Search locations or food
OR
Sign up
Sakuramochi | Traditional Dessert From Tokyo, Japan | TasteAtlas
Sakuramochi | Traditional Dessert From Tokyo, Japan | TasteAtlas
Sakuramochi | Traditional Dessert From Tokyo, Japan | TasteAtlas
Sakuramochi | Traditional Dessert From Tokyo, Japan | TasteAtlas
Sakuramochi | Traditional Dessert From Tokyo, Japan | TasteAtlas
Sakuramochi | Traditional Dessert From Tokyo, Japan | TasteAtlas

Sakuramochi

(桜餅, Domyouji Mochi, 道明寺餅, Chomeiji Mochi, 長命寺餅, Sakura-mochi)

Sakuramochi is a traditional dessert that is made to depict sakura (cherry blossom), so the rice cake is usually pink in color. Most of the times, sakuramochi contains red bean paste and it is covered with a salty cherry blossom leaf, which some people consume together with the rice cake, and some don't.


Although the sweet treat is sold throughout the year, it can be found most easily in spring, when cherry blossoms are in season. It is believed that sakuramochi was invented in 1717 in Edo by a guard named Yamamoto Shinroku, using the leaves from the trees along the Sumida River.


He started to sell his new treats; people loved them, and that is how sakuramochi was born. Today, there are two versions of sakuramochi, the domyouji mochi from Kansai, consisting of steamed rice filled with anko and wrapped with a leaf, and the chomeiji mochi from Kanto, made with a pink crepe instead of rice.

WHERE TO EAT The best Sakuramochi in the world (according to food experts)

1
Recommended by Time Out Tokyo and 2 other food critics.
"Peel off the leaf to take in the sakura aroma, and then eat the mochi with the leaf for the perfect combo of sweet and salty."
2

Tsuruya Kotobuki

KyotoJapan
30 Saga Tenryuji
"This sophisticated sweet has elegantly sweetened red bean paste, which matches perfectly with the slightly salted Japanese cherry leaf wrapping the cake."

Other Wagashi varieties

Gyūdon

4.3
Kanto Region, Japan

Monjayaki

4.2
Kanto Region, Japan

Kitsune soba

3.5
Kanto Region, Japan

Okoshi

3.3
Tokyo, Japan

Taiyaki

4.1
Tokyo, Japan

Amanattō

3.6
Tokyo, Japan

Mame daifuku

3.6
Tokyo, Japan

Oyakodon

4.1
Tokyo, Japan

Ratings

4.0
Like
69%
Indifferent
31%
Don't like
0%
Ate it? Rate it
Wanna try?
Add to list