Nagano Prefecture is home to many tourist destinations, including Karuizawa, and offers a wide variety of delicious local specialties like soba, wasabi, apples, and nozawana, making it a prefecture rich in souvenirs. This time, we will introduce a ranking of souvenirs you should definitely buy when visiting Nagano.

Introducing Nagano's Recommended Souvenirs!

【No. 28】Kyu-Karu Mocha Roll Cake / Mikado Coffee

Mikado Coffee is a very popular coffee shop on Karuizawa's Old Road. It's not uncommon to see a line for their mocha soft-serve ice cream in the summer. Unfortunately, soft-serve ice cream isn't a suitable souvenir... That's where this "Kyu-Karu Mocha Roll Cake" comes in. It's made with a batter roasted to a special degree to bring out the aroma of the "Kyu-Karu Street" house blend coffee served at the shop.

【No. 27】Dorayakiyama / Chikufudo

Chikufudo, a specialty chestnut confectioner, offers many popular sweets made with carefully selected domestic chestnuts, mainly Obuse chestnuts from Nagano. This time, we recommend their "Dorayakiyama" dorayaki, which is made with chestnuts. While dorayaki are made by various wagashi shops nationwide, this dorayaki is characterized by the chestnut paste inside. The moist dough and flavorful chestnut paste are exquisite.

【No. 26】Temarin / Shinshu Matsumoto Baumkuchen Kobo Temariya

This baumkuchen from a specialty shop that uses carefully selected ingredients is shaped like a perfectly round temari ball. It's inspired by the story of a feudal lord in Matsumoto who had beautiful temari balls made for his princess. Not only is it cute, but it's also a luxurious treat with Obuse chestnuts from Nagano and chestnut paste inside.

【No. 25】Kurumi Soba / Shinanoji Usagiya

This kurumi soba is actually not soba noodles, but a confection that goes well with tea, coffee, or even black tea. It features carefully kneaded bean paste wrapped in soba flour dough, with walnuts sprinkled around it. The fragrant aroma of walnuts and soba is irresistible. The packaging with floral patterns and the Usagiya's rabbit mark are also cute.

【No. 24】Ringo Otome / Matsuzawa

These apple crackers, which have the aroma of apples and look like sliced apples, are a stylish confection that goes well with black tea or white wine, despite being crackers. In the past, they have won the highest three-star rating for seven consecutive years at the iTQi International Taste & Quality Institute Superior Taste Award, and have also received the "Diamond Taste Award," the highest taste honor. They are a popular souvenir with an exquisite balance of sweetness and tartness.

No. 23: Swan Lake (Hakucho no Mizuumi) by Kaiundo

This product features a package with the scenery of the Northern Alps and gracefully swimming swans. The cute swan shape embossed on the cookies inside makes it a recommended treat for those who appreciate visual appeal. These cookies, similar to rakugan and called "polvorones," are characterized by their soft and light texture that melts in your mouth. With a pleasant cinnamon flavor, they are perfect as a sophisticated accompaniment to tea or coffee.

No. 22: Apple & Roses Tart by Apple&Roses

This apple tart is as beautiful as a work of art, recreating the appearance of a rose with apples. It uses high-quality Shinshu apples, and three varieties—Fuji, Kougyoku, and Pink Lady—are chosen seasonally for its creation. The tart crust is filled with rich almond cream made from free-range eggs. The rose shape is meticulously crafted by hand, one by one. Its deliciousness and beauty earned it the Honorary Presidential Award, the highest honor at the National Confectionery Exposition.

No. 21: Mahoroba no Tsuki by Taiheido

"Mahoroba no Tsuki" is a specialty confection that represents Hokushinano, produced by Taiheido, a company founded in 1907. When you break open the round baked manju, it's filled with chestnut paste. Inside the paste, there's even a whole chestnut! Its round shape is adorable, and it offers a satisfying fullness despite its light texture. With its generous use of chestnuts, it's a great souvenir to highlight Nagano as a chestnut producing region.

No. 20: Soba no Hana by Ugetsudo

These Japanese-style cookies are made by a long-established confectionery shop founded in 1872. They are characterized by their wavy cookie base topped with fragrant roasted荞麦 (soba) seeds. With a light, crispy texture and subtle sweetness, they pair well with both coffee and green tea, making them a treat enjoyable for all ages. Ugetsudo also offers "Kureba," a popular combination of walnut pie and cookies, and the assortment of Soba no Hana and Kureba is also highly recommended.

No. 19: Raicho no Sato by Raicho no Sato Honpo Tanakaya

This is a long-selling, classic popular confection that has been loved for over 40 years. It is themed after the "raicho" (ptarmigan), a bird designated as Nagano Prefecture's official bird and inhabiting the Northern Alps. These European-style crackers have a crispy, light texture with cream sandwiched between them, a flavor enjoyed by both adults and children, similar to a wafer. They pair well with coffee, black tea, or green tea, making them perfect for an afternoon snack. Individually wrapped, they also make a good souvenir for the office.

No. 18: Original Blend by Maruyama Coffee

Maruyama Coffee is a specialty coffee shop born in Karuizawa. Mr. Maruyama, the company president, is the world's most frequent international judge at coffee international competitions, traveling globally to source delicious coffee. Maruyama Coffee offers high-quality coffee selected by a professional eye and has many fans nationwide. Their original blend is also popular as a souvenir, allowing you to enjoy delicious coffee at home.

【17th】Sunsun Cider Kougyoku / Sunsun Winery

Source: Sunsun Winery

Sunsun Winery is a winery in Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture, that cultivates grapes and makes wine by utilizing the environment. They also produce alcoholic beverages using Nagano Prefecture's distinctive apples, and one of them is this "Sunsun Cider." While "cider" might make you think of soft drinks, please note that this is a sparkling alcoholic beverage, a proper alcoholic drink. It is characterized by a refreshing aroma, acidity, and a pleasant bitterness, making it recommended as an aperitif or to pair with appetizers.

【16th】Matsumoto Smart Wheat Ale / Matsumoto Brewery

Source: Matsumoto Brewery

Recently, local beers have been released in various places across Japan. In Nagano Prefecture, craft beer is made in Matsumoto. Several types are available, such as pale ale and stout, but the one we recommend this time is the American-style "Matsumoto Smart Wheat Ale," which uses wheat malt. It features a pink label and a refreshing citrus aroma, and its easy-to-drink taste is also popular with women. There are also various other variations, so please check them out.

【15th】Oidare (Flavorful Sauce) / Iijima Kyoudai

Do you know what this "Oidare" (flavorful sauce) is for? It's actually yakitori sauce! While yakitori sauce generally brings to mind a sweet and savory sauce, in Shinshu Ueda, yakitori dipped in soy sauce packed with garlic is commonly eaten. At yakitori restaurants, garlic soy sauce is provided separately from the yakitori on the table, and customers add the sauce at their preferred timing. This "Oidare" allows you to enjoy the yakitori sauce loved by locals at home, so please give it a try.

【14th】Chestnut Pudding with Astringent Skin / Shunsui

Nagano Prefecture is a famous chestnut producing region, and as you might expect, there are many sweets made with chestnuts. Traditional Japanese confections like kurikanoko are particularly classic, but if you're not a fan of wagashi or are looking for something new, we recommend this "Chestnut Pudding with Astringent Skin." This luxurious pudding contains a whole candied chestnut with its astringent skin. Since it doesn't need to be refrigerated as long as it's kept in a cool place away from high temperatures and humidity, it's also a perfect souvenir.

【13th】Nozawana-zuke (Pickled Nozawana Greens)

Nozawana-zuke is a pickled vegetable specialty of Shinshu, named after the Nozawa Onsen Village in Nagano Prefecture where it originated. There are two types of Nozawana-zuke: "asakura-zuke" (lightly pickled) and "furuzuke" (heavily pickled). Among them, "furuzuke," which is made by pickling Nozawana well, is rich in plant-based lactic acid bacteria and is gaining attention as a healthy food for its role in balancing gut flora. Perhaps because they eat Nozawana-zuke, Nagano is the prefecture with the longest life expectancy in Japan. Most Nozawana-zuke sold in supermarkets is asakura-zuke, so if you visit Nagano Prefecture, be sure to buy authentic furuzuke Nozawana-zuke.

【12th】Shichimi Togarashi / Yawataya Isogoro

Many of you might recognize the distinctive can design. This is Yawataya Isogoro's Shichimi Togarashi (seven-spice chili pepper), a classic Nagano souvenir often featured on TV. It's a exquisite blend of seven spices—chili pepper, dried orange peel, sesame, hemp seed, perilla, Japanese pepper, and ginger—offering exceptional spiciness, aroma, and flavor. It's surprisingly affordable and makes for a reliable souvenir. "Yuzu Shichimi" is also highly recommended.

【11th】Togakushi Soba

When it comes to classic Nagano souvenirs, Shinshu soba is definitely one of them. Nagano's high altitude is suitable for growing buckwheat, and its clean water contributes to the creation of fragrant and delicious soba. "Togakushi Soba" is a type of Shinshu soba made in Togakushi, a mountainous area of Nagano City, Nagano Prefecture. It is said to be one of Japan's three best sobas, and its elegant aroma and taste are exceptional. Fresh soba is recommended if you plan to eat it right away, while dried noodles are a good choice for a souvenir that needs to last longer.

【10】Wasabi-zuke

Azumino, Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan's leading wasabi production areas. Nagano Prefecture boasts the highest wasabi production in Japan, with approximately 90% of it produced in Azumino. Wasabi-zuke, made by pickling fresh domestic wasabi from Nagano in sake lees, is popular for both personal consumption and as a souvenir. The refreshing spiciness and aroma of wasabi, combined with the flavor of sake lees, pairs well with both rice and sake. It's an ideal souvenir for sake lovers or those who prefer savory over sweet.

【9】Misuzu-ame / Iijima Shoten

Misuzu-ame is a confection made from domestic fruits solidified with agar, granulated sugar, and starch syrup, and it has been a traditional treat in fruit-rich Nagano for a long time. Its texture is more like jelly or jam than candy, and its sparkling, colorful appearance is cute and particularly popular with children. The fruits used include apricots, peaches, grapes, and apples, all carefully selected for their high quality and ripeness. Additive-free and colorant-free, it's safe for children. It also has a long shelf life and is light, making it a convenient souvenir.

【8】Kuri Kanoko / Obusedo

For a special souvenir or seasonal gift, we recommend Shinshu's renowned confectionery, "Kuri Kanoko." This chestnut paste, made from chestnuts simmered in syrup, is combined with chestnut pieces, and is a specialty of Obuse in Nagano, a famous chestnut-producing region. While several wagashi (Japanese confectionery) shops are known for kuri kanoko, we especially recommend Obusedo, a long-established chestnut confectionery shop. Made exclusively with fresh chestnuts, without any preservatives or artificial colors, this luxurious delicacy features large chestnut pieces.

【7】Ringo no Sasayaki / Takachiho

Nagano Prefecture is famous for its apples. A casual souvenir featuring Shinshu apples, perfect for sharing, is "Ringo no Sasayaki." It won the Excellent Gold Confectionery Award at the National Confectionery Exposition, so its taste is guaranteed. Apple cookies are sandwiched with apple chocolate and white chocolate, offering a crispy texture, rich sweetness, and refreshing apple aroma. You can purchase it at stations and service areas. It's also light and easy to carry.

【6】Walnut Pie / Okashidokoro Hanaoka

Source: Kurumi-kashi Hanaoka

This walnut pie is a delightful souvenir for both children and adults. Inside the pie is a special filling made from walnuts simmered down. It's a delicious treat with the aroma and flavor of walnuts. This item blends the best of Japanese and Western confections, making it a perfect souvenir for anyone, regardless of their preference. Since they are individually wrapped, they are also great for sharing at the office.

【5】Oyaki / Nagano Irohadou

"Oyaki," a dish made by wrapping various fillings in wheat or buckwheat dough and baking it, is Nagano's soul food and popular among tourists for both on-the-go eating and as a souvenir. Nagano Irohadou is a popular oyaki shop that bakes them in a kiln. The fillings vary and include Nozawana greens, pumpkin, sweet bean paste, and green onion miso. While it's great to eat them freshly baked at the shop, you can also buy frozen oyaki, perfect for souvenirs, at service areas and online.

【4th Place】Ringo no Ki / Dessert Land Ringo no Ki

Source: Dessert Land Ringo no Ki

Ringo no Ki is a semi-fresh confection that fills your mouth with the sweet and sour taste of apples. The surface is a crispy galette dough, and inside are stewed "Fuji apples" harvested in Nagano Prefecture, a famous apple-producing region. Ringo no Ki, made with a unique manufacturing method, is a classic souvenir loved by people of all ages, from adults to children.

【3rd Place】Shichimi Macaron / Motoya Yawata Isogoro

Source: Motoya Yawata Isogoro

Yawata Isogoro is famous for its shichimi (seven-spice blend) chili pepper, but if you're looking for a slightly unusual and cute souvenir, how about the "Shichimi Macaron"? Each of the seven colored macarons is filled with a cream that includes one of the spices used in shichimi: red for chili pepper, purple for perilla, green for sansho pepper, yellow for yuzu citrus, and so on. It might seem like a strange combination, but the taste is surprisingly not eccentric; the sweetness of the macaron and the stimulating aroma of the spices create a perfect harmony that many people become addicted to!

【2nd Place】Jam / Sawaya

Karuizawa, famous as a summer resort, has many delicious jam shops because jam making flourished there after foreigners introduced the craft in the past. Sawaya, which originally opened as a greengrocer in 1952, is now a specialty jam store, making additive-free jams using fresh fruits. Sawaya's jams, made from seasonal domestic fresh fruits, are popular souvenirs for visitors to Karuizawa. The secret to their popularity is also the wide variety of flavors available, including strawberry, blueberry, as well as strawberry milk and white peach.

【1st Place】Marugoto Ringo Pie / Chikumaseika

Nagano Prefecture is famous as an apple producing region because delicious fruits grow there due to the large temperature difference between day and night. Fuji is the apple of Nagano Prefecture! The number one ranked souvenir from Nagano Prefecture is a sweet that luxuriously uses a whole Fuji apple. A sweet apple steeped in honey is filled with castella cake in the center, wrapped in pie crust, and then baked. It's an item where you can fully enjoy the deliciousness and aroma of apples.

Nagano souvenirs: Apples are still popular!

Nagano Prefecture is a thriving tourist destination with many famous and popular souvenirs. Apple-based sweets, in particular, come in many variations and carry the image of "Nagano," making them highly recommended as souvenirs. Please use this ranking as a reference when looking for souvenirs.