Kanagawa Prefecture offers a rich variety of specialties and souvenirs, from stylish sweets and delicious local products to traditional Japanese confections that have been loved for years. If you're overwhelmed by the many choices, we've compiled a ranked list of Kanagawa's most popular classic souvenirs.

Introducing our recommended Kanagawa souvenirs!

【No. 22】Kabocha Kintsuba / Kamakura Itoko

Source: Kamakura Itoko

"Kamakura Itoko" is a Japanese confectionery store in Kanagawa famous for its kintsuba. While kintsuba usually evokes an image of a sweet potato confection, we highly recommend their "Kabocha Kintsuba" (pumpkin kintsuba).

Finely kneaded, high-quality pumpkin paste is mixed with carefully cooked, moist adzuki beans, then wrapped in the shop's secret thin batter and baked. Each piece costs around 200 yen and is individually wrapped, making it perfect for distributing as souvenirs. It's also a great gift for the elderly.

【No. 21】Yokohama Potato / Yokohama Memories

"Yokohama Memories" is a popular souvenir shop located on the 5th floor of "Yokohama Landmark Plaza" in Minato Mirai. Their original confection, "Yokohama Potato," is the store's best-selling item and is a moist sweet potato pastry made with carefully selected sweet potatoes.

Many women love sweet potatoes, so this is highly recommended as a souvenir for female friends. While delicious at room temperature, it becomes even moister and richer when chilled, so be sure to try both ways of eating it.

【No. 20】Beaker Pudding / Marlow

Founded in 1984, "Marlow" is a specialty shop for handmade beaker puddings, featuring an impactful logo of a dandy gentleman. As the name suggests, their puddings come in large beakers. The gentle taste of their classic handmade baked custard pudding is a major draw, and the wide variety of flavors also contributes to its popularity.

After enjoying the pudding, you can reuse the beaker, and returning it to the shop even gets you a cash back. Their commitment to environmental protection, avoiding excessive packaging, is also commendable. These sweets, made with care for the environment, ingredients, and taste, are sure to be appreciated as souvenirs by many. They are also recommended as gifts for households with children.

【No. 19】Daishimaki / Domoto Seika

Source: Domoto Seika

Daishimaki from "Domoto Seika" is a famous local snack from Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. These rice crackers are enjoyed by people of all ages and genders, making them a safe and delightful choice. They're also perfect as souvenirs for those who prefer savory snacks over sweets!

Not only are they affordable, but they're also easy to carry and have a long shelf life, making them a convenient souvenir choice. However, they are so popular that they often sell out quickly, so if you're interested, it's best to visit early in the day.

Even online, there's a long waiting list, so if you find them in stock at the store, it's a good idea to buy them without hesitation.

【No. 18】Nama Gateau Chocolat / ca ca o

Source: ca ca o

You'll be amazed by the richness of this "Nama Gateau Chocolat" with just one bite. It's a popular sweet from "ca ca o," a specialty store for fresh chocolate.

The shop is particular about its ingredients for making delicious chocolate, using cacao grown on its own farm in Colombia. The ingredients are just chocolate, butter, and eggs. Since no flour is used, you can enjoy a rich flavor as if you were eating pure chocolate.

When warmed, it tastes like a fondant chocolate, with a perfectly balanced gooey inside and crispy outside. This sweet is recommended for both those with a sweet tooth and those looking for a stylish souvenir.

【No. 17】Shonan Shirasu Senbei / Omori Shoten

Kanagawa Prefecture is blessed with marine products, and the Shonan area, in particular, is famous for its abundant catch of shirasu (whitebait). "Shonan Shirasu Senbei" (Shonan whitebait crackers) are a popular snack made with this local Shonan shirasu. Their crispy texture and exquisite saltiness are sure to be addictive.

They also pair well with alcoholic beverages, making them a great souvenir for those who enjoy drinks or prefer savory snacks over sweets. They are also affordable and come in a box, making them suitable for distributing as gifts.

【No. 16】Yokohama Fukin / Bell Group

"Yokohama Fukin" has been selected as a "Yokohama Goods" of the Yokohama brand. "Yokohama Fukin" is a dishcloth loved by craftsmen, born from the concept of "high-quality but casual dishcloths that can be used every day." It uses mosquito net fabric, making it excellent in water absorption and durability.

Additionally, its 8-layer three-dimensional structure allows it to absorb moisture between the threads, meaning that even when wiping liquids like coffee that tend to stain dishcloths, the stains can be removed with just a light hand wash. It is practical and of good quality, making it a recommended souvenir for housewives and friends living alone.

【15th Place】Chocola / Vanilla Beans

"Chocola" from "Vanilla Beans" is a popular sweet treat that is also very popular online. It consists of rich ganache sandwiched between buttery, fragrant cookies. The ganache is so thick that it tastes more like a small, rich cake than a cookie sandwich, with a satisfying chewiness.

They use rare, high-quality butter and fair-trade chocolate. Beyond its deliciousness, the individual packaging, with its black and white lettering, is chic and stylish! It's also recommended as a souvenir for fashion-conscious female friends.

【14th Place】Chocolat Carreau / Patisserie La Maree de Chaya

Source：LES PÂTISSERIES LA MARÉE DE CHAYA

Founded in 1972, the Western confectionery shop "Patisserie La Maree de Chaya" is beloved by locals and customers from afar. While the dazzling cakes lining the shelves are also recommended, they are unfortunately a bit inconvenient to carry as souvenirs.

In such cases, the "Chocolat Carreau," a sweet that can be stored at room temperature, is highly recommended. "Carreau" means "tile" in French, referring to this square-shaped gateau chocolat. The rich gateau chocolat has a fragrant hint of orange liqueur, which provides a wonderful accent.

Each one comes in its own box, giving it a luxurious feel, and the packaging design is cute, making it a great choice for bulk souvenirs as well.

【13th Place】Tsuki no Usagi / Wagashi Nanohana

Source：Wagashi Nanohana

"Tsuki no Usagi" is a Japanese chestnut manju sweet that features a large chestnut resembling a full moon. Inside the crispy yet crumbly dough, there's a luxurious whole chestnut. Nothing overpowers the other, making it a well-balanced and elegant flavor with a hint of nostalgia.

All the products from "Wagashi Nanohana," a Japanese confectionery shop highly supported by the local Odawara residents, are rumored to be delicious, so definitely pay a visit. You're sure to be charmed by the cute illustrated packaging, which is unusual for Japanese confectionery.

【12th Place】Florentin / Gâteaux de Voyage

Source：Gâteaux de Voyage

The "Florentin" from the popular Western confectionery shop "Gâteaux de Voyage" is a French sweet consisting of nuts on a cookie base, coated with caramel. Here, sweets are made without using animal-derived ingredients (sugars refined from animal bones, honey) or alcohol.

Since only plant-derived ingredients are used, it can be safely given as a souvenir to those with dietary preferences. It is also recommended for those looking for stylish sweets.

【11th Place】Butter Sandwich / Maison Bon Goût

Maison Bon Goût is a small, charming patisserie with a shop in Chigasaki. Their "Butter Sandwich" is a nationally popular sweet, known to those in the know, and always in high demand online. It features a thick layer of rich butter cream sandwiched between crispy cookies.

In addition to the classic flavor, seasonal limited-edition butter sandwiches are sometimes available, making you want to visit regularly. However, due to its immense popularity, they often sell out quickly, so it's recommended to visit early. The shop's wonderful ambiance might just cast a spell on you to buy more than you planned!

【10th Place】Hakone Beer / Suzuhiro

Source：Suzuhiro

When it comes to souvenirs for liquor lovers, local beer is a must-have. From Kanagawa, "Hakone Beer" makes the list. This sake is actually produced and sold by "Suzuhiro Kamaboko," a famous kamaboko (fish cake) shop also known for its Kanagawa souvenirs.

The secret to "Hakone Beer's" deliciousness lies in the famous water used. They use high-quality mineral water called Hakone Hyakunen Water, and their carefully selected hops surely contribute to its delicious taste. In addition to "Hakone Pils," which has won numerous awards, there are several other types of beer, including seasonal limited editions, so comparing them is also recommended.

【9th Place】Tako Senbei / Asahi Honten

In Enoshima, a popular tourist destination in Kanagawa, "Tako Senbei" (octopus crackers) is a classic souvenir. These crackers are made by pressing whole octopuses, concentrating all the deliciousness of the octopus. Their salty and savory flavor makes them perfect as a snack with drinks or as a treat for children.

While the large, impactful tako senbei is recommended, the cut type is also great for distributing as souvenirs. The octopus illustration on the packaging is striking and memorable.

【8th Place】Kamakura Custer / Kamakura New German

Source: Kamakura New German

“Kamakura Custer” is a signature product of Kamakura New German, which has its main store in Kamakura, Kanagawa Prefecture. It's a pastry with a fluffy sponge filled with a generous amount of luxurious cream. While not flashy or impactful, eating it fills your mouth with a gentle sweetness and a sense of nostalgia.

Since it's not too sweet, it's a recommended confection for men and seniors. Also, it's large and satisfying, yet inexpensive, making it a great souvenir for distributing.

【7th Place】Puchi-kama / Suzuhiro Kamaboko

If you're looking for a popular souvenir from Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, it has to be the kamaboko from "Suzuhiro Kamaboko." While all their kamaboko are popular, "Puchi-kama," which contains bite-sized kamaboko, is especially popular as a souvenir due to its cute packaging, individual wrapping, and ease of eating and carrying.

There are two flavors: mentaiko mayo and cheese. The ingredients ooze out from inside the kamaboko, making it delicious. It's also perfect as a snack with drinks. For households with children, we also recommend the kamaboko shaped like Tomica cars, popular with boys, and heart-shaped cut kamaboko for girls.

【6th Place】Yokohama Renga Dori / Wishbon

"Yokohama Renga Dori," which sells 7 million pieces annually, is a popular confection that has often appeared in the media. Almonds coated in homemade caramel are sandwiched between cookie dough and baked. The rich, savory flavor of caramel and almonds is so delicious, you won't be able to stop eating it.

They are committed to safety and security, using no preservatives or sterilizers, and have also repeatedly renewed the product since its launch, tirelessly pursuing deliciousness. This may be the secret to its long-standing popularity.

Since they are individually wrapped, they are also recommended as souvenirs for distribution. As they are a classic Kanagawa souvenir, the convenience of having many sales locations is also a big plus.

【5th Place】Yokohama Harbor / Ariake

Many people associate "Ariake's 'Yokohama Harbor'" with souvenirs from Kanagawa. This is a long-loved confection, featuring a simple, charming package illustration by Ryohei Yanagihara.

The Double Marron flavor, highly popular with women, features a generous amount of chopped chestnuts and chestnut paste inside a ship-shaped castella cake! The moist castella and chestnut paste spread gently in your mouth.

This confection appeals to a wide range of age groups, so you don't have to worry about who you're giving it to. Limited-time flavors and package collaboration products are also always available, so be sure to check out various souvenir shops.

【4th Place】Hanbin / Chugoku Hanten

"Banbin," also designated as a famous confectionery of Kanagawa Prefecture, is a recommended souvenir that you should definitely buy when visiting Yokohama Chinatown.

Banbin is a confectionery originally made by the Chinese "Banren" ethnic group, which Chugoku Hanten has uniquely adapted. It features a refined sweet red bean paste wrapped in a moist dough kneaded with egg and milk, generously topped with savory walnuts. This confectionery is reputed to be even more delicious than it looks.

In fact, "Chugoku Hanten" boasts Banbin as its No. 1 popular souvenir. With its luxurious box and substantial weight, it's also highly recommended as a souvenir for superiors.

【3rd Place】Hato Sablé / Toshimaya

"Hato Sablé" from "Toshimaya" is a classic Kanagawa souvenir that has enjoyed stable popularity and excellent recognition from old times to the present. The buttery, crispy sablé dough is loved by a wide range of ages, from children to seniors. The cute dove shape is also appealing.

The retro yellow packaging, unchanged for many years, is also distinctive. Recently, different color and pattern variations of the packaging have appeared, so you can choose according to the occasion. Since they are individually wrapped, the large canned type is also recommended as a souvenir to distribute at work.

【2nd Place】Shumai / Kiyoken

When it comes to souvenirs other than sweets in Kanagawa, you can't forget the popular Yokohama specialty "Siumai" from "Kiyoken." The exquisite Siumai, packed with juicy pork and umami from scallop adductor muscles, is renowned for being delicious even when cold.

However, its popularity as a souvenir isn't just because of its delicious taste. It's also popular because you can choose the type of product—room temperature, refrigerated, or vacuum-packed—to suit your carrying conditions and the time until you give it as a gift. Especially with vacuum-packed products, they last for about 5 months, making them convenient for gifts to people you can't meet right away. They are highly recommended for those who don't like sweets, for families, or as gifts for men.

No. 1: Kurumikko / Kamakura Beniya

Source: Kamakura Beniya

With its cute packaging featuring a mother squirrel and her baby holding walnuts, "Kurumikko" is another popular sweet that invariably comes to mind as a Kanagawa souvenir. It consists of a bitter caramel sandwiched between butter dough, with plenty of walnuts inside the caramel. The balance of sweetness, aroma, and bitterness is irresistible.

It received the Grand Prize at the 25th Kanagawa Famous Confectionery Exhibition, making it particularly popular among adults. Moreover, besides its deliciousness, it's an excellent souvenir because it can be stored at room temperature and has a long shelf life. Furthermore, since the sweets are individually wrapped, they are also recommended for distributing as gifts.

Summary of Recommended Kanagawa Souvenirs

Kanagawa Prefecture offers a wide array of high-quality, authentic souvenirs, from stylish Western confectionery to exquisite Chinese and Japanese sweets. Although I've ranked them, all of these souvenirs are outstanding and difficult to compare. When you visit Kanagawa, please use this ranking as a reference to choose a souvenir that catches your eye.