Konnichiwa from the Japan Switch Team!

All this Pocky and all those flavored Kit Kats... Is that really all there is to Japanese sweets?

Nope.

Unlike the West where we have a large, but typically stable, selection of sweets and snacks to choose from - Japan does things a little differently. You'll find fewer stable selections on shelves. What you will find, every other week, however, is new seasonal items! V-Day rolling around? Expect a bunch of strawberry flavored treats at your nearest 7 Eleven. Halloween? You've never seen this much pumpkin in your life. Don't even get me started on cherry blossom season.

And that's just the beginning, so let's dive in!

Ultimate Guide to Japanese Confectionary

When people think of real Japanese sweets, it's pretty much just mochi that usually comes to mind, right? But there’s a whole world beyond that chewy rice cake.

Enter wagashi.

Wagashi are traditional Japanese confections that are shaped to reflect the seasons and meant to be enjoyed alongside a cup of tea. They might be cherry blossom flavored in spring or maple leaf flavored in autumn, for example. If you really want to impress your friends with your Japan knowledge, wagashi are an absolute must!

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Ultimate Guide to Japanese Sweets

And while we're at it, it can't hurt to give you a crash course in Japanese sweets that are a little less on the traditional side. The aforementioned Pocky and Kit Kats along with Japan's own stellar contributions like Black Thunder (which has always felt a little like Japan's Tim Tam in my opinion). Read on to learn more!

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Side note: If you're serious about visiting or living in Japan, check out Japan Switch's affordable online and offline Japanese lessons and make sure you're ready to make the most of your time here!

For more information or other updates and tips on life in Japan, be sure to check out our website here.

Your Friends,

The Japan Switch Team