The Best Beginner-Friendly Wagashi Shop in Japan

My Top 7 Favorite Japanese sweets at Chateraise

If you’ve never heard of wagashi (和菓子) before, the word comes from 和 (Japanese) and 菓子 (sweet)—traditional confections that reflect the seasons and are often enjoyed with tea. They’re beautiful to look at and gentle in flavor.

When I’m back at my family home in Japan, there’s one sweet shop I never miss: Chateraise. With shops all across Japan, it’s the perfect place for anyone curious about wagashi but unsure where to begin.

What makes Chateraise so great for travelers is that you don’t need to buy a large box. You can pick up just one or two pieces at a time—an easy, low-commitment way to discover which wagashi you like best.

In this newsletter, I’ll share

1. The health aspects of wagashi compared to Western sweets

2. What makes Chateraise such a special store

3. My personal wagashi ranking at Chateraise

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Is Wagashi Healthy?

Chateraise Official Website

As a new medical doctor, I sometimes wonder if it’s strange for me to introduce sweets. But wagashi are quite different from the butter- and cream-heavy desserts many people are used to.

Here are three reasons why wagashi can be a smarter choice, compared to western sweets:

1. Lower fat content

Wagashi are made from beans, rice, and sweet potatoes rather than butter or oils. This means less fat.

For reference: three Chips Ahoy! cookies (my childhood favorite in the US) contain 8g of fat. To see how wagashi compare, check the fat content in my ranking below.

2. Nutrient-dense ingredients

Adzuki beans, sweet potatoes, and chestnuts bring natural fiber, antioxidants, and plant-based proteins—something you won’t find in highly processed flours and sugars.

3. Smaller portions and milder sweetness

Wagashi are meant to be eaten slowly, often with green tea. Their smaller size and restrained use of sugar naturally encourage moderation.

So while no sweet is “healthy,” wagashi are a lighter, more balanced way to enjoy something sweet.

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What Makes Chateraise Special?

Chateraise is everywhere in Japan—over 500 shops nationwide, with more than 40 in Tokyo. But what makes it stand out for me are these points:

1. You can try just one piece

– perfect for first-timers.

2. Beautiful packaging

– ideal as a small gift or souvenir.

3. Allergy-friendly options

– cakes without egg, milk, or wheat mean that even people with allergies can enjoy.

4. Farm-to-shop freshness

-by partnering with farmers and using their own factories, Chateraise maintains both high quality and affordable prices.

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My Chateraise Wagashi Ranking

Now, here’s my personal top 7, complete with details to help you choose which one to try first.

7th Place: Mizu Yokan Koshian (水ようかんこし餡)

Smooth, chill, and classic red bean jelly

This is a refreshing jelly made from smooth red bean paste, sugar, water, and kanten (agar). It has a light, melt-in-your-mouth texture and just the right touch of sweetness, making it a perfect companion to green tea on a hot summer day.

• Allergy info: none

• 134 kcal | 0.2g fat | 1.7g protein

6th Place: Fluffy Dashi Soy Sauce Rice Cracker (ふっくら焼き和風だし醤油)

Crispy rice cracker with umami soy dashi flavor

These senbei are light yet full of flavor, seasoned with a blend of soy sauce and Japanese dashi stock. Their savory aroma and delicate crunch make them an addictive snack you’ll want to have alongside tea or even as a small savory break between sweets.

• Allergy info: wheat

• 82 kcal | 1.5g fat | 1.3g protein

5th Place (Bonus, not wagashi): Yatsugatake Farm Fresh Milk Ice Bar (八ヶ岳南牧村契約牧場しぼりたて牛乳バー)

Pure mountain milk, no additives

Chateraise Official Website

This one isn’t wagashi—it’s ice cream—but I love it so much that I had to include it. Made with fresh milk from Yatsugatake’s contract farm, it contains no preservatives or artificial ingredients. The flavor is simple yet rich, capturing the natural sweetness of high-quality milk. It’s light, refreshing, and one of my personal go-to treats at Chateraise.

• Allergy info: milk

• 105 kcal | 5.5g fat | 1.9g protein

4th Place: Karinto Manju (かりんとう饅頭)

Crunchy brown sugar classic

This deep-fried bun has a thin, crispy crust flavored with rich brown sugar, and inside is a smooth, sweet red bean paste. The combination of crunchy outside and soft filling creates a contrast that makes each bite deeply satisfying.

• Allergy info: wheat, yam, sesame

• 180 kcal | 5.7g fat | 3.0g protein

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Has anything on the list caught your eye? Please share this article along with the wagashi you’d be most excited to try!

From here, I’ll share my Top 3 must-try wagashi at Chateraise—including my absolute favorite. These are available to paid subscribers.

Paid subscribers will also start receiving coupon codes and exclusive giveaways for Japanese wellness products starting next month, so this is a good time to join in!

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The Top 3 must-try wagashi at Chateraise

🥉3rd Place…