Hakkaisan Purple Amasake: This is a sweet drink made with fermented purple rice, giving it its distinctive color. I tried the regular version made from white rice rice previously in Brooklyn (by way of Japan), but without trying both side-by-side, it's hard for me to say if the flavors are different. I can say that this beverage has a nice acidity and natural sweetness that comes from the koji rice itself (no sugar is added), and it's a fresh refreshing drink. I don't know if most people would enjoy the acidity, b... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese drinks rice koji Daiei hakkaisan purple amasake 3.5
Cheerio Melon Cream Soda: Got this bottle from a 100 ¥ vending machine in Tokyo. The flavor is sort of like a fruit-equivalent of Mountain Dew in that the sugar and flavor concentration is shocking, but I actually kind of like it. It strikes a really good balance of fruity and creamy and does taste like (an extremely sweet) version of a fruit soda float. In that way, it's exactly as advertised. But I can't drink much of it in a single sitting because it's so sweet. 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks japanese vendingmachine cheerio melon cream soda 3.5
Pocky Melon Pocky: I purchased this special packaged Pocky from Tsutaya Books in Meguro. The familiar biscuit sticks are coated in a waxy orange cantaloupe-flavored icing that tastes like melon candy. Very concentrated flavor and quite sweet, but I did enjoy it. One of the better melon-flavored snacks I've had. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese pocky melon 3.5
Kellogg's New Ontani Cereal: There are a few familiar American brands of cereal in Japan, but their offerings are slightly different. This cereal was made in collaboration with the chef at a famous hotel in Tokyo called The New Otani. It consists of 1/2 flakes and 1/2 granola, almost like muesli without the oats, and contains ingredients like sliced almonds, pumpkin seeds, and puffed amaranth. It has a honey flavor that's reminiscent of Honey Bunches of Oats. Definitely sweet, but as sweet as American breakfast cere... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended cereal japanese kelloggs new ontani 3.5
Chokai Kogen Blueberry Yogurt: Given the quality of the pear yogurt I had from this Japanese brand, I bought the other flavor available at my local grocery store: the blueberry yogurt. According to the company's website, the blueberries are grown in Yamagata Prefecture on the Gassau Plateau. A layer of blueberry compote, with whole berries, sits on top of the yogurt base. The yogurt is very smooth and has a uniquely soft yet light texture. Personally, I found the blueberry compote to be more ordinary and close to othe... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese naniwaya chokaikogen blueberry yogurt 3.5
Mont Thabor Ohina-sama Pastry: This week, I moved to a new part of Tokyo and left Azabu-Juban, the neighborhood I was living in for 3 months. One of my favorite parts of Azabu-Juban was its variety of small historic businesses: there was the original taiyaki shop, a nuts and beans shop that's over 100 years old, and this bakery, Mont Thabor, that opened in the neighborhood 40 years ago and has since expanded to several locations. The bakery overall was a solid neighborhood bakery - the prices are reasonable, and the pro... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended azabujuban bakery sweets japanese montthabor ohina-sama pastry 3.5