The Top Autumn Foods You Have To Try in Japan

Autumn is Japan’s season for eating! When the air starts getting crisp and leaves start turning gold and red, Japan welcomes autumn with open arms. That's because fall is known as "shokuyoku no aki" or the season of appetite, when the bounty is ripe and ready to eat. 

For the Japanese people, autumn is all about celebrating the harvest and enjoying all the seasonal flavors the land has to offer. From creamy sweet potatoes and delightful chestnuts to piping hot meals like nabe (hot pot) and oden stew, autumn is definitely a food-filled season in Japan. 

Planning a visit to Japan around fall and aren't quite sure what to expect from the culinary landscape? Don't worry, that's what we're here for! Let’s take a look at all the tasty autumn food Japan has to offer.  

1. Satsumaimo (さつまいも)

Satsumaimo, or sweet potato, is the number one autumn flavor in Japan! Fluffy and naturally sweet, these gifts of the earth are usually harvested during fall, around late October to November. The buttery texture and mildly sugary flavor of sweet potatoes make them the perfect flavor for the season. 

If you head to Japan during autumn, you'll find all sorts of sweet potato options at groceries, restaurants, and cafes. Yaki Imo is one of the most popular options - there's just something satisfying about a simple sweet potato roast over an open fire.

In Japan, there are many different types of sweet potatoes used for Yaki Imo, like the Satsuma sweet potato with its gentle sweetness, the Beni Azuma with its purple skin, and the Ano Imo from Indonesia, which is super sweet and rich. 

Yaki Imo isn't the only way to enjoy sweet potatoes, though. In Japan, this simple autumn food is turned into all sorts of snacks and desserts. There are sweet potato chips, sweet potato chocolate, sweet potato creme brulee, sweet potato cakes, even sweet potato drinks! Japan really loves its sweet potatoes! 

 Want to have a taste of the Japanese sweet potato madness? Then try out our Kit Kat Chocolate - Purple Sweet Potato. This limited-edition Kit Kat is earthy and sweet! 

2. Kuri (くり)

Another popular Japanese autumn flavor is kuri, or chestnuts. Unlike chestnuts in America, which are smaller in size, kuri in Japan can grow as large as your hand! Not only that, but Japanese people love having them boiled instead of roasted, giving them a soft and fleshy texture that's sweet and nutty in flavor. 

Harvested during autumn in Japan, kuri is also a quintessential fall flavor. You'll find so many autumn treats using chestnuts. Kurigohan is one of those treats that combines chestnuts, rice, soy sauce, mirin, and sugar all together. There's also kuri yokan, a wagashi, or traditional Japanese dessert, made of chestnuts. If you're looking for a quick but filling snack, then try kuri manju, a soft bun filled with red bean paste and kuri. 

Chestnuts are such a popular autumn treat in Japan that companies often offer limited-edition snacks, candy, and drinks that are kuri-flavored. So if you're ever in Japan and you're looking for an autumn twist, then give chestnut snacks a try! 

3. Montblanc (モンブラン)

Okay, so Montblanc might be something that you can find in cafes all year round in Japan, but the Japanese usually associate this dessert with Fall! Why? Well, not only does the color of montblanc perfectly match the cozy season, but it's literally made of strings and strings of chestnut paste! 

Sure, Montblanc can come in so many different flavors like matcha, strawberry, or mocha, but the original classic flavor will always be chestnut. If you want to go cafe hopping in Japan during autumn, go ahead and order yourself some classic Montblanc and pair it with your favorite cup of coffee or matcha. 

Looking for Montblanc snacks and other seasonal treats from Japan? Then head on over to our Seasonal Collections. We have limited-edition flavors you won’t find anywhere else. 

4. Kaki (かき)

Kaki, or persimmons with their vibrant orange palettes, are definitely an autumn food in Japan! Their vibrant yellow, orange, and reddish-orange definitely make kaki a symbol of the season. Harvested during fall, it's also fitting that persimmons' Japanese name kaki, is a seasonal word for late autumn in the haiku poetry tradition. 

Though you won't be able to find that many kaki-inspired snacks like sweet potatoes and chestnuts, if you visit Japan during autumn, you can easily see dried kaki or hoshigaki strung up in food stalls. Fresh kaki stacked up in piles is also a common sight! 

Before you buy the first kaki that you see, you should know that there are 2 different types of persimmon fruits in Japan. First, there's the hachiya kaki, which is sweet and has a honey flavor when it's ripe. Then there's fuyu kaki, which is crisp and tastes more like caramel. Now go and eat all the kaki you want! 

5. Nashi (なし)

Nashi pears, or Asian pears, are another highlight of the fall season in Japan. Coming into season from late August to November, there are many different varieties of nashi to sink your teeth into. There's the Kosui, which has a good balance of sweetness and tartness; Akizuki, which has a rich sweetness; Shinkou, which is overflowing with sweet juiciness; and Atago nashi, the "jumbo pear." 

While some Japanese people love having their pears in salads or steamed with rock sugar, the easiest way to enjoy nashi is to have it sliced and chilled. This delightful autumn food makes for a refreshing and hydrating snack. If you're feeling experimental, you can also try adding nashi to different kinds of desserts like yogurt bowls and ice cream cups! 

If you’re thinking of trying out pear-flavored gummies, then head over to our Gummies Collection. We have all the tastiest Japanese candy and snacks that you can imagine! 

6. Budou (ぶどう)

Even though people usually associate plump and juicy budou (grapes) with spring, these clustered fruits are actually an autumn fruit that usually come into full season from late August to early September. If you're in Japan, fall is the peak season for grapes, meaning you can enjoy them at their plumpiest and juiciest moments. 

There are many different varieties of grapes in Japan. The most popular type is Shine Muscat, a large green seedless grape that has a crisp texture. It's known as a luxury fruit. Kyoho grape is known for its enormous size and rich sweetness! 

Japan loves its grapes, so you'll find a whole array of grape-flavoured candies and gummies all around the country. During fall, you can also find cafes incorporating Shine Muscat and Kyoho grapes into all sorts of desserts like sorbets, fruit custard tarts, and even some wagashi, or traditional Japanese confectionery. 

7. Oden (おでん)

There's nothing like a warm, comforting bowl of oden during autumn. Though this one-pot stew isn't limited to one season, Japanese people love having it during fall. Not only do families begin cooking oden at the start of September, but konbinis, or Japanese convenience stores, also begin serving oden during autumn! 

Oden is a simmering pot of dashi-based broth that's often made with fish and seaweed stock. Along with the broth, you get a variety of ingredients that cook and soak up the savory flavor of the dashi. Some classic ingredients that go together with oden are daikon radish, konyaku, eggs, and delicious fish cakes! It’s a staple among the types of Japanese autumn food! 

8. Nabe (なべ) 

Nabe, or hot pot, is great all year round, but Japan especially loves this piping dish during fall and winter. Cooked in the very center of the dining table in front of everyone, Nabe is comforting and highly customizable. There are many different variations of hotpot in Japan, but during the fall, the most popular ones always include sukiyaki and yosenabe.

For those who aren't that familiar with either, sukiyaki is a hot pot with a sweet and savory soy-based broth. Its ingredients usually include thinly sliced beef, vegetables, and tofu. Meanwhile, yosenabe is a type of throw-everything-in kind of hot pot filled with seasonal autumn ingredients. 

Craving autumn food from Japan? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Check out our Grocery Collection to find the best Japanese food items. 

9. Ginnan (ぎんなん)

Not only do ginkgo trees burst into a spectacular gold during autumn, but their ginnan nuts also become a popular seasonal treat in Japan. These nuts can be eaten on their own, but they can also be used as ingredients in things like takikomi gohan (mixed rice), chawanmushi (savory egg custard), and in other Japanese dishes. 

10. Kabocha (かぼちゃ)

Kabocha is a winter squash that's usually available all year round in Japan, but everyone knows they taste the best during autumn. When fall comes around, kabocha becomes close to butternut squash in flavor profile. It's so tasty that street vendors begin selling kabocha croquettes and restaurants begin selling pumpkin dishes like kabocha no nimono (squash simmered in soy sauce and sugar) as well as kabocha dango. 

BONUS: Autumn Drinks 

Of course you can’t enjoy autumn without a warm drink in hand! If you’re in Japan, then hojicha is often a popular choice for the season. What is hojicha, you ask? It's traditional Japanese green tea that's roasted over high heat before grinding.

Because it's roasted, it has a smoky and caramel-like flavor profile that provides the ultimate cozy vibes perfect for the cooler weather. It also contains less caffeine compared to matcha, so it's the perfect relaxing drink for cool, autumn afternoons! 

There you have it! Our little autumn picnic comes to an end. Are you planning to visit Japan this fall? What fall flavors are you excited to try? Are you eager to fill your tummy with all the sweet potato treats? Or maybe you’re excited to fill up on some authentic Japanese hotpot? 

If you’re looking to have a taste of Japanese autumn, then try the bundle from Japan Candy Box. Golden Harvest Picnic has everything you need to have an authentic Japanese autumn taste test!