You may have tried a parfait or two at various green tea purveyors in Singapore, but if you’re headed to Japan then be prepared for an onslaught of incredibly creative parfaits.
The Japanese parfait has truly evolved into its very own modern ‘king of desserts’ – imagine a mixture of mochi rice cakes, glazed fruit, soft cream, or green tea jelly stacked over a handful of cornflakes. It’s not difficult to find over-the-top varieties that include cookies, waffles, or even whole cakes, some artfully stacked so high that they defy gravity. It’s no wonder they’re popular Instagram stars.
Initial Omotesando, Tokyo
This dessert spot is for night owls with a sweet tooth! In Japan, they call it a shime-parfait—ending the night on a sweet note. Lucky for you, Initial Omotesando stays open late every night, dishing out swoon-worthy parfaits and fruity sandwiches made with fresh seasonal produce. Their signature parfaits are a true showstopper: Hokkaido milk soft-serve that’s light on sugar but big on flavour, piled high with luscious fruit, and a sneaky twist—alcohol-infused jelly for a grown-up touch. It’s the ultimate indulgence to cap off your evening, and for adults only!
Kurashiki Momoko, Okayama
Okayama is nicknamed ‘City of Fruit Parfaits’ thanks to over 50 establishments, including Kurashiki Momoko, offering creative fruit parfaits made with generous helpings of seasonal fruits. Located in a 150-year-old traditional Japanese house in the Bikan Historical Quarter, their extensive menu is seasonal. Here, you can find Chocolate Banana as well as Summer and Autumn specials. Not to be missed is the White Strawberry Parfait, available from December to May, which is generously topped with rare white strawberries.
Cafe Fusha, Hiroshima
Cafe Fusha (Windmill Cafe) has three outlets that serve western food alongside its very extensive menu of parfaits. Boasting up to 50 varieties, their exquisitely-designed creations come with a huge variety of toppings ranging from chocolate and fresh fruits to houjicha, and even cake slices! Look out for their Instagram-worthy jumbo parfaits, which is a gigantic bowl of creation measuring 30cm high and 30cm wide, topped with three cones of parfait surrounded by more ice cream. It’s definitely one for the Insta!
Ito Kyuemon Uji, Kyoto
Kyoto is the best place to sample original matcha parfait using quality Uji green tea, especially at places like the Ito Kyuemon Uji branch at JR Uji Station which has a cafe called Sabo. Their original parfait is a treat, and includes green tea jelly, shiratama dumplings, and red bean paste. You can even upgrade it to a more decadent version which is topped with a slice of matcha roll cake, or indulge in their limited-availability seasonal specials like the Sakura Parfait in spring or Matcha Chocolate in December.
Parfait Shop Nanakamadou, Sapporo
In Sapporo’s nightlife district of Susukino, people eat parfaits after a night of drinking! These shime parfait shops are now part of their nightlife culture! Parfait Shop Nanakamadou is part of shime parfait chain – including Parfeteria MiL, Parfeteria miL, and Parfeteria beL – that serves glasses of incredibly photogenic parfaits made with local ingredients, creating a medley of flavours from bitter to sweet. There is no fixed menu but each creation is a feast for the eyes; they are known for ones designed with an empty space in the middle of a tall glass.
Kaga, Ishikawa
For an interesting take on parfait, try the Kaga Parfait – a five-layer creation made using local Kaga vegetables like sweet potato, cucumber, eggplant, radish and squash. There are 16 guidelines to follow in order to be certified as ‘Kaga Parfait’, and only a number of dessert stores in Kaga serve them. Each store’s version uses different ingredients, but all are served on locally-made lacquerware tray and Kutani plate with Kaga stem tea.
