The Top 5 Japanese Snacks Perfect for Summer

In Japan, summer can be vibrant and at the same time, brutal. The heat can reach up to 35°C with air that’s hot, heavy, and humid. Luckily, Japan’s found tons of ways to beat the heat, and that includes the tastiest, most refreshing Japanese treats that keep you cool during the summer. 

Today, we’re going on a summer snackfest to learn about all the refreshing goodies that Japan has to offer. So put on your favorite summer outfit, pack an umbrella; we’re going on an awesome snack adventure. 

1. Kakigori (かき氷 )  

Kakigori is a traditional shaved ice dessert, but it's a hundred times better than the regular shaved ice served in the use. Made by shaving large blocks of ice, kakigori has a texture that feels as soft as fresh powdered snow. They're flavored with syrup, condensed milk, and decorated with all sorts of elaborate toppings.

Kakigori can be found in a lot of places in Japan - from yatai (street food vendors), summer festival stalls, and even kakigori specialty shops. If you're craving kakigori and can't afford a ticket to Japan, don't worry, we've got you covered.

Japan loves kakigori so much that it also makes candy based on this ice treat. There are special kakigori gummies, kakigori hard candy, and even DIY candy sets like the Popin Cookin Omatsuri San Kit that let you make your own kakigori out of candy.  

2. Ramune (ラムネ )

This drink is one of the most iconic soft drinks from Japan. You can instantly recognize it anywhere with its distinctive pinched-neck bottle sealed with a glass marble that pops when you open it. Everyone in Japan loves the sound a ramune bottle makes when you open it! 

That's just half the fun, though. Drinking ramune, you get to enjoy a sweet and bubbly lemon-lime carbonated drink that has its own unique flavor profile. It's a nostalgic drink for a lot of Japanese people that instantly brings them back to childhood summers filled with festivals and seaside adventures. 

If you can’t find ramune at your local Asian grocery store, then lucky for you, there’s ramune candy. Though it doesn’t come in the same iconic bottle as the drink, ramune candy tries to recreate the iconic fizz and taste of the Japanese soda. Plus, there are a lot of different flavors that you can try! 

Curious about ramune candy? Japan Candy Store has the biggest collection of ramune candy online. Check it out! 

3. Watermelon (スイカ)

Watermelon might not seem all that special, but in Japan, it isn't just a fruit; it's a summer craving. Japanese watermelons are sweet, crisp, and ultra refreshing. They help keep everyone hydrated during the summer. 

A lot of the time, you'll see people giving away special watermelons as souvenir gifts, and you can find them at summer get-togethers like beach trips and picnics. The Japanese love playing suikawari, a watermelon game where participants are blindfolded and made to smash a watermelon with a stick. 

If you're looking for a unique twist to Japanese watermelons, you can also find them in candy form. There are tasty treats like Watermelon gummies, watermelon chewing gum, watermelon seed ramune, and so much more! 

4. Taiyaki (たいやき )

This fish-shaped pancake dessert is filled with either a sweet red bean paste, custard, or chocolate. It's called taiyaki because it imitates the shape of tai or sea bream. Though it's eaten all year-round, you'll find a lot of Japanese people enjoying it especially during summer festivals or matsuri that are held at night. 

The warm, comforting sweetness of this special dessert brings a lot of comfort while walking around the festival grounds with a cool summer evening breeze blowing around you. 

Taiyaki may be a little bit hard to find outside of Japan, but luckily, Meito decided to turn this summer favorite into a tasty snack with Meito Puku Puku Tai Fish Shaped Wafer. This wafer treat is shaped just like taiyaki and filled with airy bubble chocolate! 

5. Konbini Ice Cream (コンビニアイス)

Of course you can’t go wrong with some yummy ice cream during the summer! Japanese konbinis or convenience stores have a stockpile of some of the tastiest local ice cream treats you can find. There’s Morinaga Pino, ice cream bites covered in a thin layer of chocolate, Glico Ice Cream cups which are handy and affordable, and Glico Frozen Fruit Ice Cream Bites which kind of look like gummies. 

Jumbo Choco Monaka ice cream bars are also a definite favorite from the konbini. What's not to love about a wafer treat filled with ice cream and layered with chocolate? You can also find Yumiko Daifuku Mochi ice cream at the konbini. These ice cream bites are coated with a layer of soft and springy mochi! 

So, there you have it. These are five of the best Japanese snacks for you to indulge in during summer. They're sweet, addictive, and most of all refreshing. Dismantling a big bowl of kakigori is definitely a great way to beat the summer heat! 

Which Japanese summer snack are you excited to try? Is it kakigori? Maybe you're craving a sip of refreshing ramune? Or are you looking to bite the tail off a red bean-filled taiyaki? Don't be shy and let us know in the comment section below. Good food is always worth talking about! 

Looking for refreshing Japanese candies to help you cool down this summer? Add to cart all the tastiest Japanese summer snacks from our shop on Japan Candy Store!