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Learn how to make Japanese sweets!

Learn how to make Japanese sweets!

“Wagashi” (和菓子),or traditional Japanese sweets, look more like works of art than snacks!

 

Wagashi are not a daily snack, but more of a special treat that is often eaten during Japanese tea ceremonies and presented to guests. That being said, it is definitely okay to enjoy these snacks in a casual setting as well!

 

 

There are so any kinds of Wagashi, and they often reflect the different seasons. Tea ceremonies will often choose the most unique designs to enjoy and celebrate the coming of each season.

In spring time it’s common to see pastel colored sweets representing flowers that are in bloom. I have also seen some spring sweets that appear to be white, however, beneath the white is a layer of green that represents green spring grass that is waiting for the snow to melt away. A great deal of detail is taken into consideration while crafting the designs of different sweets! So, while you are in Japan, be sure to explore the Wagashi designs for whatever season you visit during.

In my Wagashi class we got to make two types of sweets!

First we made a type of Wagashi that are called Namagashi (生菓子)! Namagashi are made using a rice flour dough with a sweet bean paste as filling. They are delicately shaped, often by hand, to reflect the changing of the seasons. They can be shaped like seasonal fruits and vegetables, animals, or more abstract shapes.

 

 

We made a multicolored pastel design that looks like a little flower! What a perfect design for spring.

The second sweet the we made is a type of Wagashi that are called Ichigo-Daifuku (苺大福)! Ichigo is the Japanese word for strawberry, so this sweet contains one large strawberry! Daifuku is a type of Japanese sweet that is usually a mochi stuffed with a sweet filling, in this case it is anko (sweet bean paste) and also the strawberry.

 

 

This is a special design that is made by a sweet shop in Fukushima! The strawberry is so big that it is impossible to close the daifuku, so they added two little sesame seeds for eyes to make it look like a cute face. So cute!

This was my first time making Japanese sweets and it was so much fun! I hope that I can try it again in other seasons as well. I highly recommend taking one of these classes! Thank you to the expert confectioners at Ichimian Sweets Shop in Iizaka Onsen Town in Fukushima Prefecture. If you would like to try some of their delicious treats, pay them a visit. Founded in 1923, the shop is a local favorite! For more information, visit their website (Available only in Japanese or Google Chrome translation extension):

https://www.iizaka-ichimian.com/%E4%BC%9A%E7%A4%BE%E6%A6%82%E8%A6%81/

If you are interested in trying out a Japanese sweets making class when you visit Fukushima, please contact us for more information.

If you are interested in trying out a tea ceremony experience, here are a few options for tea ceremony experiences in Fukushima:

Suirakuen Garden inside Nanko Park

https://fukushima.travel/destination/green-tea-experience-at-suirakuen-garden/94

Rinkaku Tea Ceremony Room inside the Tsurugajo Castle grounds

https://fukushima.travel/destination/relaxing-tea-ceremony-at-tsurugajo-castle/89

 

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  1. Destination Spotlight

    A Guide to the Aizu Festival – And How to Join Yourself

    If, like me, you’ve been watching Shogun on Disney+ and been blown away by its dramatic depiction of Japan’s Sengoku (warring states) era, you might be interested in learning more about samurai history during your trip to Japan.Fortunately, there are plenty of options for someone looking to get involved with samurai culture.Tsurugajo Castle severely damaged after the Siege of Aizu in 1868.The Shogun’s Last StandOne of the best places for this is the historic city of Aizu-Wakamatsu on the west side of Fukushima Prefecture. Before the advent of prefectures in the Meiji Restoration, this region was ruled by the Aizu Domain, a powerful clan of samurai who remained loyal to the shogun even after ruling authority was returned to the Emperor in the 1860s.This culminated in the Boshin War of 1868, when imperial forces moved north and besieged Tsurugajo Castle at the heart of the Aizu Domain’s sphere of influence. Though the defenders were ultimately defeated by the Emperor’s modernised troops, the fortress remained standing, and this would be remembered as one of the final battlefields of Japan’s shogunate history, before it became what we recognise as ‘modern’ Japan.The Aizu FestivalAlthough Aizu is now incorporated into the wider Fukushima Prefecture, the roots to its powerful ancestor run deep in this part of the country. Local people come together every September to hold the Aizu Festival, honouring the warriors who walked these roads centuries ago with a series of events, processions and performances.Most notable is the parade on the Sunday of the festival. Schools, organisations and local residents of all ages dress in the traditional garb of every strata of Aizu clan society, and walk through the city streets waving to hundreds of attendees. Possibly most striking are the samurai lords, who proceed on horseback.Popular actress Ayase Haruka, who played the ‘Japanese Joan-of-Arc’ Nijima Yae in an NHK drama in 2013, reprises her role every year in the procession and gives a speech before the main parade.The procession starts with a short walk through the grounds of Tsurugajo Castle itself, leading to an opening ceremony held on the lawn under the shadow of the fortress.The samurai lords sit together on the dais, while an announcer heralds each samurai troop that enters the field. This also includes Western historical figures of import and significant noblewomen of the time in traditional dress.Once all the participants have entered and taken their seats, the opening ceremony takes place, with speeches from the city mayor and visiting dignitaries, samurai performances, and gunnery displays.This ceremony is also viewable to the general public, although it’s best to get to the castle early as the spectators’ area typically gets busy.How to Join the ProcessionThe 2024 rendition of the Aizu Festival was beset by heavy rain, but visitors still turned out in huge numbers to watch the procession. This also included an international troop comprised of local residents from a variety of countries: England, Scotland, Canada, the US, Australia, Taiwan and Japan.This experience, organised by a local tour company, is aimed at making Japanese culture more accessible to residents and visitors from overseas. It also included an English-speaking guide, who explained to us not only about the history of the area, but helped with logistical elements – how to dress in the traditional gear, where to go, and how to put our swords away properly...Our troop dressed in the dark navy armour of foot soldiers of the Aizu gunnery units, who were trained both in muskets for ranged combat and katana-style samurai swords for melee. As such, each soldier of the troop was given one of each, as well as a banner of the Aizu Domain (which, for the record, is very easy to bump against door frames and street signs).With the onset of the bad weather, the festival organisers made the difficult decision to protect the traditional armour from water damage with protective rain gear. 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Try the monthly kengido experience, learning samurai sword techniques in a historic dojo in the mountains.

    A Guide to the Aizu Festival – And How to Join Yourself
  2. Destination Spotlight

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    Following Fukushima’s Footpath: A Forest Walk in Nishigo
  3. Destination Spotlight

    Among a Sea of Clouds – Climbing Mt. Issaikyo

    Learn more about Mt. Issaikyo on our dedicated webpage. Despite Japan being such a mountainous country, and having lived here for several years, I was surprised to realise I’d never climbed to the summit of a Japanese mountain before. But that all changed recently when I attempted – and defeated, just about – the rugged trip up Mt. Issaikyo, one of Fukushima’s most popular hikes.Here's all the information about not only my trip, but how you can take on this challenge as well.Base Camp: JododairaOverlooking the Jododaira Plateau, the summit of Mt. Issaikyo (1,949m) is one of several possible trips from the Jododaira Visitor Center to different areas of the surrounding Azuma-Bandai mountain range.Many visitors head for the Kamanuma pond to the west or Okenuma pond to the south, both of which offer spectacular views over the water and are particularly stunning when the leaves change colours in autumn. Both of these trips, as well as the climb up to the nearby Mt. 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Once we got into the more forested areas again, the path occasionally fell away into a slight drop, too, so some very light mountaineering was required.The journey from the summit down to the Witch’s Eye took about thirty minutes, and again we were awestruck:The beauty of the lakefront was even more striking up close, making it the perfect place to stop and recharge our batteries with a quick lunch by the water. We spent another half an hour down here, taking a much-needed rest and enjoying the perfect summer weather.All that was left was to climb Mt. Issaikyo for the second time on the day, and we would be on our way home...By the time we made it back to Jododaira, the fine weather from earlier has dissipated and a deep fog had settled in.The round trip from Jododaira to the summit of Mt. Issaikyo, down to the Witch’s Eye, and back again, took us roughly five and a half hours (stopping for 30mins for lunch), and saw us walk the equivalent of 7.4km.Looking to climb Mt. Issaikyo for yourself? Some important advice: Wear sunscreen! Despite the shaded areas, large parts of the hike are exposed to the elements. Bring plenty of water, and snacks or lunch to keep your energy up! Hiking boots are highly recommended. The mountain is closed to climbers in winter.Looking for more hikes in Fukushima? Consider Mt. Adatara or Mt. Bandai.

    Among a Sea of Clouds – Climbing Mt. Issaikyo
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