Kantan-na Yume: Wagashi Art Café

Tucked away on a hill in one of the quieter streets of Shibuya is Kantan-na Yume (Easy Dream). This elegant café specializes in wagashi art, blending tradition with contemporary culture.

Wagashi is a type of traditional Japanese confectionery that has been popular since the Edo period. The sweets are made into bite-sized pieces, and typically use plant-based ingredients such as rice, adzuki beans, fruit, and sugar. 

As well as having a refreshing flavor, wagashi have cultural significance. Visually, they represent the changing seasons and transient nature of life — through color and design. You will often see wagashi in traditional tea and even religious ceremonies, given that giving wagashi symbolizes hospitality and gratitude. 

Price range

Making wagashi is a form of art; it requires special skills and methods. At Kantan-na Yume, an individual piece costs between ¥380 and ¥480.

The recommended thing to do is to get the three-piece set, for ¥1,300. This includes one nerikiri (wagashi made with sweetened white bean paste) and two other sweets of your choice. Options include jelly, monaka (adzuki bean paste between crisp wafers), and yōkan (red bean paste, agar, and sugar).

Although you can find cheaper wagashi elsewhere, you are paying for the craftsmanship and creativity that go into making each one. 

Food

As mentioned, you are encouraged to mix and match. There are plenty of wagashi to choose from, all with their own distinct style and flavor. Note that some wagashi do contain allergens like eggs and sesame, so check the ingredients with the staff before ordering. 

Each individual piece of wagashi is beautifully crafted and intricately detailed. They look like works of art and are almost too pretty to eat. On the day we visited, we opted for the recommended three-piece set, inspired by the beauty of Japanese summer. 

Pictured on the left is a matcha wagashi, themed after Tanabata (the star festival), and the bamboo tree used to carry wishes. In the middle is a pink wagashi in the shape of a flower, which tasted like lemon cheesecake. On the right is a pink and blue hydrangea, which has a beautiful raindrop detail and an Earl Grey flavor.

Each piece had a perfectly light texture and distinctive taste. The lemon cheesecake was by far the sweetest. Our personal favorite was the matcha one, as it was more on the bitter side.

You’ll notice that little pieces of dried seaweed are included on the plate; these are palate cleansers that should be eaten between each wagashi. 

Drinks

Surprisingly, for a café with a focus on wagashi, there are actually quite a few different drink options to choose from. On the menu are three different types of drinks: tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages. All of them are between ¥600 and ¥880, about the same as you would pay at other independent cafés.

Traditionally, people drink matcha with wagashi. This is because the bitterness helps to counteract the sweetness of the wagashi. Since we visited on a hot summer’s day, we went for iced matcha (¥770). It was served in a gorgeous tea bowl.

You can see all the tea bowls behind the main counter — all made by different artists across Japan. There is even the option to request a certain bowl, if you have a preference.

There were other teas including regular green tea, cave age hōjicha (hōjicha that has been aged and has an earthier taste), green rooibos tea, and black tea. If you aren’t a tea drinker, there is also coffee. 

On Wednesdays, the café opens again in the evening and is lovely place to enjoy a drink. If you are feeling adventurous, you could try one of the rather unique alcoholic drinks, including green tea and gin, hōjicha and whisky, Japanese black tea and shochu, or Japanese pepper, vodka, and sparkling water. Each of these are ¥770. 

Ambience

Although the inside of the café is quite small, it feels like a mini art exhibition, with its beautiful display of pottery on the shelf, flower arrangements, and art on the wall.

One of Kantan-na Yume’s main concepts is to give people the chance to eat wagashi in a casual setting. It definitely lives up to this concept through its homely and laid-back feel. We went along on a weekday afternoon, and it was pretty quiet.

There are seats both downstairs and upstairs — we recommend sitting upstairs, as there is more space and natural light. The interior of the upstairs seating area is inspired by traditional teahouse esthetics, offering a feeling of Zen.

Sitting here gives you a rare moment to slow down and take in more peaceful surroundings. It really feels like a world away from the busy streets of Shibuya.

It is worth noting that you do not need to make a reservation for Kantan-na Yume, and take-out is available if you would prefer to enjoy your wagashi in the nearby Yoyogi Park or take it home.

Accessibility

Kantan-na Yume sits on top of a hill, meaning that it is not the most accessible place. On top of this, the inside of the café is quite narrow, with only a few steps to the upstairs area. That said, the lavatory is located near the entrance downstairs. 

Our review of Kantan-na Yume

With its beautiful wagashi art and tranquil atmosphere, Kantan-na Yume is for those who value esthetics as well as want to try traditional Japanese sweets with contemporary flavors. It provides the perfect place to briefly escape the busy city.

It also gives you the chance to explore the residential areas of Tomigaya and Kamiyamacho, which have other cafés, independent boutiques, and local eateries. 

by Jane Pipkin