Ginza Akebono Sakura Mochi: The first time I had sakura mochi, pink mochi wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf, it was from Fugetsu-Do in Los Angeles, I was surprised by the sweet and savory combination. The leaf is typically pickled and has a concentrated salty flavor that can catch you off guard if you're used to the mild and sweet anko-filled dessert. This version of sakura mochi was purchased from the Ginza sweets shop Ginza Akebono, where I had previously tried their strawberry-covered mochi. The chewiness of the m... (read more) 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese ginza tokyo ginzaakebono sakura mochi 3.5
Lotte Fit's big grape and peach gummies: Chewy gummy cubes with a sugary coating, half peach and half grape. They have less resistance (slightly squishier) than Sunkist fruit drops (much less than Dots), but the artificial fruit flavors are fairly standard. Super high amount of sugar but it comes in a small pouch with just a couple servings, typical of most junk food in Japan. 2.5/5.0
candy family mart japanese lotte fit's big grape peach gummies 2.5
Morinaga Strawberry aloe yogurt: I will miss aloe yogurt, with it's combination of tangy loose yogurt and chewy, juicy aloe cubes. While it seems like the soft-on-soft textures might not be a match, they are unexpectedly harmonious. This strawberry version has the typically sweet berry flavor you'd expect alongside small pieces of strawberry. I like it as much as the original -- it's definitely a standard snack you can find anywhere, but it's dependably good. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese aeon morinaga strawberry aloe yogurt 3.5
YBC Garlic Steak Chips: Aerial is a junk food staple in Japan consisting of layered fried corn pieces with a crispy and light texture. The underlying fried corn flavor reminds me a lot of Bugles (which also have their Japanese equivalent in a snack called Tongari Corn), but the texture of Aerials is much more fun. This particular bag inspired by garlic steak is smoky and has an intense garlic flavor, the type that leaves an aftertaste so strong that I was a little thankful I've been working / snacking in isolatio... (read more) 3.0/5.0
junkfood japanese ybc garlic steak chips 3.0
Meiji My Style Apollo Strawberry Chocolate: These are fun conical chocolate strawberry snacks that I discovered, through my research, are meant to resemble Mount Fuji, which makes them extra Japanese. About 3/4 of the cone is a pink strawberry chocolate, and the last quarter is a milk chocolate base. The chocolate has a satisfying snap, and the strawberry is also nicely tart, though overall it's definitely on the sweet side. I can see how if I grew up eating them, they could easily have become a nostalgic favorite. 3.5/5.0
recommended japanese meiji my style apollo strawberry chocolate 3.5
Nezu No Pan Lemon Poppy Seed Bread: The other flavored bread that I received from the bakery Nezu No Pan, located close to Nezu Station in Tokyo, is a lemon poppy seed loaf. It's pleasantly acidic, with a lemon flavor that's both sweet and sharp but not overly so, as the flavor is mellowed out by the pillowy, chewy bread. The texture somehow combines the best of mochi-like chewiness with the moist, soft consistency of freshly baked bread. A standout combination – the flavor alone is definitely one of the best lemon breads I... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional tokyo nezu bread bakery baked nezunopan lemon poppy seed 4.5