10 Must-Buy Snacks in Okinawa

Superb Okinawa sweets that make excellent souvenirs

Beni-imo Sweet Potato Tart (Okashigoten)

With a generous amount of 'beni-imo' - a purple sweet potato native to Okinawa - on a tart pastry, the Beni-imo Sweet Potato Tart is an Okinawan souvenir people make sure to get. However, when it first hit the shelves, it seemed that people were not familiar with purple sweet potato, and took an extremely long time before it gained popularity. Through gradual word of mouth, the taste of this tart has now spread to the point that you can now buy this wherever you go in Okinawa.

Beni-imo Langues de Chat (Kenshoku Okinawa Co., Ltd.)

Just like the aforementioned Beni-imo Sweet Potato Tart, this sweet uses the same purple sweet potato found in Okinawa. Accentuated with local Okinawa salt, the salt helps set this product apart from other sweets by bringing out the sweetness of the potato; the sweet yet salty sweet potato chocolate gently covers the langues de chat cookies. Make sure to try this sweet at least once.

Benitsutsumi (Okashigoten)

This velvety smooth sweet potato is a collaboration between the purple 'beni-imo' sweet potato of Okinawa and the common 'satsumaimo' sweet potato found in Japan. The secret behind its success is that it is not too sweet, thus allowing the other flavors of the potato to shine. The beni-imo contains anthocyanin - the nutrient responsible for its bitterness - and it is this bitterness that helps mask the sweetness of the sweet potato to successfully bring out the depth and richness hidden within. Packaged one by one like a little treasure, this sweet makes for a great souvenir to hand out to friends and family.

Arakaki Chinsuko (Arakaki Kashiten)

Chinsuko is a traditional Okinawan biscuit that is said to have originated from a sweet from China.
You are spoiled for choice when it comes to Chinsuko. Here we would like to introduce you to the chinsuko from Arakaki Kashiten - easy to eat and with a strong reputation compared to other varieties. Much sweeter and with much less of the lard taste found in other varieties, Arakaki Kashiten's version is said to be loved by everyone.

In addition, its unique yellow packaging makes this one stand out from others. This is one you really should get your hands on.

Soft Caramels (Ma-san Michel)

Awarded the top prize by Monde selection, this divine nama-caramel (a soft caramel from Japan) comes in gorgeous packaging and is available in 5 Okinawa-centric flavors: plain, brown sugar, mango, salt, and coconut.

This sweet was originally made to bring the wonderful flavors of French caramel to visitors to Okinawa. Comes in wonderfully gorgeous packaging as well.

Okinawa shio caramel almond florent tongues (Nampo)

Finely accentuated by the Okinawan salt, this product is not too sweet or salty to deliver an exquisite flavor.

Lovingly and carefully made piece by piece, this crunchy almond treat makes for a great souvenir to bring back.

Yukishio Fuwawa (Paradise Plan Co., Ltd.)

“Fuwafuwa” means soft and fluffy in Japanese, and just like its name, this meringue delivers a melt-in-your-mouth softness that appeals to many people. Available in a rich variety of flavors: brown sugar, “beni-imo,” mango, chocolate, coconut, and strawberry. With a faint hint of salt in the mix and shaped like a cute accessory, this is a meringue treat you will enjoy.

Warning: once you experience its butter-like softness, there may be no going back.

Yukishio Chinsuko (Nanpudo Co., Ltd.)

A combination of the powder-like Yukishio (Snow Salt) sourced from the groundwater of Miyakojima Island and the traditional Okinawan sweet Chinsuko; the salt brings out the sweetness of the chinsuko for an excellent flavor.

The gorgeous packaging exudes class making this the perfect gift.

ROYCE Ishigaki Brown Sugar Chocolate (ROYCE)

ROYCE's sister brand has brought together the much-loved Japanese chocolate brand ROYCE' with Okinawa's specialty brown sugar, cut and carefully wrapped into bite-size caramel-like pieces to deliver chocolate that will not disappoint you.

Mint Brown Sugar

As well as being handed out as part of JAL's in-flight service, this product has caught on fire in Okinawa through word of mouth. This pairing of brown sugar and mint has become a favorite among mint lovers in particular. Divided into small bags, this sweet is a great souvenir to hand out to people; also a healthy sweet that makes this all the more pleasing for ladies.

The place to buy sweets in Okinawa

oHacorté Naha Airport Store

This charming-looking shop - located on the second floor near the departure lobby of Naha Airport - is a baked sweets shop that has many fans among people within and outside Okinawa and is a great place to pick up souvenirs.

More often than not, this shop becomes busy in the evenings, which may mean you will not find what you are after. Reserving products ahead of time is possible here. The tart sandwich from here is worth trying.

Shiro-bara – Main Shop

This cake shop has 10 shops across Okinawa. To get to the main store, we recommend taking a taxi as it is a 23-minute walk from Asato Station and a 27-minute walk from Makishi Station.

You can eat the cakes inside the shop here, and you can also enjoy the famous Okinawa cake.
There are a lot of Japanese-style sweets made with local ingredients here, so check out this shop.

Ryukyu Dolce Terrace

This place serves confectionery and sweets. The most popular item at this shop is the Ryukyu Dango. Made in such a way that it remains soft even when chilled and retains its flavor even after a long time, makes this item a popular gift.

The second store opened in 2013 and is designed like a cafe where you can enjoy great views of Kouri Bridge.

Summary

We hope this list provides a good overview of sweets found in Okinawa. There is much more to try than what is written here, but check this list out if you find yourself getting lost with what to try and buy.
A trip to Okinawa is not only about sightseeing, but it’s also a great place to enjoy shopping.

[Note] Pricing information and schedule is correct at the time of writing and are subject to change without notice. Please check the official website before your trip.