4 Snacks That Prove Everything's Better In Japan
As anyone that's come back from a recent trip to Tokyo, Osaka or Yokahama can tell you: everything is better in Japan. From low unemployment rates to crazy futuristic technology, it just seems like life out there is better in every way... and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Where the Japanese really have us beat is their huge variety of sweet and savoury snack food.
Donuts
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In Japan? Treat yourself to some "doubutsu doonatsu", or animal donuts. Instead of just a boring glaze, the Japanese can have their donuts iced into cute – or should we say kawaii – little animals. Whether you're a cat fanatic or bonkers about bunnies, no animal is off-limits for being made into a happy, doughy treat. PLUS, just when you thought it couldn't get any cuter, some designs include the donut-hole as an additional iced buddy. I'm dying. Surely these are too sweet to eat?
If you decide that, yes, you can chow down on an adorable iced critter, then you'll need to head to one of two specialist donut outlets. There's Floresta, which has multiple branches across the Kansai region that serve these delicious cuties, or speciality spin-off, Animal Doughnut of Ikumimama, which is in Kawasaki.
Kit-Kats
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It's true that we have a decent variety of chocolate-covered wafers. There's the classic 4-finger bar, the snack-sized 2-finger option, the hefty "Chunky" and even bags of bite-sized pieces. Depending on the type of Kit-Kat, your flavour options include dark, milk and white chocolate, peanut butter, dark mint, mocha, orange, salted caramel and the berry-flavoured "ruby" range. Not bad, eh?
Well, Kit-Kats are one of the best-selling chocolate bars in all of Japan. Part of this success is attributed to the name, which sounds a lot like the phrase kitto katsu, meaning "surely win" in Japanese – they're advertised as the perfect way to send students a good-luck message before exams.
Our selection of flavours seems pretty tame compared to what's on offer in Japan. As well as a huge selection in general shops, you can find new flavours at dedicated Kit-Kat 'Chocolatory' stores, limited editions and bars specifically released for annual fukubukuro gift bags. You could find yourself biting into a Kit-Kat flavoured like matcha, edamame, wasabi, sake, soy sauce or even Hokkaido melon with mascarpone!
Pancakes/Crepes
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Pancakes are a pretty simple affair, with most of us enjoying a couple on National Pancake Day and not really bothering during the rest of the year. Purists stick to sugar and lemon on top, while those feeling a little more wild might opt for fresh fruit and/or Nutella.
In Japan, you can find crepe stalls and vans as frequently as you might do in France... except the food they serve barely resembles a French crêpe at all. Yes, they will almost certainly be served piping hot and in a cone, however the similarities stop there.
Shunning bland ol' butter and sugar, the Japanese have about fifty standard toppings for their crepe selection, including custard, cheesecake and matcha (of course), or tuna or shrimp if you've got a craving for something savoury. For the ultimate selection, head to Takeshita Street in Harajuku, where you can choose from lots of different crepe vendors and people-watch in the colourful crowd as you eat.
Pub snacks
It's not unfair to say that heading to the pub is one of the great British pastimes. Most people will be familiar with the peckishness that tends to accompany the second or third pint, which can usually be satiated by a traditional bar snack like peanuts, pork scratchings or a packet of crisps. Well, put down your glass, because it's time to learn what you're missing.
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Firstly, there's kaki no tane, which are senbei rice crackers made into a crescent-shape, resembling the seeds of a kaki fruit. These crunchy fragments are slightly spicy and come mixed with peanuts – perfect with a pint. You could also go for wasabi peas, which are dunked in a crispy batter that's made to taste like wasabi or horseradish. Finally, there's karaage, which is chicken (or sometimes octopus or fish) that has been battered and deep-fried in bite-sized pieces. Like scampi, but better.
Bringing the magic home
If you're suddenly realising how much our own snack market is lacking, we understand. The trouble is, getting these delicious international treats around the world in any substantial quantity is a lot trickier than it might seem. There are a number of resources online that offer advice on how best to get your tasty treats back home, safe and sound. For now, you'd be better off booking yourself a holiday and simply enjoying some delicious native snacks all to yourself.