Popular Japanese Snacks: 42 Sweet Treats & Savory Snacks to Try

The world of Japanese snacks is vast, with a mixture of both traditional and Western indulgences. Here is an overview of Japanese snack culture as we dive into beloved favorites and underrated choices. The sheer variety of Japanese snacks has been broken down into categories to help you pick out your next treat.

Would you travel for food? Japanese prefectures are known for their regional food souvenirs, from Hokkaido's Shiroi Koibito cookies to Shizuoka's wasabi KitKats and other premium snacks!

• Calbee chips
• Jagarico
• Zeitaku Shokora
• Suppa Mucho
• Jaga Pokkuru
• Pizza Potato

• Caramel Corn
• Shittori Choco
• Sucorn
• Aerial
• Mike Popcorn
• Doraemon Umaibo

• Happy Turn
• Senbei
• Kabukiage
• Arare

• Pocky
• Toppo
• KitKat
• Alfort
• Kinoko no Yama / Takenoko no Sato
• Country Ma'am
• Hello Panda
• Koala’s March
• Pretz
• Cratz
• Bisco
• Langue de Chat
• Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory
• Japanese Oreos

• Choco Brownie
• Choco Pie
• Baum Roll
• Tokyo Banana
• Tokyo Saison Honey Bears
• R.L Waffle Cake

• Kobe Shokora
• Galbo

• Kanikko
• Baby Star Ramen
• Muji Matcha Chocolate Coated Strawberry
• Agemochi

Calbee Japan products make up about half the chip aisle in Japanese supermarkets. The standard flavors are lightly salted, shiawase "fortune" butter, consomme punch, soy sauce mayo, seaweed salt, and several other regional soy sauce varieties. Calbee chips are a solid, safe choice even if you're not familiar with the Japanese flavors.

Find out more: 20 Types and Flavors of Calbee Chips in Japan

One of the most popular snacks in Japan, Jagarico is brittle potato sticks in a cup. Among the many flavors, from cheese and salad to more daring flavors like tarako (pollock roe) butter and Japanese plum, you’re sure to find a favorite!

Providing the perfect blend of sweet and savory, with a drizzle of luxurious chocolate on every salty chip, Zeitaku Shokora will satisfy any mood. They're only available from October to May each year, so make sure to grab a bag if you see one on the shelf.

One of the few chips in Japan that offers a salt and vinegar flavor, Suppa Mucho is known for its sour offerings. While their salt and vinegar chip has a weaker punch than their Western counterparts, they’re no less delicious, with a perfect blend of salty and tart that’s perfect for those who want a milder flavor. If you want a true Japanese sour experience, try their umeboshi (pickled plum) flavor.

While these “chips” are more like fries, there’s no denying they are as fine a Japanese potato snack as any. Made from potatoes grown in Hokkaido and fried by hand with Okhotsk salt, Jaga Pokkuru is an irresistible snack that comes in smaller packs to help the diet-conscious snack reasonably.

No discussion of Japanese snacks would be complete without Pizza Potato, the infamous pizza-flavored chip of Japan. Unlike many American cheese-flavored chips, these have drips of real (or semi-real) cheese baked onto them, packing an extra wallop of moisture and flavor. Another great snack to pair with your alcoholic beverage of choice for a sordid night of snacking!

There aren’t many better matches than snacks and alcohol! Learn what foods pair best with sake as you try eight different types of the alcoholic drink alongside a variety of Japanese snacks. 

In this sake tasting tour in the Kabukicho area of Tokyo, you’ll not only explore the pairings but gain a deeper understanding of sake. The temperature of the sake may even change based on the season or food pairing, to provide the best drinking and snacking experience.

When you come to Japan, forget what you know about "caramel corn." This Caramel Corn isn't popcorn, but caramel-flavored corn puffs with a smattering of nuts at the bottom of the bag! For anyone who's ever wished Cheetos tasted like pure sugar, Caramel Corn is a light, crunchy, and fluffy delight.

Shittori Choco always ranks highly on lists of the best sweets. Literally meaning "moist chocolate," it’s a crispy aerated corn puff coated in chocolate that melts in your mouth. Don't forget to look out for the occasional heart-shaped one!

Looking for Japan's version of crunchy Cheetos? Sucorn is here to satisfy that craving, with flavors like seafood, barbecue, and quattro cheese. And if you check the other side of the snack aisle, you might find sweet Sucorn flavors too. Salted caramel is to die for!

Aerial chips are similar in texture to Cheetos but provide an extra level of crunch thanks to their four-layer design. This layering also allows them to pack more flavor inside. In addition to the cheddar cheese pictured above, you can find many other flavors, including adventurous ones like wasabi and cod roe butter.

Unsurprisingly, Japan has managed to take an already great snack and make it even better. The most well-known brand of popcorn in Japan, Mike Popcorn, constantly offers limited-time flavors like salted shrimp and milk tea. The popcorn is airy and light, and their standard soy sauce butter flavor is always a crowd pleaser!

Made by Yaokin, Doraemon Umaibo has been a legendary Japanese snack for more than 40 years. The tasty corn stick comes in flavors like beef tongue, curry, mentaiko, takoyaki, and teriyaki burger. Umaibo are super affordable, too, at just 15 yen apiece.

Happy Turn is a popular senbei with a delicious flavoring powder and a wild origin story. During the 1973 oil crisis, the Japanese economy struggled, as it had relied heavily on importing many natural resources. In response, Kameda Seika, a snack manufacturer, invented Happy Turn to lift the nation’s spirits. 

So whenever you bite into the flavorfully powdered Happy Turn senbei, think back to the 1973 oil crisis and let your spirits be lifted.

Senbei is the epitome of  Japanese crackers, made of white rice and often enjoyed with tea. There are a variety of brands,flavors and styles (Happy Turn being just one of them). 

Some are sweet, like the delicious black sugar milk flavor pictured above to the right, but most are savory, like the equally spectacular salad senbei on the left! Any rice cracker is sure to give you a crispy taste of traditional Japan, pairing well with a hot beverage.

Explore the Japanese snack scene in this Asakusa food tour in Tokyo. As you explore the famed Sensoji-Temple and the surrounding area, you’ll also get the chance to stop into some stores and visit the Nakamise Shopping Street to look for souvenirs and snacks. 

Ice cream and melon bread are on the agenda, but keep your eyes peeled for any snacks from this list or entirely new snacks to try!

Kabukiage is another popular senbei. Designed with motifs of kabuki, traditional Japanese theater, this snack brings together two Japanese cultural icons in kabuki and senbei. Each cracker has a bumpy exterior with a sweet and salty soy sauce tare soaking into each crevice. This creates a wonderful flavor that is notably different from traditionally smooth senbei.

Arare is a genre of assorted rice snacks and crackers known to go well with drinks. Two recommended varieties are hineri-age, an impossibly crispy twirled fry dusted with savory powder, and ponsuke, dense cubes of sweet-and-salty herbal flavor. But to be honest, you can't go wrong with any!

If there's any Japanese snack you likely already love, it's Pocky. Pocky Japan has perfected the art of putting chocolate on a biscuit stick, especially with their special varieties like the "luxurious", or zeitaku (贅沢), line with extra thick chocolate that's fun as a novelty snack!

Sculpt amezaiku, a traditional Japanese candy that originated in the Heian period. In this workshop, learn from an expert who will craft this candy right before your eyes. Then, try it yourself with two practice rounds included to make sure you get your final product just right. 

Your amezaiku bunny might be too cute to eat right there. In that case, you’ll be able to take it home as a unique souvenir!

If you wish your Pocky were inside out, try a Toppo. While less recognizable than Pocky, it is no less delicious. Creamy chocolate fills the inside of the tube-like biscuit, and because it doesn't have Pocky’s biscuit handle, there's a rush of chocolate with every single bite. 

Along with Pocky, the sprawling world of Japanese KitKats boasts global fame as one of the most popular snacks in Japan! The intriguing specialty flavors, like Japanese sake and green tea, are either infused into the filling in the middle or into the chocolate coating itself.

The flavors are often disarmingly realistic and delicious, like apple pie and "adult sweetness" (オトナの甘さ), raspberry. Keep an eye out for rare KitKat flavors in different regions of Japan, too!

Easily identified by its distinctive ship motif, Alfort is a popular chocolate choice for social gatherings. Each piece features a biscuit base and ship-printed chocolate on top. 

This regular variety bag can be found at most supermarkets and includes chocolate and rich milk flavors. Be on the lookout for Alfort mini, which has region-specific and limited-time motifs like Mt. Fuji or Disney character designs.

Two of the most well-known snacks to buy in Japan, the mushroom-shaped Kinoko no Yama and bamboo shoot-shaped Takenoko no Sato, are tiny biscuit cookies topped with chocolate. Try asking someone which one they prefer in the never-ending feud between the two! 

Look out for elaborate seasonal flavors, like chestnut Mont Blanc and purple sweet potato.

Country Ma'am cookies are tiny, soft, and come in flavors like vanilla, chocolate, matcha, and strawberry, depending on the season. They're oddly addictive and will quench a chocolate chip cookie craving in a bind! Try microwaving one ... you won't regret it.

Made by Japanese chocolate and snack giant Meiji, Hello Panda is a certified hit for the adorable panda character printed on its addictively crunchy biscuit and creamy chocolate filling inside. This legendary snack made its debut a year after the panda Tong Tong was born in Ueno Zoo in 1986. And the rest is history.

A popular treat among children, Koala’s March is similar to the Hello Panda chocolate biscuits you can find in stores worldwide. Each biscuit has a cute koala design and a creamy chocolate center. It's sure to be a hit with kids and kids at heart.

Glico's savory counterpart to Pocky, Pretz, is a Japanese snack so ubiquitous that you must try it at least once. Pretz is a thin, seasoned biscuit stick with an addictive quality and satisfying crunch. 

Try eating a stick of their "mystery flavor" along with the standard salad, roast, or tomato Pretz to see what combination it makes!

Also from Glico, Cratz is the “younger sibling” of Pretz, made with the same pretzel-making technology, but thicker. Cratz comes in flavors such as cheddar cheese, pepper bacon, peppercorn, and edamame, making them a perfect match for beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Bisco crackers are the perfect blend of sweet and salty, with the cream on the inside pairing wonderfully with the buttery richness of the sandwich crackers. Like many Japanese snacks, they're tiny and individually wrapped. So while you may not be saving the environment, you can at least enjoy the gaze of the overjoyed Bisco child on the package as you crunch!

This delicate sandwich cookie is a classic souvenir snack, and Donki’s Langue de Chat, which is French for “cat’s tongue,” comes in a sakura matcha version that is quintessentially Japanese. The sakura design on the cookie itself is almost too pretty to eat.

These cookies may not be much to look at, but you may find yourself not in control after taking the first nibble. As the name says, you can only get Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory cookies in Tokyo, in flavors like Basil Tomato & Mozzarella, Honey & Gorgonzola, and Salt & Camembert.

While Japanese KitKats have made many “Best Japanese Candy” lists, Japanese Oreos have come into their own as a chocolate treat as well as a cookie. And just as KitKat in Japan offers many unique flavors, Oreo in Japan comes in strawberry, birthday cake, tiramisu, and crispy lemon mousse. 

When the brownie cravings hit in Japan, it’s hard to do better than a Choco Brownie. Surprisingly velvety for a mass-produced sweet, these bite-sized chocolate cakes are incredibly rich and moist with a melty chocolate coating on the bottom. Each brownie is individually packaged, so it’s easier to avoid overindulging (although we won’t judge if you do).

Sweets are nice, but sometimes you want something a little bigger. How about making your own Japanese-style cake? In this strawberry shortcake baking class, you’ll learn the subtle differences of the Japanese version as you bake a decadent cake from start to finish.

With the guidance of a master baker, make a beautiful and delicious cake no matter your baking skills. With the recipe in hand as you leave, you’ll be able to use your newfound skills to remake it no matter where you are!

Of all the sweet Japanese snacks, Choco Pie seems to show up at every party without fail. These soft Little Debbie-esque snack cakes come in vanilla and chocolate cream. When biting in, the crack of its hard chocolate shell will surprise and satisfy!

Looking for something a little more traditional? In this mochi and wagashi making class in Tokyo, you’ll learn about the world of classic Japanese sweets as you mold them into beautiful seasonal shapes and designs. 

A wagashi experience wouldn’t be complete without a tea ceremony. Learn how to make a calming bowl of matcha green tea to enjoy alongside your sweets. The mild sweetness of wagashi is the perfect break after trying some of the sweets on this list!

The Baum Roll may not get a lot of press, but it is one of the most popular Japanese sweets to share at gatherings. These soft, moist rolls of thin cake are coated in a tasty, light lemon frosting. The Bourbon brand makes a variety of mini sweet treats, but their Baum Roll is perhaps the best!

One of the most popular souvenir snacks in Japan, Tokyo Banana is loved for its unique look and banana custard cream filling. The sponge cake is soft, fluffy, and made with real, pureed bananas—made to last the trip back home where your family and friends are sure to love it. 

Made by Terra Saison at Tokyo Station, these lovable, bite-sized, bear-shaped cakes are almost too cute to eat. The bears are fluffy, light and sweet, and people often find it difficult to eat just one. The honey jelly filling comes from Hokkaido and gives the bears an irresistible scent.

R.L has been making Japanese-style waffles for more than 30 years. They were first called “waffle cakes” since waffles were relatively uncommon at that time. These waffle cakes are designed for easy eating with one hand, and many of them come with fruit-flavored cream filling with actual pieces of fruit. 

Kobe isn’t just famous for its high quality wagyu. It is also home to great chocolate, such as Kobe Shokora, a decadent treat with a smooth texture and rich milky flavor. It’s also satisfying to bite through the center line, which gives you the feeling of two pieces of chocolate in one!

If you're looking for a hearty, satisfying chocolate, Galbo is the way to go. These thick pellets of aerated chocolate are actually quite dense, perfect for a quick decadent treat. Caramel and royal milk tea flavors come highly recommended.

Bonus: Try Japanese pudding, or purin, too!

You can spot Kanikko a mile away, thanks to the big red cartoon crab on the packaging. These baby hermit crabs are cooked in sweet sauce and coated with sesame seeds to make a highly addictive snack that is usually eaten with beer.

If you're one who enjoys uncooked ramen as a snack, Baby Star is for you. These broken pieces of dried ramen noodles are flavored with savoriness for your crunching pleasure! Pair them with beer or other alcohol for an even better time.

Try a pack of Muji’s matcha chocolate-coated strawberries while you’re in Japan. They may look a bit unusual before you bite into them, but before long, you may find yourself falling in love with the trio of flavors.

Agemochi, or deep-fried mochi snacks, are delightful pieces of seasoned mochi that crunch at first, then melt in your mouth. If you're interested in a different kind of mochi, pick up some agemochi in the traditional snack aisle!   

Looking for something a little more traditional? In this mochi and wagashi making class in Tokyo, you’ll learn about the world of classic Japanese sweets as you mold them into beautiful seasonal shapes and designs. 

A wagashi experience wouldn’t be complete without a tea ceremony. Learn how to make a calming bowl of matcha green tea to enjoy alongside your sweets. The mild sweetness of wagashi is the perfect break after trying some of the sweets on this list!

While many of the snacks on this list are in the "junk food" category, traditional Japanese snacks tend to be a lot healthier! Things like senbei (crispy rice crackers) and the naturally sweet yokan are examples of traditional—and healthy—Japanese snacks.

The global popularity of Japanese snacks is on the rise, and for good reason! You can never run out of new and tasty Japanese snacks to sample, but these were some of the most popular, unmissable players in the industry. So next time you're pawing through the Pocky boxes, looking to grab a large bag of snacks before you hit the cash register, look out for any of these delectable treats you haven't yet tried.

Feeling snacky? Try these common onigiri flavors and our favorite konbini foods!