I have developed a liking for Japanese sweets this summer!

[Ninisix]

Summer is not necessarily ice cream, japanese sweet have progressive increase in my summer buying ! These little Japanese sweets, especially not pretensious one have been the sweet for this hot situation !! Oh, this is not replacing my French pastries, but I have to say that the 'mizu manju' of Akebono (peach mizu manju), 'ogura yokan' of Toraya (eaten with acid fruits), Japanese pudding with matcha sauce at Wagashi mame have been a great match on summer. 
If someone have other gooood suggestions on Japanese seasonal sweet...

[prasantrin]

Does warabi mochi count? I love warabi mochi.

[Ninisix]

Uncle Yabai : Thank-you. It is difficult to find some good 'kakikori', some places changed it to some kind of 'frappé'
Prasantin : sure. It will be nice, so please share the place you know.

[E Eto]

I was just discussing the subject of warabi-mochi shops this evening, and how there just aren't that many anymore. Apparently there's one nearby neighborhood in Hiroshima which I'm planning on visiting. It's amazing what can be made with ferns. I thought I read somewhere that warabi-mochi is more a thing of Kansai and western Japan.

[Ninisix]

The only sign of warabi mochi in Tokyo that I have noticed is near the Nihonbashi Takashimaya :
http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1302/A130...

[prasantrin]

In Kansai every supermarket has warabimochi stands for at least a few weeks. Or so it seemed. The best warabimochi I've ever had was in Kyoto near one of the larger temples. i can't remember which one, though. very famous for warabimochi.

On a more helpful note, in Kyoto you can try the warabimochi at the tea shop owned by Tawaraya. Pricey and the serving is tiny, but also very delicious. It's called Yukei. The interior of the tea shop is quite beautiful in that typical Kyoto way.

Anekoji Fuyacho-Higashiiru Nakagyo-ku,Kyoto
Open:10:00-19:00
Closed on the 1st & the 3rd Tuesday
(Jan,Feb.Mar.Jun.Jul.Aug.Sep.Dec.)
Tel:[phone]

there are some pics up on flickr (search for Yukei salon de the) if you're interested (not my pics).

[Ninisix]

Uncle Yabai, the karintou Kagetsu were lightly sweet, not like the brown ones, and I found it crunchy and good. It was wrapped with kingyou furoshiki (goldfish wrapping cloth).

Prasantin, I have looked at it on the net, this place is central Kyoto. It will be a nice stop and rest after the cross visit to Nijo, to the Imperial Palace and to the Nishiki Market... 

[Uncle Yabai]

Akebono's anzu daifuku are worth the trip. In Yushima, the karintou shop run by a mother and daughter team out of a small window, and the dorayaki place are the bomb.

[Ninisix]

Thank you for the reply, referring to the karintou and dorayaki. I do like karintou and will try that place this week end.

[Uncle Yabai]

Of course, the quintessential summer dessert in Japan is kakigori. The Shika no Ko in Ginza is pretty good, and the Kyo Hayashiya is also worth going to.

[Ninisix]

Life is a ... !! After have bought my birthday fruits tart at 'La Terre', I went on shopping some last item, but had a slip and fall on my birthday cake!!!  So I just felt like I needed a revenge sweet, and went to your recommended 'kakigori' place. Unfortunately it was crowded !!! And Toraya doesn't have choice anymore. So ends my last birthday...

[Uncle Yabai]

Yea, the Shika no Ko in Ginza gets crowded... Because it's good!

[Ninisix]

That was an ultra refreshment ! And  the simplest sweet. After have crunched the matcha and ice, at the end the syrup-water-ice melt with the rest of azuki paste, and finally I finished and slurped it all !!! 
Total kakigori set, it's 1300.-yens. Tough lough,kids!!!