Best Japanese Sweets & Candy to Try

Japan is home to some of the world’s most popular foods. While classic foods like sushi and matcha are now enjoyed across the globe, even some of the more modern creations often seen in Japanese supermarkets are hugely popular worldwide.

With colourful packaging, unique designs and crazy flavours, many Japanese sweets and candies have gone viral on social media over the years. Whether you want to experience Japanese sweets for the first time or are buying them for a Japanophile friend, here are some of the most popular creations you won’t want to miss.

Wagashi

While Japan is very famous for its savoury and fish-based diet, it also has a rich and increasingly popular history when it comes to sweet treats.

Some of Japan’s most popular sweets are collectively known as wagashi – these are traditional treats usually served alongside tea, such as:

• Mochi
• Dango
• Manju
• Taiyaki
• Yokan

Wagashi are a fantastic way to get a taste of traditional Japanese cuisine. However, if you’re looking for more modern, sugary treats, discover some of the most popular below!

UHA Cororo

UHA Mikakuto are one of Japan’s biggest confectionery makers and has a bunch of very popular sweets, but their most popular is probably Cororo (sometimes spelt Kororo).

Cororos have been designed to mimic the sensation of biting into fresh fruit, with a unique firm skin on the outside and a juicy gummy on the inside. They come in a range of fruit flavours as well as flavours like cola or ramune to enjoy.

UHA Puccho

Another of UHA Mikakuto’s popular sweets is Puccho. These are classic chewy candies sold in a bar containing multiple pieces, a bit like Chewits in the UK but softer.

One unique feature of Pucchos compared to other chewy sweets is that they contain bits in the chew, such as gummy pieces or fizzy candy depending on the flavour, which can make each chew extra flavourful!

HI-CHEW

When talking about chewy Japanese sweets, you can’t forget about HI-CHEW. These soft chews, created by Morinaga & Co., are one of Japan’s most famous candies!

HI-CHEWs are a bulky soft chew sweet often with a coloured centre surrounded by a white exterior. Sweet, soft, and super chewy, HI-CHEWs can now be found in many stores across the UK in various fruity flavours.

KitKat

While KitKats were originally created in England, they’ve found a life of their own in Japan and now regularly rank among the most popular chocolate confections in the country!

Part of the KitKat craze in Japan is believed to be thanks to its name. KitKat in Japan sounds a lot like “Kitto Katsu”, which means “surely win” in Japanese. As a result, KitKats have become popular as good luck gifts to give friends or family.

As the popularity of KitKats has exploded across Japan, so has the variety of flavours available. There have been upwards of 400 unique KitKat flavours recorded – enough to satisfy even the most curious of palettes!

Kasugai Frutia

One of the most popular Japanese sweets amongst our customers, Kasugai’s sweet gummies have been a staple in Japan since the 1990s.

Frutias are small, soft jelly gummies available in a wide range of flavours and made with real fruit juice. They are sold in bags and all individually wrapped, helping them to stay fresh and also making them great for gifting, small treats while working or studying, and much more.

Pocky

Perhaps Japan’s most famous sweet snack, Pocky are the iconic long biscuit sticks with a chocolatey coating.

Pocky were invented by Japan’s huge food company Glico in the 1960s. Since then, their popularity has exploded, both domestically and internationally, leading to a whole host of new flavours to discover.

In Europe, Pocky are produced under license from Glico by a different company and sold as ​​Mikado. However, Asian supermarkets like ours allow you to try the authentic Japanese treat!

Coris Fue Ramune Whistle Candy

Another viral Japanese treat is Coris’ Fue Ramune Whistle Candy. Its circular design, a bit like polos in the UK, means you can use it like a whistle, hence its name.

Beyond the novelty shape, these sweets are loved for their fizzy, melt-in-the-mouth taste inspired by ramune, the popular Japanese soda.

Really, this list only scratches the surface when it comes to all the varieties of Japanese confections to discover. From frozen desserts to iconic sodas, there’s so much to discover, and you can find the best of it here at Oriental Mart!