About the “Ichigosando” Strawberry Festival in Omotesando 🍓

Held annually across the Harajuku/Omotesando area, Ichigosando is a unique festival that brings together the sweet and juicy flavor of Saga Prefecture’s premium branded “Ichigosan” (いちごさん) strawberries, and some of Tokyo’s most stylish cafes. (Even the name is a cute combination.) There is no one specific festival ground, however – participating cafes are scattered throughout the greater Omotesando area, so you can even wander from one shop to the next, and explore the neighborhood while checking the strawberry map. Japan is known for its premium fuit, and this is a perfect way to try it – Ichigosan strawberries are described as sweet, tart, and fragrant. You’ll be bragging to all your friends back home about your “Japanese strawberry festival stroll” for years to come.

With a dozen different cafes to choose from, though, where do you even start? Hitting alI twelve would be a dream come true, but by the end, you might even find yourself sick of strawberries. (Hard to believe, but this is a lot of cafes.) The Japankuru team was also curious about which ones to visit, so after poring over all the Ichigosando information, we chose four to try for ourselves. Check out our guide to read our reviews, and decide which cafes you’ll be visiting during your time in Omotesando!

Ichigosando: Omotesando Strawberry Festival
Event Dates: January 15, 2026 – March 31, 2026
Find More Details in the Japankuru Event Calendar! | Official Website (jp)

① Café Kitsuné: Matcha & Strawberries

Café Kitsuné comes from Maison Kitsuné, the fashionable French-Japanese lifestyle brand, and this limited-edition dessert is their take on Saga Prefecture’s Ichigosan strawberries. Layers of aromatic strawberry sauce play with the rich matcha mousse, made with Kyoto’s famous Uji matcha, covered with a generous layer of Ichigosan strawberry slices. The whole thing is topped with a dollop of whipped cream and Café Kitsuné’s signature fox-shaped chocolate.

So, was it worth it? Our Thai editor described the matcha mousse as incredibly airy and delicate, with a distinct matcha aroma, and a subtle sweetness. The bitter-sweet matcha provided a satisfying balance when paired with the tart strawberries! Inside, the cafe has a calm atmosphere, and after sunset the lights are dimmed, with candles providing a soft glow on every table. It’s a quiet space perfect for conversation, and together with the luxurious mousse, it felt like the perfect spot for a casual date – or just to treat yourself!

② Café Madu: Layers and Layers of Strawberry Parfait

A parfait that elevates the Ichigosan strawberry into an elegant masterpiece! Parfaits in Japan are more like ice cream sundaes, and this dessert is built on a base of vanilla ice cream and strawberry sorbet. It features a house-made strawberry sauce and a touch of balsamic syrup for depth! The crispy streusel topping and caramelized walnuts add texture, while the mint leaves on top leave you with a clean finish.

After devouring this decadent parfait all on her own, our Korean editor described it as fresh and light, thanks to the combination of strawberry sorbet and all the sweet extras. And no, the strawberries aren’t just sprinkled on top for decoration, they’re generously layered all the way to the bottom, giving every spoonful a bit of real strawberry goodness. The basic parfait is already delicious, but you also have the option of adding an extra scoop of vanilla ice cream, and that creamy sweetness really brings out the freshness of the fruit – highly recommended!

③ Breizh Café Crêperie: Sweet & Simple, Strawberries with Caramel

Breizh’s Parisian location has won “Best Creperie in Paris,” but the shop was originally established in Japan by the Breton chef Bertrand Larcher, so this is the place to go for gourmet crepes in Tokyo! Their special event dessert is simple in composition but high in quality, using plenty of Ichigosan strawberries and including a specially blended cream caramel sauce – a hint of toasted sugar designed to highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients. The crepe itself is thin but pillowy soft with a satisfying bite, and together with the bittersweet caramel sauce and a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream, it’s the perfect base for the Ichigosan strawberry slices. The complex flavors blend with the strawberry’s bright tartness for a luxurious final result.

Our English editor felt cozy and relaxed in the warmly-lit cafe with its wooden tables and hint of old-fashioned charm, and described the crepe as being simple and sophisticated. The fruit was fresh and the caramel sauce came in a small dish for the diner to drizzle themselves, making the crepe perfect for those who love strawberries but prefer desserts that aren’t overly sweet – something a little more grown-up.

④ Bakers Gonna Bake: Strawberry Treats On-the-Go

This small shop is located inside the “Marche de Metro,” an underground food court area just a few steps outside the ticket gates in Omotesando Station, near Exit A3. Bakers Gonna Bake has none of its own tables, so it’s mainly takeout-focused, but the larger food court area has plenty of seating if you want to bring your goodies over and sit down, and the shop also has its own small counter where you can stand and enjoy a quick snack. Their Ichigosando offerings were actually two-fold, with a tea-flavored scone and honeycomb toffee iced milk tea.

It might seem like neither of this little bakery’s event treats are very strawberry themed, but they certainly weren’t lacking in strawberry flavor. According to our Taiwanese (Traditional Chinese) editor, the scone has a subtle black tea aroma, but inside it was filled with a “cheese buttercream” and strawberry jam, with an inviting whole Ichigosan strawberry on top. The scone incorporates a balance of sweet, salty, and even the lightly sour flavor of strawberries, and the compact size makes it surprisingly practical and mess-free.

The real star of the show, however, is the milk tea, which has a deep, almost caramelized flavor that harmonizes with the lightly acidic strawberry sauce to create a drink that borders on addictive despite the intense sweetness. If you love Asia’s milk tea drinks, you absolutely should not miss this one – it’s only available for a limited time!

Let the Strawberries Guide You Through Omotesando!

Ichigosando isn’t just an excuse to order dessert and then be on your merry way. It’s a seasonal experience, and a unique opportunity to stroll through Omotesando, taking in the sights, smells, and flavors of late winter in Japan. Saga’s Ichigosan strawberries might be the inspiration that holds the Ichigosando event together, but each cafe takes the brilliant red fruit in new directions, pairing the strawberries with matcha, caramel, balsamic syrup, or tea, to offer fresh experiences throughout the area. Whether you’re a strawberry lover or are simply happy to find a reason to spend more time in Omotesando, we think you’ll like this fun seasonal event!

➡︎ Find more things to do in Omotesando!

For more info and updates from Japan, check Japankuru for new articles, and don’t forget to follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook!