5 Popular Souvenirs in Kagoshima

Every city and town in Japan, big and small, has meibutsu (local specialties) and Kagoshima is no different. Located in Kyushu’s southernmost prefecture, Kagoshima City is famous for kurobuta (premium Blackshire pork), Sengan-en, a 17th-century traditional Japanese garden, and Sakurajima, the active volcano lying off its coast. Here are five popular souvenirs in Kagoshima that make perfect keepsakes.

1. Karukan Manju 

Photo by: PIXTA/ 毒島みるく

This traditional manju confectionery from Kagoshima uses rice flour and Japanese mountain yams. The manju are stuffed with a smooth and sweetened red bean paste and become especially light and fluffy when steamed. While this traditional sweet was originally for high society, it soon spread in popularity and continues to be sought after as a souvenir from the area. Try fresh karukan manju during the autumn and winter when the yams are newly harvested.    

• Price: ¥648 (set of 4) 
• Website

2. Satsuma Imo Tart

Photo by: Elizabeth Sok

This Western-style tart features a cookie-crust made with almond powder and filled with sweet potato paste produced from 100% Kagoshima-grown sweet potatoes. The tart also comes in two varieties—white sweet potatoes (Beni Satsuma and Beni Haruka) and purple sweet potatoes (Ayamurasaki). The creamy sweet potato filling has a simple, natural sweetness that makes excellent use of Kagoshima’s bounty. This omiyage is also popular for its cute shape since the filling looks like a flower.

• Price: ¥880 (set of 8) 
• Website

3. Satsuma Kurobou

Photo by: Elizabeth Sok

Satsuma Kurobo is a traditional brown sugar confectionery. Using baking dough, these sweets are made from flour and eggs, then soaked generously in brown or black sugar syrup before drying. It is popular for its bite-sized pieces, crisp texture and the simple, rich sweetness of brown sugar. It pairs perfectly with green tea and coffee.

• Price: ¥320 
• Website

4. Bontaname

Photo by: WikiCommons/ hashi photo

Manufactured and sold since the Taisho era, this confectionery is a one-of-a-kind mix of soft candy and caramel. Its base ingredients are starch syrup, sugar, maltose and glutinous rice. The candy’s unique flavor stems from the combination of bontan oil extracted from a pomelo citrus and southern Kyushu-grown mikan oranges. It is a beloved Kagoshima treat. 

• Price: ¥120 (set of 10 pieces)
• Website

5. Yakushima Soft Gummy 

Photo by: Elizabeth Sok 

Yakushima, famous for its beautiful and ancient cedar forests, is also home to tankan, a natural citrus hybrid of navel orange and ponkan. It is a juicy fruit with a vibrant orange color, soft flesh, and strong sweetness. These gummy candies use 100% straight tankan juice and have a pleasing soft texture.  

• Price: ¥270 
• Website