Kagoshima is a city full of tropical vibes, offering breathtaking natural scenery along with a variety of beloved local foods and snacks.
In this article, we’ve selected five must-buy souvenirs from Kagoshima that you should definitely bring home.
These treats will delight your taste buds and make your trip to Kagoshima even more unforgettable!
1. Yamafuku Seika – Satsuma Sweet Potato Tart
Satsuma sweet potatoes, a specialty of Kagoshima, are used to create a rich and fragrant sweet potato paste for this Satsuma Sweet Potato Tart.
Combined with a crispy cookie base, it becomes a Western-style tart filled with a delicate sweetness.
This dessert won the highest award at the prestigious 25th National Confectionery Exposition, proving its irresistible taste. Its charming retro packaging features Saigo Takamori, a hero of the Meiji Restoration, making it even more memorable.
Product Details
- Product Name: Satsuma Sweet Potato Tart
- Price: 780 yen for 8 pieces, 1,160 yen for 12 pieces, 2,320 yen for 24 pieces (tax included)
- Available at: Various locations
2. Satsuma Jokiya – Kasutadon
Kasutadon or custard cake is a steamed dessert featuring fluffy sponge cake filled with rich custard cream made from locally produced Kagoshima eggs.
Its soft, moist texture combined with the smooth custard has made it a favorite among people of all ages.
It’s delicious as it is, but freezing it transforms the texture into something like a refreshing sherbet, offering a different way to enjoy it.
Product Details
- Product Name: Kasutadon / Custard Cake
- Price: 130 yen for 1 piece, 930 yen for 6 pieces, 3,390 yen for 24 pieces (tax included)
- Available at: Various locations
3. Festivalo – Festival Sweet Potato Rare Cake
Festival Sweet Potato Rare Cake is known for its melt-in-your-mouth softness and smooth creamy texture. It’s often called a “magical cake that makes everyone smile.”
The main ingredient is “Kogane Sengan,” a premium sweet potato variety grown on Festivalo’s own farm under the abundant Kagoshima sun, creating a naturally pure flavor.
No preservatives or artificial colorings are used, and a rapid freezing technique locks in the freshness. For the best experience, allow it to thaw naturally.
That’s why the Festival Sweet Potato Rare Cake makes a perfect Kagoshima souvenirs.
Once fully thawed, it has a rich and creamy texture; if partially thawed, it has an ice cream-like refreshing taste.
Product Details
- Product Name: Festival Sweet Potato Rare Cake
- Price: 1,150 yen for 5 pieces, 2,300 yen for 10 pieces, 3,300 yen for 15 pieces (tax included)
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4. SEIKA Foods – Bontan Ame
Bontan Ame is neither a gummy candy nor a jelly. Made from glutinous rice, it offers a chewy yet soft texture.
The candy uses pomelo juice from Akune City and Ichikikushikino City, along with juice from Kyushu’s mandarin oranges, creating a sweet and tangy flavor that feels refreshingly unique.
SEIKA Foods first created Bontan Ame in 1924, and since then, the packaging, ingredients, and production methods have remained largely unchanged.
The taste has stayed consistent for nearly a century, making it a nostalgic classic loved by many generations.
Product Details
- Product Name: Bontan Ame
- Available at: Supermarkets, convenience stores, and other locations throughout Kagoshima
5. Tokushige Seika Toraya – Kuri Kuromaru (Chestnut Sweets)
Kuri Kuromaru is a glossy, round chestnut sweet handcrafted by Tokushige Seika Toraya, a traditional confectionery established in 1884.
With over 100 years of history, this classic treat features a whole carefully selected chestnut wrapped in a rich chestnut paste, then coated with a thin layer of brown sugar yokan (a type of sweet bean jelly).
Each bite reveals a beautiful balance of flavors, blending the deep aroma of brown sugar with the natural sweetness of chestnut.
Since every piece is handmade, production is limited, making Kuri Kuromaru even more precious.
Product Details
- Product Name: Kuri Kuromaru
- Price: 990 yen for 5 pieces, 1,480 yen for 8 pieces (tax included)
- Available at: Various locations
Kagoshima’s souvenirs offer more than just a delightful taste – they embody the spirit of local culture. Every sweet and snack reflects the craftsmen’s dedication to quality and passion for tradition.
Whether you’re sharing them with family and friends after your trip or keeping them as personal mementos from your adventure in Kagoshima, these souvenirs will let Japafans relive the warmth and charm of Japan’s southern lands.
When you have the chance to visit Kagoshima, don’t forget to bring home these delicious treats!
