There are a lot more unusual ice creams in Japan that you can try other than just grape! If anything, I’d actually encourage you to try the grape candies, since they are ridiculously good, and focus on other ice cream flavors. Definitely try buckwheat ice cream if you’re in central Japan–it is toasty and delicious. Or miso ice cream. Wasabi ice cream tastes different if you get it at a wasabi farm (which I recommend, since they will sell a milder, plusher type than the stronger type you will get in a more touristy area).
If you’re in the US, pocari sweat is readily available at Asian grocers
If you have a sweet tooth, I highly recommend Japan’s parfaits! Both their fruit & ice cream tastes amazing.
For drinks, try the lemon sours and highballs many restaurants serve. Lemon sours are light and refreshing, highballs are more of a whiskey drink.
I went to Osaka my last trip, and my favorite street food was skewers of fresh fruit coated in a clear sugar shell. The fruit was so ripe and sweet! Also takoyaki, yakitori, and kushikatsu.
Fruit flavored Kit Kats. Cause they honestly taste so jarring lol. Like the apple flavored kit kit really tastes like an apple but with chocolate. I was shocked how they could make a chocolate taste like an apple.
The 7-11 egg salad sandwiches.
Mochi donuts. Tbh they’ve come to America but I still think Japan got the recipe the best.
Pasta. Just cause it tastes funny over there. It’s sweeter than regular tomato sauce.
Okonomyaki Osaka style. Idr where but I went to a place where you can choose your own filling and pour the batter on the grill yourself and easy it. I enjoyed it like that. But other places have someone grill it for you and you take pieces from the grill.
The fruit. The fruit there is so good. Especially if you find people selling fruit on sticks outside. So good.
Takoyaki. I wish I could remember the exact chai store but there was one that sold both takoyaki and taiyaki (you should also try) and it was the perfect takoyaki cause it was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. A lot of the takoyaki i had in Osaka (home of the takoyaki) was too soft and gooey for me and not crispy enough.
Tbh they probably won’t have it cause it’s the warm months rn but the hot soups in the vending machine are so good. And it’s cool in general to get hot soups out of a vending machine that sells cold drinks lol.
Oh melon ice cream soda! I miss that from Japan.
The crepes from harajuku’s takeshita street
Cremia
Kissaten! Cute little cakes or parfaits with coffee and chit chat with a friend ♥️
Just got back from our 2nd trip. Forget the convenience stores for egg sandos and similar snacks – head to a bakery or small supermarket. First trip I thought a 7-Eleven egg sando was the best thing in the world. Now I know a Japanese bakery egg sando is.
To add to your list, Sutekidon – literally BBQ steak on a bowl of rice. You need this.
This a very generic style tourist list. Definitely try to branch out more!
Go to the basement floor of Department stores.
Odori ebi.
if you are from a country that doesnt have it, I recommend you buy a float drink somewhere, just for the fun of it.
Monaka ice cream bars, available at any konbini.
Calpis soda
Curry bread – can’t remember which kombini does the one with cheese in but that ones the best
Yakidango, curry pan, specifically the tuna and tempura style onigiri, BOSS coffee (so cheap and refreshing!!)
AHHH don’t forget:
-Karage – fried chicken balls. Addictive 🍗
– Okonomiyaki (hirsoshima style is my personal favorite) – savory pancake with a lot of other yummy stuff in it. Delectable 🥞
– Ramen – go to a random ramen shop wherever you’re staying just for the experience. My husband and I like to just step out of our hotel and go to the first one we see! Same with udon – those thick noodles in flavorful broth. Unforgettable 🍜
– Sushi shops – Japanese sushi isn’t like American sushi, and I personally love it. Go to a random sushi shop and enjoy delicious nigiri that’s startlingly cheap. Classic 🍣
– Curry – you could even just go to a Coco Ichibana (a curry chain that’s all over). But you’ve got to try Japanese curry. It’s hearty, cozy, and so so flavorful. Essential 🥘
– Katsu – sometimes you can find shops where you cook it yourself on a hot grill. It’s strips of breaded meat that you eat with different sauces. Sounds simple, but it’s divine. Mouth-watering 🤤
-Japanese cafe’s/konbinis! An endless selection of fluffy, creamy pastries. For prettier ones for photo ops, check out the cafe’s, but you can get delicious pastries even at a convenience store. Family Mart/Lawsons are the best in my opinion. Delightful 🥮
– Mochi donuts!! They have a bouncier mouthfeel than American donuts and are a must-try. Unique 🍩.
– Random snacks from konbinis/Daiso/Don Quijote. Karage-flavored potato chips? Coffee chocolates? Shrimp rice cakes? Yum, yum, and yum, and so fun to just try random stuff. Same applies to drinks! Exciting 🏪
-Fish markets/ginzas – Just walk around trying stuff. A great one in Tokyo is the Tsujiki Fish Market but there are loads of them everywhere, and you’ll come across some amazing new things. BBQ eel, fried crab cake sticks, and even candied strawberries are a few that I remember loving. Incredible 👀
– Yakiniku – meat, meat, meat!! Might be pricier for better quality but I’m telling you, it’s a fun and mouth-watering experience. Meaty 🥩
That’s everything I can think of off the top of my head but there is so much more!! Don’t stick to just the viral stuff you see on TikTok – explore, go on your own adventures, and get ready to be pleasantly surprised by those “hole in the wall” places you just stumbled into! 😍 HAVE SO MUCH FUN! ❤️
Konpeito
LEMON SOUR.
Umokoachi MOCHI
Crepes!!
711 karrage stick
7-11 egg salad sando how is this not on there
***note: I said 7-11 not LAWSON
The cream sando with fruit is actually a hard pass it’s just whipped cream with strawberry in…. Bread lol
Try the chicken tatsuta at McDonalds JP, it’s limited time and it was sooo good.
Add the Shaka Shaka chicken from coco curry
Okonomiyaki, bonus points if you go to a place you cook it yourself
Sencha
Takoyaki
The KitKat Store
Tokyo Banana
My sister said the crème brûlée Ice cream at 7/11 was 10/10
29 comments
There are a lot more unusual ice creams in Japan that you can try other than just grape! If anything, I’d actually encourage you to try the grape candies, since they are ridiculously good, and focus on other ice cream flavors. Definitely try buckwheat ice cream if you’re in central Japan–it is toasty and delicious. Or miso ice cream. Wasabi ice cream tastes different if you get it at a wasabi farm (which I recommend, since they will sell a milder, plusher type than the stronger type you will get in a more touristy area).
If you’re in the US, pocari sweat is readily available at Asian grocers
If you have a sweet tooth, I highly recommend Japan’s parfaits! Both their fruit & ice cream tastes amazing.
For drinks, try the lemon sours and highballs many restaurants serve. Lemon sours are light and refreshing, highballs are more of a whiskey drink.
I went to Osaka my last trip, and my favorite street food was skewers of fresh fruit coated in a clear sugar shell. The fruit was so ripe and sweet! Also takoyaki, yakitori, and kushikatsu.
I’d add Takoyaki, Unagi Kabayaki, Grilled Squid, Mochi, Anpan, Shaved Ice, & Matcha.
Fruit flavored Kit Kats. Cause they honestly taste so jarring lol. Like the apple flavored kit kit really tastes like an apple but with chocolate. I was shocked how they could make a chocolate taste like an apple.
The 7-11 egg salad sandwiches.
Mochi donuts. Tbh they’ve come to America but I still think Japan got the recipe the best.
Pasta. Just cause it tastes funny over there. It’s sweeter than regular tomato sauce.
Okonomyaki Osaka style. Idr where but I went to a place where you can choose your own filling and pour the batter on the grill yourself and easy it. I enjoyed it like that. But other places have someone grill it for you and you take pieces from the grill.
The fruit. The fruit there is so good. Especially if you find people selling fruit on sticks outside. So good.
Takoyaki. I wish I could remember the exact chai store but there was one that sold both takoyaki and taiyaki (you should also try) and it was the perfect takoyaki cause it was crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. A lot of the takoyaki i had in Osaka (home of the takoyaki) was too soft and gooey for me and not crispy enough.
Tbh they probably won’t have it cause it’s the warm months rn but the hot soups in the vending machine are so good. And it’s cool in general to get hot soups out of a vending machine that sells cold drinks lol.
Oh melon ice cream soda! I miss that from Japan.
The crepes from harajuku’s takeshita street
Cremia
Kissaten! Cute little cakes or parfaits with coffee and chit chat with a friend ♥️
Just got back from our 2nd trip. Forget the convenience stores for egg sandos and similar snacks – head to a bakery or small supermarket. First trip I thought a 7-Eleven egg sando was the best thing in the world. Now I know a Japanese bakery egg sando is.
To add to your list, Sutekidon – literally BBQ steak on a bowl of rice. You need this.
This a very generic style tourist list. Definitely try to branch out more!
Go to the basement floor of Department stores.
Odori ebi.
if you are from a country that doesnt have it, I recommend you buy a float drink somewhere, just for the fun of it.
Monaka ice cream bars, available at any konbini.
Calpis soda
Curry bread – can’t remember which kombini does the one with cheese in but that ones the best
Yakidango, curry pan, specifically the tuna and tempura style onigiri, BOSS coffee (so cheap and refreshing!!)
AHHH don’t forget:
-Karage – fried chicken balls. Addictive 🍗
– Okonomiyaki (hirsoshima style is my personal favorite) – savory pancake with a lot of other yummy stuff in it. Delectable 🥞
– Ramen – go to a random ramen shop wherever you’re staying just for the experience. My husband and I like to just step out of our hotel and go to the first one we see! Same with udon – those thick noodles in flavorful broth. Unforgettable 🍜
– Sushi shops – Japanese sushi isn’t like American sushi, and I personally love it. Go to a random sushi shop and enjoy delicious nigiri that’s startlingly cheap. Classic 🍣
– Curry – you could even just go to a Coco Ichibana (a curry chain that’s all over). But you’ve got to try Japanese curry. It’s hearty, cozy, and so so flavorful. Essential 🥘
– Katsu – sometimes you can find shops where you cook it yourself on a hot grill. It’s strips of breaded meat that you eat with different sauces. Sounds simple, but it’s divine. Mouth-watering 🤤
-Japanese cafe’s/konbinis! An endless selection of fluffy, creamy pastries. For prettier ones for photo ops, check out the cafe’s, but you can get delicious pastries even at a convenience store. Family Mart/Lawsons are the best in my opinion. Delightful 🥮
– Mochi donuts!! They have a bouncier mouthfeel than American donuts and are a must-try. Unique 🍩.
– Random snacks from konbinis/Daiso/Don Quijote. Karage-flavored potato chips? Coffee chocolates? Shrimp rice cakes? Yum, yum, and yum, and so fun to just try random stuff. Same applies to drinks! Exciting 🏪
-Fish markets/ginzas – Just walk around trying stuff. A great one in Tokyo is the Tsujiki Fish Market but there are loads of them everywhere, and you’ll come across some amazing new things. BBQ eel, fried crab cake sticks, and even candied strawberries are a few that I remember loving. Incredible 👀
– Yakiniku – meat, meat, meat!! Might be pricier for better quality but I’m telling you, it’s a fun and mouth-watering experience. Meaty 🥩
That’s everything I can think of off the top of my head but there is so much more!! Don’t stick to just the viral stuff you see on TikTok – explore, go on your own adventures, and get ready to be pleasantly surprised by those “hole in the wall” places you just stumbled into! 😍 HAVE SO MUCH FUN! ❤️
Konpeito
LEMON SOUR.
Umokoachi MOCHI
Crepes!!
711 karrage stick
7-11 egg salad sando how is this not on there
***note: I said 7-11 not LAWSON
The cream sando with fruit is actually a hard pass it’s just whipped cream with strawberry in…. Bread lol
Try the chicken tatsuta at McDonalds JP, it’s limited time and it was sooo good.
Add the Shaka Shaka chicken from coco curry
Okonomiyaki, bonus points if you go to a place you cook it yourself
Sencha
Takoyaki
The KitKat Store
Tokyo Banana
My sister said the crème brûlée Ice cream at 7/11 was 10/10