With its adorable Japanese-style packaging, “Kimono Chocolat” is an instant eye-grabber. Inside the small wooden box are three baked sweets shaped like miniature kimonos.

This treat falls under what’s known in Japan as “quasi-chocolate,” and is made with white chocolate to create a cookie-like texture. It’s almost too cute to eat—but that didn’t stop our editorial team from giving it a try.

Each piece is individually wrapped, making it a great souvenir for yourself or a gift for others!

Price: 648 yen (tax included)

Curry is a classic and popular comfort food in Japanese households, and there are plenty of curry-flavored snacks out there. Beware, however, this is not just your typical curry-flavored snack! Made by Ochanoko-Saisai, a specialty shop in Kyoto known for its Shichimi and Ichimi chili peppers, this snack is a rice cracker flavored with a combination of Ichimi chili pepper and curry!

In Japan, the spiciness level of dishes is generally described as "mild," "medium," and "hot." The spiciest level is referred to as "gekikara" (super spicy), but this curry rice cracker is named as "kyokara" (crazy spicy) - taking it a step further.

Let's see what our editors thought!

During our taste test, we couldn’t stop talking about how spicy this snack was. One of our editors took the rest home to share with her children, and even though they agreed on its spiciness, they finished the pack in one go. It might be a bit too much for some kids (especially if they don't usually eat spicy food), but it's definitely a great snack for adults, especially with a drink!

Price: 486 yen (tax included)

Matcha-flavored Langue de Chat is a classic Kyoto souvenir. You'll find various brands offering them in souvenir shops around the city.

We recommend "Kyorangu" by Tsujiri, a famous Uji tea company from Kyoto. As soon as you open the package, you’re hit with the fresh smell of matcha!

Check out the editorial team’s taste test report below.

Since matcha is such a classic and sold all over the city, you'll want to find a souvenir that stands out in both taste and packaging! We recommend you give the "Kyorangu" a try.

Price: 1,296 yen (tax included)

JagaRico is a popular snack in Japan, known for its irresistible crispy texture. JagaRico comes in several different regional flavors that can only be bought on-site, and Osaka boasts a must-try "takoyaki" flavored version.

The bright red and blue packaging with an image of takoyaki really stands out on the shelves, you'll spot it right away for sure.

Takoyaki is known for its soft, fluffy texture, but how does it work with the crispy JagaRico?

This JagaRico has a similar color to the typical takoyaki sauce. We think this is a great snack for anyone who wants to try (or already loves!) the takoyaki flavor, and makes for a fun souvenir!

Price: 221 yen (tax included)

Jagabee is another popular snack from Calbee, the same company behind JagaRico. This one comes in the same takoyaki flavor, but how does it compare?

Jagabee has a lighter color compared to JagaRico. When you look closely at the package, you’ll notice the takoyaki in the picture doesn’t have any mayo on it.

Our team agreed that this one has a stronger dashi and octopus flavor. In comparison, JagaRico had more of a rich, mayonnaise taste.

Since Jagabee comes in small individual packs, it's great for sharing. It might be fun to try both and compare them!

Price: 570 yen (tax included)

This playful packaging features a hand pinching Tsutenkaku Tower, a fun reference to one of Osaka’s most famous landmarks. Why not take a bite-sized version of the tower home with you?

You could argue this souvenir fits in the “bought it for the packaging” category, but this has more than just cute looks. These stylish chocolates taste just as good as they look—no surprise coming from Morozoff, one of Japan’s top confectionery brands.

The craftsmanship is pretty amazing! Souvenir shopping in Japan is its own activity, with all these cute-looking sweets. And as our editors pointed out, this particular souvenir tastes as great as it looks! The crispy chocolate has a great crunch, and the cranberries add a nice touch.

Make sure to add this to your souvenir list!

Price: 648 yen (tax included)

Well, what did you think? Both being popular tourist destinations, Kyoto and Osaka offer a wide variety of local souvenirs, each one more tempting than the last.

Feel free to use our editorial team's tasting reports to find your perfect pick!

(*The information in this article is accurate as of March 2025, and the opinions shared are personal.)
(*Availability may vary by store. Please check with individual stores for details.)