Hiroo’s cherry blossom sweets

One of the best places to get in some cherry blossom viewing (hanami) in the Miami-Azabu area is Arisugawanomiya Memorial Park. The park is home to approximately one hundred cherry trees of eleven different varieties, and because each species flowers at slightly different time, the hanami season here is relatively long. Plus, as might be expected of a park so close to the German, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, Austrian and Chinese embassies, the park boasts a truly international mix of cherry blossom viewers each year. One last point to take note of – the area around Hiroo train station, just a few streets west of the park, is a great place to find cherry blossom sweets, either to take home or enjoy in the park.

Funabashiya Koyomi, Hiroo: Kuzu-mochi Pudding Sakura & Amazake Mousse Sakura

Kuzu-mochi pudding is made with the same starch that is used to make Kanto-style kuzu-mochi (a confectionary made from wheat starch and traditionally served with soy bean powder and molasses), and has a distinctly eggy flavour. A seasonal sweet with the consistency of firm custard, ‘Kuzu-mochi Pudding Sakura’ has a cherry blossom taste and is only available in spring. ‘Amazake Mousse Sakura’ is a rich mousse with an amazake (a sweet drink made from fermented rice or sake lees) flavour. Like ‘Kuzu-mochi Pudding’, ‘Amazake Mousse Sakura’ is a seasonal sweet that is only available in spring. ‘Kuzu-mochi Pudding Sakura’ and ‘Amazake Mousse Sakura’ can be bought together for ¥849.
(Full details & map)

Gelateria La Napoli, Hiroo: Sakura

Gelateria La Napoli is widely acknowledged as a pioneer in broadening the Japanese gelato ice cream market. They stock twenty different varieties of handmade traditional Italian gelato and, during spring, they also stock an eye-catching rich, pink ‘Sakura’ variety that has a cherry blossom flavour. A cup of ‘Sakura’ gelato at La Napoli costs ¥350.
(Full details & map)

Kobeya Kitchen, Hiroo: Sakura Pastry & Sakura Mont Blanc

A shop with its fair share of foreign patrons, Kobeya Kitchen in Hiroo sells, amongst other things, both French and German bread. However, as popular as these products are, during spring turn your eyes to their ‘Sakura Pastry’. This unique pastry is baked in the shape of a cherry blossom petal with a small amount of cherry blossom flavoured an (bean jam) in each of its five petals. ‘Sakura Mont Blanc’ is a Japanese style cake with a rich cherry-blossom flavoured cream topping. Although it looks relatively large and sugary, it’s actually not as sweet as it appears and is soon wolfed down. ‘Sakura Pastry’ are ¥200 a piece, and ‘Sakura Mont Blanc’ are ¥380 each.
(Full details & map)

Related articles:
・Extraordinary hanami spots
　8 ways to see sakura from boats, streetcars and roller coasters
・Top ten cherry blossom sweets
　Taste the sweet beauty of Japan in Tokyo
・Tokyo’s cherry blossom lanes
　In Tokyo, you’re never far away from a street lined with cherry trees