Japanese Sweet Potato Snacks & Sweets
A Beginner’s Guide to Japanese Sweet Potato Treats
Sweet potatoes are used in many Japanese snacks and sweets. You can find them roasted, fried, dried, steamed, or turned into sweet treats!
When autumn arrives, you’ll also see lots of sweet potato-flavoured products at convenience stores and supermarkets in Japan.
Popular Japanese Sweet Potato Snacks & Sweets 🍠
Yaki Imo（焼き芋）
A whole sweet potato slowly roasted until it becomes soft, sweet, and warm. The texture can range from fluffy to very moist and creamy, depending on the variety.
Daigaku Imo（大学芋）
Sweet potato pieces that are deep-fried and coated in a sweet syrup. They’re usually finished with black sesame seeds and have a crispy outside and soft inside.
Imo Kenpi（芋けんぴ）
Thin strips of sweet potato that are deep-fried and coated with sugar syrup. They’re crispy, crunchy, and easy to snack on.
Hoshi Imo（干し芋）
Sweet potatoes that are steamed, sliced, and dried. They’re naturally sweet with a soft, chewy texture and are often enjoyed as a simple snack.
Sweet Potato Chips（さつまいもチップス）
Thin slices of sweet potato that are deep-fried until crispy. They’re similar to potato chips but have a natural sweetness. You can see large sweet potato chips at sightseeing areas such as Kawagoe.
Imo Yokan（芋ようかん）
A simple Japanese sweet made mainly with sweet potatoes and sugar. It has a smooth, firm texture and a gentle natural sweetness.
Sweet Potato Cake（スイートポテト）
A sweet made with mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, and other ingredients. It’s soft, creamy, and rich.
Regional Sweet Potato Sweets 🍠
Some regions in Japan have their own sweet potato sweets and snacks. Here are a few you might come across.
Ikinari Dango（いきなり団子） — Kumamoto
A steamed sweet made with slices of sweet potato and sweet red bean paste wrapped in chewy dough. It’s a traditional snack from Kumamoto.
Oni Manju（鬼まんじゅう） — Aichi
A steamed sweet made with chunks of sweet potato and a simple flour-based dough. It has a chewy texture and plenty of sweet potato pieces.
Imokoi（いも恋） — Kawagoe, Saitama
A Kawagoe sweet made with sweet potato and sweet red bean paste inside a soft, chewy dough. It’s a popular snack and souvenir in Kawagoe.
Imo Kintsuba（芋きんつば） — Asakusa, Tokyo
A type of kintsuba made with sweet potato paste. It has a soft, dense texture and a gentle sweetness.
Sweet Potato Varieties for Yaki Imo 🍠
The taste and texture of yaki imo can change depending on the sweet potato variety. Here are some varieties you may see in Japan.
Beni Haruka（べにはるか）
Very sweet and moist, with a soft and creamy texture when roasted. It’s one of the popular varieties for yaki imo.
Anno Imo（安納芋）
Rich, sweet, and creamy, with moist orange-coloured flesh. It’s especially known for its rich sweetness when roasted.
Beni Azuma（紅あずま）
A classic Japanese sweet potato with a fluffy texture and balanced sweetness. It’s traditionally been popular for yaki imo.
Silk Sweet（シルクスイート）
Smooth and soft with a fine texture. It has a gentle sweetness and becomes moist when roasted.
Where Can You Find Sweet Potato Snacks? 🍠
- Supermarkets
- Convenience stores
- Don Quijote
- Local greengrocers — Yaki imo
- Souvenir shops
- Street food and sightseeing areas
Yaki imo is easy to find in many supermarkets and some other shops. You can also find sweet potato snacks and sweets in convenience stores, especially in autumn.
Famous Sweet Potato-Producing Regions in Japan 🍠
- Kagoshima — one of Japan’s largest sweet potato-producing regions
- Ibaraki — famous for sweet potatoes and especially Hoshi Imo（干し芋）, and it produces around 90% of Japan’s dried sweet potatoes.
- Chiba — one of Japan’s major sweet potato-producing regions
- Tokushima — famous for Naruto Kintoki（鳴門金時）
- Kawagoe, Saitama — famous for Kawagoe Imo（川越いも）
Autumn Sweet Potato Flavours 🍠
When autumn arrives in Japan, sweet potato flavours start appearing everywhere. You may find sweet potato-flavoured ice cream, cakes, drinks, snacks, and convenience store sweets!
Dietary Information
Many sweet potato-based sweets are vegetarian, but ingredients vary. Some contain butter, milk, eggs, or wheat, so check the ingredients if you have dietary restrictions.
Why Try Japanese Sweet Potato Snacks? 🍠
Japanese sweet potato snacks come in many different textures and flavours, from soft and creamy roasted sweet potatoes to crispy chips and chewy dried sweet potatoes.
Taste some Japanese sweet potato treats! 🍠✨