Okashi, Wagashi, Dagashi… What’s the difference? Okashi (お菓子) is the general term for Japanese sweets and snacks. Wagashi and dagashi are both types of okashi. Other, more modern types of snacks are also considered okashi, like Kit Kats, Tokyo Banana, and Jagabee potato sticks. Wagashi (和菓子) are traditional Japanese sweets. You might notice that the...

Senbei (煎餅), crunchy rice crackers, are one of the oldest Japanese snacks—and one of the most popular! You can buy them in convenience stores, supermarkets, dagashi-ya, and even department stores, all over Japan. More luxurious senbei are often served with green tea to welcome guests, especially in more traditional homes and ryokan. But senbei can...