Japanese Food Souvenirs: 47 Unique Treats From All the Prefectures of Japan

21.【Gifu】Hida Koucha

Did you know that Japan also has delicious black tea? Hida Koucha started being sold in 2010 but already is known as a great souvenir. Its secret is that it uses a kind of tea leaf called Benifuuki, and then during the tea's fermentation process, it uses steam from the Okuhida Onsen.

22.【Shizuoka】Unagi Pie

Unagi Pie first started being sold about 50 years ago, and ever since then it's been wildly popular and is nationally famous. The pie dough is made with eel extract, so the crunchy texture is combined with a refreshing sweetness.

23. 【Aichi】Yukari

Yukari is written with the character 縁, which means "bond" or "destiny," as in the connection between two people.  This snack was made with the wish to bring people together, so it's perfect as a souvenir. It's a shrimp senbei made using traditional techniques, so you can enjoy the delicious fragrance of the shrimp. 

24.【Mie】Itoin Senbei

Itoin Senbei is a product that was bought by the Meiji, Taisho, Showa, and Heisei emperors. The reason for that is that when Emperor Meiji went to pray at Ise Jingu, Itoin Senbei was created to be presented to him. In this small, quality product, you can taste history.

25.【Shiga】Red Konnyaku　

Red konnyaku is said to to have been created by the ruler of the Sengoku Period, Oda Nobunaga. Red konnyaku, or red konjac, takes the general idea of konnyaku and turns it into something new, making it popular as a souvenir. It's packed full of fiber, iron, and calcium, so it's recommended for people who like healthy foods. 

26.【Kyoto】Yatsuhashi

PIXTA

Yatsuhashi is arguably Kyoto's most famous treat. It was originally eaten as a snack on the go, so they made the rounded shape difficult to break. It's very popular due to its crispiness and its sweetness. By the way, Nama-yatsuhashi is a made in a triangle shape and is also very delicious.

27.【Osaka】Grand Calbee

Japan's famous potato chip company, Calbee, makes a high quality product called Grand Calbee that can only be found in Osaka's Hankyu Umeda store. These potato chips are 3 times as thick as regular ones, so it's definitely a different snack experience.

28.【Hyogo】Kawara Senbei

Kawara Senbei has a unique chewy texture, and it has been loved by Kansai residents since time immemorial. Its special fragrant, sweet flavor is very popular. There are stores where you can make your own original design to be imprinted on the front. 

29.【Nara】Mimuro Monaka

Mimuro Monaka has an honorable history dating back 160 years. It's a snack that's been presented to the emperor. The outside is crunchy and the filling is a bean paste made from a soy bean called Yamato Dainagon. It's definitely recommended for people who like wagashi.

30.【Wakayama】Honnoji Manjuu

It's said that Honnoji no Hon has more than 300 years of history. It's said that a lord ate it when he was traveling on his way from Wakayama to Tokyo. This is one kind of sake manjuu, in which sake lees are used in the dough. Why not try this sake manjuu and enjoy the sweet fragrance of amazake? 

31.【Tottori】Suna no Oka

Tottori is famous for their sand dunes, so you should definitely pick up Suna no Oka as a souvenir. This is a Japanese-style cookie made with fermented butter and no additives. The powder, made to look like sand, is made with Japanese sugar. It's not too sweet, making it very popular.

32.【Shimane】Dojou Sukui Manjuu

Dojou Sukui Manjuu has a unique appearance thanks to its being designed after the traditional Dojou Sukui Odori festival in Shimane. During the festival dancers wear masks that look like this. There are different fillings, such as red bean, matcha, strawberry, and chocolate.

33.【Okayama】Kibidango

Do you know the famous Japanese folk tale of Momotarou, the man who exterminated the demons? In it, he uses a treat called kibidango to get a crow, a dog, and a monkey to join his team. In modern times, it's become a symbol of Okayama. It has a simple flavor made by combining millet with mochi. 

34.【Hiroshima】Momiji Manjuu

Momiji Manjuu always ranks very high in souvenir rankings among both foreign and domestic travelers. Smooth red bean paste is wrapped in castella dough and baked in a cute maple leaf shape. If you go to the World Heritage and Culture Site Itsukushima Shrine, you can buy and eat freshly made Momiji Manjuu in the neighborhood surrounding it. 

35.【Yamaguchi】Dassai

Dassai is one of Japan's top-class sake brands. It became famous recently because Prime Minister Abe treated President Obama to a bottle. It also won awards in a world sake contest, making it a sake that's a household name. This is perfect for people new to Japanese sake.

36.【Tokushima】Hanayome Kashi　

Tokushima's Hanayome Kashi is a candy that has its roots in regional customs. In Tokushima, when a woman gets married and enters her new home, she distributes Hanayome Kashi to the neighborhood. "Hanayome" means "bride," and "kashi" means "candy." This senbei is made out of mochi rice, and the simple flavor makes it so that people of all ages love it.

37.【Kagawa】Agepippi

Kagawa is famous for sanuki udon, but on top of that, there's this snack made of fried udon. This is called Agepippi. These noodles were made springy for sanuki udon, but instead they're fried for a light, crunchy snack. It's gaining lots of popularity lately.

38.【Ehime】Saka no Ue no Kumo

This snack was inspired by the novel Saka no Ue no Kumo, written by one of Japan's most famous novelists, Ryoutaro Shiba. It uses a citrus fruit from Ehime called iyokan and mixes it with milk for the filling. The cute appearance was made to look like a cloud.

39.【Kouchi】Kanzashi

This incredibly popular treat is one of Kouchi's most famous souvenirs and sells 45,000,000 pieces a year. It's made with madeleine dough and filled with yuzu flavored white bean paste, creating a perfect blend of Western and Japanese.

40.【Fukuoka】Hiyoko Manjuu

Hiyoko Manjuu has a history of more than 100 years, and it's beloved by many people thanks to its cute appearance and its delicious taste. It's so cute that some people think that eating it is a waste, which makes it's perfect as a souvenir.

 

Next： No.41-47 (Saga to Okinawa) Further souvenirs to buy in Japan