Choose Japanese snacks by texture - gummy, crunchy, mochi mochi
A YouTuber once said that Japanese snacks are popular even overseas. So, which kind of snacks would you want to try in Japan? For example, there are snacks with flavors unique to Japan. If it’s chips, there are things like "Potato Chips Nori Salt flavor(のり塩味)," wasabi & beef flavored "Wasa Beef(わさビーフ)," or the extremely spicy "Tyrant Habanero(暴君ハバネロ)," which might seem unusual to you. But for someone trying them for the first time, it's a challenge. Some people have taste preferences close to Japanese people, while others might be completely different. Some will find them delicious, and some won’t. Human taste is basically conservative.
So, the snacks I recommend in Japan are those with interesting textures. The taste is plain, but you can enjoy a texture you’ve never experienced before. They’re easy for beginners to try.
When it comes to snacks with fun textures, gummy candies come to mind. In Japan, even small convenience stores sell more than 10 kinds of gummies. Haribo is available too, but most are Japanese brands. Lately, hard-type gummies have been mainstream, but there are also gummies with unique textures.
My top recommendation is 'Kororo(コロロ).' The texture of this one... is hard to put into words easily. It's not too hard, not too soft, and has just the right amount of chewiness. The texture is similar to real grapes, but there are also parts that are different from grapes. In other words, what I want to say is, 'You really have to try it.'.'Fettuccine Gummies(フェットチーネグミ)' have 'al dente texture' as their catchphrase. There are also gummies like 'Shari Moni(しゃりもに),' 'Sorvette(ソルベット),' and 'Shari In(しゃりin),' which have a sherbet-like crunchy texture. Are you starting to feel like giving them a try?
For snack food, I recommend 'Aerial(エアリアル).' As the name suggests, it's a corn snack with an airy texture. The fluffy, crispy dough is layered four times.
You can get any of these snacks at convenience stores, supermarkets, or drugstores around Fushimi Inari Shrine, but the product lineup varies at each place. Something that’s available at one store might not be found at another. My favorite, 'Kororo,' is a regular item, so you can find it at supermarkets and drugstores. At convenience stores, the ratio of newly released or limited-time products is higher, so you don’t see it that often.
Finally, let me introduce Lawson’s 'Doramocchi(どらもっち).' Maybe because Japanese people have been eating mochi(rice cake) for a long time, so we love that mochi mochi(chewy) texture. I think 'Doramocchi' has everything Japanese people like. This is a Lawson-exclusive product, so you won’t find it at other convenience stores or supermarkets. Be careful when looking for it.