Most Popular Japanese Snacks Ranked｜Classics and Trends You Can Buy in Ho Chi Minh City

When you look at a ranking of the most popular Japanese snacks, the same classics reliably land at the top: matcha KitKat, Tokyo Banana, Royce' Nama Chocolate, Pocky, and kaki no tane. There is no single right answer to "which Japanese snack is the tastiest," but when you overlay Japan's domestic popularity rankings with years of souvenir data, the lineup stays remarkably consistent. And even if you live in Ho Chi Minh City, you can still get "that taste" online. In this article, we bring together the classic rankings, how to choose, and practical tips for actually getting them in Ho Chi Minh City.

Living abroad, you suddenly miss "that taste"

When you live in a foreign country, the convenience store snack you used to grab without thinking on your way home from work, or that nostalgic bag that was always stocked at your family home, can suddenly become something you long for. Japanese snacks aren't just sweet. They are a "taste of home," tied to the seasons and to memories.

Their popularity shows up in the numbers, too. According to the Japan Tourism Agency's "Survey on Consumption Trends of International Visitors to Japan, 2025 Annual Report," confectionery ranked first among the items visitors chose as souvenirs, with a purchase rate of 72.7%, making it the most-chosen category of all spending types (Japan Tourism Agency, finalized March 2026). It's a taste Japan can be proud of on the world stage, and for those of us living abroad, it's a familiar flavor that's part of everyday life long before it's ever a "souvenir."

Most popular Japanese snacks ranked (the classics)

Here, drawing on multiple popularity rankings and years of trusted souvenir data, we've narrowed the list down to the classics whose flavor appeal has stayed consistent. If you've ever lived in Japan, you've almost certainly tried every one of them.

Rank	Snack	Type	Why it's popular (in brief)
1	Matcha KitKat	Chocolate snack	A global matcha boom. Individually wrapped, so you can enjoy a little at a time
2	Tokyo Banana	Western-style confection	Soft, fluffy texture and gentle sweetness
3	Royce' Nama Chocolate	Chocolate snack	Melt-in-your-mouth quality; popular as a gift
4	Pocky	Snack	A wide range of seasonal and regional limited flavors
5	Kaki no tane (with peanuts)	Rice cracker / snack	Not sweet; an addictive spice and crunch
6	Yoku Moku (Cigare)	Western-style confection	Richly buttery langue de chat. An elegant flavor

Sources: miloku (Japanese souvenir popularity ranking), honichi.com (popular product ranking)

Why matcha KitKat is such a strong classic

Matcha KitKat enjoys steady popularity both in Japan and abroad. Behind it are the worldwide matcha boom, how photogenic that shade of green is, and the fact that it lets you taste "Japaneseness" so easily. The individual wrapping, which lets you enjoy a little at a time, is another part of the appeal. It's been reported that KitKat in Japan has released more than 300 flavors in total over the years (AFPBB News), and matcha is one of the long-loved staples among them (OCEANS, yushutsu.jp).

New favorites in 2026: snacks going viral on social media

Beyond the classics, it's worth keeping an eye on the snacks everyone is talking about right now. In the 2026 popularity rankings, "peelable fresh gummies," which genuinely feel like you're peeling off a skin, went viral on social media, and gummies such as "Shine Muscat Bonbon Gummy" dominate the top spots (Best Oishi, Tabiiro Otoriyose). Trendy new releases and classics loved across generations. Being able to enjoy both is what makes Japanese snacks so appealing.

Wagashi, Western-style sweets, or snacks: which to choose?

Even within a "popularity ranking," different types of snacks are enjoyed in different ways. Organizing them by the moments in your life makes them easier to choose.

• Wagashi (daifuku, yokan, dango, etc.): For tea time, or when you want to feel a bit of Japan. Shelf life varies by product, so be sure to check.
• Western-style sweets (Tokyo Banana, financiers, Cigare, etc.): As a treat for yourself, or to welcome guests. Loved across a wide range of ages.
• Snacks and chocolate treats (Pocky, kaki no tane, KitKat, etc.): For everyday snacking, treats for the kids, and stocking up. If individually wrapped, you can portion them out and enjoy a little at a time.

If you can't decide: snacks for everyday nibbling, and wagashi or Western-style sweets when you want to take a relaxing breather. Choosing by mood makes it hard to go wrong.

> Reading this far, was there even one taste that made you think "I want to eat that"? That feeling is the very best starting point. Even in Ho Chi Minh City, you can find your favorite from the "Snacks" category in the app (Farmi).

How to get "that taste" in Ho Chi Minh City

Once you've pictured that nostalgic flavor, the next step is getting hold of it. For those living in Ho Chi Minh City, there are mainly three ways to get the Japanese snacks introduced above.

1. Buy at a Japanese supermarket: The selection is reassuring, but you need to travel to the store.
2. Rely on a trip home or an acquaintance: The timing is limited, and heavy snacks are a hassle to carry.
3. Order online and have it delivered: You can order from home, and buying in bulk means no hauling it yourself.

Something worth knowing here is which snacks are actually easy to get in Ho Chi Minh City. Widely distributed classics like KitKat, Pocky, and kaki no tane are relatively easy to find, while short-shelf-life fresh confections like Tokyo Banana, or seasonal and regional limited flavors, can be hard to come by locally. If you'd like to know more about which brands are easy to get abroad, take a look at "Japanese snacks you can buy abroad" as well (Homepage [TODO: add link when published]).

Here are some local-specific tips so you won't be disappointed.

• When you can't find the limited item you want, swapping in a classic flavor from the same maker, or a similar type such as chocolate or gummies, keeps your satisfaction from dropping.
• Stock changes with the season. For items you want, check availability in the app before adding them to your cart so you don't have to redo your shopping.
• Check the delivery area and fees first. Confirming on the order screen whether your home or workplace is in the covered area gives you peace of mind.
• Delivery is the better choice for bulk buying. For heavy box purchases or stocking up on kids' snacks, online ordering, with no hauling required, is the way to go.

For everyday snacking or when you suddenly get a craving, the third option, ordering online, is the easiest.

Ordering from Farmi

If you're looking for Japanese snacks online, Farmi is a reassuring option. Farmi is an online supermarket for Japanese groceries in Ho Chi Minh City, available in Japanese, English, and Vietnamese. In covered areas it offers delivery in as little as one hour, and you can place your order entirely in Japanese without confusion. For anyone worried about the language barrier, having Japanese-language support is a reassuring point.

Farmi carries Japanese snacks, which you can browse by type, such as chocolate, cookies, and candy. However, because the specific brands and stock on offer change with the season, please check the app for whether the particular products we featured in the ranking (such as KitKat or Royce') are currently in stock. There may also be perks like first-order discounts or LINE-registration coupons, so it's worth checking those too for a good deal.

The ordering process is simple.

1. Download the app and set the display language to Japanese.
2. Register your delivery address and check whether you're in the covered area.
3. Choose the products you want from the snack category (please check stock each time).
4. Confirm the delivery fee and delivery time.
5. Choose your payment method and place the order.
6. Receive your items and check the contents.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. Can I get classic Japanese snacks in Ho Chi Minh City too? Yes, you can buy them at Japanese supermarkets and online shops. Widely distributed classics like KitKat and Pocky are relatively easy to find, while limited flavors and seasonal items fluctuate in stock. If you definitely want something, please check availability before ordering.

Q. Is there a service where I can order in Japanese? Yes. Farmi offers a Japanese-language display and support, so you can order even if you don't understand Vietnamese. For anyone worried about the language barrier, a multilingual service is recommended.

Q. Which ones are best for everyday snacks for kids and family? Individually wrapped, easy-to-portion snacks like Pocky and KitKat are popular. When you've had a run of sweet things, a non-sweet snack like kaki no tane makes for a nice change of pace.

Q. Can I still have it delivered if I buy in bulk? With online delivery, even heavy bulk purchases are brought right to your home. Farmi offers delivery in as little as one hour in covered areas. Please check delivery fees and covered areas when you order.

Conclusion

There's no single right answer to "the tastiest Japanese snack," but the classics, starting with matcha KitKat and Tokyo Banana, are trusted flavors loved across generations. When you live abroad, "that taste" feels all the more special. If you live in Ho Chi Minh City, you can stock up on Japanese snacks online without setting foot in a store. Start with just one favorite and give it a try. If you'd like to order easily in Japanese, download the Farmi app and take a peek at the "Snacks" category. You can find everything about the Japanese-language support and the as-little-as-one-hour delivery system in one place in the Farmi Anshin Guide [TODO: add link when published].

> Note: This article and some of its images were created with the help of AI (artificial intelligence) and reviewed by our editorial team before publication.