Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Japanese Sweets (Vegan Wagashi You Must Try) 🌸🍡
Are you looking for delicious, plant-based, culturally rich, and beautifully crafted desserts?
Welcome to the world of wagashi—traditional Japanese sweets that are not only stunning to look at but also naturally vegan!
Unlike many Western desserts, wagashi typically contain no dairy or eggs.
Instead, they use simple, natural ingredients like red bean paste, rice flour, agar (a seaweed-based gelatin), and seasonal fruits.
Whether you’re vegan, health-conscious, or just curious, here are 10 amazing vegan-friendly wagashi you should try!
1. 
Amanattō (Sweetened Beans)
2. 
Higashi (Dry Sweets)
Elegant and colorful, these dry sweets are often made from sugar and rice flour using wooden molds.
They dissolve in your mouth and are served at traditional tea ceremonies.
3. 
Kuzukiri (Arrowroot Noodles)
Kuzukiri is a refreshing summer dessert made from translucent noodles of kudzu starch, served with brown sugar syrup.
Light, cooling, and naturally vegan.
4. 
Imo Yōkan (Sweet Potato Yokan)
This is a variation of yokan made from Japanese sweet potatoes.
It’s rich, smooth, and has a gentle sweetness that feels like comfort food.
5. 
Anmitsu (Agar Jelly Dessert)
Anmitsu is a bowl of agar jelly cubes, fruits, sweet beans, and syrup.
Skip the dairy toppings, and it becomes a perfect plant-based treat.
6. 
Hōjicha Jelly
This jelly is made using roasted green tea (hōjicha) and agar.
It’s aromatic, earthy, and ideal for those who prefer less sweetness.
7. 
Kintsuba
Kintsuba is a grilled sweet where thick red bean paste is coated in a thin flour batter.
Hearty, satisfying, and simple in ingredients.
8. 
Vegan Sata Andagi
Originally from Okinawa, these are deep-fried dough balls.
Many shops and recipes now offer egg-free, plant-based versions that are equally delicious!
9. 
Zenzai / Oshiruko (Sweet Red Bean Soup)
Served hot or cold, this comforting dish features sweet red bean soup with chewy mochi.
Traditionally made with only plant-based ingredients.
10. 
Mizu Yōkan (Chilled Yokan)
A summer favorite, this version of yokan has a higher water content, making it lighter and more refreshing.
It’s smooth, cool, and of course, naturally vegan.
Want to Try These at Home? 
You don’t have to travel to Japan to enjoy these plant-based sweets.
Sakuraco delivers authentic Japanese wagashi straight to your door, anywhere in the world.
Each monthly box includes a variety of traditional treats—from yokan and mochi to seasonal specialties—handpicked from regional makers across Japan.
It’s the easiest (and tastiest) way to explore Japan’s sweet traditions from the comfort of your home.
Try Sakuraco today and bring the magic of wagashi into your life! 
Final Thoughts
Wagashi offers more than just beautiful presentation—it brings a mindful, seasonal, and often vegan-friendly way to enjoy sweets.
Whether you’re following a plant-based diet or simply exploring new cultures, these Japanese confections are a must-try.
Which wagashi are you excited to try first? Let us know in the comments!
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