8 Japanese Snacks You Must Try (From Sweet to Seriously Weird)
Since moving to Japan, one thing became clear very quickly:
The Japanese love their snacks.
From sweet to savoury — and sometimes downright unusual — Japan offers flavours you won’t find anywhere else.
Here are 8 Japanese snacks you must try, whether you’re visiting or just curious about what makes Japanese snacking so unique.
1. Pocky
A classic Japanese snack.
Crunchy biscuit sticks coated in flavoured chocolate.
My favourites:
- Chocolate
- Blueberry
- Cookies & cream
You can find Pocky in many countries — but Japan has the best variety.
2. Matcha & Raisin Cookies
These are surprisingly good.
- Buttery biscuit exterior
- Matcha cream + raisins inside
The mix of bitter matcha and sweet raisins works perfectly.
3. Sasha Chocolate & Matcha
Thin, layered chocolate wafers that are incredibly addictive.
You’ll probably finish the whole pack without realising.
Other flavours are available if matcha isn’t your thing.
4. Pickled Plum Seaweed Strips
A very Japanese flavour combination.
- Salty
- Sour
- Slightly tangy
Not for everyone at first — but it grows on you.
5. Sweet Potato Crisps
Sweet, salty, and slightly buttery.
A great snack with a drink.
In Japan, sweet potato is often used in desserts — so this flavour pops up a lot.
6. Wasabi & Beef Potato Chip
Japan is famous for its unusual chip flavours.
This one combines:
- Spicy wasabi
- Savoury beef
Perfect if you like bold flavours.
7. Umeboshi (Plum) Potato Chips
Another plum-based snack — very common in Japan.
- Salty
- Sour
- Slightly sweet
Very different from Western crisps, but worth trying.
8. Honey Pickled Plum
A twist on traditional pickled plums.
- Sweet + sour combination
- Very strong flavour
Don’t overdo it — they can be intense!
Final Thoughts
Japanese snacks are all about variety and experimentation.
You’ll find:
- Familiar treats
- Completely new flavour combinations
- Snacks that surprise you (in a good way… most of the time)
If you visit Japan, make sure you try as many as you can.
If you enjoyed this post please share and comment. Also, make sure to check out some of my other posts on life in Japan:
