🟣 Tokyo-do-must — Only-in-Tokyo experience.
This article explores what taiyaki is, why this classic Japanese sweet is shaped like a sea bream, and how to enjoy it in Tokyo.
Last updated: 2026-08-16
Introduction
Taiyaki is a popular Japanese sweet made by baking batter in a fish-shaped mold with a filling inside.
It is often described in English as a fish-shaped cake, but despite its name and appearance, taiyaki normally contains no fish.
So why is it shaped like one?
The fish is tai, or sea bream, which has long been associated with celebrations and good fortune in Japan. Its name also sounds similar to medetai, a Japanese word meaning auspicious or worthy of celebration.
Taiyaki is generally said to have originated in Tokyo during the Meiji era. One popular explanation is that sea bream itself was an expensive fish, so shaping an affordable sweet like a sea bream allowed ordinary people to enjoy its lucky image in a playful way.
That is what makes taiyaki more interesting than simply wrapping sweet bean paste in batter.
It turns the auspicious image of a sea bream into an everyday sweet.
There is no fish inside, yet one glance is enough to recognize the shape of a tai. That little piece of imagination is part of the charm of taiyaki.
This article uses the taiyaki I tried in Tokyo’s Togoshi-Ginza to explain what taiyaki is and how to enjoy this classic Japanese sweet.
What to Try
Classic Anko Taiyaki
If you are trying taiyaki for the first time, start with the classic filling: anko.
Anko is a traditional Japanese sweet bean paste made from azuki red beans and sugar.
Batter is poured into a tai-shaped mold, anko is placed inside, and another layer of batter is added before the two sides are baked together.
Fresh from the mold, the outside is warm and fragrant, while the sweet anko inside is soft and comforting.
Today, taiyaki can also be filled with custard, chocolate, cheese, and many other ingredients. But if you want to understand what taiyaki is, anko is still the best place to start.
I tried a rice-flour taiyaki in Tokyo’s Togoshi-Ginza Shopping Street.
The use of rice flour gives the shell a slightly different texture from conventional taiyaki, with a light crispness and pleasant chew.
Taiyaki is not an elaborate or luxurious wagashi. It is a casual sweet that is especially enjoyable when eaten freshly baked.
If you spot a taiyaki shop while exploring a Japanese shopping street, buy one and enjoy it while it is still warm.
And then comes one of the small pleasures of eating taiyaki: do you start with the head or the tail?
📍 Koka Komeko Taiyaki Togoshi Ginza Ten (Tabelog English)
Tokyo or Trip?
🟣 Tokyo-do-must — Only-in-Tokyo experience.
Taiyaki can now be found throughout Japan. It is a casual sweet that you may encounter while walking through shopping streets, neighborhoods, and food districts across the country.
So you do not need to visit Tokyo simply to find good taiyaki.
There is, however, a special reason to try it here: taiyaki is generally regarded as a sweet that originated in Tokyo during the Meiji era.
The idea was wonderfully simple: take tai, the sea bream associated with celebration and good fortune, and turn its shape into an affordable sweet that ordinary people could enjoy.
More than a century later, you can still find taiyaki being baked and sold casually in Tokyo’s shopping streets.
Tokyo food experiences are often associated with sushi, tempura, or ramen. But if you notice a taiyaki shop while walking through the city, stop for a moment.
Buy one freshly baked fish-shaped sweet and eat it with your hands.
Experiencing a small everyday snack born in Tokyo, while walking through Tokyo today, is another way to discover the city’s food culture.
Similar Dishes
- Mitarashi Dango in Kyoto: Kyoto’s Quiet Shrine Sweet Culture 🍡
- Warabi Mochi in Togoshi-Ginza — Soft, Bouncy, Kinako-Dusted 🍡
- Amazake & Coffee at Togoshi Hachiman Shrine — An Open-Air Living Room in a Quiet Sanctuary ⛩️
External Links
❤️ Support Taste of Japan
Thank you for reading this article!
I travel across Japan to discover local food culture and share it in English for visitors from around the world. If this guide helped you enjoy Japan a little more, I'm truly grateful.
The advertisement below helps support the operation of this blog. If you're interested in what you see, feel free to check it out. Thank you for your support!
About "Taste of Japan"
Hello, I'm Yuta.
Born in landlocked Yamanashi and having lived in the gourmet city of Sendai for 10 years, I now call Togoshi-Ginza home. My frequent business trips across Japan allow me to constantly explore the diversity of regional flavors.
Why Togoshi-Ginza?
This street is Tokyo’s longest shopping arcade (about 1.3 km), but it holds a special history. It was the very first street in Japan to adopt the "Ginza" name—a tradition that later spread across the country—after receiving bricks from the famous Ginza district following the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
My Wish as a Local
I am not a culinary expert. However, as a Japanese local who knows both the convenience of Tokyo and the origins of regional food, I want to share the "atmosphere" and "personal feelings" that you won't find in standard guidebooks.
The Concept: "Tokyo or Trip?"
Visiting every region of Japan in a single trip is nearly impossible. Some food experiences are worth the travel to the source, while others offer a fully satisfying experience right here in Tokyo.
This blog is a guide to help you make that choice. Based in Togoshi-Ginza, I share my honest experiences and "my personal answer" to help you maximize your culinary journey in Japan.
- 🟠 Local-First: Best experienced in its home region. Worth a trip.
- 🟢 Great-in-Tokyo: A nationwide favorite or regional specialty that offers a fully satisfying, authentic experience right here in Tokyo.
- 🟣 Tokyo-Do-Must: A unique food culture born in or exclusive to Tokyo.