Edo was founded at the start of the 17th century and matsuri were always woven into the city's culture; bringing joy and hope to the citizens. Even today, going to a festival in Tokyo is a fully immersive experience and one of the highlights is the food.
There is nothing quite like enjoying the centuries’ old tradition of strolling under the glow of lanterns and perusing your culinary options. This month, let Sakuraco guide you through the flavors of traditional festival fare. From handmade candy and rich banana manju, to savory mentaiko beans and so much more.
By Tanaka Hashiten (Fukui)
Dishwasher and Microwave Friendly
This lacquerware plate is the perfect size for snacks or small cakes. It features the beautiful gold design of sakura in blossom contrasted against a classic black background.
By Satoen (Shizuoka)
Common Allergens: N/A
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Japanese green tea.
This authentic sencha is by Satoen, located in the tea region of Shizuoka. It is perfect for everyday tea and is their most popular blend. Sencha is made by roasting the whole tea leaf multiple times, resulting in a rich flavor.
By Izumi Bussan (Chiba)
Common Allergens: Wheat, soy, eggs, dairy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Kneaded bean paste (white bean paste, sugar, starch syrup, banana puree), flour, sugar, chicken eggs, margarine (including milk components), starch syrup, sweetened starch syrup, sorbitol, emulsifier, swelling agent, fragrance, coloring agent (carotene, yellow 4), Antioxidants (tocopherol, citric acid, ascorbic acid), (some of the raw materials include soybeans)
Inspired by the chocolate bananas that are a staple at festival food stalls, this manju is made with delicate, sweet egg dough wrapped around a smooth white bean and banana filling.
By Kashihara (Tokyo)
Common Allergens: Egg, Wheat, Soy, Milk, Traces of alcohol
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
eggs, sugar, flour, margarine, shortening, candy, cocoa powder, honey, liquor, natural cheese, salt, emulsifiers, swelling agents, flavors, coloring agents (carotene, caramel), antioxidants, dairy, soybeans
Baumkuchken is prepared on a rotating spit with layer after layer of batter slowly being added. The process to make this dessert is time consuming and requires a high level of skill. This version features the rich flavors of tiramisu, with coffee liqueur and rich cream. Enjoy this buttery cake for breakfast with your morning tea or coffee.
By Yuranosuke Confectionery (Saitama)
Common Allergens: Egg, wheat
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
bean paste, sugar, wheat flour, eggs, starch syrup, reduced starch saccharified product / sweetener (sorbitol), leavening agent, coloring agent, flavoring
Roppo, or "six sided" manju is a sweet that has been enjoyed in Japan since the Meiji Era (1868 - 1912). So called for its cube shape, it is made with a high quality wheat flour based batter and filled with the subtle sweetness of azuki red bean.
By Warakudo (Hokkaido)
Common Allergens: Egg, Soy, Dairy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Red bean paste (red bean paste, raw bean paste, sugar, water candy, malt sugar, grape sugar, dried bean paste, etc.), sweet potato bean paste (raw bean paste, sugar, water candy, sweet potato, butter, fructose egg yolk, agar), flower paste (vegetable oil, fat, etc.) sugar, bean paste, fructose defatted milk paste, milk protein, etc.), sweet potato paste processed products, processed bean paste, sorbitol, trehalose, fragrance, glycine, ph adjuster, thickening polysaccharide, sucrose fatty acid ester, enzyme, acidulant, coloring sugar (carotene)
This beautifully rich and dense steamed cake is made with smooth sweet satsumaimo potato and Hokkaido milk. Although not as prevalent as they once were, roasted sweet potato food trucks are still operating around Tokyo.
By Amezaiku Yoshihara (Tokyo)
Common Allergens: None
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Sugar, starch syrup, ginger, cinnamon
This hard candy is kneaded, shaped, and cut by hand using traditional methods from the Edo period. The fragrance and spice of the organic cinnamon and orange flavoring pairs well with tea.
By Morihaku (Gifu)
Common Allergens: Apple
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Fruit sugar, glucose, liquid sugar, fruit juice (apple, plum, mandarin orange, peach, grapefruit, raspberry, melon), sugar, plum, red beans, chestnuts, apple pulp, honey, modified starch syrup, tomato puree, agar, gelling agent (thickening) Polysaccharides, modified starch), pH adjusters, fragrances, coloring agents (red flower yellow, red syrup, purple potato, agar blue, carotene, tomato)
A beautiful clear jelly dessert has a pattern inspired by fireworks. It is made with a blend of delicious fruit juices, such as apple, green plum, orange, grapefruit, raspberry, and melon.
By Tokyo Bread (Fukuyama)
Common Allergens: Wheat, eggs, dairy, soy, apple
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Wheat flour, flower paste, sugar, eggs, shortening, whey powder, margarine, baker's yeast, isomerized liquid sugar, salt, germinated brown rice, processed starch, liquor, thickening polysaccharides, fragrances, coloring agents, Red flower yellow, carotene)
Melonpan is a classic street pastry in Japan with a sugar-coated crust inspired by the crisscross pattern of a melon. The pastry dough is made with a mix of wheat and brown rice flour, with melon flavored custard folded in for a moist and fluffy texture.
By Kobayashi Seika (Tokyo)
Common Allergens: Fish, wheat, peanuts
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Ingredients:
peanuts, starch, wheat flour, sugar, rice flour, vegetable oil, mentaiko seasoning (chili pepper, salt, walleye pollock), squid, salt, seasoning (amino acids, etc.), leavening agent
These crispy, crunchy beans flavored with spicy cod roe from Fukuoka Prefecture are the perfect snacks for walking through the festival grounds and enjoying the entertainment.
By Tokyodo (Mie)
Common Allergens: Egg, Wheat, Soy, Dairy, Orange
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Japanese wheat flour, sugar, eggs, margarine, fructose-dextrose liquid sugar, shortening, glucose, vegetable oils and fats, milk, agents, emulsifiers, seasonings (inorganic salts), fragrances, coloring agents (annatto, turmeric), soybeans, oranges
Castella are a popular dessert at street festivals and come in various shapes and sizes. The batter is poured into piping hot molds, baked, and then served by the bagful to lined up festival goers. This bite-sized version is made with flour and eggs from Mie prefecture.
By Morihaku (Gifu)
Common Allergens: Apple
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Sugar, fruit juice (apple), black honey, apple, plum, mandarin orange, cherry, gelling agent, (thickening polysaccharide), ph adjuster, coloring agent (safflower yellow, gardenia blue, red radish, rack) ), fragrance
Cool down during the heat of summer with this refreshing jelly made with green apples and natural spring water.
By Amanoya (Tokyo)
Common Allergens: Wheat, soy
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Uruchi rice (US, domestic), vegetable oil, sugar, soy sauce (including wheat and soybeans), high fructose corn syrup, salt, seasoning extract (including soybeans) / processed starch (derived from wheat), seasonings (amino acids, etc.), caramel color
Sweet and salty mini fried rice crackers flavored with soy sauce and sugar. Petit Kabuki Age packaging is an homage to the curtain used in Kabuki. The classic geometric pattern features lines in green, black, and persimmon.
By Nagaraen (Gifu)
Common Allergens: Wheat, eggs
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Flour, sugar, eggs, leavening agent
Made in Gifu prefecture by craftsmen, this senbei is light and crispy with a gentle sweetness.
Each senbei is branded with the image of two birds and is prepared using eggs and wheat flour sourced from Gifu prefecture.
By Kikuichi Arare (Aichi)
Common Allergens: Shrimp, fish, soy, sesame
Vegetarian Friendly: No
Ingredients:
Glutinous rice (domestic), vegetable oils and fats, salt, sugar, shrimp, sesame, dried bonito extract, green paste, kelp extract / seasonings (amino acids, etc.), coloring agents (safflower, safflower yellow, cuttlefish), vegetable lecithin (derived from soybeans)
These handmade senbei have a base of mochi glutinous rice flour and are flavored with salted shrimp, nori, konbu, dried bonito flakes, and nutty toasted sesame for an umami experience. Due to the high cooking temperature, the outside is crispy, while the inside stays soft.
By Izumi Busan (Chiba)
Common Allergens: Wheat, soy, sesame, peanuts
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Ingredients:
Syrup, sugar, wheat flour, rice flour, processed starch, vegetable oil, salt, peanuts, soybeans, sesame, ginger, leavening agent
Kaminari-okoshi, named after Asakusa Kaminarimon, is a classic sweet that has been around since the Edo period as a lucky charm for moving house. The rice puff contains ginger, sesame, and peanuts, with just a touch of sweetness. It's the perfect snack to pair with tea, either for a moment to yourself or with guests.