The Best Spring Kawaii Food You Need To Try!

Springtime in Japan means cherry blossom season, hanami, and kawaii food! Hanami, or flower viewing, refers to the traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of the cherry blossoms or sakura in Japan during the springtime.

Hanami is a beloved cultural practice in Japan. Many people will gather with friends and family for picnics under the cherry trees, enjoying kawaii food, drinks, and good company while surrounded by the stunning blooms. 

The cherry blossoms are seen as a symbol of the fleeting nature of life and the beauty that can be found in it. Hanami is a time to appreciate the world’s natural beauty and celebrates spring’s arrival. There’s no better way to pay tribute to the beautiful blooms than with kawaii foods! 

These foods are inspired by the sakura cherry blossoms and other blossoming spring flowers. During this time, various delicious and colorful foods are released, making them perfect for a picnic under the cherry blossoms!

Sakura mochi

One of the most iconic kawaii foods this season is sakura mochi. Sakura mochi is a cute food most recognizable from Japanese manga and anime.

But this sweet treat is a traditional Japanese sweet made with pink-colored rice cake. It is filled with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf. It’s delicious and visually stunning with its pink color and delicate floral pattern!

Want to explore everything kawaii and sakura? Then check out YumeTwins! YumeTwins sends kawaii character goods from Japanese plushies and figurines to accessories and home goods straight from Japan right to your door!

Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a popular Japanese snack that’s often eaten during the spring season. It’s a fish-shaped pastry filled with sweet red bean paste or custard. During springtime, at specialty locations like festivals, you can find cherry blossom-flavored taiyaki.

These limited-edition taste treats are a unique twist on the classic treat! The delicate and floral flavor of the cherry blossom gives the Taiyaki a light and refreshing taste that perfectly complements the spring season. 

In addition to the traditional sweet bean paste filling, some shops offer sakura-flavored cream or even sakura-flavored ice cream as a filling option. The pink-tinted batter used to make the Taiyaki also adds to the overall aesthetic appeal, making it a popular kawaii food among Instagrammers and foodies! 

Kawaii food: hanami bento!

Kawaii treats under the cherry blossom trees are more than just reserved as sweet treats. You can also get limited edition Japanese food hanami bentos that are both a filling lunch and aesthetically pleasing.

During a picnic under the cherry blossom trees, many eat special bento boxes filled with seasonal foods, such as sakura-shaped rice balls, tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), and various vegetable dishes often cut into flower shapes. 

A Hanami bento typically includes a mix of savory and sweet dishes, such as sushi rolls, fried chicken, tamagoyaki (sweet omelet), and onigiri (rice balls) with various fillings. These dishes are delicious and visually stunning, often featuring cute shapes and bright colors!

But it’s not just about the food; the bento box is also essential to the hanami experience. Many bento boxes are decorated with cherry blossom designs, adding to the festive atmosphere.

For those who want to take their hanami bento to the next level, there are even bento accessories like cute animal-shaped picks and dividers that can be used to create a genuinely kawaii lunch box!

Hishi Mochi 

This traditional Japanese dessert is made from sweet rice flour, sugar, and agar jelly and is a sight to behold. The dessert is cut into diamond shapes and layered with different colored jellies, creating a stunning geometric pattern that will catch your eye. 

But hishi mochi is more than just a pretty snack- it has a satisfyingly chewy texture and a refreshing taste that will leave you craving more! This limited seasonal kawaii snack is definitely worth grabbing if you see it in a Japanese supermarket or convenience store. 

Sanshoku dango, the kawaii food!

One of the most popular kawaii spring foods in Japan is sanshoku dango. This sweet and colorful dessert is perfect for celebrating the season. This cute treat consists of three mochi balls in different colors – pink, white, and green – skewered together on a stick.

The sanshoku dango colors represent different aspects of spring: pink for the cherry blossoms, white for the snow that still lingers, and green for the new growth beginning to emerge.

But sanshoku dango is more than just a symbol of spring – it’s also absolutely delicious! The mochi balls are chewy, and the sweet soy sauce glaze adds sweetness. If you want a fun and festive kawaii dessert to enjoy this spring!

Sakura Ice cream 

Sakura ice cream is a popular Japanese treat that’s perfect for springtime! As the weather warms up, so does the need for cold and frozen sweet treats. Made with delicate sakura petals, it has a light and fragrant flavor infused with a base of milk, cream, and sugar.

Some recipes also include bits of sweetened sakura petals, cherry blossom jam, and tasty mochi, adding a chewy and fruity texture! Not only is Sakura ice cream delicious. But it’s also a visual delight with its pink color and real sakura petals used as toppings. 

Springtime in Japan is a time for cherry blossom viewing and enjoying kawaii foods. These treats are visually stunning but also delicious and perfect for picnics under the cherry trees.

From sakura mochi to hanami bento. This season’s variety of kawaii food offers a unique twist on traditional Japanese treats. Making them the perfect spring snacks for celebrating the arrival of cherry blossoms and warmer weather! 

What kawaii food would you like to eat during the hanami season? Let us know in the comments!