Seeing as we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, I don’t get out much (unless it’s for work). Most of my time is spent wandering on foot around the surrounding neighborhoods. One exception is Tokyo Station, which I pass through sometimes on the way to various work gigs. I realize this is a weird place for a person who claims to hate crowds to enjoy, but trust me. Look beyond the stressed commuters you’ll find some of the city’s best ramen haunts, cafés, bookstores and, of course, souvenir shops.  Pre-Covid, Tokyo Station was my go-to spot to buy Tokyo souvenirs (especially of the edible type) for friends across Japan and abroad. Classic treats like Tokyo Banana and Tokyo Tamago’s Gomatamago are already in my personal souvenir hall of fame, but over the past year I’ve found some new favorites I’d love to share (once travel is a thing again).

Seriously? Souvenir Shopping in Tokyo Station?

I can hear some of you pooh-poohing me from the other side of the Internet and I don’t appreciate that judgmental tone. Ramen Street has satellite stores of some of Tokyo’s best ramen shops (and if you time it right you can avoid the endless lines you’ll find at their main store locations) and who doesn’t love at least one of the cute critters on Character Street? Even better, there are dozens of products and treats that can only be found at Tokyo Station. Perfect if you’re looking for special edition merchandise or something for someone who has everything.

But the most obvious advantage — especially for travelers visiting from overseas — is that most stores accept credit cards, even for small sums.

While I’ll admit Tokyo Station isn’t even close to my first choice for shopping in general, it’s nice to know that it’s there. And it really *is* one of the best places to get a whole bunch of souvenirs in one spot. And now that I’m back on topic, here is my list of four (mostly) foolproof food souvenirs from Tokyo Station:

My Captain Cheese: Cheese Chocolate Burger

Yeah, I know it sounds weird. But it’s also my favorite because somehow it works. Imagine a salty-yet-sweet slice of chocolate-cheese (?) sandwiched between two sugar cookie burger buns, all held neatly together with a cheesy cream paste. Got it? Now picture it in a teeny tiny bitesize form that comes in an adorable burger box. It’s completely over the top and I love it. Honestly, this is too good for most of my friends (sorry guys) and I may just keep it to myself in future. The shop also sells cheese sticks, which come in a small bag so they look like fries. If you’re still not convinced, then pair it with a cup of coffee — it’s out of this world.

Where: B1F My Captain Cheese Gransta Store, Tokyo Station (inside the JR gates)

How much: ¥550 (box of three), ¥900 (box of six), ¥1,350 (box of nine) and ¥1,800 (box of 12)

Toraya Tokyo: Yoru no Ume Yokan

Yokan isn’t everyone’s thing, but if you need a suitable gift for a client or to bring to a fancier get-together, you can’t go wrong with Toraya wagashi. It’s one of Japan’s most famous confectionery chains and has been in business in one form or another since the 1500s. Yeah, exactly. Toraya set up its first Tokyo store in 1869 (and even has a boutique in Paris!) but it wasn’t until 2019 that it opened its first store inside Tokyo Station*.

It’s always a safe bet and you can get their Yoru no Ume (Evening Plum) yokan inside a special edition Tokyo Station box here. For those of you unfamiliar with yokan, check out this article on Japanese sweets here. I’d include a photo of the yokan itself but trust me, with my photo skills you wouldn’t be any wiser. Just imagine a lustrous, impossibly sweet dark purple-brown block that pairs perfectly with green tea. (For what it’s worth, it also goes well with coffee.)

*Before that, the nearest Toraya Tokyo store was located in Tokyo Station Hotel, which meant you had to go through the station gates to get to it. So it was technically in the station — just not easily accessible.

Where: B1 Toraya Tokyo Gransta Store, Tokyo Station (inside the JR gates)

How Much: ¥260 (one yokan stick), ¥1,404 (box of five), ¥3,240 (box of 12), ¥4,882 (box of 18)

Fairycake Fair: Tokyo Station Biscuit Tin

Fairycake Fair is most famous for its cute animal cupcakes but also makes some decent scones and cookies. The Tokyo Station biscuit tin is a relatively new addition to the shop’s selection and started selling in mid-2019. It contains three Tokyo Station-shaped sugar cookies (two plain and one cocoa), all individually wrapped. As you can probably guess, you can only buy the tin at this location.

Out of all the souvenirs in my list it’s probably the most basic but I also think that’s its charm. If you’re not sure what your recipient likes, you won’t be inundating them with 20 cookies they’ll never eat and the tin makes a great souvenir itself. In fact, why don’t you just eat the cookies yourself and fill the tin with cute gachapon prizes instead?

Where: B1 Fairycake Fair Gransta Store, Tokyo Station (inside the JR gates)

How much: ¥840 (one tin with three cookies)

Keishindo: Panda no Tabi

Keishindo is a famous Aichi Prefecture-based ebi senbei (shrimp rice cracker) store and was founded back in 1866. This Tokyo-only edition Panda no Tabi (Panda’s Journey) set was released in 2020 and features rotund senbei pandas and crackers depicting famous Tokyo sights including Tokyo Tower, Sensoji and Ueno Zoo (a popular panda hangout if the senbei are to be believed). Each panda has a different personality (I’ve included the one that I relate to the most in my photo), making it fun when divvying up the crackers between recipients. I often get senbei like this if I know I can’t gift them straightaway, since they keep well.

Where: B1 Keishindo Gransta Store, Tokyo Station (inside the JR gates)

How Much: ¥600 (box of three bags), ¥1,000 (box of five bags)

 How to Get to All These Tokyo Station Treats

Tokyo Station can be overwhelming on a first visit. (Or a second or third for that matter…) But it can be good to know that the Gransta shopping area is divided into two main sections: Gransta Tokyo and Gransta Marunouchi. Both of them are inside the JR station gates, so as long as you don’t accidentally leave that part you’ll be fine. (The previously mentioned Ramen and Character streets are *outside* the JR station gates.)

If you’re based near the station and you just want to pop in and do some shopping without going anywhere, you can grab a platform ticket for just ¥140.  

Handy Tips When Shopping Food Souvenirs at Tokyo Station

The good thing about buying souvenir snacks is that there is a general flow to the process that makes things simple — even if you don’t speak Japanese. Here is a basic guide to some questions that come up when you’re shopping. Keep in mind this isn’t a complete guide and doesn’t account for different payment options, add-ons and so on.

1.     The shop staff will confirm the expiry date of your purchase.

Sometimes they’ll point to the date — if it’s already listed on the outside of the box. If they don’t point it out, it’s usually because that information is inside the box. This is just to ensure that you know the product should be consumed within a few days or a week, etc.

2.    Do you need a bag with that? 袋いりますか。Fukuro irimasuka?

Or: Is it okay as it is? (as in no bag needed) このままでよろしいですか。 Kono mama de yoroshii desu ka?

As of July 1, 2020, most shops in Japan charge for plastic bags. There are some exceptions — especially when it comes to souvenir shops, where the price of the paper bag may be included as part of their service. If it is included, they may ask if you want an *extra* bag (or several, if you’ve bought multiple items). This is so that when you hand over your gift to the intended recipient, you can do so in a fancy new bag instead of one that has been mangled by rush hour crowds.

3.    Do you have a shop point card? お店のポイントお持ちでしょうか。 Omise no pointo ka-do omochideshouka?

Japan’s ubiquitous point cards. Don’t worry if you don’t have one — there are too many to keep track of.

Tokyo Station Treats: Final Thoughts

There are dozens more delicious souvenirs you can get at Tokyo Station. Find what works for you — you can’t really go wrong here. And if you’re looking for Kamakura treats, I recommend Kurumicco — but I’m sure Helen from Kamakura Dreamin’ has more excellent suggestions.

Which one of these Tokyo Station souvenirs would you buy? Or have you tried them already?