Japan is known for producing unusual snack foods that the rest of the world just has to try. Some of these treats are sweet, some are savory, and many—like tree stump shaped cookies—are just plain adorable. And contrary to the rules about not playing with your food, there are a few snacks here that you’re supposed to play with. Read on below to see a selection of some of the best snacks that Japan has to offer. There’s surely something here to satisfy every craving!
1. Rum-Raisin Flavored Tohato Choco Sand Cookies
Can there be anything better than shortbread sandwich cookies with a smooth cream filling? We don’t think so! Unless maybe they’re rum and raisin flavored shortbread cookies. Tohato Choco Sand cookies in the rum-raisin flavor have bold flavor that is a little bit sweet—reminiscent of holiday cookies, except you can snack on these all year round.
These cookies have a light sugar coating, and because they’re shortbreads, they’re perfectly crispy, too. All that combined with a soft and sweet filling means these are a snack you don’t want to miss!
2. Morinaga Fushigina Choco Balls in the Chocolate Banana Flavor
This candy is two treats in one! First, there’s Kyoro-Chan, which is Moringa’s famous—and adorable—mascot. Kyoro-chan has been featured on Moringa products since 1967, so this cartoon character is not only historic, but quite iconic in Japan. Packaging this cute is sure to bring a smile to your face. It’s a resealable box, too, which means you can close it up when you’ve had enough or take it along with you to share with friends.
Open that box up and you’ll find the second treat, which are the candies inside. They’ve got a delicious chocolate banana flavored coating, and beneath that, there’s the cookie center. That cookie core gives you loads of cocoa flavor and lots of crunch.
3. Kabaya Shaka Shaka Gummies
If you like to play with your food, then you’ve got to try Kabaya’s Shaka Shaka Gummies! In each package, you’ll get two things: a mix of gummy candies, and a packet of yogurt-flavored sugar crystals. The gummies come in a variety of flavors including grape, melon, orange juice and pineapple. You can eat them as they are, but they’re best when mixed with the powder packet.
To mix them, simply tear open the powder packet, then add its contents to the packet containing the gummies. Give them a shake, and that’s where the magic happens. After a few seconds, the powder coating turns the gummies into delicious gemstone candies.
4. Coris Whistle Candy
Here’s a candy that gives you a couple of cool toys all wrapped up into one. The first thing you’ll notice when you get a pack of Coris Whistle Candies are, of course, the candies! If you’ve ever tried pennywhistle candies, these are a little bit similar in that you can blow through them to make a whistling sound. Give some to your friends and make a chorus! Each pack also comes with a small surprise, too. Open the small box that comes with the candies to see what’s inside.
These come in several flavors, all inspired by ramune, which is a type of Japanese soft drink. Flavors include cola, grape and strawberry.
5. Glico’s Chocolate Flavored Caplico Z Crunchy
If you’re in the mood for an ice cream cone, then grab a Caplico Z Crunchy. These treats give you a delicate yet crispy wafer cone, and that cone is filled with a light, airy chocolate that makes this one of the most delectable snacks around. The best part? Unlike a regular ice cream cone, this one won’t melt everywhere and make a mess.
And if you’re lucky, you might just get a special cone. Every fifth Caplico Z Crunchy cone features the company’s mascot, Kapusuke. So make sure to give each cone a look to see if you got one of the special ones with Kapusuke’s face before you dig in!
6. Glico’s Strawberry Caplico No Atama
Craving chocolates? Glico’s Caplico No Atama in strawberry chocolate is the candy for you. Molded in little heart shapes with chocolate and strawberry flavored layers, these candies are a treat to the eyes as much as the taste buds. They’re made with the chocolate that Glico is famous for, too—fluffy and airy, sure to melt in your mouth.
These candies come from the ever-popular Giant Caplico Strawberry cone, only now they’ve been made into bite-sized pieces for when you just want a little sweetness instead of a full cone.
7. Black Caramel Puku Puku Tai from Meito
This is a cookie that you’re going to savor. Meito’s Puku Puku Tai cookies give you two crunchy wafers. Between them, there’s a layer of fluffy aerated chocolate with a smooth and creamy flavor. The black caramel flavoring in the name comes from the wafers, which have a tasty, rich caramel flavor to them.
And if you’re into trivia, these cookies have an interesting fact behind them: The “Tai” part of the name comes from “Taiyaki,” which is a traditional cake in Japan. These cakes are made in the shape of the Tai fish for which they’re named.
8. Watermelon Flavored Morinaga Hi-Chew
Sweet, tangy, chewy—what’s not to love? Watermelon Hi-Chews by Morinaga are a fruity, juicy candy sure to give your jaw a great workout. Hi-Chews were first released in 1975. Today, they’re one of the best-selling candies in Japan, which means you definitely don’t want to miss out. Each piece comes individually wrapped, so they look a lot like bubblegum, but unlike gum, once you bite through the chewy outer shell, you’ll find a sweet and creamy center. You’ll find as you chew them that they’re smoother than gum, too.
9. Oreo Soft Cookies
We all know and love traditional Oreos—the crunchy chocolate wafers and the soft, creamy “stuff” in the middle. But what about Japan’s Oreo Soft Cookies? You read that right! These cookies are soft on the outside, and inside, they’ve got that same creamy filling you know and love, but with a little twist. These particular cookies have a filling that is lightly mint flavored, which is perfect for anyone out there who loves peppermint patties or mint chocolate chip ice cream!
10. Meiji’s Choco Baby
When you need something to satisfy a chocolate craving, you need Choco Baby by Meiji. These little candies are the perfect way to get your fix. They come in a reusable plastic container similar to the packaging that Tic Tacs come in. Inside, there are bunches of little chocolate pellets, each with a rich flavor and velvety texture. Pop one in your mouth to quiet that chocolate craving or eat them by the handful—these candies will fit nicely in a pocket or a purse, which means they’re ideal for dealing with a sweet tooth on the go!
11. Bourbon Kikori No Kirikabu Cookies
The name says it all! “Kikori No Kirikabu” translates to “treecutter’s tree stumps.” And if you look at the packaging, that’s just what it displays—an adorable lumberjack standing among his collection of stumps.
Open it up and you’ll find that the cookies inside are even cuter! These cookies are all shaped like tiny tree stumps. There’s a crunchy wheat cookie center that makes the stump itself. Each cookie is then dipped in chocolate that looks like tree bark. They’re as much a feast for your eyes as your taste buds.
12. Kanro’s Cademina Assembly Gummies
This Japanese snack is quite possibly the puzzle-solver’s dream come true. Candemina Assembly Gummies are sour gummies shaped like little gears or puzzle pieces. You could eat them individually, but then you’d be missing out on all the fun!
The trick to these gummies is to put the pieces together. Each bag gives you three flavors, including peach, pineapple and green apple. But you can end up with a total of six flavors just by combining two of the base flavors together. So grab a bag and start putting flavored pieces together to make something new!
If you’re craving an unusual snack, these are among the best that Japan has to offer. There’s something here to fit everyone’s tastes, from sweet to savory—and that includes treats that are as much fun to play with as they are to eat. Keep of few of these snacks handy for when you need to satisfy a case of the munchies!
