Taiyaki

Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake filled with sweet red bean paste. It is made with a similar type of batter as making pancakes of waffles and tastes somewhere in between. Taiyaki is most commonly sold at festivals and by street vendors. Recently, taiyaki machines, or pans, are being sold allowing you to make taiyaki in your own homes. Although traditionally sweet red bean paste is used as the taiyaki filling, nowadays there is more variety in the fillings such as custard, chocolate, and cheese. Its is best enjoyed when freshly made since the crust is crispy yet with a fluffy soft inside, but be careful for it can get very hot. One popular way people are starting to enjoy taiyaki is by serving ice-cream from the top of the head. The sweet blend of ice-cream and fresh taiyaki is a must during the hotter summer months. Recently, taiyaki has become more popular thanks to the anime Boku no Hero Academia. Thanks to that, you'll probably be able to find taiyaki while browsing the stores of Akihabara. Interestingly, some Japanese prefer to eat from the head to the tail, and other from the tail to the head, but there is technically no correct way of eating so enjoy the cute fish-shaped cake however you'd like.

GIve taiyaki a try during a Japanese festival while we explore the best sights between Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and more on our line of fully-guided Cherry Blossom Japan Tours or Japanese Festival Vacation Packages available in the spring or year-round.