Ginza Akebono Strawberry Daifuku: For the most part, I've been able to try all the major traditional Japanese confectionary treats in my time in Japan, so I generally haven't been going out of my way to visit particular shops. However, if I see that a shop has a line, I'll take a look, especially as there are essentially no tourists in Tokyo now and so any place with a line is a local favorite. I hadn't known about this small shop in Ginza that opened right after WWII (about 60 years old), but their ichigo (strawberry) dai... (read more) 4.0/5.0
exceptional tokyo mochi ginza japanese ginzaakebono strawberry daifuku 4.0
Sogetsu Kuromatsu Doriyaki: This doriyaki was an unexpected special gift from someone I met who knew about my snack blog. Because it was given to me, I didn't get to visit the shop directly, but the red bean pancake comes from Sogetsu, an almost 100-year-old brand whose shop in Kita-Ku attracts very long lines. The doriyaki has a marbled color, which is where its name Kuromatsu (black pine) comes from, as it resembles the bark of a tree. This coloring comes from a combination of brown sugar and honey used in the bat... (read more) 4.5/5.0
exceptional japanese tokyo redbean sogetsu kuromatsu doriyaki 4.5
Doritos Taco Tortilla Chips: While I'm aware that Doritos were originally taco flavored, I think most people with the US would associate Doritos with their signature nacho cheese flavor. This Taco flavor that I found in Tokyo is more of a taco seasoning, which taste not so much of cheese but more of a sort of meaty chili powder and cumin spice mix. Very savory and reminiscent of those Ortega seasoning packets, which aren't very good but somehow scream "taco night." 2.5/5.0
queensisetan junkfood doritos taco tortilla chips 2.5
Capi Blood Orange Soda: When visiting National Azabu, a grocery store known for its international selection, I purchased two bottles of this Australian brand of soda: their spicy ginger ale and the blood orange flavors. The spicy ginger ale wasn't particularly good, so I didn't have the highest expectations for the blood orange kind. The soda itself is a little cloudy, a sign of it being made with real fruit, and the taste is definitely distinct from regular orange soda or grapefruit soda – a little more tart but... (read more) 3.0/5.0
soda drinks nationalazabu australian citrus bloodorange capi blood orange 3.0
JA Foods Kabosu Juice: This small aluminum bottle contains a non-carbonated citrus juice with pulp from kabosu, a relative to yuzu that's popular in Japan. The fruit looks like a round lime and is green on the outside but orangish-yellow inside. The juice tastes a little bit like calamansi and generally is more concentrated in flavor than regular lime juice, while smelling of a mix of tangerine and lime. Enjoyable overall and unique - I'm glad to be getting to taste different types of citrus-flavored food here! 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks japanese citrus jafoods kabosu juice 3.5
酢屋亀 Amazake: While they tend to be quite sweet, I do enjoy drinking amazake, a fermented rice drink made with koji that has a milky consistency and softened grains of rice mixed in. It's a little bit tangy and sweet, sort of like a yogurt drink but less thick and a little boozy (though this one has 0% alcohol). Even in small bottles, I tend not to drink the whole thing in one go since the flavor is quite potent and definitely on the sugary side. Purchased from Santouka. 3.5/5.0
recommended drinks japanese amazake 3.5 rice