Every time I go overseas, it’s the same ritual. Find out what’s cheaper than in Singapore, and what I can’t get back home. With online shopping stocking half the planet’s snacks now, it’s getting harder to find unique things to bring back. Yes it’s convenient and accessible on most days, but not when I’m actually in that country. My kiasu self kicks in, and I end up doing extra homework comparing prices, checking availability, to weigh what’s worth it or not.
Tokyo is no exception. I’ve been three times, and each trip I came back with a different mix of sweets and snacks. So here is my very honest to Tokyo souvenir sweets: what’s worth the extra luggage space, and what’s just pretty packaging.
Also read: Exploring Japan: 9 Easy Day Trips from Tokyo
1. Sugar Butter Sand Tree
Image credit: Tokyo Banana Official Website
Cereal-butter sandwich cookies with a light, creamy filling in between. The biscuit itself is a golden, caramelised blend of cereal, butter, and milk, giving it a toasty crunch with a subtle sweetness. It’s decadent, but not at all jelak. The sand biscuit adds a unique texture to the cream, making for a perfect combination you can’t get enough of. Together, it’s this rich-but-light combo that melts in your mouth, but still gives you that satisfying bite.
Fun fact: It’s made by the same company behind Tokyo Banana!
Verdict: ✅ SO GOOODDDDD. I will fight for this one.
SG price: S$19.62 (Shopee) JP price: ¥864 (~S$7.50)
➡️ Almost 3x cheaper in Japan. Stock up. Future-you will regret it if you don’t.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Sugar Butter Tree (inside Daimaru Tokyo)
Address: 1F Daimaru Tokyo, 1-8-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
2. Royce Nama Chocolate
Image Credit: Royce Chocolate Official Website
Smooth ganache squares that melt in your mouth. The texture is smooth and rich, thanks to fresh cream blended into the chocolate, giving it that iconic melt-on-your-tongue feel. It comes in flavours like milk, dark, matcha, and seasonal ones like champagne or sakura. Best eaten after you take it out of the refrigerator for a few minutes.
Verdict: ✅ Luxury in a box. SO GOOD, absolute yes.
SG price: S$17 JP price: ¥864 (~S$7.50)
➡️Same box, half the price in Japan. You already know what’s up.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Omiyage stores such as Takashimaya or Mitsukoshi
Location: Available at both Narita and Haneda Airports
3. JagRico
Image Credit: Calbee Official Website
Potato sticks that come in a cup. It looks like fries, but crunchy, and with Japanese snack flavour dusting. Usually seasoned with things like sea salt, cheese, or salad, they’re easy to eat on the go and weirdly satisfying. Just for reference, I ate at least once a day when I was in Japan.
Verdict: If you’re in Japan, I do think it’s worth it – it’s nice. But honestly? Jagabee hits kinda the same, and it’s way cheaper in SG.
SG price: S$2.31 (Shopee) JP price: ¥161 (~S$1.43)
➡️ Great snack, but not the best souvenir. Feels more like something to eat there, not bring back.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Don Quijote, convenience stores like FamilyMart and Lawson
4. Shiroi Koibito
Image Credit: Ishiya Official Website
White chocolate langue de chat cookies. Buttery, crisp, and wrapped in the iconic blue box you’ve probably seen a million times in airport duty-free shops. The texture’s light and crisp, and the sweetness is subtle, not overpowering.It also comes in a milk chocolate version, but the white choc one is what most people go for.
Verdict: ERMMM I don’t know how controversial this opinion is but to be honest, it’s okok only…especially compared to some others on this list. Not bad, just not especially good.
SG price: S$20.71 (Shopee, 12 pcs) JP price: ¥1,036 (~S$8.90)
➡️2x cheaper in Japan. If you’re already at the airport, grab a box. But don’t expect fireworks.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: ISHIYA G GINZA SIX
Location: GINZA SIX B2F, 6-10-1 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
5. New York Perfect Cheese
Image Credit: New York Perfect Cheese Official Website
A delicate soft shell folded around a creamy cheese custard core with a hint of saltiness from gouda. The outer layer is like a buttery crêpe (it’s soft and slightly chewy) while the filling is rich, smooth, and perfectly balanced between sweet and savoury. You’ll want to ration it out, but you probably won’t be able to.
Verdict: ✅ One of the best things I ate in Tokyo. No notes.
SG price: S$26.43 (Shopee, 8 pcs) JP price: ¥1,167 (~S$10.37)
➡️ Japan-exclusive, and so delicious. It’s a must-buy for me!
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: New York Perfect Cheese Tokyo Station
Location: 1F South Passage, JR Tokyo Station, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
6. Tokyo Banana
Image Credit: Tokyo Banana Official Website
Cute banana-shaped sponge cakes filled with banana custard. The texture of the sponge is soft and airy, while the custard is subtle and creamy. They come in a variety of designs, including collabs with Pikachu, Doraemon, Eevee and more. You’ll also find limited edition flavours like sakura, caramel, and honey lemon, but these are usually found only in Japan. The packaging is always adorable, making it a go-to souvenir for kids and character lovers.
Verdict: Aesthetics: 10/10. Taste: mid. Nice for gifting, but you probably won’t crave it after.
SG price: S$14.80 (Shopee, 4 pcs) JP price: ¥691 (~S$6)
➡️ Only in Japan can you get the fun flavours like sakura or caramel. Shopee doesn’t sell those, so factor that into your decision.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Tokyo Banana World
Location: B1F First Avenue Tokyo Station, right outside Yaesu Underground Central Gate
Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
7. Yoku Moku
Image Credit: Yoku Moku Official Website
Delicate butter cigar cookies, rolled into thin, crisp tubes and packed in pastel tins that scream elegance. The flavour is kind of like an atas version of Danish butter cookies. They also release seasonal variations (like sweet potato or chestnut), but the original is what you’ll see most often in omiyage counters.
Verdict: Decent, but not super craveable.
SG price: S$18.42 (14 pcs) JP price: From ¥1,782 (~S$15.50), depending on mix
➡️ Slight markup. You can’t go wrong with it as a gift to co-workers or friends. But it was a skip for me.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Yoku Moku
Location: B1F First Avenue Tokyo Station
Address: 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
8. Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory
Image Credit: Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory Official Website
Salt & Camembert sandwich cookies, honey gorgonzola, chocolate mascarpone… sounds bougie, right? These cookies are meant to be sweet-savory bombs, but in reality, I felt like it was more underwhelming than I expected. It’s definitely unique, and I’d still recommend trying it once if you haven’t before. But I enjoyed other snacks in this list a lot more.
Verdict: ❌ Mid. Honestly? Just get New York Perfect Cheese instead.
SG price: S$18.50 (10 pcs, Raffles City outlet) JP price: ¥1,296 (~S$11.10)
➡️ ~1.7x markup, but even at JP prices, there are tastier things to spend your yen on.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory
Location: LUMINE Shinjuku 1, B2F
Address: 1-1-5 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
9. Japanese KitKats
Image Credit: Filiz Elaerts | Unsplash
Japan takes KitKats to a whole new level with flavours like matcha, sake, wasabi, purple sweet potato, and even regional collabs like Tokyo Banana or Hokkaido Melon. Some are amazing. Others leave more to be desired. But that’s the fun isn’t it? It’s kinda like Every Flavour Beans in that it’s like snack roulette.
Fun fact: Did you know in Japanese, “Kitto Katsu” (きっと勝つ) means “you’ll definitely win”, so people often gift KitKats to students before exams or friends before big events.
Verdict: A very fun gift. Taste-wise? Depends on your choice.
SG price: S$8–12 per bag (Donki, NTUC) JP price: ¥400–700 (~S$3–7)
➡️ Almost half price in Japan, and waaaaay more variety. You do the math.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Don Quijote (multiple outlets across Tokyo)
Bonus tip: Also available at airports, convenience stores, and souvenir shops but Donki usually has the best variety.
10. Hiyoko
Image Credit: Hiyoko Official Website
Baby bird-shaped pastries filled with smooth red bean paste. They’ve been around since 1912, and the design hasn’t changed much which is kind of the charm. The filling is dense and mildly sweet, and the shell is a thin, slightly chewy cake. Super cute to look at… but taste-wise? It’s…fine.
Verdict: ❌ Cute, but honestly, I think it’s kinda overrated.
SG price: S$26 (Shopee, 7 pcs) JP price: ¥1,140 (~S$9.90)
➡️ Triple the price in SG. Not worth la unless nostalgia is involved.
📍 Where to Buy:
Store: Tokyo Hiyoko
Location: Daimaru Tokyo
Address: 1-8-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
Also read: 8 Family-Friendly Activities in Tokyo for Singaporeans
Final Thoughts
Tokyo is a beautiful city with so much to see. So if you’re going there, don’t stress too much about souvenirs. You’re there to explore, eat, and have fun, not spend the whole trip panic-buying cookie tins for your extended relatives.
That’s why I hope this list made life a little easier for you. Just vibe, enjoy, and refer back when you need to decide if that cute box of banana cake is worth it.
And of course, taste is subjective. I know people who swear by snacks I bashed in this list (please don’t come after me). So take this guide as a rough gauge, not gospel. Try what excites you, and if it ends up being mid…you can write your own review afterwards!
Featured Image Credit: Phattana / Canva Pro
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