The Best Japanese Chocolates
Last Updated on December 19, 2025 by Kay
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Looking for advice from a local about what the best Japanese chocolates are and where to buy them?
I’ve lived in Japan for almost two decades now, so I thought I would share Japanese chocolates that I love, which are also hits with my family in Canada.
When it comes to chocolates, I’ve found that Japanese chocolate brands each have their own unique take in terms of taste and texture. There’s something for everyone, and as a Canadian, I love bringing my loved ones chocolates from Japan as souvenirs.
Best of all, these chocolates are readily available throughout the country, and almost all of them can be found at grocery stores, convenience stores, and drug stores. The chocolates are individually packaged as well, meaning you can buy a pack and share the contents with multiple people, and they don’t expire quickly.
If you’re looking for fancy chocolates by Japanese chocolatiers, I suggest checking out Theobroma or Ken’s Cafe in Tokyo. (A few years ago, I got a chocolate cake from Ken’s Cafe, and I still dream about it.)
Also, note that chocolates in Japan are small. They’re all snack-sized, so you won’t find large chocolate bars like in North America.
Lastly, this goes without saying, but try not to purchase chocolates as souvenirs in summer because they will likely melt before you get them back to your home country.
The Best Chocolates in Japan
Black Thunder
Black Thunder (ブラックサンダー) is a chocolate that my friends were absolutely obsessed with when I first moved to Japan. It’s basically an oblong chocolate cookie with bits of cereal that’s coated with milk chocolate. When you bite down, it has the most satisfying crunch (and of course tastes delicious). This, paired with its affordability, has made Black Thunder a staple chocolate snack in Japan.
There are various flavors of Black Thunder, including regional ones, but the OG in its iconic black, gold, and red packaging is my favorite. (The caramel butter キャラメルバター is pretty good, too, though.)
KitKat
This is not a Japanese brand, but Japan has taken KitKats to the next level. There are literally over 300 hundreds of flavors of KitKats in Japan, ranging from sake to even wasabi!
Needless to say, I always bring back seasonal KitKats from Japan for my family when I visit Canada. The only downside is that some flavors are limited edition, meaning that you might not find them again.
Meiji Chocolates
I really love Meiji chocolates. They’re smooth, sweet, and delicious, and although I wouldn’t compare them to anything you’d get in Europe, they’re among the most popular chocolate brands in Japan.
The most basic Meiji chocolates come in milk chocolate, hi-milk chocolate, and dark chocolate, and you can get little variety packs like the one shown below so you can try one of each.
My ultimate favorite flavor is Almond, where you can enjoy round chocolate-covered almonds. (These are not individually packaged, unfortunately.)
Another great Meiji flavor is Pistachio. The salty pistachios balance perfectly with the chocolate coating.
My personal favorite is Almond Peak. The chocolate coating dusted with cocoa powder is far richer and more luxurious. However, this is only available during winter, so if you see it, make sure to grab a box!
Here’s what the inside looks like:
There are not a lot in the box, probably just a handful, but you can’t complain for the price.
I like matcha, but not matcha-flavored things (such as chocolate, I just don’t think it matches). But since matcha is a very popular flavor abroad, I thought I should mention that Meiji also comes in matcha chocolate as well.
Galbo Chocolates
This is another chocolate that’s made by Meiji, but I thought it should have its own section because it’s unique. I’ve never seen any chocolate quite like it!
These bean-shaped chocolates are not as sweet as the others and have a crunchy texture, making them perfect for popping into your mouth one-by-one for a quick snack.
Meltykiss
I am a huge fan of Meltykiss, which is unsurprising since it’s made by Meiji. These are my favorite souvenirs to bring back to my family and friends in Canada.
Each box contains several individually wrapped Japanese chocolate cubes, and the box itself is so cute!
As the name suggests, these rich chocolates contain a flavored center that just melts in your mouth. But this also means that these chocolates will melt more easily than others, which is why you’ll only find these for sale in Japan during autumn and winter.
Kinoko no Yama and Takenoko no Sato
I’m introducing yet another Meiji chocolate, but I have to because these absolutely slap.
Kinoko no Yama (きのこの山) is a mix of chocolate and biscuit that is shaped like a small mushroom, unsurprisingly since the name means “mushroom mountain”. It’s more chocolate than biscuit.
Meanwhile, Takenoko no Sato (たけのこの里) are shaped like bamboo shoots (takenoko) and are more biscuit than chocolate.
Personally, I like Takenoko no Sato, but I recommend picking up a pack that contains each type (pictured below), and finding out which one you and your loved ones like the best!
Alfort Chocolates
Made by the brand Bourbon, Alfort chocolates are whole wheat digestive biscuits embedded in a piece of milk chocolate.
A good friend of mine calls these “boat cookies” because they have an illustration of a ship on them.
I absolutely love these chocolates, and they’re my Japanese husband’s favorites, so I highly recommend trying them out. Boxes aren’t individually packaged, but there are bags that have each cookie wrapped, making it perfect for sharing.
Omochi no Hitotoki
This is another chocolate made by Bourbon that’s perfect for mochi lovers. Personally, I’m not a fan of mochi, but my husband and daughter love these little mochi morsels that contain a rich chocolate center.
Is it the best mochi you’ll ever have? Absolutely not, but it’s great for the price.
Each box contains two small packs with four mochi inside.
Pocky
Pocky is probably the most well-known chocolate from Japan (chocolate cookie?). It’s easy to buy this abroad, but Japan has lots of limited-edition and seasonal flavors, such as this salt caramel Pocky that’s only available during winter.
Topopo
Made by LOTTE, Topopo is like a reverse Pocky, with cookie on the outside and a chocolate center. It’s not as famous as Pocky, which is probably why I recommend picking up a pack and trying it out if you see it.
I love Topopo, but my husband and daughter are die-hard Pocky fans.
Similar to the other Japanese chocolates on this list, Topopo also comes in various flavors, sometimes limited, such as strawberry and pistachio.
ROYCE
ROYCE is a Hokkaido chocolate company that is famed for its melt-in-your-mouth Nama Chocolates. They’re absolutely delicious, but the only downsides are that they need to be refrigerated, they expire quickly, and they’re not individually packaged.
If you’re traveling a long distance and can’t keep them cold, I suggest picking up a box of their chocolate-coated chips instead. It’s salty and yet sweet, making it addictive.
You can also pick up a box of pure ROYCE chocolate discs, which you also don’t have to keep refrigerated, and have a much longer shelf life. (Although it’s not as good as their Nama Chocolate.)
Note that ROYCE can be hard to find outside of Hokkaido, although sometimes department stores will sell them for a limited time. This store in Osaka also sells ROYCE chocolates.
Where to buy Japanese chocolates?
In Japan, you can find the chocolates listed above at grocery stores, drug stores, and some convenience stores.
What is the best Japanese chocolate brand?
The most popular Japanese chocolate brand is Meiji due to its high quality and reliability for the price, as well as smoothness, and of course, taste.