GUIDE Guide to Get Cheap Snacks in Japan by JNTO on 08 August 2019

Cute and delicious snacks are probably the best souvenirs to buy for your friends and family! Various exclusive snacks are available in different parts of Japan, but it would be a dilemma if you want to get the best ones yet unwilling to spend more. Do you want to know where you can find the delicious snacks at the good prices? Read this article and learn where you can find these snack souvenirs without queuing up!

 

 

In Japan, there are many food outlets besides those factory outlets of apparels and household products. Similar to these other kinds of outlets, do not judge the items just yet. Food products sold in the food outlets are in fact not expired items, but just have slight defects like tidy print errors on the packages.

 

Harumi Outlet Shop of Macha Sweets

 

Kyo Hayashiya is a famous Uji green tea shop established in 1753.

 

 

Besides selling tea, they also have many dessert shops selling various kinds of matcha desserts such as parfait and cakes.

 

 

The main shop is located in Sanjo,Kyoto, and the brand is said to be the inventor of Matcha parfait! The brand is attractive to both localsand international visitors. However, little did people know that this popular dessert shop actually has a “direct sales center” which is even cheaper than their other outlets. The direct sales center in Tokyo is located on the second floor of Skymart Harumi（Shopping Center in Harumi ITS View Plaza No. 6 Building）, which is about a 10-minute walk from Tsukishima Station. Here you can even find one of their famous products is the “Matcha Roll cake”. It is fluffy, soft and filled with matcha cream. This delicious cake has the same quality as the items sold in other cafes and department stores, and the products here are tax free! Usually these really “sell like hot cakes”, so please remember to come earlier in the day or you may be disappointed. Besides cake rolls, this shop also has other popular items at amazing prices. If you do not have a sweet tooth, you can opt for their tea instead. They have various kinds of tea such as matcha, barley tea and Chinese tea, all at discounted price of course!

 

• Kyo Hayashi Harumi Outlet Shop
• Address: Harumi ITS View Plaza No. 6 Building 209, Harumi 1-6, Chuo Ward, Tokyo
• Opening Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
• ※Closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays

 

Cheap and Fun Chocolates at Tirol!

 

If you love chocolates, Tirol is your one-stop heaven for various kinds of chocolates! The brand Tirol (pronounced “chiroru” in Japanese) is an affordable chocolate brand for the locals and is known as a kind of “dagashi” (all-time cheap snacks).This small square-shaped Tirol chocolate, developed in 1979, is a reasonably priced snack that even kids can buy. They soon become very popular in Japan for its price and lovely packaging. Besides, another reason for its popularity is its variety. Since they went on sale, Tirol has developing more than 400 flavours.

 

The classic flavours are "Milk Chocolate" and "Coffee Nougat". The mixture of nuts, mochi-gumi, jelly, and creamy or liquid filling creates just the right taste and texture for each flavor.
At "Shop Tirol Choco", besides chocolates, you can purchase food or limited-edition items produced in collaboration with other companies.

 

• Shop Tirol Chocolate（Shop チロルチョコ）
• Address: 101-0021 Kishou Building 1F, 4−5−4, Sotokanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo
• Opening Hours: 10:30 a.m. ‐ 7:30 p.m.

 

 

Where to find Japan’s Legendary Castella Cake - "Bunmeido"

 

Castella cake is a Japanese old-time favourite afternoon tea cake which is a type of butter pound cake. It was first brought into Japan by Portuguese during the 16th century. Japanese named it “Castella” because, it is said, the Portuguese explained it was “Pão de Castela”, meaning “bread from Castile”.The original of this type of cake is believed to be “biscocho” from Spain, or“Pão-de-ló” from Portugal.

 

One of the most famous Castella cake shops is Bunmeido (文明堂) which was founded in 1900 in Nagasaki. Nagasaki was the only city in Japan that opened for the import of overseas goods during the Edo Period. What makes Bunmeido’s Castella cake unique is that besides the traditional ones, they have Castella cakes wrapped in Dorayaki (Japanese red bean pancake) dough layer. It gives the cake a more complex texture and flavour.

 

 

Castella tends to be expensive because it has to be handmade, but in some specialized Castella shops, you can get Castella cake at relatively cheap prices. Although the Castella cakes on sale are cakes that do not look as perfect as those sold at department stores and bakeries, the taste remains promising!

 

 

• Bunmeido Aozora Factory Store
• Address: 182 Zaike, Sakura-ku, Saitama, Saitama
• Opening Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

 

"Niki No Kashi," Confectionery Outlet in Ueno Ameyoko Shopping Street

 

“Niki no Kashi” is a confectionery shop located in Ameyoko Shopping Street since 1947 and is the first store established in the area. Although it is mainly a wholesale candy shop, it sells its products at fairly good prices too. The shop sells approximately 5,000 items, so you can find almost everything you are looking for here. The stock selection varies in seasons, so you can also find the trendiest snacks in here.

 

 

• Niki no Kashi
• Address: 4-1-8, Ueno, Taitou Ward, Tokyo
• Opening Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.