Tokyo is home to thousands of shops serving mochi, from sweet to savory, Instagrammable to traditional. It’s easy to get lost deciding where to buy mochi in Tokyo that’s worth your yen, especially when even Seven Eleven has its share of options.
Mochi is the word used for the sticky, stretchy result of pounded rice, but we use it to discuss mochi-mochi texture foods like warabi mochi, too. It comes in sweet wagashi and savory okashi snack forms like mochi senbei, fried agemochi and savory isobemochi!
World-famous fruit daifuku shines in the summer, as do their less pricey ice-cream-filled cousins. Sakura mochi, pungent kusa mocha and oak-leaf wrapped versions show up in spring, while tsukimi mochi usher in fall along with changing leaves.
To learn more about its history and variations, our beginner’s guide to mochi has everything you could want to know about mochi and more.
Here are the 9 best mochi cafes and shops in Tokyo to get your chew on!
1. Gekko (月光)
If you only have time for one mochi shop, this is where to get fresh mochi in Tokyo. Gekko is easily reputed to be the best mochi shop in the whole city, offering mochi and Japanese teas. Their specialty is called donburi mochi, featuring fresh, handmade mochi that is pounded over 400 times per batch!
Topped with soy sauce, katsuo flakes, and dried seaweed, this is the ultimate way to taste the authentic savory flavor beloved by the Japanese. The owners are kind enough to share a secret too: it’s best eaten within 15 minutes of preparation, the sweet spot being at ten minutes. Take the time to eat in for a chewy experience you’ll never forget.
They are also known for warabi mochi, a sweet version hidden beneath a mountain of soybean flour and sugar called ‘kinako’.
The cutest mochi in Tokyo
2. Tokyo Yakimochi
It’s got a face! Located at a discreet little stand in Inokashira park, Tokyo Yakimochi serves mochi the traditional way as it’s available from street stalls and festival stalls. Mochi is skewered onto sticks and roasted over an open flame, much like extra chewy marshmallows.
The traditional flavor is mild and simple, a little salty, a little roasted, with a strong rice fragrance for ¥400 . Sweet toppings are also available, with different seasonal varieties like sakura paste a constant joy for families visiting the park.
If you find your mochi more fun in this unique snowman style, stop by on your way to one of Kichijoji and Mitaka’s exciting tourist areas.
3. Edo Usagi
It’s also got a face! On the sweet side is the city’s most popular ichigo daifuku. Mochi split in half, stuffed with red bean paste and a whole strawberry shoved inside doesn’t sound like the prettiest treat in the world, but this little guy sticking his tongue out sure is cute!
The Yokai Daifuku mochi rounds out at about ¥300 a piece, with strawberry, orange, and other fillings available seasonally. It’s as tasty as it is Instagrammable, but hopefully you won’t find it too cute to eat!
The oldest mochi shops in Tokyo (we think!)
The jury seems to be out on Tokyo’s oldest mochi store, with different sources pointing to contenders dating as far back as the 1200s. These are general wagashi shops, not Tokyo mochi shops or specialty stores, but it’s rare to step into a wagashi-ya not offering daifuku or other forms of mochi alongside their elegant tea sweets. Take a bite out of tradition with omiyage from one of these shops.
4. Toraya
This Tokyo wagashi shop is said to be the oldest of all, dating back to its start of sales in 1241! The operation has grown into a multi-storefront experience stretching as far as Paris.
Toraya’s wagashi and mochi are the type of gift that shows off just how elegant Japan’s hand-crafted sweets are. Omiyage from Toraya will set you back more than a couple of thousand yen, but it’s an opportunity to experience a craft that has been honed for centuries.
5. Shiose
Founded in 1349, Shiose offers a wide range of wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets of all kinds. Seasonal offerings rotate and just stopping to take a look at the museum tracing this auspicious store’s history through the Edo era is worth the trip!
Gawk at the finely beautiful wagashi before taking home a box of mochi for some of the nicest omiyage souvenirs money can buy.
The most unique mochi in Tokyo
For mochi that is as much an experience as it is a food, these shops are fun and authentic.
6. Mikan Club (味甘 Club)
Called the “Angel’s Tear,” the bubble-like warabi mochi here in Omotesando has people lining up day after day for a taste of the refreshingly ‘grammable rice cake. Mikan Club offers all its sweets for the same price, including the grill-your-own yakimochi that come with your choice of toppings.
The most expensive mochi in Tokyo
Some of the most expensive mochi in Japan may be bought online, like Eguchi dango or The Omochi’s premium mochi, perfect for gifting and gourmets (much like our own top-notch mochi offerings…), but you can get pretty close with these upscale mochi shops in Tokyo!
7. Higashiya Ginza
Higashiya Ginza offers the finest Japanese teas, but also selections of excellent wagashi. The menu features mochi, of course, including ohagi — a type of mochi where the rice grain remains visible — but it’s also an elegant place to learn first-hand some of the features of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and the art and craft of wagashi.
Nerikiri, yokan, and more are served alongside your mochi and tea for an unforgettable tea-time experience. It may not be the oldest mochi shop in Tokyo, but the elegant setting and Japanese tradition is certainly on par.
8. Fujimido
Mochi senbei are one of the easiest omiyage to give and enjoy, but Fujimido’s old-fashioned, made-by-hand approach elevates the whole process. The store’s interior is lovely and nostalgic, just like authentic, older establishments found in neighborhoods like Asakusa and Akasaka.
Just because something is fancy, doesn’t mean it always has to break the bank or feature gold leaf. These delicious, hand-made mochi crackers are luxurious because of their craftsmanship, and certainly worth a try.
9. Benzaiten Daifuku
This luxe fruit daifuku stand has locations across the country and boasts some of the most exclusive mochi out there. Prized regional fruit varieties, whole, juicy mikan wrapped in lightly floured gyuuhi (daifuku skin), and juicy Japanese peaches are all served chilled and ready to eat.
Fruit is known as a special treat in Japan, so taking the beloved ichigo daifuku a step further with these little delicacies is a luxurious sweet you can’t miss!
Japanese sweets and mochi-making classes in Tokyo
Mochi-making class in Tokyo
Want to master the art of mochi? Join this charming mochi-making class in Tokyo, where you’ll learn how to make four different types of mochi rice cake! Get to grips with one savory mochi, isobe, and three sweet mochi: strawberry daifuku, dango, and warabimochi. Who knew there were so many types of mochi?
Afterwards, sample your creations alongside a hot cup of matcha green tea.
Gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan mochi: Made from beans, sugar, and mochi powder, all the ingredients used are gluten-free and vegetarian. Vegan options are also available upon request.
Book this mochi-making cooking class in Tokyo!
Nerikiri-Making and Matcha: the Flowers and Flavors of Japan
In this traditional Japanese sweets-making class in Tokyo, you’ll learn how to make nerikiri wagashi, beautifully decorated Japanese sweets. With a design for each season, you’ll craft Japanese sweets in the shape of plum blossoms, the royal chrysanthemum, sunflowers, and sakura. Then enjoy your creations with a fresh cup of matcha green tea.
Gluten-free and vegan mochi: Made from beans, sugar, and mochi powder, all the ingredients used are gluten-free and vegan so that anyone can enjoy this class!
Book this seasonal wagashi-making class in Tokyo!
Wagashi-making class in Enoshima, near Tokyo
Although both mochi and wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets, wagashi itself literally means Japanese sweets. You’ll learn all about these delicate desserts in this wagashi-making workshop in Enoshima, a 1-2 hour journey away from central Tokyo, and the importance they play in the culture of Japan and its confectionery.
Book this traditional Japanese sweets-making cooking class near Tokyo!
Washi paper and mochi-making cooking class in Kyoto
So, this washi paper and mochi-making class in Kyoto is obviously not in Tokyo, but it’s such a unique experience that we thought you’d want to know about it. Under the watchful eye of a washi paper artisan, you’ll learn how to make traditional Japanese paper, make and enjoy chewy mochi rice cakes, and learn all about Kurotani, this countryside village in Kyoto.
For authentic Japanese culture with scenic views and memorable conversations, this is the experience you’ll want to join next time you’re in Kyoto.
Book this traditional Japanese paper and mochi-making cooking class in Kyoto!
Still intrigued by the history and culture behind these traditional Japanese desserts? Head to the 7 best wagashi shops in Tokyo, learn all about Japanese tea ceremonies, or have mochi snacks delivered to your house!
Mochi FAQs
What is mochi?
Mochi is the glutinous rice cake that’s made from rice and beaten until it becomes gooey and moldable. It is often also combined with water, sugar, and other ingredients to create desired flavors. Depending on the ingredients used, mochi is also often a gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan Japanese dessert. Find out more in our beginner’s guide to mochi.
What is wagashi?
Wagashi (和菓子) literally translates to “Japanese sweets,” and normally refers to the types of traditional Japanese sweets that have long been served alongside Japanese tea ceremonies.
But why would we tell you when we you could learn about wagashi from the expert herself, Miss Wagashi:
Is mochi vegetarian or vegan?
Usually, yes! Although there are many different types of mochi, meaning that not all variations are vegetarian or vegan, the main ingredients in mochi are rice, water, sugar, and cornstarch, meaning that it is often vegetarian and even vegan.
