Tabelog just announced its top 100 sweets shops in Japan

If you've been here a while you're no doubt familiar with Tabelog. For many of us living in Japan, it becomes one of those websites you immediately go to when you're looking for somewhere new to eat. I rely on it a lot for inspiration of places to check out!

Tabelog just released its 2026 Top 100 Sweets Shops, highlighting highly rated sweets stores and dessert restaurants across Japan. For those of us who live outside Tokyo, there's some good news, since this isn't just another Tokyo-focused list.

The awards are divided into three areas, TOKYO, EAST, and WEST, with 100 shops selected in each. This year's list also sees 38 shops making their debut, including 15 in Tokyo, 11 in EAST, and 12 in WEST.

There are some very tempting Tokyo newcomers, including Fruit Sugi in Kita-Otsuka, where you can get beautifully presented parfaits made with carefully selected fruit, and Souka and Yama in Minato Ward, both offering more elaborate dessert-course experiences.

The regional selections are where I think this list gets particularly interesting for expats living elsewhere in Japan. The EAST newcomers include Atami Pudding in Shizuoka, and Gran Merci in Aomori (which makes apple pie using locally grown apples!!).

Meanwhile, the WEST list includes plenty of options in Kyoto and Osaka, but also reaches further afield. For example in Matsuyama, Ehime, noma-noma is run by a citrus specialty shop and serves fresh juices and parfaits made to order.

I recommend having a bit of a look at the lists, which you can find at the press release here. It could give you somewhere new to try in your own prefecture, or even provide an excuse for a weekend trip somewhere you've been meaning to visit.