Odakyu Department Store’s second basement floor was majorly renewed in October 2016, expanding on Japanese-style confectionery, as well as crafts and arts from all around the country. The floor now is home to a total of 106 shops, with 38 of them focusing on authentic Japanese confectionery.

The shiny renewed shopping space has become a must-stop for many travelers and tourists, as daily necessities and travel goods can be found as beautiful crafts. A lot of people also enjoy strolling along the shops and trying a sweet delicacy here and there, savoring traditional tastes and elegant designs.

Kabukiage Tokyo is a brand that focuses on Japan’s delicious rice crackers, an original brand born from the collaboration of two famous, long-established shops. Kabukiage is actually a distinct type of rice cracker, its name deriving from the traditional performing art of Kabuki and “age,” the Japanese word for “fried.” At the specialty store in Odakyu Department Store, the crunchy delicacies come in two sizes: the large “daimaru” with different soy sauce-based flavors, and the bite-sized “komaru,” available in various flavors.

The daimaru rice crackers are Kabukiage Tokyo’s most iconic snack. The rich aroma of soy sauce goes excellently well with the delightful crunchiness of the cracker, making for a snack that is surprisingly luxurious. The “tamari shoyu” flavor lets you experience the authentic taste of soy sauce, while “koikuchi shoyu” is on the stronger side and boasts a wonderful balance of flavor and aroma. The third flavor, “shiro-shoyu,” is of a subtle sweetness and fairly mild.

In the Japanese mind, this kind of rice crackers is closely connected to a classic soy sauce flavor, but Kabukiage Tokyo seeks to redefine this image. One of its most famous creative rice cracker flavors is “Seto Inland Sea Salt & Lemon,” a combination that harmonizes amazingly well with the cracker itself. We especially recommend this variety as a souvenir, as it blends traditional tastes with modern creativity so perfectly!

For a more Western flavor, try the “Cheddar & Camembert” rice cracker variety. The cheese taste is rich but not overwhelming, focusing on the characteristic notes of the two types of cheese.

Another intriguing creation is the “Italian Tomato & Basil” flavor, which skillfully blends the best of East and West. This rice cracker variety is best enjoyed as a light snack along with a glass of wine.

The rice crackers of Kabukiage Tokyo don’t just taste amazing, they’re also all packaged in differently designed boxes to reflect their characteristic taste. There are plenty of people who choose by design alone, excited to have a fun and delicious souvenir of their Tokyo experience.

Ippodo Tea is a long-established tea specialty store, dating back to Kyoto of 1717. By now, Ippodo Tea even has a small street-front shop selling authentic matcha from Kyoto to go, but of course, the green tea experience is an entirely different one in Japan. Shinjuku’s Odakyu Department Store boasts its own Ippodo Tea shop, selling botch matcha and other tea varieties as powder, loose leaves, and in bags.

Generally speaking, four kinds of tea are available at Ippodo Tea: matcha, sencha, gyokuro, and bancha. Among them, you’ll find the “ummon-no-mukashi” brand of green tea being a favorite of tea connoisseurs, boasting the highest quality of the entire tea assortment. It is an amazing blend of selected tea leaves to bring umami and mellow sweetness so typical for matcha to absolute perfection.

Of course, not everyone owns a bamboo whisk and tea bowls to prepare green tea in the traditional fashion. Don’t hesitate to opt for Ippodo Tea’s tea bag versions – they’re a perfect, traditional gift for yourself or friends and family at home, embodying the image of Japan like no other souvenir could.

Should you be interested in authentic tea preparation, Ippodo Tea is also just the right place to go. Indispensable for making matcha yourself is the bamboo whisk called “chasen,” and the shop offers the fittingly traditional version. These chasen are hand-made out of Japanese bamboo by skilled craftsmen in a city called Takayama, located in Nara. Buying a can of matcha powder and a bamboo whisk makes for a souvenir that will last you for a very long time and with every sip of tea, you’ll be reminded of your time in Japan.

While a lot of people imagine folding fans and character goods when thinking about souvenirs from Japan, we wanted to introduce you to a different kind of memento. Why not take home the traditional tastes of Japan to relive your trip over snacks with friends or a hot cup of matcha tea?
Besides the two shops that we showcased, Odakyu Department Store’s second basement floor is home to a variety of shops, so if you’ve got some time to spare, browse for other souvenir favorites!

Since the renewal in October 2016, the selection of bento lunches and condiments has also grown excessively. So even if you want to grab a tasty bento before taking the Shinkansen, it’s a great spot to stop by!