When I arrived in the Shigaraki area of Shiga Prefecture, my first thought was, “Are there way too many tanuki here?”
Along the roads, in front of shops, and in gardens, you can spot Shigaraki ware tanuki everywhere, each with a charming, goofy expression, almost like they’re greeting travelers.
Shigaraki ware is one of Japan’s six ancient kilns and has a long history of pottery. The area is built into the mountains, and old climbing kilns and cave kilns are still preserved today. Walking through this little mountain village, the air feels simple, quiet, and full of earthy clay.
The cutest part is definitely the round little tanuki ceramic figures!
Some are holding sake bottles, others are holding account books, and each one has a slightly different expression. The more you look, the more soothing they feel.
In Japan, tanuki are also seen as lucky charms that bring good fortune and business success, so it’s no wonder so many shops have one out front.
Shigaraki Toen Tanuki Mura | Review by 王小鈞
Other Reviews by 王小鈞
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Alfort Mini Chocolates
This bite-sized treat combines rich milk chocolate shaped like a sailboat with aromatic whole-grain biscuit cookies. Not just milk chocolate, but also a rich lineup including white chocolate, dark chocolate, and more. These are an affordable but delicious and luxurious treat, sure to be a success even at parties!
Every time I go grocery shopping in Japan, it’s seriously hard to leave the cookie aisle empty-handed. These ALFORT sailboat chocolate biscuits are a classic snack that a lot of Japanese people love!
With one bite, you get a crispy whole-grain biscuit on the bottom, topped with rich milk chocolate. The sweet chocolate pairs so nicely with the grainy aroma of the biscuit, and the more you eat, the easier it is to keep going.
I especially love the small, bite-sized design. It’s perfect with a cup of coffee or hot tea when you’re craving something in the afternoon. The little sailboat on the package is cute too. Great for enjoying yourself or bringing home as a souvenir from Japan. -
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Black Thunder
This chocolate snack is very popular for its affordable price of 40 yen and deliciousness. Cocoa cookie and plain biscuit are coated with chocolate. You can taste the light bitterness of a cocoa cookie matched with the sweetness of chocolate. Crunchy texture and the volume which can fill your stomach lightly pleases you.
Japan’s super popular Black Thunder chocolate!
The name sounds intense, and eating it feels like getting struck by lightning from all the sweetness.
Every time I go to Japan, someone in my family always asks, “Can you bring back some Black Thunder?”
Personally, I think the sweetness is off the charts, and after one bar I want a cup of unsweetened tea. But my family just keeps eating one after another and can’t stop!
Crispy biscuits mixed with rich chocolate, tasty and budget-friendly. No wonder it’s been popular in Japan for so many years. You can often spot it in supermarkets and convenience stores.
For me, it’s a “sweetness overload alert.”
For my family, it’s “the No. 1 must-buy item in Japan” 😂 -
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Jagarico
This popular potato snack has a crispy texture.The stick-shaped snack is packaged in a cup, making it easy to carry around.They come in salad, cheese, buttered potato, and tarako butter flavors. Their most popular flavor, salad, includes carrot and parsley.Limited-time and special regional flavors are also available.
Whenever I see these at a Japanese supermarket, it’s honestly hard not to toss them into my basket. Kids love them, and adults can’t help but keep reaching for one after another—this is such a popular Japanese potato snack!
The cup packaging is super convenient. Open it up and you get crispy potato sticks, perfect for watching shows, riding in the car, or snacking while traveling.
There are lots of flavors too, like the classic salad, cheese, buttered potato, and mentaiko butter. The most popular one is the salad flavor, with a light veggie aroma and hints of carrot and celery. The more you eat, the more addictive they get! -
