Top 10 Japanese Snack Brands: Famous Companies and Their Best-Known Snacks

Japanese snacks are loved around the world, and most of them come from a small group of well-established companies. These brands have spent decades perfecting their chocolate, candy, cookies, and chips, and their products fill the shelves of every convenience store in Japan.

Knowing the brands behind the snacks makes it much easier to find new favorites. In this guide, we introduce 10 famous Japanese snack brands and the best-known snacks each one makes.

Japanese Snack Brands List: 10 Companies at a Glance

1. Meiji

Meiji is one of Japan’s biggest food companies and one of the most famous Japanese chocolate brands. Besides chocolate, it’s also well known for fruit gummies and dairy products, and its sweets can be found in almost every store in Japan.

Famous Snacks from Meiji

Kinoko no Yama & Takenoko no Sato

These mushroom- and bamboo-shoot-shaped chocolate biscuits are behind Japan’s friendly “Kinoko vs. Takenoko” rivalry. Learn more in our best Japanese snacks ranking.

Meiji Milk Chocolate

A classic Japanese chocolate bar with a smooth, mellow milk flavor. It’s a simple, everyday chocolate that many people in Japan have grown up with.

Kaju Gummy

Soft fruit gummies made with real fruit juice. They come in easy-to-share packs and flavors like grape and peach.

2. Glico

Glico is an Osaka-based confectionery company best known for its chocolate-coated biscuit sticks. It’s one of the most recognizable Japanese snack companies overseas, thanks to its global hit, Pocky.

Famous Snacks from Glico

Pocky

Thin biscuit sticks dipped in chocolate, and one of the most iconic Japanese snacks in the world. See why it ranks first in our best Japanese snacks ranking.

Pretz

The savory sibling of Pocky. These crunchy baked sticks come in flavors like salad and butter, and Japan also sells regional souvenir versions you can only buy in certain areas.

Collon

Bite-sized wafer rolls filled with fluffy cream. The light, crispy texture makes them easy to snack on one after another.

3. Morinaga

Morinaga is one of Japan’s most established Japanese candy brands, known for chewy candy and caramel. Its products are popular with both kids and adults.

Famous Snacks from Morinaga

Hi-Chew

Juicy, fruit-flavored chewy candy that’s now sold in more than 30 countries. Find out more in our best Japanese snacks ranking.

Milk Caramel

A classic Japanese caramel with a gentle sweetness and rich milk flavor. It’s a simple, comforting treat that has been a household staple in Japan for generations.

4. Lotte

Lotte is a major confectionery company known for chocolate, gum, and biscuits. Its snacks are playful and colorful, which makes them especially popular with families.

Famous Snacks from Lotte

Koala’s March

Koala-shaped biscuits filled with chocolate cream, each printed with a different koala design. Read more in our best Japanese snacks ranking.

Pie no Mi

Bite-sized pies with flaky, buttery layers and a chocolate filling. The crispy pie and smooth chocolate make a surprisingly rich combination.

Ghana Milk

Lotte’s signature milk chocolate bar, easy to spot in its bright red package. It has a smooth texture and a gentle, milky sweetness.

5. Calbee

Calbee is one of the largest snack food companies in Japan and a leader in potato snacks. From classic chips to unique potato sticks, it’s the go-to brand for savory snacks.

Famous Snacks from Calbee

Jagariko

Extra-crunchy potato sticks packed in a handy cup. Learn why it’s a must-try in our best Japanese snacks ranking.

Potato Chips

Calbee’s light, crispy potato chips are a staple in Japan. The lightly salted (usushio) flavor is the classic choice, while nori seaweed and consommé flavors are also popular.

6. Bourbon

Bourbon is a confectionery company from Niigata and one of the best Japanese cookie brands. It’s known for a wide range of affordable biscuits and cookies with unique textures.

Famous Snacks from Bourbon

Alfort

A crunchy biscuit topped with a chocolate plate featuring a sailing ship design. It’s one of Bourbon’s most popular products, with many limited flavors.

Lumonde

Delicate, layered crepe cookies coated in cocoa cream. They’re light and crumbly, so fans in Japan even share tips on how to eat them without making a mess.

7. Kameda Seika

Kameda Seika is a Niigata-based company and one of Japan’s leading rice cracker makers. Its savory snacks are made from rice, giving them a light, crispy texture.

Famous Snacks from Kameda Seika

Kaki no Tane

Small, spicy soy sauce rice crackers mixed with peanuts. See the full review in our best Japanese snacks ranking.

Happy Turn

Rice crackers coated in a sweet and salty seasoning powder, each wrapped like a piece of candy. The name expresses the wish that happiness will “turn” back to everyone who eats it.

8. Koikeya

Koikeya is a potato chip specialist famous for bold, creative flavors. The company says it created nori shio (seaweed salt) potato chips, a flavor now loved all over Japan.

Famous Snacks from Koikeya

Karamucho

Hot and spicy potato chips known in Japan as a pioneer of spicy snacks. The sweet-and-spicy flavor keeps you reaching for more.

Potato Chips Nori Shio

Potato chips seasoned with salt and aromatic green seaweed. It’s a uniquely Japanese flavor and a must-try for chip lovers.

9. UHA Mikakuto

UHA Mikakuto is a popular Japanese candy brand known for creative gummies and chewy candy. Its products often focus on fun textures and realistic fruit flavors.

Famous Snacks from UHA Mikakuto

Kororo

Juicy gummies wrapped in a thin skin that pops when you bite into them, just like real fruit. Grape and Shine Muscat are classic flavors.

Puccho

A soft, chewy candy with bright fruit flavors. It comes in both sticks and bags, making it easy to take anywhere.

10. Fujiya

Fujiya is a long-established sweets company famous for its mascot, Peko-chan. It’s known for cookies, chocolates, and milk candy that many Japanese people remember from childhood.

Famous Snacks from Fujiya

Country Ma’am

Soft-baked chocolate chip cookies with a chewy center. They’re individually wrapped and come in many seasonal flavors.

Milky

A long-selling milk candy with a rich, creamy flavor. Its package featuring Peko-chan is instantly recognizable in Japan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest Japanese snack companies?

Meiji, Lotte, Glico, Morinaga, and Calbee are among the largest Japanese snack manufacturers. Their products are sold in almost every supermarket and convenience store in Japan.

What are the most famous Japanese snack brands?

Glico (Pocky), Morinaga (Hi-Chew), and Meiji are the most famous Japanese snack brands overseas. Calbee and Lotte are also widely known for their potato snacks and chocolate.

Where can I buy snacks from Japanese brands?

Some products are sold at Asian grocery stores abroad, but many flavors and limited editions are only available in Japan. The easiest way to get them is to order directly from Japan through kachicollect.

Conclusion

From Meiji’s chocolate to Calbee’s potato snacks, these 10 brands are behind many of Japan’s most popular treats. Once you know the brands, it’s much easier to discover new snacks you’ll love. For a ranking of the snacks themselves, check out our 10 best Japanese snacks.

The easiest way to try snacks from these brands is to order directly from Japan with kachicollect. We only carry products made for the Japanese market, so you get the same snacks sold in Japanese stores. Import duties are shown before checkout, and first-time customers can use the code WELCOME20 for 20% off.