Kamakura Gelato Soymilk gelato: I went on a day trip to Kamakura, a city about an hour south of Tokyo, to visit several temples, and when it started raining, I ducked into a gelato shop that many Japanese people appeared to be enjoying, a short walk from the Hasedera temple. A scoop of soymilk gelato was a little over $3 USD and had a deep roasted flavor and dark beige color. The texture was smooth, the flavor more light than creamy. They had a lot of other entiching flavors I wish I could try, but a single cup was just ... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended gelato japanese kamakura kamakuragelato soymilk 4.0
Tohato All Osatsu Sweet Potato Cookies: A classic snack in Japan is yakiimo, purple Japanese sweet potatoes roasted over hot stones and served from street carts. This beloved snack makes its way into seasonal flavors of grocery store products, including biscuits, cookies, and even ice cream (I've seen Haagan Dazs sweet potato ice cream, for example). These cookies from Tohato are almost like mini pies, with a glazed puffed crust and chewy interior containing bits of roasted sweet potato flavored with honey. The bag contains indivi... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese cookies aeon tohato all osatsu sweet potato 3.5
Pringles Cheeeeeese Flavor: For whatever reason, Japanese cheese snacks are rarely straight-up cheddar and often involve a mix of different types of cheese, resulting in a more creamy flavor. This Cheese Pringles snack, which I think may be exclusive to Japan, has a mix of cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and parmesan. Like typical Pringles, the underlying shape and taste (largely fried potatoes) is consistent; the cheese flavor definitely tastes distinct than regular cheddar but I can't say that I personally prefer it. ... (read more) 2.5/5.0
chips japanese pringles cheeeeeese flavor 2.5
Otsuka Match Jelly: Match Jelly is a popular citrus soda that's the color of electric yellow Gatorade and is similarly fortified with "nutrition" like Vitamin B6, Niacin, and Vitamin C. I haven't actually had Match soda before, but it's a standard vending machine staple. While vending machines have full-sized bottles, they also usually have a small selection of half-size containers, which I like to buy when I'm thirsty but not wanting more than a single serving. I purchased this "jelly" version of Match f... (read more) 4.0/5.0
recommended drinks japanese vendingmachine otsuka match jelly 4.0
Luna Isey Skyr: It's rare to see greek yogurt in grocery stores in Japan; this version of icelandic skyr was purchased at Seijo Ishii and is strawberry flavored (though the packaging also shows peaches). It's noticeably thicker than other yogurt options, but it pales in comparison to Siggi's yogurt, which I miss a lot. Overall, I found this particular brand to be unpleasantly sour as well, despite its fruit flavoring. 2.0/5.0
yogurt japanese seijoishii luna isey skyr 2.0
Morinaga Mango yogurt with aloe cubes: Pieces of aloe in creamy yogurt did not seem appealing to me when I first moved to Japan, but now having it for breakfast or a small snack feels like a daily routine. Generally, the Morinaga yogurt is runny and has a slightly tart flavor, and the cubes of aloe add a burst of juicy sweetness. The aloe yogurts come in a variety of fruit flavors a nd have bits of fruit inside on top of the aloe; the mango version is a nice tropical treat. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese morinaga mango yogurt aloe cubes 3.5