10 Must-Buy Snacks in Osaka—Find the Best Confections and Souvenirs

One level above the usual confectionery! A whole range of luxury confectionery!

There are a number of confectioneries that are known throughout Japan. Perhaps you have heard of the names of manufacturers such as Ezaki Glico, Calbee, UHA Mikakuto, and Kameda Seika, even if you are not Japanese. In fact, high-end versions of the Glico's Pretz and Calbee's Potato Chips snacks are now being developed one after another. The ingredients, flavors, and packaging are different from the original, and they are stylish and very tasty, but in fact, most of them can only be purchased at department stores in Osaka. Let us introduce them one by one.

This is different from the usual, both in taste and thickness! Baton d'or, the upscale version of Pretz

Ezaki Glico's Baton d'or. It is a stick-shaped pretzel, a high-end version of the common Japanese snack Pretz. The lineup changes with the seasons, and the year-round pretzel type is dusted with sugar. There are three flavors: sugar butter, maple sugar, and umami sugar, all of which are kneaded into the butter and have a rich aroma. Baton d'or is available at Hankyu Umeda's main store, Takashimaya's Osaka store, and Osaka International Airport.

GRAND Calbee, a thick potato chip made with time and care

GRAND Calbee is Calbee's potato chips made for adults. These chips are made by deep frying and searing potatoes. They come in six flavors, including shio (salt), Hokkaido butter, three Kinds of cheese, and tomato & basil, all of which are roasted to give them a savory and satisfying texture. They are available at Hankyu Umeda's main store, but please note that they may be out of stock depending on the time of day.

Juicy like the actual fruit! cororo, a new type of gummy specialty store

Cororo is a new type of gummy specialty store created through a collaboration between UHA Mikakuto and Hankyu Corporation. This cororo is a new type of gummy candy with a fruitier feel than the original cororo gummy candies that have gained popularity due to their soft and juicy texture. Six different flavors are made from the juice and puree of specialty fruits such as white peach, mango, and shine muscat. There is a store in Hankyu Umeda's Flagship Store.

cororo Hankyu Umeda, Main Store
Address: B1F, 8-7 Kakuda-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka Prefecture
Directions: Near Osaka Station / Umeda Station
Official website: https://www.uha-mikakuto.co.jp/cororo/

Happy Turn’s, a rice cracker covered with colorful powder

Kameda Seika's Happy Turn's is a high-end version of the well-known rice snack Happy Turn, which is especially popular among children in Japan. It is a baked rice cracker that combines sweet and sour powder with a variety of Japanese and Western flavors. The light, crispy texture is sprinkled generously with matcha, brown sugar kinako (soybean powder), strawberry, and other powders for a rich aromatic flavor. Available at Hankyu Umeda's main store.

Happy Turn’s Hankyu Umeda, Main Store
Address: Hankyu Umeda, Main Store B1F, 8-7 Kakuda-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka Prefecture
Directions: Near Osaka Station / Umeda Station
Official website: https://www.happyturn.com/happyturns/#hankyuumeda

A stylish snack to enjoy with a beer! Hankyu Umeda, Main Store's limited edition TANEBITS

TANEBITS, also from Kameda Seika, is a premium version of Kaki no Tane rice crackers. The only permanent shop is inside Hankyu Umeda's main store next to the Happy Turn's shop. Cashews, cracked peanuts, and roasted almonds are combined with various Kaki no Tane flavors such as tempura, cheese soy sauce, fried, and other flavors to create a unique lineup of six different types. Popular items may be out of stock.

TABINETS Hankyu Umeda, Main Store
Address: Hankyu Umeda, Main Store B1F, 8-7 Kakuda-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka Prefecture
Directions: Near Osaka Station / Umeda Station
Official website: https://www.e-kakinotane.com/tanebits/

You can try them and compare during your stay! Sweets that represent Osaka

Next, we have curated five of "Osaka's most famous sweets!" Some of these well-known sweets include cheesecake, pudding, and daifuku (stuffed mochi), but there is a reason why they are famous. We will also introduce the characteristics and estimated shelf life of each. Food is one of the pleasures of traveling, so enjoy them and compare them during your travels!

Rikuro's freshly-baked cheesecake

Rikuro's freshly-baked cheesecake is a fluffy cheesecake with raisins sprinkled on the bottom. Made with cream cheese imported directly from Denmark, quality-controlled eggs, and fresh milk, it is baked into a soufflé shape and measures 18 cm by 6 cm, and will last all day in cool temperatures when stored in dark places or for three days when refrigerated. There is a line at all the stores, but the wait is often not that long.

Rikuro’s Daimaru, Umeda Store
Address: Daimaru, Umeda Store B1F Western Confectionery Floor, 3-1-1 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka Prefecture
Directions: 1-min. walk from JR Osaka Station
Official website: http://www.rikuro.co.jp/

Kuidaore Taro Pudding, the symbolic character of Osaka

Kuidaore Taro Pudding is a souvenir series of Osaka's famous Kuidaore Taro. It lasts about six months from the date of manufacture. It contains caramel and crushed sugar, so you can enjoy a crème brûlée-like pudding. The pudding comes in a pack of three in a Kuidaore Taro's triangular hat. It is not only delicious but also a topic of conversation, making it a perfect souvenir.

The rich buttery aroma of the ÉCHIRÉ Marché au Beurre

ÉCHIRÉ Marché au Beurre is the Kansai branch of ÉCHIRÉ, which specializes in ÉCHIRÉ butter, a fermented butter made in France. The shop offers a variety of sweets made with ÉCHIRÉ butter, such as kouign-amann, sablé, and omelet. The sablé packaged in a tin can can be taken as a souvenir, while the omelet, kouign-amann, and other items that do not last long should be enjoyed as a snack during your travels. They all have a wonderful buttery aroma but not overly buttery.

Japanese sweets filled with fruit: Isshindo Fruit Daifuku

Isshindo's Fruits Daifuku is famous for its strawberry daifuku with red bean paste, condensed milk, and strawberries wrapped in a gyuhi (rice cake made with glutinous rice flour) crust. It will keep for two days in refrigeration. (*The peach daifuku expires on the same day.) The peach daifuku, muskmelon daifuku, and mandarin orange daifuku are the top three most popular, and there are also 12 other varieties in total, including mango daifuku, watermelon daifuku, and blueberry daifuku. Try the juicy taste of the various fruits wrapped in white bean paste.

Isshindo, Main Store
Address: 19-7 Hikishoharaderamachi, Higashi-ku, Sakai-shi, Osaka Prefecture
Official website: https://www.issindo-osaka.com/index.html

MADAME SHINKO, whose trademark is a pink leopard print

MADAME SHINKO is famous for its Madame Brûlée sold in a pink leopard print packaging. This caramelized baumkuchen soaked in maple syrup is very popular in Japan. It can be refrigerated for up to ten days. Enjoy it moist when cold and fluffy when served hot.

Be on the lookout for snacks with flavors limited to Osaka and Kansai!

We have introduced high-end versions of familiar Japanese sweets and major sweets from Osaka. Was there anything you would like to try or buy as a souvenir? There are many other snacks in Osaka that are more affordable and are unique to Osaka and Kansai. When you stop by a souvenir store, convenience store, or supermarket, we recommend you look through the snacks section and find snacks labeled as being limited edition Osaka or Kansai products.

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