10 Best Japanese Chocolates in 2023 (Glico, Meiji, and More!)

Pros: 

• Individually-wrapped squares for easy snacking
• Rich milk content adds sweetness and texture
• Classic Meiji taste makes a great entry to the brand's chocolate

Cons: 

• Individual wrapping isn't eco-friendly

Meiji's classic milk chocolate bar now comes separated into 28 pieces for a mess-free chocolate experience. The cocoa beans used to make this bar are roasted by Meiji, then combined with full-fat milk to create a rich, smooth, sweet flavor. 

Overall, reviewers were thrilled with the rich, creamy chocolate flavor. Many said that the chocolate tastes fresh and melts in your mouth, making it an addicting treat. Reviewers also appreciated the quality, saying they taste as good as more expensive options.

Pros: 

• Appealingly crunchy
• Reviewers say that the dark milk chocolate isn't too sweet
• Comes in a variety of flavors, including white chocolate and dark chocolate

Cons: 

• Japanese reviewers warn that the crunchy rice crisps can go stale quickly

The Black Thunder Bar consists of shortbread cookie bits and rice crisps coated in dark milk chocolate. This gives the bar a rather pebbly look on top. The rich flavor and satisfying crunch make this chocolate snack immensely popular in Japan. 

Reviewers reported that the darker milk chocolate flavor has just the right amount of sweetness, with many appreciating that they aren't as sweet as American candy bars. They also liked the crispness of the cookie texture and rice pieces.

Pros: 

• Bare biscuit ends keep your fingers clean while eating
• Individually-wrapped bunches make for easy snacking
• Available in a variety of flavored chocolates such as strawberry and matcha

Cons: 

• According to reviewers, the chocolate ends melt very easily
• Individual wrapping isn't eco-friendly

These sweet, crunchy sticks are covered three-quarters of the way with sweet milky chocolate. They provide just enough chocolate flavor, combined with a satisfying crunch. Pocky is easy to pack and eat, making it an excellent snack for kids' lunches or your work bag!

Some reviewers warned that the chocolate melts quickly. Still, Pocky is incredibly popular for its rich chocolate and crisp biscuit base. Reviewers especially liked the balanced flavor, saying it's not overly sweet. Many parents say the serving size is just right for snack time.

Pros: 

• Melty white chocolate is sandwiched between butter cookies to avoid mess
• Hokkaido's winter-themed packaging makes this an excellent Christmas gift
• Available in white chocolate, milk chocolate, or both

Cons: 

• Individual packaging isn't eco-friendly

Shiroi Koibito cookies are a famous Hokkaido souvenir. This box contains 18 bars of Hokkaido's rich, sweet white chocolate sandwiched with delicate shortbread butter cookies. This snack is famous for its fresh crunch and buttery white chocolate flavor.

The vast majority of reviewers liked that the cookies are buttery and wafer-like, giving great contrast to the rich white chocolate. They added that the sweet, creamy chocolate tastes very rich. Reviewers also said these cookies are a hit when given as a gift!

Pros: 

• 12 macadamia-stuffed chocolates without extra plastic wrapping
• Buttery macadamia flavor blends deliciously with Meiji's milk chocolate

Cons: 

• Reviewers warn these chocolates melt together very easily

Meiji's Macadamia Chocolates feature 12 milk chocolate pieces with macadamia chunks embedded inside. Expect a sweet, chocolatey outside with the soft, subtle crunch of a rich macadamia core. 

A few reviewers noted that the chocolates can melt together in the box. However, many raved about the creamy chocolate texture. They also enjoyed the decadent flavor of the chocolate in combination with the macadamia nuts. 

Pros: 

• Pocket-sized box makes this a great snack on-the-go
• Milk chocolate topped with sweet strawberry chocolate creates a great contrasting flavor
• Bite-sized chocolates are great for kids or adults

Cons: 

• Reviewers warn the chocolates melt together easily

These boxes come filled with tiny, mountain-shaped strawberry chocolates. The tips are strawberry-flavored white chocolate, while the bases are Meiji's rich milk chocolate. These boxes are a perfect pocket-sized snack for work or a casual outing. 

Some reviewers noted that the chocolates melt together easily. Still, many others were pleased with how well the creamy strawberry chocolate blended with the rich milk chocolate flavor. Others added that the cute packaging and chocolate design make for an excellent gift basket addition. 

Pros: 

• Sweet white chocolate with strawberry flavoring
• Tangy strawberry concentrate powder in the bars provides flavor contrast

Cons: 

• Bar sizes are smaller than American versions

Coated with strawberry-infused white chocolate, these Kit Kats contain classic wafers that sandwich strawberry powder. The strawberry powder is tangy, adding a pop of tart flavor to the sweet chocolate coating. 

Overall, reviewers said the tanginess makes these Kit Kats taste more like actual strawberries. They enjoyed how well the white chocolate and strawberry flavors were balanced. Some added that the cute packaging makes these Kit Kats great for gifting. 

Pros: 

• Bamboo shoot shape makes this chocolate uniquely Japanese
• Sweet milk chocolate covers a thick biscuit base

Cons: 

• Reviewers warn they melt together easily 

Meiji's Takenoko no Sato snack consists of bamboo shoot-shaped cookies covered in rich milk chocolate. Expect a delicate chocolate flavor and a heavy shortbread crunch with these cute chocolate snacks. 

Some customers noted that these chocolates melt together easily. However, they were still pleased with the rich chocolate, sweet biscuit, and cute bamboo shape. They added these chocolates were excellent gifts for people interested in Japan!

Pros: 

• Luxurious, trufflelike chocolate coated in cocoa powder
• Heavy cream and liquor content create a melty, decadent flavor
• Packaging makes a great gift option

Cons: 

• Alcohol content makes these snacks unfit for children

Royce' infuses their nama chocolate squares with heavy cream, giving the soft milk chocolate a melt-in-your-mouth effect. Each square is powdered with cocoa and infused with a generous dose of liquor. 

Some reviewers warn that the chocolate melts quickly and must be stored in the fridge. However, overall, reviewers were incredibly happy with the silky, rich chocolate flavor. Some added that the chocolate wasn't overly sweet, giving them a chance to enjoy the cocoa bean flavor more authentically. 

Pros: 

• Melty, cream-infused chocolate contains a core of strawberry-flavored white chocolate
• Higher cocoa content gives the milk chocolate a dark taste
• Available in multiple flavors, including matcha and pure chocolate

Cons: 

• Some reviewers warn it can melt too easily

Meiji's Meltyblend chocolates, known as Meltykiss in Japan, are mini nama chocolate pieces with strawberry-flavored white chocolate filling. It's especially popular for its high cocoa content, which gives the pieces a slightly bitter taste that contrasts well with the strawberry filling. Each small cube is also coated with cocoa powder,

Aside from a few complaints about how easily the chocolate pieces melt, reviewers loved that they are incredibly creamy and smooth. Some added that the balance of sweetness and fruit flavor was just right. Plus, the cute packaging was a hit.