In Japan, department store basement floors are often used to sell a variety of food items, such as sweets, small meals, bento boxes, and alcohols. These have become known as "Department Basements," or “Depachika” and they are a popular area that draws in crowds of customers each day.

One of the appeals of a Department Basement is the unique aesthetics of their product lineups. They sell not only fresh, delicious goods, but long-lasting goods and limited-edition items as well. There are also plenty of high-quality goods that would even make great souvenirs!

The basement floor of Daimaru Umeda is sometimes called by the nickname "Gochiso Paradise", which, loosely translated, means “Foodie Paradise!”

On the east side of the first basement floor, you will find small meals, bento boxes, and sushi. The west side is the Japanese and Western confectionary zone. Going down to the second basement floor will bring you to the bakery, fresh food, alcohol, and grocery zone.

You will also often find many foreign tourists shopping for souvenirs on either floor, carefully selecting their favorite products. Today, we will introduce the top 5 popular souvenirs purchased by tourists at Daimaru Umeda.

Umeda Cheese Lab products can only be purchased at Daimaru Umeda. It is a super-popular shop, sure to be crowded with customers no matter what time you visit. They specialize in developing sweets that allow you to enjoy different types of cheese in different ways that you may have never tried before.

One of the most popular souvenir items are their cookies, known to keep for a long time. You can enjoy five whole layers of harmony between the white chocolate and cream cheese sandwiched in between. The cream cheese is made with Gouda and Gorgonzola, and has a very rich and refined taste, along with the cookie dough.

The signboard product, "Cheesecake You Eat With A Spoon," (216 yen, tax included) may not make a good souvenir, as it only stays fresh for one day after purchasing, however you should definitely try one for yourself during your stay.

There are six different types of cheese - camembert, gorgonzola, parmesan, gouda, mascarpone, and cheddar - combined with the meringue and custard for a smooth and fluffy cheesecake. As you take your first bite, the cheesy scent is sure to be one you will not forget.

“Aged Potato Cream?!” I hear you cry – worry not, these snacks from imot are truly delicious, and should not be missed when you’re in the area! Imot is another original Daimaru Umeda store brand, which specializes in baked potatoes. Their sweet potatoes are baked in a specialty oven to bring out all the deliciousness of their sweet taste.

The "Aged Cream Sandwich Cookies" are a popular souvenir. They are delicious cookies made with sweet potatoes that have been aged for 100 days. It is a delicious baked confectionary in which everything from the cookie to the cream is brimming with the sweet potato flavor.

Along with cookies, there are also three varieties of baked potato you can purchase, which vary in texture. These are best to enjoy while they are still hot out of the oven, so you might want to pick them up on the way back from your sightseeing for the day, and enjoy them at your hotel.

While nori, or dried seaweed, is a popular snack for tourists on its own, Oe Nori is a brand made in Awaji Island and is especially popular, often purchased in large quantities. It is made from the highest quality seaweed grown in the Ariake Sea of Northwest Kyushu, and uses only the finest and most delicious, carefully-selected seaweed.

This fine Japanese seaweed is seasoned with the finest kelp from Rishiri, Hokkaido, and dashi from high-quality peeled shrimp, giving it a rich, delicious taste. It is recommended to try this nori both together with rice, and as an accompanying snack to your drinks. It is a gem of a treat that is often featured on many Japanese television programs and magazines.

Nori Corner offers a variety of other kinds of seaweeds in addition to Oe Nori. The lineup is sure to please nori lovers, and includes varieties such as wasabi flavored nori, and unseasoned roasted nori!

UMEDA DE COW Chips & Tips is a trendy specialty potato chips shop that just opened in September of 2019, and is known for its buttery chips. Their chips are popular with adults and kids alike, and many love their cute packaging. This hot product has become a must-buy for plenty of people.

These chips are characterized by a unique richness and flavor not usually found in the average potato chip, thanks to the carefully-selected milk, butter, and rice flour used to make them. These chips are thicker than regular chips, and contains a rich flavor that fills your mouth with each bite.

There are five available flavors. The garlic, pink salt, bacon, and anchovy flavors go particularly well as a snack to enjoy with some sake; the honey flavor is both sweet and salty, for a very addictive taste. And all of them have that premium quality that one could only expect to find at Daimaru Umeda.

Japanese green tea is characterized by its rich taste and moderate bitterness. Fukujuen is a long-established tea shop that has been making tea for over 220 years. The most popular souvenirs purchased here are the zip-type standing packs of Kyoto Uji tea, which include 10 tea bags.

Sencha Ginkaku is a tea made with leaves grown in the natural sunlight, and has a refreshing taste created by the harmony of its flavor and simplicity. Hojicha Heian is a brown tea with a fragrant scent and aftertaste, made from high-quality sencha.

Gyokuro Kinkaku is a premium tea made from tea leaves that have been covered and grown in the shade without sunlight, giving it a distinctive aroma and flavor. Leaflets are provided to tourists explaining the contents of each product in detail. Try these three varieties yourself and fully enjoy the delicious flavor of Japanese tea.

One of the good things about the Daimaru Umeda shop is that they offer special services for foreign guests. If you present your passport at the Information Center on the first floor, or at the B2F Duty-Free Counter, you can receive a 5% off coupon to use in-store.

(Exclusions of specially priced items, food, and specialty brands may apply). There are also Chinese and English speaking staff available at the first floor Information Center who can assist you. You can also receive duty-free benefits at the B2F Duty-Free Counter when you present your products and same-day proof of purchase. (Service fee is 1.55% of. the tax-exempt price). Check the following link for more information on tax-exempt items and refunds: (https://www.daimaru.co.jp/umedamise/service/gaikoku.html )

In addition to the five products highlighted today, there are plenty of other popular items, including a fruit Daifuku specialty shop, a Kit-Kat shop, and fluffy cheesecake.

You can find many items on Daimaru Umeda's basement floor, whether for yourself, or for your friends and family. When you're ready to do your souvenir shopping, this spot is a must!

Text by:WESTPLAN