5 Japanese snacks you should try in Tokyo

Although it was inspired by a French pancake crêpe, krepu was originally created in Harajuku, Japan in the 1970s and has since become a typical sweet of the area. Krepu is a piece of pancake folded into four and topped with whipped cream and fruit, or even some chocolate sauce.

Sweet potatoes baked in a stone oven. From late autumn onwards, you’ll often come across food trucks which serve them. Many locals cannot resist the lure of the drivers’ call, especially on a cold day. The cooks will often give you a tiny piece to taste, so why not try it?

A small thick pancake filled with an (red bean paste). Sometimes also called kaiten yaki or oban-yaki depending on the region. These days you can take your pick from a wide range of fillings, including custard cream, chocolate cream, cheese cream, and so on. Eat while warm.

Very similar in taste to imagawa-yaki, but tai-yaki is baked in a fish-shaped mould, is crispier than imagawa-yaki and contains more bean paste. Some of the shops sell hane tsuki tai-yaki, with a crispy coating.

Tako (octopus) + yaki (grill). Octopus mixed in a batter, made with flour, eggs and milk, served with pickled ginger and spring onion. Usually they will serve you six or eight balls on a plate with mayonnaise and ao nori (seaweed). Be careful not to burn your tongue.