Osaka is Japan's second-largest city after Tokyo, the capital. Osaka, which had the nearest port to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan, has long been a gathering place for ingredients from all over Japan. Due to the convergence of ingredients from various regions, Osaka has been called the "Kitchen of the Nation." Even today, Osaka is lined with delicious gourmet foods and restaurants from all over Japan.
Osaka is also famous for developing its unique food culture, including dashi (soup stock), which is the essence of Japanese cuisine, and flour-based dishes. It is particularly popular for local specialties such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushiage.
As a result, there is an abundance of delicious gourmet foods that can be taken home as "souvenirs." Some of these souvenirs have a long shelf life, making them attractive for foreign tourists from distant places to take home easily.
In this article, we'll introduce you to Osaka's recommended souvenirs and sweets & snacks that you should definitely try, showcasing the Osaka Best Sweets & Snacks Souvenir 2024 selection.
Osaka has numerous sweets and snacks ideal for souvenirs
Osaka offers a wide variety of gourmet items, from sweets that can be enjoyed during your tour to snacks that can be taken home as souvenirs.
For famous local delicacies that cannot be taken home due to expiration dates or storage methods, please be sure to taste them on-site as a memento of your visit to Osaka. There are also souvenirs that can maintain their deliciousness even during long flights, allowing you to share memories of your Osaka trip with your loved ones and friends after returning home.
Among these, you'll find unique sweets that remind you of Osaka's distinctive gourmet culture and products full of ideas that embody Japanese food culture.
These must-try Osaka specialties are popular among Japanese people too! Top 4 Osaka souvenir selections
Here are three popular Osaka specialty souvenirs that are beloved by Japanese people and that you should definitely try when you come to Osaka.
These souvenirs are recommended for those who want to enjoy them at their hotel during their stay or those who want to eat them soon after returning home, as they have short expiration dates.
551 Horai Butaman (Steamed Pork Bun)
source: Official website
551 Horai is a chain of Chinese restaurants popular for their butaman (steamed pork buns) and shumai. Their signature butaman is a top-selling item in Osaka, featuring a fluffy textured dough filled with juicy ingredients bursting with the umami of pork and the sweetness of onions.
It's so popular that on night shinkansen (bullet train) rides from Osaka to Tokyo, the aroma of 551 Horai's butaman wafting through the air is a common occurrence.
The expiration date is the same day at room temperature, or three days if refrigerated. To enjoy the soft texture of the bun and the appetizing, punchy aroma, it's recommended to eat them hot as soon as you return to your hotel!
Dojima Roll
source: Official website
The Dojima Roll is a roll cake born in a patisserie in Dojima, Osaka's business district.
It's made by wrapping cream made from high-quality raw milk from Hokkaido, where dairy farming thrives, in a soft dough with an egg flavor. Despite its simple appearance, the secret to its popularity lies in its gentle and elegant taste, with the richness of raw milk and the rich aroma of eggs.
Also, limited edition Dojima Rolls using seasonal fruits are sold throughout the year, so please enjoy them while experiencing Japan's four seasons.
The expiration date is the same day, so it's best to refrigerate and eat them as soon as possible.
Mitarashi Komochi
source: Official website
Mitarashi Komochi is a sweet that encases the sauce of mitarashi dango (a traditional Japanese sweet made of small, round mochi dumplings skewered on a stick and covered with a sweet and savory soy sauce glaze) inside a chewy mochi.
This innovative product allows you to easily enjoy the popular Japanese mitarashi dango without getting your hands dirty.
The sauce uses dashi, which is part of Osaka's food culture, and combined with the savory aroma of soy sauce, you can experience the traditional Japanese flavor.
The shelf life is short, about 2-3 days. Please enjoy them early before the mochi hardens.
Osaka Hanalangue
source: Official website
Osaka Hanalangue is a representative Osaka sweet consisting of a flower-shaped langue de chat cookie topped with cream.
The langue de chat has a rich butter flavor and a light, crispy texture, with an elegant taste. It pairs perfectly with the melting cream, which is enhanced with locally produced Osaka honey.
The charming appearance of Osaka Hanalangue is also an attractive point. The color of dried berries sprinkled on top of the cream adds a vibrant hue to the flower shape.
The shelf life is relatively long at 45 days from the date of manufacture. If you take it home as a souvenir, its delicate Japanese-style cuteness will surely be appreciated by foreigners.
These items represent some of the best offerings in the Osaka Best Sweets & Snacks Souvenir 2024 collection, showcasing the city's culinary expertise and cultural heritage.
Tourist Favorite! Delicious Takoyaki-flavored Souvenirs from Osaka's Local Cuisine
Takoyaki is a dish made by mixing octopus, cabbage, green onions, and beni shoga (red pickled ginger) into a batter made of wheat flour dissolved in dashi, and then cooking it into small round balls.
Here, we'll introduce long-lasting souvenirs that you can take home when you return. These represent some of the most popular items in the Osaka Best Sweets & Snacks Souvenir 2024 selection.
Takopatie
source: Official website
Takopatie is a snack that combines takoyaki and sweets, created by a patissier.
It recreates the taste of Osaka's famous takoyaki using sauce, aonori (green laver), and katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), which are standard toppings for takoyaki. Furthermore, the secret to its rich taste lies in the special flavor created by adding walnuts and caramel, blending the original takoyaki taste with sweet elements. You can experience a mysteriously humorous taste, befitting Osaka, known as the "City of Comedy."
With a shelf life of 2 months, it's perfect for taking home memories of Osaka to your home country.
Takoyaki Korokoro
source: JR West
Takoyaki Korokoro is a round snack that looks like takoyaki. It uses Ikari Sauce, which was the first Worcestershire sauce made in Osaka, allowing you to enjoy the authentic flavor of takoyaki. The combination of the crispy texture and rich sauce is superb, making it irresistibly delicious.
Also, as it's the same size as real takoyaki, it looks just like the real thing. Each piece is individually wrapped, making it ideal for distributing to many people as souvenirs after returning home.
With a shelf life of 6 months, you can safely carry it around even if you continue touring after visiting Osaka.
Pringles Takoyaki Flavor
source: Official website
Pringles Takoyaki Flavor is a product released by Pringles, a globally popular potato chip brand. It's a limited edition sold only in the Kansai area, including Osaka, allowing you to enjoy a unique and rare taste.
While maintaining the crispy texture of Pringles, it features a rich taste that uses plenty of takoyaki sauce, mayonnaise, katsuobushi, and beni shoga. In particular, the umami of the sauce and the richness of the mayonnaise are brilliantly recreated.
With a shelf life of over a year and packed in the sturdy can unique to Pringles, even foreigners returning to distant countries can take it home without worrying about breakage.
CUP NOODLE Takoyaki Flavor
source: Official website
CUP NOODLE Takoyaki Flavor is a collaboration product between the hugely popular cup ramen in Japan and takoyaki.
In Japan, where ramen is very popular, cup ramen (instant noodles in a container that can be eaten by rehydrating dried noodles with hot water) is also extremely popular. Among the various flavors of cup ramen, this rare takoyaki flavor is a masterpiece with a perfect combination of sweet and spicy sauce and mellow mayonnaise. You can also faintly taste the flavors of katsuobushi and beni shoga, making you feel as if you're eating takoyaki when focusing solely on the taste.
It's a special product where you can enjoy two famous Japanese gourmet foods: ramen and takoyaki. With a shelf life of over 6 months, it's ideal as a souvenir when returning home.
Two Senbei Options to Enjoy Authentic Osaka Okonomiyaki
Senbei is a traditional Japanese snack made by kneading rice flour or wheat flour, spreading it thinly, and baking it. It's typically flavored with soy sauce or salt. In Osaka, senbei flavored like the local specialty "okonomiyaki" with sauce and mayonnaise are sold.
Okonomiyaki Senbei
source: Rakuten Ichiba
As the name suggests, Okonomiyaki Senbei is a snack that recreates Osaka's famous okonomiyaki in senbei form.
Its characteristic is the topping of real freeze-dried cabbage and beni shoga, making both the taste and appearance very similar to okonomiyaki. The aroma of katsuobushi and the flavor of dried shrimp add accents, enhancing the authenticity of the okonomiyaki recreation. It's also nice that you can enjoy two flavors: cabbage and mayonnaise.
Moreover, with a shelf life of 3 months, it keeps well. Please enjoy the flavor of Osaka's famous okonomiyaki, captured in these small senbei, even after returning home.
Chibo Okonomiyaki Taste Senbei
source: Official website
Chibo Okonomiyaki Taste Senbei is a collaboration product between "Chibo," an okonomiyaki specialty restaurant in Dotonbori, one of Osaka's premier entertainment districts, and a specialty mentaiko (spicy cod roe) shop from Hakata.
The dough is kneaded with squid, octopus, and mentaiko, resulting in a deep flavor where the umami of seafood spreads the more you chew. Also, by kneading in cabbage, Chibo's special okonomiyaki sauce, and katsuobushi, it brilliantly recreates the okonomiyaki flavor.
With a shelf life of 6 months, it's perfect if you want to bring home a high-quality souvenir.
These senbei options are excellent choices for those looking to bring home a taste of Osaka's famous okonomiyaki as part of their Osaka Best Sweets & Snacks Souvenir 2024 collection.
Five Recommended Souvenir Shops Where You Can Find Everything
Hankyu Department Store
The Hankyu Umeda Main Store of Hankyu Department Store is very conveniently located, just 2-3 minutes on foot from Hankyu Osaka Umeda Station, JR Osaka Station, and Osaka Metro Umeda Station.
Hankyu Department Store is a commercial facility that houses fashion shops and restaurants. You can purchase souvenirs from famous confectionery shops not only from Osaka but also from Tokyo, Kyoto, and other parts of Japan.
- Address: 8-7 Kakuda-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
- Business Hours: 10:00 - 20:00
- Closed: Irregular holidays
- Phone Number: 06-6361-1381
- Official Website
Shin-Osaka Station
At Shin-Osaka Station, there are multiple shops where you can purchase Osaka souvenirs both inside and outside the ticket gates. These shops offer a collection of Osaka gourmet foods and goods, including the recommended souvenirs and sweets we've introduced.
It's convenient if you want to buy various types of souvenirs in one place without going to individual stores. It's also recommended when you've forgotten to buy something during your tour or when you want to make a quick purchase before boarding the Shinkansen or train.
If you want to buy lots of souvenirs, visit "Omiyage Kaido Shin-Osaka," where souvenir shops are concentrated.
- Address: 5-16-1 Nishi-Nakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
- Business Hours and Phone Numbers of Main Souvenir Shops:
[Inside the ticket gates]
- Antre Marche (TEL 06-6309-5963) 6:30 - 22:00
- Gift Kiosk Shin-Osaka (TEL 06-6302-5718) 6:30 - 21:30
- Sweets Patio (TEL 06-6307-2195) 7:30 - 21:00
[Outside the ticket gates]
- Seven-Eleven Heart In (TEL 06-6307-3201) 6:30 - 23:30
- Omiyage Street Alde Shin-Osaka Store (TEL 06-6307-9017) 7:00 - 21:30
- Closed: None
- Official Websites
Kansai International Airport
Kansai International Airport has multiple souvenir shops in each terminal.
In addition to souvenir shops that stock famous sweets from all over Japan and traditional Japanese crafts, you can enjoy shopping at duty-free shops that handle world-famous brands and cosmetics shops.
There are also stores in the area after the security check, which is a nice point as you can procure souvenirs until just before departure.
- Address: 1 Senshu-kuko Kita, Izumisano City, Osaka Prefecture
- Business Hours and Phone Numbers of Main Souvenir Shops:
[Terminal 1]
- Kansai Tabi Nikki Terminal 1 Domestic Gate Shop (TEL 072-455-4195) 5:30 - 22:25
- Kansai Tabi Nikki Terminal 1 Domestic Lobby Shop (TEL 072-455-4195) 7:00 - 22:00
- SOUVENIR Kansai Tabi Nikki North Wing Shop (TEL 072-455-4195) 8:00 - 22:00
- KIX DUTY FREE (TEL 072-455-4195) 6:30 - 24:25
- TASTE OF KANSAI Kansai Tabi Nikki (TEL 072-455-4195) 6:30 - 24:25
- Ippinsan. (TEL 072-456-6407) 6:30 - 24:25
[Terminal 2]
- Kansai Tabi Nikki Terminal 2 Domestic Gate Shop (TEL 072-455-4195) 5:30 - 20:35
- Kansai Tabi Nikki Terminal 2 Domestic Lobby Shop (TEL 072-455-4195) 5:30 - 20:00
- TRK Duty Free Shop (TEL 072-456-6402) 6:00 - 24:00
- Daily SKY (TEL 072-456-5249) 9:00 - 18:00
- TASTE OF JAPAN Kansai Tabi Nikki (TEL 072-455-4195) 5:55 - 22:10
[Observation Hall]
- Sky Shop Town (TEL 072-455-2089) 10:00 - 17:00
- Closed: None
- Official Website