Rice Crackers, Karintō and Other Savoury Snacks
Not every Japanese snack is sweet. Rice crackers and rice cakes are among the oldest and most widely loved, and they come in many regional styles.
Senbei
Senbei are Japanese rice crackers. They come in many shapes, sizes and flavours, usually savoury but sometimes sweet, and are often eaten with green tea or offered to visiting guests.
Mochi
Mochi is a rice cake made from glutinous rice that is steamed and pounded into a paste, then shaped. It is eaten year-round but is especially associated with the Japanese New Year.
Sweet and savoury at once
Many snacks mix the two: crackers glazed with soy sauce and sugar, or karintō coated in sesame or miso instead of plain brown sugar. Flavour names on the packet are the best guide, and they are usually printed in Japanese only.
Texture is part of the point
- Hard, crunchy crackers keep longest once opened if stored airtight.
- Soft rice cakes go stale or harden quickly; eat them soon after opening.
- Snacks with a sugar coating can become sticky in humid weather.
Mochi is chewy and sticky. Cut it into small pieces for young children and older relatives, and eat it sitting down.
Restocked 2026-10-22