Autumn in Japan is yaki-imo season, that is, the delicious time of year when baked sweet potato goods are in high-flying abundance!
Yaki-imo literally means “baked sweet potato” and is the cornerstone of Japan’s seasonal delicacies for the autumn months (Sept. – Nov.)!
From convenience stores to cafes and restaurants, you will find sweet potato-themed food, drinks, and desserts at just about any store selling consumable goods.
1. Sweet Potato Crêpe
At Japan’s Family Mart stores, yaki-imo products are in full flight, take for example, this delicious sweet potato crêpe for just 323 yen (2.20 USD).
Made with delicious sweet potato flavored cream and roasted bits of sweet potato wrapped in a soft thin crêpe, it delivers a savory sweet crunch like no other!
2. Yaki-imo Latte
Things really start getting interesting when you see the iconic yaki-imo being made into beverages, in this case, a sweet potato latte!
The yaki-imo latte is perfect for coffee drinkers who love an extra hit of sweet flavor with their morning caffeine, offering a thick and creamy texture with a powerful sweet potato taste and a hint of coffee.
3. Starbucks Osatsu Butter Frappuccino
On a similar note, I figured it would be worth shouting out the amazing seasonal Osatsu Butter Frappuccino from Japan’s Starbucks!
Made with roasted bits of sweet potato and melted honey butter, it has an incredibly soothing and sweet taste with plenty of crunch and no caffeine.
4. Sweet Potato Mont Blanc
I’m not going to pretend I know why it’s called “Mont Blanc,” but this sweet potato Mont Blanc from Family Mart is another great example of the wondrous things you can do with yaki-imo!
Made with sweet potato purée stylized in a spaghetti-like fashion, this little cup of pudding really hits the sweet spot while providing vitamins and nutrition from sweet potato.
5. Sweet Potato Doughnut
Last but not least is the sweet potato doughnut which you can find at most Japanese convenience stores during the autumn season.
Admittedly, it tasted a lot more like a cake than a doughnut, though I suppose the two aren’t completely different from each other, but perhaps it was a result of the delicious and thick sweet potato ingredients that fluffed up the dough!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!