro Ginza line Asakusa station.

Press Butter Sand

Box-shaped butter cookies baked on press machines with caramel and butter cream filling.
This is a new brand established in 2017, but has become very popular as a souvenir of Tokyo.
Fresh made from high quality and fresh butter, Press Butter Sand can be bought inside Tokyo station.
Please be noted that the expiration date is 10 days (four days for fleshly baked ones).
Price: Fresh butter sand 170 yen/piece
Gift box for 5 pieces 1,000 yen
9 pieces 1,710 yen
15 pieces 2,850 yen
18 pieces 3,700 yen
Shops: Tokyo station, Lumine Est Shinjuku, Haneda airport, Tokyo Soramachi

Tokyo Banana

Tokyo banana has been a very popular souvenir of Tokyo for over thirty years.
Once first product was introduced in 1991, this soft and light sponge cake with banana flavored cream filling became very popular for its fluffy texture.
The name with Tokyo is the reason why it became so popular.
Tokyo Bananas have many different flavors like caramel flavor and some with pie dough.
Expired date: 7 days
Price: Gift box for 4 pieces : 540 yen
8 pieces : 1,078 yen
12 pieces : 1,620 yen
16 pieces : 2,160 yen
Shops: Tokyo station, Daimaru Tokyo or in other department stores

Nihonbashi Nishikihorin Karinto

Karinto is traditional Japanese fried snack. Nishikihorin produces original karinto from domestically produced wheat flour.
There are wide variety of Karinto with flavor of various vegetables, purple fresh sweet potato, sesame, or Japanese pepper.
Karinto is crispy and not too sweet, so goes well with tea, coffee, or Japanese sake.
Price: 370 yen or more/ package
Shops: Tokyo Gransta, Tokyo Soramachi

By Ricky