Each region of Japan has its own famous sweets. When Japanese people go on a trip to a local area, it is customary for them to buy some of the local sweets, which are a little more expensive than supermarket sweets, as souvenirs for their friends and colleagues.
In this article, I would like to introduce some of the best confections that visitors to Fukuoka often buy.
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Hiyoko (Hiyoko honpo Yoshinodo) / 名菓ひよ子（ひよ子本舗吉野堂）
A product of a confectionery manufacturer in Fukuoka, Japan, founded in 1912. The cute figure of a hiyoko is impressive. The moist skin is filled with yellow bean paste.
Many people in Tokyo say that Hiyoko is a Tokyo’s confectionery, but this is truly Fukuoka ‘s one.
When I was a kid, I loved it so much that my siblings and I used to fight over it whenever we got a hiyoko from our relatives. It was fun to argue with friends over whether to eat the hiyoko from the head or the butt.
At a factory located in Iizuka-city, Fukuoka, you can join a factory tour. The detail is here.
- Shop : Mitsukoshi, Daimaru, Iwataya, Hakata Hankyu, Hakata Deitos, Fukuoka Airport etc.
- http://www.hiyoko.co.jp/en/hiyoko/index.html
Hakata Torimon (Meigetsudo) / 博多通りもん（明月堂）
The sweet was born in 1993. A relatively new Hakata specialty snack. However, it gets quickly a standard Hakata souvenir.
A steamed bun with white bean jam wrapped in a moist, milk-flavored skin. Although it is called “manju”, it is a western-style Japanese confectionery that tastes like a western confectionery.
This is one item that anyone would be happy to receive. Truly delicious.
Chidori Manju (Chidoriya) / 千鳥饅頭（千鳥饅頭総本舗）
A confectionery manufacturer established in 1630. The buns are made by baking a dough wrapped with sweet bean paste . The top of the bun is branded with a bird.
I have eaten these buns since I was a little girl, and I love them. It is really delicious. At the directly-managed store in Tenjin, they sell slightly misshapen buns at a reasonable price, so I always buy a lot of those buns to take home.
- Head Quarter : 9-157 Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Shop : Daimaru, Iwataya, Fukuoka Airport etc.
- https://www.chidoriya.co.jp/english/index.html
Hakata no Hito (Nikakudo) / 博多の女（二鶴堂）
A sweet made by wrapping red bean yokan in a baumkuchen and cutting it into small pieces. A long-time favorite in Fukuoka. The Hakata doll packaging has not changed since the old days, and it is always delicious.
I used to bring them to my colleagues in Tokyo. Many people love this sweet.
- Head Quarter : 15-21 Maedashi 6-chome, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
- Shop : Hakata Deitos, Mitsukoshi, Hakata Ming, Fukuoka Airport etc.
- https://www.nikakudou.co.jp/commodity/index.html
Tsukushi Mochi (Jyosuian) / 筑紫もち（如水庵）
Mochi rice cakes made from kneaded rice produced in Kyushu and covered with kinako (soybean flour). It is eaten with the accompanying kuromitsu.
I used to get them from my relatives who lived in Fukuoka. Very well-known confectionery.
- Head Quarter : 19-29 Hakataekimae 2-chome, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka (+81924750052)
- https://corp.josuian.jp/products/classic/tsukushimochi/
Niwaka Senbei (Toundo) / 二〇加煎餅（にわかせんべい本舗 東雲堂）
Rice crackers made by a company founded in 1906. These egg-flavored crackers are shaped like the masks of the local performing art “Hakata Niwaka”. Most people probably don’t know about the local entertainment, but the TV commercial where a child goes to apologize with a Niwaka cracker is very famous. This is another cracker that has been well known for a long time, and I used to eat it from time to time.
- Shop: Hakata Deitos, Hakata Hankyu, Iwataya, Daimaru, Mitsukoshi
- https://store.toundo.co.jp/shopbrand/002/O/
Hakata BuraBura (Saemon) / 博多ぶらぶら（博多菓匠左衛門）
A long-time seller since 1929. Gyuhi made from Saga’s rice is wrapped in red bean paste.
“Hakata Burabura” is very famous for its TV commercials. I haven’t had a chance to try it.
Hakata no Ishidatami (Chocolate Shop) / 博多の石畳（チョコレートショップ）
This is a long-established restaurant established in 1942. In fact, although I didn’t know the name of this store when I was little, I found out about it when I grew up and tried it and it was delicious. Chocolate cake with sponge cake, mousse, and fresh cream. There are also variations of strawberry and green tea flavors.
- 3-17 Amiba-cho, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Shop : Hakata JR Station (Amu plaza Hakata 1F), Fukuoka Airport
- https://chocolateshop.jp/
Menbei (Fukutaro) / めんべい（福太郎）
A thin, crispy rice cracker snack. They come in a variety of flavors, including mentai flavor, and are quite tasty.
It was once served on an international flight of All Nippon Airways. It is one of the crackers that I always buy for myself to take home. Hakata Hankyu has a limited supply of premium menbei.
You can visit Menbei Factory in Fukuoka, Japan. The detail is here. (Japanese Website)
- Hakata Deitos Store : 1-1 Hakataeki Chuogai, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 812-0012
- https://www.fukutaro.co.jp/en
Tirolian (Chidoriya) / チロリアン（千鳥饅頭総本舗）
Rolled cookie dough filled with vanilla or chocolate cream. You can buy similar ones at the supermarket, but Chidori-ya’s rolled cookies are much better. I’ve been eating them since I was a little girl, and I love them.
- Head Quarter : 9-157 Kamikawabata-machi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
- Shop : Daimaru, Iwataya, Fukuoka Airport etc.
- https://www.chidoriya.co.jp/english/index.html
Nanban Ourai (Sakaeya) / なんばん往来（さかえ屋）
“Namban Orai” is a popular snack sold by Sakaeya, a well-known confectionery manufacturer in Fukuoka. It is made of moist dough made of almond flour and pie dough, and is really delicious.
Personally, I really like it so much that it is one of my top three favorites, and there was a time when I only bought “Namban Orai”. There is a limited edition product that can only be bought at Hakata Hankyu department store.
- Head Quarter : 128-1 Horiike, Iizuka-city
- Shop : Hakata Ming
- http://sakaeya.co.jp/
Summary
In this article, I have introduced Hakata’s famous sweets that can be purchased in Hakata. All of them are standard, long-loved sweets. Why don’t you buy some for yourself or as souvenirs? I always buy them for myself!