Matsue Wakakusa Sweet

Matsue ranks alongside Kyoto and Kanazawa as one of Japan three great confection towns, a castle town where the culture of the tea ceremony runs deep. Among its sweets, wakakusa is a famed confection of soft gyuhi rice cake coated in a pale green crumbly layer. Its color, evoking freshly sprouting spring grass, and its refined sweetness look beautiful at a tea gathering.

Highlights

Wakakusa is said to be a sweet deeply connected to Matsudaira Fumai, a lord of the Matsue domain in the Edo period who was also renowned as a tea master. Fumai encouraged the tea ceremony, and his aesthetic sense nurtured the confection culture of Matsue. The charm lies in the contrast between the chewy gyuhi and the coating that crumbles softly in the mouth. Paired with matcha, its delicate flavor stands out even more.

Enjoying the Seasons

As its name suggests, wakakusa is a sweet that evokes spring, yet it can be enjoyed all year. Eating it while strolling the castle town during cherry blossom season adds all the more atmosphere. At Matsue Castle and the tea rooms around it, you can enjoy a bowl of matcha and a sweet amid seasonal settings, feeling the charm of each of the four seasons.

Access and Basic Information

Wakakusa can be bought at long established confectioners and souvenir shops in Matsue. Facilities where you can enjoy tea are scattered around Matsue Castle, and you can reach the castle area from JR Matsue Station by bus or rental bicycle. Pausing for a bowl of tea in a quiet tea room is also recommended.

A Quick Tip

Because the gyuhi in wakakusa dries out easily, it is best to enjoy it soon after purchase. It goes well not only with matcha but also with fragrant sencha green tea. Combining it with other famed Matsue sweets in an assortment makes a fitting souvenir from a town of tea.