When it comes to sweets, Japan is no stranger. Wagashi, in particular, are a confection with a long and rich history. 

Wagashi isn’t one specific type of sweet, but an entire category. These treats became especially popular during the Edo period as accompaniments to tea and tea ceremonies. As a result, wagashi are not only delicious, but also carefully crafted to be visually beautiful—often reflecting the seasons through color, shape, and design. 

While wagashi are enjoyed year-round, there are also many sweets closely associated with winter traditions and the New Year, along with modern Japanese-inspired flavors that feel right at home during the holiday season anywhere in the world. 

Let’s check out both! 

Classic sweets for the winter  

In Japan, there are a handful of treats associated with the winter time and new year. 

Mochi, for example, is a staple tradition for Japanese New Year’s.

Made from glutinous rice harvested in the fall, mochi takes center stage during mochitsuki, the traditional practice of pounding steamed rice into a smooth, elastic dough. Mochitsuki typically takes place in the weeks leading up to the New Year. 

More than just a method of food preparation, mochitsuki is a communal event. The physical effort—swinging large wooden mallets in rhythm—requires teamwork and coordination. Over centuries, this shared labor has come to symbolize unity, cooperation, and starting the new year together as a community. 

Sweets made with adzuki red beans are also very common around this time of year. 

Oshiruko or zenzai are sweet red bean soups are enjoyed especially during the winter.  Oshiruko tends to be thinner and more soup-like, while zenzai is thicker and chunkier. Both are served hot and often include pieces of mochi that soften and partially melt into the soup, making them deeply comforting on a cold day. Like mochitsuki, these sweets are strongly associated with New Year celebrations. 

Taiyaki is another popular red bean treat. A beloved street food enjoyed year-round—including during the New Year season—taiyaki is made from a batter similar to pancakes or waffles, cooked in an iron shaped like a sea bream (tai), a fish traditionally associated with good luck and prosperity. The result is a warm, crisp shell filled with sweet red bean paste. 

Fusion baking with Japanese flavors 

Beyond traditional Japanese sweet for this time of year, there are also some flavors from Japan and elsewhere in Asia that have become especially popular in North America in recent years. These ingredients can be wonderful additions to familiar holiday baked goods. 

For example, matcha can add a slightly sweet earthiness to desserts like matcha cookies and cakes. It pairs surprisingly well with many classic bakes—think matcha spritz cookies, tea cakes, or even a matcha-infused rum cake. 

Ube has similar earthy qualities and subtle sweetness like matcha. This can go really well with the rich buttery taste of shortbread, for example, or cheesecake. Ube also compliments Christmas-favorite crinkle cookies or spritz cookies. 

Black sesame is another flavor that can also mesh well with many of these baked goods. Its earthiness is evident but toned down compared to ube and matcha, while it’s more nutty, adding another unique element that can pair well with other flavors that might clash a bit with those ones. It pairs well with chocolate and citrus—orange and black sesame cookies, for example, strike a lovely balance. 

Speaking of citrus: yuzu! 

This fragrant Japanese citrus can often be used in place of lemon or orange for a slightly different twist. Yuzu pairs well with vanilla and warm holiday spices, making desserts like yuzu pound cake or yuzu-glazed cookies especially appealing. 

If the holidays come with a bit of indulgence, surely the comfort of getting together to bake and partake in it with those you love makes those indulgences pretty worthwhile! Whether hosting or visiting, you’ll have a hit with ube rum cake, matcha spritz cookies, or a bowl of sweet zenzai, to get in the spirit. 

Of course we also have to mention that you can find lots of premade sweets at Uwajimaya if you happen to be stopping by or for more tricky-to-make or specialty goods: roasted green tea shortbread, roll cakes, red bean cakes, baumkuchen, daifuku, taiyaki — you’ll see that all at Uwajimaya for the holidays!