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Guide to Japanese Drinks | MATOKA
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items Honestly, Japanese drinks are my passion, not only cause they are so accessible but also because they taste great! Whether you're shopping in Don Quijote or Family Mart, browsing one of the thousands of vending machines, or trying to figure out which...
Sections
7
Tea
Sports Drinks
Energy Drinks
Soda
Health Drinks
Coffee
Tea
It doesn't matter the season or time of day, Japanese people love their tea. I don't think they understand that it's a diaretic and dehydrates you (cause they aren't too big on hydration), but I'm a sucker for tea too and lowkey live off of it!
Ooi Ocha is only one of the many selections of bottled green tea you can avail at Japanese vending machines. Bottled green teas are often packaged in a transparent bottle with a leafy green colored label so different brands are easy to mistake for ea...
Ito En Tea Oi Ocha Green Tea, Unsweetened
If Milk Tea is your thing, then Kirin’s milk tea might become one of your next favorites. Kirin is normally known for its beer, but it also offers more to that including this Gogo no Koucha Milk Tea. If milk tea isn't your thing, they also have a str...
Kirin Gogo No Kocha Milk Tea
Jasmine Tea is my absolute favourite blend of tea. Green tea can sometimes be a little bitter for some, whereas jasmine tea is so delicate. Perfect for hot or cold seasons and it sure lives up to it's name and…relaxes!
ITOEN Relax Jasmine tea
Said to be most refreshing during the humid summer days in rural Japan, many Japanese find mugicha nostalgic. With a stronger taste of barley and wheat, this tea may be an acquired taste to some, but it ended up being one of my favorites!
ITO EN Mugicha Barley Tea
Sports Drinks
It's especially important to rehydrate in humid areas, and Japanese summers are HUMID. We call it “mushimushi”, which kind of sounds like mushy mushy, aka it's wet and sweaty. Make sure you're getting enough electrolytes from these drinks!
Pocari Sweat
Rival to Pocari Sweat, Acquarius is another sports drink that is popular in vending machines and convenience stores. Just like how people feud about Coke and Pepsi, these two drinks have a similar rivalry.
Coca Cola Aquarius
Energy Drinks
Energy drinks aren't all that big in Japan, and while they have Red Bulls and other American brands, there are a few popular Japanese energy drinks to watch out for.
Unlike many other countries, Japan doesn’t seem to rely as strongly on “Red Bull.” Instead, they favour Dekavita C. Dekavita C is Japan’s long-selling energy drink. “Deka” means “big” in Japanese, and “vita” stands for “vitamins,” and “C” stands for ...
Dekavita C
Soda
I try to swear off soda wherever I go, but that mindset goes out the window when I'm in Japan. There are so many unique drinks and flavors to try, so even if you have favorite brands of soda, you might be able to find new flavors in vending machines ...
Just like Starbucks and KitKat, there are some crazy Coke flavors that are seasonal or limited edition, only available in Japan. Peach Coke was all the rave and while it doesn't always impress, it's fun to try the new flavor when you're visiting!
Coca Cola Japan
Many Asian cultures have a tradition of drinking yogurt-based drinks. Yogurt is excellent for your gut, and these drinks help with digestion. In Japan, the most popular brand is Bikkle, produced by the Suntory group. Its not too thick and if you like...
Bikkle Soda
Don't get this confused for classic apple cider, Mitsuya cider definitely has more carbonation and a sugary flavor without being fruity in any way. I would say it's closest to Sprite, but you should try it to find out if it's one of your favs!
Mitsuya Cider SODA
Marketed as a health drink, this is still a sugary soda that gives the benefit of having a TON of vitamin C. So, I wouldn't say this is the best thing to drink when you're already sick, but being packed full of Vit C during flu season is never a bad ...
Suntory C. C. Lemon
You're not going to find as many options for Melon Soda outside of Japan, but whether it's a vending machine, convenience store, or even a soda fountain, Melon Cream Soda is the rage
Gabunomi Melon Cream Soda
Health Drinks
These aren't drinks you should necessarily drink to cure a cold, the flu, or whatever aliment you have, but in this list will be drinks that provide vitamins and rehydration for your health.
It's just water, but just wanted to show you what the packaging looks like if you get confused
I LOHAS Natural Water
Calpis Water is another one of those yogurt-flavoured drinks, but this one is much more diluted than Bikkle. It is like a bottle of watered-down milk, with that sweet-sour taste. Sounds unappetizing, but this is actually one of the country’s best sel...
Calpis
If you don’t drink milk, whether it’s because of your allergies or dietary restrictions, you should seek out Marusan Soy Milk Drinks. These come in all sorts of flavours from peach, mango, cherry, apple pie, chestnut, red bean, roasted sweet potato, ...
Soy Milk | MARUSAN-AI CO., LTD.
Coffee
Coffee in Japan isn't as strong as coffee in America, but it's still a welcome drink when you're on the move and need a pick-me-up or are just missing that nostalgic flavor.
Commonly seen in Japanese vending machines, Georgia coffees come in original Emerald Mountain Blend, Black, Low-Sugar, and Premium. Georgia brand of coffees has also come up with a back-to-back promotional campaign with the anime Jojo’s Bizarre Adven...
Georgia Coffee
Most milk or latte drinks will be very sweet, but if you prefer your coffee black with no frills, then this one is a great blend to try!
Kirin Fire Smoked Black Coffee
Another option for those who prefer their coffee plain, this option is very comparable to America drip coffee
BOSS Black Coffee by Suntory
Fun Drinks
I didn't know how to classify these…but you'll have fun trying these interesting drinks out!
Morinaga is a famous powdered pancake mix brand you usually find in the grocery store, but they wanted to find a way to bring this breakfast treat into the vending machines. Why? I don’t know. The taste resembles one of those meal replacement drinks....
Morinaga Hotcake Drink
A strange combination which you might not expect to find in a vending machine is Salted Lychee. Okinawa, a prefecture in Japan is known for the chef-quality salt. Kirin came out with a Salted Lychee drink that swept the nation! The salt is said to gi...
Kirin Salty Lychee Drink
You're going to see this in many vending machines in Japan, so if you're interested in a yogurt-based Nata De Coco drink, this is one to try (SHAKE WELL)
Itoen Nata de Coco Yogurt Flavor