Wagashi are traditional Japanese confections made from ingredients such as bean paste, rice flour, sugar, and agar.
Some, such as dorayaki, daifuku, dango, and taiyaki, are everyday sweets enjoyed casually, while others, including omogashi (fresh sweets) and higashi (dry sweets), are specially crafted for the Japanese tea ceremony.
Wagashi for tea gatherings are sometimes sweeter than ordinary because they are designed to complement the rich, slightly bitter flavor of matcha.
Today, many confectioners also create innovative wagashi inspired by seasonal fruits or combined with Western-style pastries while preserving traditional techniques.
Exploring the signature sweets of different wagashi shops is one of the pleasures of discovering Japanese confectionery.