Japanese snacks come in countless varieties, and each one is a genuinely popular, top-ranked product with its own distinct appeal. Some brands are sold in many countries, but the versions sold in Japan are different enough that you won't want to leave without buying some. There are new flavors sold only here, and even limited-edition versions available only for a short time. If you're someone who loves Japanese snacks, here are 18 hand-picked favorites we guarantee will make you fall in love with Japanese snacks all over again.
18 Popular Japanese Snacks
▌1. Kororo Jelly
Photo from Official Website uha-mikakuto.co.jp
This jelly is hugely popular with foreign visitors, who often buy multiple packs on every trip. Its texture is different from other brands — soft and chewy with just the right bite — and the flavor tastes like real fruit, not overly sweet. It's easy to snack through an entire bag in no time. The main flavors include sweet-tart muscat grape, strawberry with real fruit pieces for an authentic taste, fragrant melon, bold orange, and mellow, lightly scented peach. Seasonal flavors are also released throughout the year.
Price: approximately ¥100–145 (varies by store; Don Quijote and drugstores tend to have the lowest prices)
Where to buy: convenience stores, supermarkets, drugstores
▌2. Meltykiss Filled Chocolate
Photo from Official Website www.meiji.co.jp
This chocolate has a similar melt-in-the-mouth feel to Royce Nama Chocolate, but at a much lower price. New flavors are released for different seasons, such as the Winter Limited edition. Popular flavors include rich Premium Chocolate, Strawberry — bursting with strawberry flavor in every bite — deep yet not-too-bitter Green Tea, and Rum & Raisin, with raisins tucked inside a slightly bitter center.
Price: small box around ¥258, large box around ¥1,000
Where to buy: general supermarkets
▌3. THE STRAWBERRY CAKE from GINZA
takaski.com
This cute strawberry-shaped cake has a soft sponge texture filled with sweet, fragrant strawberry custard cream. It's a famous cake from Ginza that wins over everyone who tries it.
Where to buy: Fa-So-La souvenir shops at Narita Airport
▌4. Royce Nama Chocolate
photos by pika1935 from flickr.com/photos/93256705@N05/16494875831( cc by 2.0)
This nama (fresh) chocolate wins over real chocolate lovers with its melt-in-the-mouth texture. There are several flavors to choose from, including smooth, rich dark chocolate, champagne with a hint of bitterness at the end, and intensely rich green tea. Because it's nama chocolate, it melts the moment it touches your tongue.
Price: approximately ¥660 per box
Where to buy: souvenir shops at Narita Airport
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▌5. KitKat Chocolate Wafer
Photo from Official Website nestle.jp/brand/kit/chocolatory/
This bite-sized chocolate-coated wafer comes in many flavors, some sold only in specific regions of Japan — such as KitKat Purple Sweet Potato, a flavor famous in Okinawa and Kyushu.
Price: approximately ¥200–1,000, depending on size
- KitKat Sake: ¥380 (bag), ¥756 (box)
- KitKat Rum Raisin: ¥864 (medium box)
- KitKat Wasabi: ¥864 (medium box)
- KitKat Strawberry: ¥258 (bag)
- KitKat Matcha Green Tea: ¥258 (bag)
- KitKat Chocolatory Moleson: ¥380 (bag)
Where to buy: convenience stores, supermarkets, and drugstores
▌6. Glico Pocky
Glico Pocky
This Japanese snack has many varieties in Japan, so you'll never get bored trying them. There are short, chubby sticks and giant jumbo Pocky, and new flavors are released regularly for fans to try — there's always something new whenever you visit.
Price: standard Pocky around ¥188; jumbo-size starts at ¥300
▌7. Wasabi Pistachio
Photo: Official Donquijote Store
These plump, crunchy roasted pistachios are coated in wasabi that gives a real kick — perfect for waking you up when you're feeling sleepy. The bag is divided into small individual packets, making them easy to share.
Price: approximately ¥950
Where to buy: general supermarkets
▌8. BAKE Creamy Cheese
Photo: Official morinaga.co.jp
This baked cheese snack has a crisp cake-like exterior filled with rich, generous cream cheese. It's baked just right, with a lightly browned surface. It's small, but every bite delivers on quality.
Price: approximately ¥238
Where to buy: convenience stores and general supermarkets
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▌9. Kinoko no Yama
garapa dish [CC BY-SA 2.0] from flickr.com/photos/galapadish/14277093697
Price: approximately ¥180
Where to buy: convenience stores and general supermarkets
▌10. Shiroi Koibito
shiroikoibitopark.jp
This premium Hokkaido cookie is a must-buy — skip it and you'll regret it. The thin, crisp wafer has a delicate vanilla aroma and is filled with a special white chocolate blend that's sweet without being cloying; together they create a flavor that's hard to describe. There's also a dark chocolate version with less sweetness, for those who prefer a richer chocolate taste.
Price: ¥500–4,000 depending on package size
- White Chocolate, 9 pieces: ¥576
- White Chocolate, 12 pieces: ¥761
- White Chocolate, 18 pieces: ¥1,142
- White Chocolate, 24 pieces: ¥1,522
- White Chocolate, 27 pieces: ¥1,836
- Dark Chocolate, 18 pieces: ¥1,142
- White Chocolate and Dark Chocolate, 24 pieces: ¥1,522
- White Chocolate and Dark Chocolate, 36 pieces: ¥2,535
- White Chocolate and Dark Chocolate, 54 pieces: ¥3,805
▌11. Umeboshi no Sheeto
napajapan.com/products/umeboshi-sheets-gummy-candy-sour-plum
These thin sheets are packed with intense pickled plum flavor — salty with a touch of sweetness and a sour edge. Grab one piece and you might end up finishing the whole bag.
Price: small pack around ¥180, large pack around ¥400
Where to buy: convenience stores and general supermarkets
▌12. Manneken Belgian-Style Waffle
manneken-ec.co.jp/item/limited/img/pht_m4_3.jpg
This waffle stays true to its original Belgian recipe, using premium ingredients and expert technique to create a fragrant, soft waffle that's freshly baked every day. The main flavors are original, maple syrup, chocolate, and almond, with new flavors released regularly.
Price: small pack around ¥180, large pack around ¥400
Where to buy: several branches at train stations in Tokyo and Osaka. The Ginza branch is especially popular, and there's also one at Kyoto Station.
▌13. Calbee Jagabee
calbee.co.jp
This is one of Japan's most popular souvenir snacks, with a strong potato flavor and a french-fry-like stick shape. There are several flavors, with four main ones: vegetable, cheese, butter, and salt, plus new flavors released regularly.
Price: small box ¥95, large box ¥229
Where to buy: general supermarkets
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▌14. Calorie Mate
otsuka.co.jp/cmt/product.php
This cookie is perfect for anyone who wants a convenient way to top up energy and nutrients. It is a balanced nutrition food that packs plenty of energy and doesn't skimp on flavor. There are five flavors: cheese, fruit, chocolate, maple, and original. Each box contains four pieces (two bags of two pieces each), with a total of 400 calories per box — about 100 calories per piece. Beyond the taste, each piece also provides a full range of nutrients.
Price: approximately ¥108 per box
Where to buy: general supermarkets
▌15. Tokyo Tamago
tokyotamago.com/product/gomatama/index.html
This egg-shaped cake is generously filled with black sesame, wrapped in a soft sponge cake, and coated in a layer of white chocolate. The slight crunch of the white chocolate pairs well with the softness of the cake, while the black sesame flavor comes through fragrant and lightly sweet. Every bite offers layers of flavor that work together perfectly.
Price: depends on package size
- 8 pieces: ¥700
- 12 pieces: ¥1,050
- 18 pieces: ¥1,550
Where to buy: shops at Narita Airport
▌16. Doraemon Hi-Chew
itmedia.co.jp/nl/articles/1510/17/news010.html
This chewy candy isn't too sticky and comes in bite-sized pieces. Each pack contains three fruit flavors plus a special dorayaki flavor — sweet and mellow, and famously Doraemon's favorite treat.
Price: approximately ¥180 per box
Where to buy: general supermarkets
▌17. Koikeya Pride Potato
http://koikeya-pridepotato.jp/
These premium potato chips are ultra-thin with excellent flavor, sold in upscale packaging that makes them worth buying. There are three flavors: Mushroom Flavored Salt, which highlights the natural potato flavor with a light touch of salt; Secret Recipe Salt and Nori, a seaweed-and-salt flavor unlike typical chips; and Delicious Wagyu Beef, flavored with wagyu, Japan's finest beef.
Price: approximately ¥190 per bag
Where to buy: general supermarkets
▌18. Fettuccine Gummy
blippo.com/bourbon-fettuccine-gummy-watermelon-soda.html
This gummy candy comes in flat, ribbon-like strands with a chewy, soft texture and a light sugar coating. The fruity aroma is noticeable from a distance. Flavors include peach, cola, grape and apple, honey lemon, and mixed fruit soda.
Price: approximately ¥100 per pack
Where to buy: convenience stores, drugstores, and general supermarkets
