"Recommended Unique and Delicious Japanese Sweets for Summer Gifts to Your In-Laws and Relatives"

What to Do for Summer Gifts?

Summer gifts and chūgen to give to in-laws and relatives.

There are various options such as meat, eel, and fruits, but how about "rare and first-time-seen wagashi" this year? ♡

In this article, I introduce some special wagashi that I found on Instagram. I picked out wagashi that are not the usual kinds, but have a little playful spirit as well. ♡

① Kaho's Bottled Mitarashi Dango

Mitarashi dango from the creative wagashi shop "Kaho" in Kyoto.

Kaho's mitarashi dango is unique in that it comes in a "bottle" instead of a box. The mitarashi is topped with kinako, and when taken out of the bottle, the dango gets nicely coated in both mitarashi and kinako. ♡

The bottle makes it look refreshing, and it’s a fun and new way to enjoy wagashi. ♩

The price is 561 yen for a set of three.

➡ Online shop here ♡

There are various types other than mitarashi dango, so I recommend combining them for a gift. ♡

② KOTONOWA's Kuzudora

Kuzudora from "KOTONOWA-古都乃和-", a dorayaki gift specialty shop in Nara. This dorayaki is made with Yoshino honkuzu, a starch made using traditional methods in Nara, and is combined with kinako cream and matcha cream. ♡

It’s not just a regular dorayaki with red bean paste; it contains kuzumochi for a satisfying bite. You can immediately tell it's different by the thickness and appearance.

Six pieces for 3,585 yen.*

➡ Online shop here ♡

③ Tamayose's Salty Can

The salty can from "tamayose," a modern wagashi shop located in Tokyu Plaza Shibuya.

When you hear "fukiyose," you might think of a mix of senbei, konpeito, karinto, and wasanbon, but tamayose's salty can is a mix of seasonal vegetables with arare and beans.*

It looks colorful and fun, and the inclusion of seasonal vegetables gives you a feel of summer. ♡

One box costs 2,160 yen. There is also a "sweet can," so it's recommended to combine the "sweet can" and "salty can" as a gift.*

➡ Online shop here ♡

④ Kuririn's Chestnut Senbon and Sweet Potato Senbon

Chestnut Senbon and Sweet Potato Senbon from "Kuririn," a Mont Blanc specialty shop in Aichi and Fukuoka.

A luxurious Mont Blanc topped with high-quality chestnut and sweet potato paste on chewy daifuku. You would be surprised to see such a densely packed Mont Blanc when you open the box…!!!

One costs 3,500 yen, and the set is 6,000 yen.*

➡ Online shop here ♡

⑤ Waka's Waka-ron

Waka's Waka-ron located in Osaka.

As the name suggests, it's a Japanese-style dorayaki resembling a macaron.*

The flavors range from "Hojicha Anko," "Matcha Anko," and "An Butter," which all sound delicious, to “Blueberry Cheese Cream,” “Fig Cheese Cream,” and “Fresh Chocolate,” which are rare in dorayaki.

It looks puffy and cute, which would surely delight its recipients. ♡

Eight pieces for 3,500 yen.

➡ Online shop here ♡

⑥ Ginkakuji Matsubaya's Rich Matcha Basque Cheesecake

The rich matcha Basque cheesecake from "Ginkakuji Matsubaya," located in front of Ginkakuji Temple. The product name is enticing...!

The rich matcha and cheese Basque cheesecake is substantial and satisfying. There are various matcha sweets in the world, but there are reviews claiming that nothing can match its intense richness!

It is a refrigerated product, not frozen, with a shelf life of 3 days from the date of manufacture. Please make sure it arrives when the recipient is at home.*

One costs 2,700 yen.

➡ Online shop here ♡

⑦ Anko's Anko Milk Bar

The anko milk bar from the sweets brand "Anko", produced by a sake-focused izakaya "Soregashi" in Gotanda and Ebisu.

It's a flavorful ice cream made with carefully selected azuki beans from Hokkaido and fresh Jersey milk from Kumamoto. ♡

A pack of six costs 2,268 yen. It’s available only on Saturdays and Sundays, with sales starting at 10:00 AM on Saturday. It’s sold out as soon as it’s gone, so grab it early! ♡

➡ Online shop here ♡

⑧ Matcha Republic's Matcha Ink and Teapot Matcha Panna Cotta

The matcha ink and teapot matcha panna cotta from "Matcha Republic," which opened in Kyoto in 2019.*

It's stylish and modern to have matcha in an ink container, right?! The teapot panna cotta comes with matcha confiture sauce. It’s a new sensation matcha sweet that looks fashionable. ♡

Matcha ink costs 2,250 yen for four, while the matcha panna cotta is 3,000 yen for a set of four.

➡ Online shop here ♡

May They Be Delighted ♡

I introduced some recommended "takeout wagashi" for summer gifts that are not the usual standard.*

You may have seen some of these products on Instagram, but I carefully selected those that are rarely found in department stores, so I believe many older people might not know them.

I hope they will be pleased to say, "I've never seen anything like this!" or "That was delicious ♡"