A Taste of Summer: Three Iconic Japanese Sweets in Kyoto

Summer in Kyoto arrives not with fanfare, but with the soft wind through bamboo, the hum of cicadas, and the delicate shifting of sweets. In Japan, the seasons are not only felt—they are tasted. And few experiences offer a more poetic glimpse of summer than the cool elegance of wagashi, traditional Japanese confections. If you’re staying at Miru Kyoto Nishiki or Miru Kyoto Gion, you’re perfectly positioned to explore some of the city’s most iconic summer sweets—all within walking distance.

Let us introduce three classic summer sweets: wakaayu, minazuki, and kuzukiri, and three local shops, where they are crafted with care and tradition.

Wakaayu (若鮎)

Shaped like a baby ayu fish, wakaayu is both playful and refined. The outer layer is a golden sponge cake, filled with soft, chewy mochi. It mimics the ayu swimming in Kyoto’s summer rivers, and is often enjoyed chilled. At Kameya Yoshinaga, a popular sweets house, ten-minutes walk from Miru Kyoto Nishiki, you’ll find an exquisite version of this treat. The shop also offers hands-on wagashi-making classes – a rare chance to shape a season with your own fingers.

Minazuki (水無月)

At the end of June in Kyoto, the Nagoshi no Harae purification ritual takes place to cleanse away misfortunes from the first half of the year. It’s a time to step into summer with a fresh spirit and pray for health in the months ahead.

One of the symbols of this ritual is minazuki – a triangle of steamed rice flour topped with sweet red beans. The shape represents shards of ice to cool the spirit during the humid summer, while the red beans are believed to ward off evil. Humble and seasonal, minazuki is only available at this time of year.

Gion Narumiya, a small shop just a ten-minute stroll from Miru Kyoto Gion, makes minazuki with care and a local’s gentle touch. Visiting here during this seasonal ritual is a small but meaningful way to embrace Kyoto’s summer traditions.

Kuzukiri (葛切り)

Perhaps the most delicate of summer sweets, kuzukiri is made from arrowroot starch, cut into slippery, translucent noodles and served in chilled black syrup. Eaten slowly with chopsticks, each bite slides coolly across the tongue, a fleeting relief from Kyoto’s midsummer heat. The iconic Kagizen Yoshifusa, located along bustling Shijo Street in the heart of Gion and just a five-minute walk from Miru Kyoto Gion, is celebrated for its kuzukiri, served in a quiet tearoom that seems to breathe in time with the season.

In Kyoto, summer is not escaped—it is embraced, one delicate bite at a time. We invite you to taste it, and with both Miru Kyoto Nishiki and Miru Kyoto Gion just steps from these historic sweet shops, your seasonal journey begins right at your doorstep..

Kameya Yoshinaga

Kagizen Yoshifusa

Make the most of your Kyoto experience by staying at Miru Kyoto Gion or Miru Kyoto Nishiki—two boutique stays blending tradition with modern comfort. Wake up to Kyoto’s quiet charm, steps away from the city’s most enchanting sights.

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