If you happened to be in Japan this week, you may have noticed rather a lot of rabbit-themed goods, particularly sweets. Not to worry, the Japanese haven’t gotten their dates for Easter spectacularly wrong, these lapine lovelies are part of otsukimi, a tradition celebrating the harvest moon.
In the traditional Japanese calendar, the full moon on the 15th day of the eighth month is said to be the most beautiful full moon of the year and, much like for the cherry blossoms in spring, moon viewing parties are held with their own special foods and rituals. Japanese pampas grass and autumn flowers are used for decorations and little moon-like balls of white mochi called tsukimi dango are eaten, along with seasonal produce like sweet potatoes and chestnuts.
So what’s with the rabbits?
In addition to the traditional autumn foods of otsukimi, sweets featuring rabbits are also very popular because the moon is inhabited by a mochi-making rabbit, at least according to a Japanese folk tale. And you thought there was nothing up there but cheese!
These rabbity sweets are almost too cute to eat, but not quite, since they are also very tasty. We’ve collected a few of our favorites for your viewing and salivating pleasure. Enjoy!
▼ An egg tart complete with moon, rabbits and pampas grass
▼ This roll cake has chestnut yokan (bean-paste jelly) at its center for the rare double moon!
▼ USE ALL THE AUTUMN IMAGES!!!
▼These ones actually look fluffy
▼ Somebody needs to lay off the carrots…
▼ Wafer and bean paste sandwiches, yum.
▼ With this dorayaki sweet pancake, simpler is better
▼ This one makes the list on strength of packaging design
▼ Nice use of strawberries and cream on this pudding, but that rabbit on the right looks a little scared.
▼ Oh, you fancy, huh?
▼ Wait, that’s actually a boiled egg.
Did you get to enjoy any otsukimi treats this year? What’s your favorite? Let us know the comments!
Top image: Wagashi Tsukuru yo
Images: Natsu Miyazawa, Budoonoki, Amarantine, Tamachi Baigetsu, Daidokoro no Mado kara, Kitsune no Mori, Akanean, Blog na Net Seikatsu, Okashi na Niko, Ginza Gourmet Therapy, Cookpad
7-Eleven Japan’s new moon-viewing Ghibli-style “Laputa bread” has anime fans buzzing and chomping
Kyoto store makes embroidered badges, tests our knowledge of traditional Japanese sweets
Pizza Hut releases Tsukimi Moon-Viewing pizzas for 2025, with industry-first “shadow picture box”
McDonald’s releases new Sukiyaki Tsukimi Burger in Japan for moon viewing season 2022
Starbucks Mooncakes: a beautiful and delicious take on a traditional product
Starbucks Japan teams up with Traveler’s Company for new stationery and goods collection
Japanese convenience store Lawson now has stir-fried noodle-cooking robot chefs
Kochia calling: Right now is a great off-season season to visit this beautiful Japanese park
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Over 400 titles of free translated manga from publisher Shueisha available for a limited time
Beautiful Totoro bonsai figure needs no watering, makes soothing rain showers whenever you want
Pokémon comes to McDonald’s Japan for new Happy Meals toys, brings every generation’s starters
Anime fan in Japan arrested for ordering and cancelling over 4.3 billion yen in anime merch
Resident Evil’s terrifying Licker becomes a bag in Japan that wants to feed you
Akita Kanto Festival, one of Japan’s most spectacular summer festivals, gets an anime twist this year
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
Japanese vending machine sells freshly squeezed lemon juice with a futuristic light show
7-Eleven Japan adds new chocolate fruit gummies to its sweets range, but are they worth the hype?
Studio Ghibli’s No Face twirls to sound of Spirited Away’s theme song in beautiful accessory box
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Live-action Princess Mononoke is coming to streaming as a live event, previews look amazing [Video]
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Six new Sailor Moon cafes to be open simultaneously in Japan this fall!【Photos】