Summer in Japan: Sweets to Beat the Heat!

Summer in Japan can be pretty rough; all the heat and humidity may make you want to stay in your chilly room with the air-conditioner on full blast. But all the desserts we’re going to show here are definitely worth the struggle of facing Japan’s blazing summer. Japanese desserts are the perfect balance of tradition, creativity, and deliciousness, encapsulating unique ways to help ease the pain of the summer months. Enjoy this post, and try not to salivate over the amazing sweets!

Kakigori (Shaved Ice)

One of the most popular desserts in Japan. If you’re an anime fan, you’ve definitely seen this dessert. It is made with shaved ice that is as soft as snow and topped with flavoured syrup. There are many flavours to choose from, such as strawberry, mango, melon, and blueberry, so you’re definitely going to find at least one flavor that suits your taste. Kakigori is a classic at summer festivals, but you can find it in many other places, such as local cafes and restaurants.

Kakigori actually, believe it or not, dates back to the Heian Period, when ice was extremely expensive and thus was reserved more for the elite of society. It wasn’t until the Meiji Period that Kakigori began to become more available to everyone, thanks to the invention of machines that could not only make ice but shave it for them as well. It was at this time that this delicious dish of shaved ice truly started to become a beloved summertime treat, with the first recorded shop opening in Yokohama in 1862. Moving on to the 1960s, with refrigerators and ice machines becoming more available to the public, the Japanese people began making Kakigori at home and started adding the flavored syrups the sweet is known for today.

Nowadays, Kakigori remains an incredibly popular summer treat, with countless shops selling them throughout the hotter months. Everything about this beloved shaved ice is meant to help you beat the heat, from the cooler colors to the owners adorning their shops with windchimes, another popular summer symbol in which the sound is meant to help you feel cooler. Thus, when you start hearing the gentle jingling of the chimes, you know that not only is summer in full swing, but a delicious cup of Kakigori is never far away! Check out our blog to learn more.

Fruit Sando (Fruit Sandwiches)

There’s nothing better than a juicy piece of fruit when you’re feeling parched and down on a long, humid day. Nothing, except maybe if you combined it with some creamy and light whipped cream and sandwiched it between two pieces of fluffy fresh bread. This is the adored Japanese sweet, the Fruit Sando. Although not strictly a summer food, due to Japan’s strong focus on seasonal ingredients, a summertime Fruit Sando is bound to be unlike anything you can try at any other time of the year. But first, let’s look back on the history a little.

Historically, the Fruit Sando is known for its in-depth and interesting history that continues to evolve to this day. Whilst it’s not known exactly where this treat originated, what we do know is it’s closely related to the history of fruit in Japan, particularly the fruit stores. As you might know, fruit has always been incredibly expensive, making it a luxury item and a popular gift among the Japanese. Because of the gifting nature of the country, the fruit business grew, and many stores began opening up fruit parlors, little cafes that run adjacent to the shops to serve various sweets that feature their prized produce. It was in these cafes that the Fruit Sando began, and although exact dates remain unclear, as well as if it was born in Tokyo or Kyoto, many agree that it first appeared around the 1920s. From there, the Fruit Sando flourished, continuously growing in popularity and quickly becoming a national frenzy.

Today, this beloved sweet remains a top-seller across Japan, with many taking pride in every step of its preparation, from the selection of the fruit to how it looks when cut, even going as far as to position the fruit so it looks like a flower! It is due to this very fact that the Fruit Sando isn’t just a tasty treat but an absolute delight to look at, perfectly Instagrammable in every way. And let’s not forget about the seasonal aspects. With summer in mind, it’s the perfect chance to get your hands on a sandwich filled with freshly picked peaches! We have another blog post specifically about these amazing sandwiches, so have a look if you’d like to know more!

Anmitsu

This dessert’s main feature is definitely its combination of flavours and textures. In a typical Anmitsu bowl, you’re sure to find ingredients like small cubes of agar jelly (or kanten in Japanese), sweet red bean paste, and a selection of juicy fresh fruits, such as oranges. This already delectable-looking dish is then finished with a drizzle of a sweet, thick black syrup called “kuromitsu.” This dessert is chilled before serving, so it’s perfect for the hottest days of summer, but that’s not the only part that helps it beat the heat. The combination of fresh fruits and the light, hydrating agar cubes goes a long way into making this dish the beloved refreshing summertime treat it is today.

Of course, you are more than welcome to mix and match when it comes to toppings; after all, this is said to be how the dish came about in the first place. Traveling back to Tokyo to Ginza Wakamatsu, an extremely well-known confectionery eatery that was most famous for its Mitsumame, which consists of red peas, jelly cubes, a kind of soft mochi called Gyuhi, and fruit. But that all changed when a regular customer turned up for their usual meal one day in 1930. Looking for a change, they asked if there was something sweeter available, to which the shop responded by upgrading their regular Mitsumame by adding anko and drizzling sweet syrup on top. Thus, the Anmitsu, with the “an” standing for anko (red bean paste) and mitsu meaning “syrup,” was born!

They say that the primary enjoyment of this incredible dish comes from the mix of textures and flavors. The perfectly complementing tastes of saltiness, freshness, and two levels of sweetness combine together to create a perfect harmony like nothing you’ve ever tasted before. Add on the juicy fruit and water-filled agar cubes, and serve the whole treat nice and cold. You’ve got an amazing summer delight that is sure to help you beat the heat!

Ice Cream

Let’s talk about an international summer favourite: ice cream! I’m sure there aren’t many of you who aren’t aware of this frozen, creamy goodness, but have you experienced it Japanese-style? Soft-serve ice cream is probably the most popular way to enjoy this treat in Japan, but that’s not what really sets it apart from the rest of the world… It’s the flavors! The classic chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry flavors are available, sure, but it’s the unique options, ones that fully embrace Japanese flavors, that are sure to keep you coming back for more.

Want to jump on the green tea train? Grab matcha-flavored ice cream! Dying to try the popular sweet ingredient anko? There’s a bowl of red bean-flavored ice cream waiting for you! How about joining the Black Sesame Frenzy? Take that perfect Instagram photo of this naturally-colored flavored ice cream cone before diving in yourself! You name it, and the land of the rising sun has it! There is no end to the tasty adventure you can have this smoldering season, thanks to the glorious world of Japanese aisu creamu!

Looking back a little, you might be surprised to hear that the first recorded instance of modern ice cream was in Bashamichi, Yokohama, around 1869. Back then, it was made with eggs instead of cream, making it more custard-like than your typical ice cream. It wasn’t until Fusazo Machido, a local shop owner, decided to use local Hokkaido ingredients that the frozen treat we all know and love today became available, and, boy, did it ever take off. From here, multiple chain stores, such as the international Baskin-Robbins, opened up locations in Japan, even creating flavors that changed the industry forever. People even started using ice cream to update and enhance other traditional Japanese sweets, which, don’t worry, we will talk about next. Now, all the various versions of this treat are available across the country in stores, restaurants, and, of course, konbini’s! So, once the heat hits, you don’t have to go far to get your hands on one of the world’s most loved, creamy, frozen desserts. Want to learn more about the kinds of ice cream you can find in Konbini’s? Check out our reel on Instagram to see just what’s available.

Ice Cream Taiyaki

Have you ever tried a Taiyaki? It is a pastry in the shape of a fish, normally filled with red bean paste or custard cream. But during summer, many shops offer this already amazing dessert filled with different flavors of ice cream. When the heat comes around, the fish’s typically closed mouth opens up, creating the perfect, cute, and delicious cone all ready for some nice, cold, soft-serve ice cream! Not unlike the traditional sweet, the base of the taiyaki is still filled with the typical anko (red bean) paste or custard, allowing you to combine these flavors with your favorite soft serve for a treat like nothing else.

But taste isn’t the only thing that this traditional treat with a modern, summertime twist has to offer. After all, Taiyaki is said to bring luck! Back in the Edo period, when Taiyaki was first created, it was actually a round snack known as imagawayaki. In the Meiji era, a business came up with the idea to change the dessert’s shape, basing it on a seabream, Medatai, or Tai in Japanese, due to the fish being considered a symbol of good luck in Japanese culture. You see, seabream were once very expensive, making it a high-class item. So, to make sure everyone could grab a piece of Tai luck, the Taiyaki was reshaped and born in the shape of the fish, quickly gaining popularity and spreading across Japan. Then, back in modern days, with the scorching summer days bearing down on them, ice cream was added. So make sure not to miss out on your heat-beating lucky charm this hot season!

Mochi Ice Cream

Just like Taiyaki ice cream, Mochi ice cream, or Daifuku Aisu is a modern twist on a traditional wagashi that provides a perfect relief to the humidity of summer. Vanilla, matcha, and strawberry are the top three famous flavors, and with the chewy mochi wrapped around the creamy, cold center, its texture is soft and delicate. Dusted with a little powdered sugar to help prevent sticking, mochi ice cream is that perfect little handheld sweet. The snack has become so popular that they can be found throughout the world, quickly taking off in western countries such as Europe, the USA, and so many more!

As we’ve done before, let’s look at the basis of this delicious dessert, the mochi itself, which probably has the longest history out of any other sweet on this list! The technique of rice dough pounding goes all the way back to 300 BC, and it has always been believed in Japanese culture that eating this dish gives them strength. By 1000 AD, mochi became a popular New Year’s delicacy, with the idea of eating one mochi on New Year’s Eve and the other on New Year’s Day quickly becoming a tradition that remains today. As its popularity grew, somebody came up with the idea of filling the mochi shell with ice cream, bringing us all the way back to the Daifuku Aisu. Today, many shops, restaurants, and specialty stores sell this form of ice cream, and you can find it pretty much in any convenience store, so you don’t have to look far for that perfect cold bite.

Mizu Shingen Mochi (Raindrop Cake)

This dessert may shock you with its stunning visuals, and I assure you, it’s going to shock you with its flavour, too! First, let’s get one thing straight: Despite what the name would have you believe, this treat is neither mochi nor cake, actually being more of a jelly. Made by combining water with agar-agar, a kind of gelatin that is made from seaweed, the resulting raindrop is extremely refreshing and hydrating, elevating the water to an exciting new level and making it perfect for summer. To complete the dish, kinako (roasted soybean powder) and kuromitsu, the same sweet black syrup used in Anmitsu, are added as sides. Combined, the unique flavors of each ingredient create a refreshing summer taste like nothing else you’ve ever experienced.

The name of the dish isn’t the only deceiving part. I bet you think this looks like a traditional dessert that has been around for many, many years. Well, the fact is the Mizu Shingen Mochi only dates back to 2012 and was created by the traditional Japanese sweets shop Kinseiken Daigahara, located in Yamanashi Prefecture. Looking for a way to showcase the area’s high-quality mineral water, the creator started playing around with the idea of “edible water,” ultimately landing on this beautiful jelly-like raindrop! If you want to try the original, it is available on Kinseiken Daigahara’s menu on weekends from June to September. But if this doesn’t work out for you, don’t worry; it’s also super easy to make yourself! Just remember, though, to take that picture and eat it up as quickly as you can! You’ve only got about twenty or thirty minutes before it begins to melt and evaporate.

Watermelon

Picture this: Summer has arrived, the weather now feels unbearable, and the trees are filled with cicadas, chirping away to signify the move into the hotter months. What’s weather like this perfect for? A summer party on a beach or in a park with your friends, and no celebration during the hotter season is complete in Japan without watermelon! And there’s no better time to do this than on Suika no Hi, or Watermelon Day in English, which falls on the 27th of July each year! Said to be first introduced to Japan around 1696, watermelons quickly became a national summer favorite, with many different varieties and even shapes being developed in Japan.

In fact, the square suika was developed in the southern city of Zentsuji in Kanagawa Prefecture, where it remains the only place to officially grow the fruit in this shape to this day. And to further prove just how much the Land of the Rising Sun loves this fruit, it is also the home to Densuke Watermelon, probably one of the most expensive you’ll ever come across in your life! This distinct breed, which is known for its glossy black rind and deep red flesh, is solely developed in Hokkaido and typically goes for a whopping $6000! Of course, you don’t need to pay such a price to enjoy a juicy slice in summer. There are plenty of cheaper suika options available that are more reminiscent of the fruitss you are used to. So there’s no need to spend big unless you’re feeling overly adventurous!

Beyond its development in Japan’s culinary world, it has also grown as a vital part of Japanese culture, especially as a symbol of summer. The biggest example of this by far would have to be Suikawari or Watermelon Splitting, as it is known in English, an incredibly popular summertime game. You’ve probably heard of or seen this in anime or manga, but just in case you haven’t, let me explain. Suikawari involves a group placing a watermelon on a piece of plastic or cardboard, and then one member of the group is blindfolded and handed a stick. Now it’s time to smack it like a piñata, or at least try to! The first person to break the fruit wins! After it’s finally open, everyone gets to have their own delicious, juicy piece for themselves. One tip is to sprinkle a bit of salt on your piece. Trust me, it makes it even sweeter! So grab your friends and family, and don’t forget the watermelon because it’s time to celebrate the heat with games and great fruit!

Parfait

Parfaits are another dessert of Western origin that has not only taken off within Japan but shows just how much they can elevate food to new heights! Similar to the Fruit Sando, parfaits are not strictly a summer food, being enjoyed throughout the year; however, the refreshing ingredients and seasonal varieties in flavor make it something you should certainly not skip in the hotter months. Whether it’s just a delectably gorgeous glass with that Insta-famous matcha parfait or just a more typical fruit one, there is no going wrong with this delectable dessert.

As I mentioned, this dessert was not created in Japan, instead being said to have originated in France, but that hasn’t stopped Japan from becoming Parfait Royalty! Adding ingredients like mochi, glazed fruits, anko, and even green tea jelly has caused the Japanese parfait to truly stand out from the crowd. And I’m sure you’ve all seen gravity-defying, eye-popping versions out there too with restaurants shaping the cream to look like animals or even adding other desserts such as Taiyaki or even a cake! Combine the look, the taste, and the size, and you’ve got yourself a perfect sweet treat for you, your friends, and your social media account. Remember, though, as with a lot of Japanese food they like to keep things very seasonally based, so don’t be surprised if you come in looking for one flavor one month only to find it gone the next. For the hotter months, I personally would go for a nice cooling matcha-flavored one, or, just like the fruit sando, try out some delicious fresh peaches in a fruit parfait! Want to find out more about this delicious dessert? Check out our full blog on them here, and make sure to grab one for yourself this summer!

Summer in Japan is probably going to be nothing like you’ve ever experienced before. While summer is known for its humidity and rainy season, there is still so much to discover and try to help you beat the heat, and you should never let the weather stop you! After all, the Japanese people don’t. All desserts created in this beautiful country serve an incredible taste and unique looks. Japan has such a variety of sweet flavors that you’re going to find one that you like! They are a delightful and refreshing escape from the heat, and their light sweetness and subtle elegance will make you fall in love with them. Which sweet do you want to try first? Don’t miss the opportunity when you’re in Japan!

Featured Photo Credit: norikko

If you’ll be enjoying some of these amazing treats in Japan this Summer, come join one of our Summer Food Tours to explore more Japanese cuisine!