16 New Japan Snacks to Hunt Down On Your Next Trip
You’ve been warned: you might need an extra luggage (or two!) for all these irresistible goodies the next time you jet off to Japan. Buy them for yourself, or as omiyage — which refers to souvenirs for family and friends. Seriously, just take all our money already!
1. New York Perfect Cheese
Image credit: Shopee
New York Perfect Cheese has three snack types: Langues de Chat, Maple Cheese, and Cheese Escargot. The first is by far the most popular of the lot, often selling out before noon. A mixture of Gouda cheese, white chocolate, and Danish cheddar cheese is encased in a crisp biscuit — resulting in a concoction that’s delightfully sweet, creamy, and salty all at the same time.
#KlookTip: Each box has an expiry date of just one month. There’s also a purchase limit of ten boxes per person!
Where to buy: Store here
2. Tokyo Tulip Rose
Image credit: Tulip Rose Website
Almost too pretty to eat, the Tokyo Tulip Rose is truly a sight to behold. Shaped like an actual rose, the cookie consists of a melt-in-your-mouth pie crust that’s filled with cream. Go all out with the Tulip Rose Collection, which has three different flavours of passion fruit mango, caramel nut, and berry; as well as cute chocolate cookies shaped like roses.
Where to buy: Stores here
3. Gouter de Roi
Image credit: Shopee
Pair a soothing cup of tea with Gateau Festa Harada’s Gouter de Roi, a crusty buttery sugary rusk. Made with French baguette, the buttery rusk is sweet without being cloying, and is light on the palette.
Where to buy: Stores here
4. Press Butter Sand
Image credit: Press butter sand
Owned by BAKE (yes, those yummy cheese tarts!), Press Butter Sand is a rich indulgence that’s worth every calorie. Imagine: two butter cookies sandwiching a generous amount of butter cream and butter caramel — all of which are made using only the freshest Hokkaido butter. Smooth and not too sweet, the cookies add a welcome crunch to each bite.
#KlookTip: Don’t miss out on the different flavours, such as strawberry, pistachio, matcha, or chocolate.
Where to buy: Stores here
5. Sugar Butter Sand Tree
Image credit: Shopee
From the same company that created Tokyo Banana, Sugar Butter Sand Tree is made with a variety of cereal grains — think: cereal, rye, and whole grains. The cookies are filled with white chocolate, then covered with butter and sugar. The result? A buttery, nutty, and indulgent mouthfeel, accompanied by an addictive sweetness.
Where to buy: Stores here
6. SNOWS
Image credit: PR Times Japan
Only sold during the winter, SNOWS is a milk butter candy that’s made using winter-pastured milk from cows that are raised in Hokkaido. The company uses the same milk to produce Snow Sand, a chocolate sandwich cookie that’s also made from the same milk; Snow Ball, a chocolate truffle stuffed with fresh cream; and Morinoki, a buttermilk chocolate. Winter-pastured milk is rich and high in fat, making the resultant snacks incredibly flavourful.
#KlookTip: These are seasonal so they sell out really fast. Be prepared to battle snaking queues!
Where to buy: Stores here
7. Noix De Beurre
Image credit: Noix De Beurre
Dig into a variety of deliciously baked goodies from Noix De Beurre: financiers, madeleines, (bite-sized) lemon cakes, canelés, and more. Baked fresh in-house every day, the financiers are the star of the show here — with a dense crumbly texture and an aromatic butter taste, topped off with a slight honey accent.
Where to buy: Stores here
8. Pista & Tokyo
Image credit: Pista & Tokyo
This one’s for all the pistachio lovers! Load your baskets with a wide line-up of snacks from Pista & Tokyo: Pistage, a luxurious cookie filled with a generous amount of pistachio cream; Pistachio Sando, comprising pistachio chocolate sandwiched between pistachio cookies; or Pistachio Chocolate, where each piece has a whole pistachio within.
Where to buy: Stores here
9. S’mores
Image credit: Shubi Mart
Remember the loved campfire snack, S’mores? Dig into a scrumptious recreation, where a whole-grain tart crust — with a chocolate base! — is topped with a toasted homemade marshmallow, which is then crowned with a chocolate medallion. Grab some of this gooey goodness at either Tokyo’s Haneda or Narita airports.
#KlookTip: For maximum enjoyment, pop these little babies into the microwave at 500 watts for five seconds.
Where to buy: Stores here
10. Audrey's Glacia
Image credit: Shopee
A treat for the eyes (and the stomach!), Audrey’s Glacia is a gorgeous strawberry bouquet. A dollop of rich milk cream is topped with a tangy strawberry, and then wrapped in a langue de chat outer casing.
Also try the Ruby, which consists of a strawberry encased in a cone of jelly, sitting atop milk jelly and a bottom cookie layer; as well as the Ronchanty, which has a whole strawberry encased in a chocolate drop.
Where to buy: Stores here
11. Maple Mania
Image credit: Maple Mania
Calling all sweet tooths: Maple Mania aims to invoke a sense of nostalgia with each bite. Try the popular Maple Butter Cookie, the fragrant Maple Financier, the moist Maple Bamkuchen, or the decadent Maple Pie Sand. If you can’t decide, go for the Maple Gift, which is an assortment of the two bestsellers — Maple Butter Cookies and Maple Financiers.
Where to buy: Stores here
12. Tokyo Campanella
Image credit: Tokyo Campanella
Just imagine: three fragrant baked layers, separated with chocolate pillars. Made with traditional ingredients (the matcha flavour is made with Uji tea from Kyoto!), Tokyo Campanella comes in the flavours of chocolate, matcha, white chocolate, and strawberry.
Where to buy: Stores here
13. Morozoff Feuillage
Image credit: Shopee
Crunchy, nutty, and sweet, the Morozoff Feuillage is an aromatic leaf-shaped biscuit that’s generously covered with nuts. Each piece has two biscuit layers, with a thin layer of chocolate in between. This snack is a little on the sweet side, but pairs well with a warm cup of tea or coffee.
Where to buy: Stores here
14. Panda Bamkuchen
Image credit: Katanuki-ya
Is that adorable or what?! Both adults and kids alike will love the Panda Bamkuchen, which consists of a moist layered cake. There are many designs, such as one with parent and baby pandas; a panda mother with twin baby pandas; two pandas in love; or even a panda dressed up as a pastry chef, witch, painter, ghost, or snowman.
Where to buy: Stores here
15. Berne Millefeuilles
Image credit: TIAT Duty Free
Berne Millefeuilles have been around since 1965, but we’ve never noticed them until now! Perfect for chocolate lovers, the snack comes in milk chocolate, hazelnut chocolate, and sweet chocolate. The chocolate wafer is soft to the bite, and isn’t too sweet. Best paired with a cup of tea as well, we say!
Where to buy: Store here
16. Butter Butler
Image credit: Butter Butler
The Japanese seem to have this current fascination with butter, and it shows. Revel in the taste of butter with the Butter Butler snack, which is made with European fermented butter.
Pop it in the oven toaster for a delightful crisp, which complements the rich buttery taste. The snack has also been soaked in maple syrup, the sweetness of which is cut through with a little French Guérande salt.
Where to buy: Store here
