Autumn omiyage: the chestnut season, decoded before it sells out
Every autumn Japan's omiyage shelves fill with chestnut. Some are worth ordering immediately. Here is what appears, what to buy, and why timing matters.
The yearly calendar
Seasonal snacks, before they sell out.
Sakura in spring, shaved-ice in summer, chestnut in autumn, strawberry cake in winter. Japan's seasonal snack calendar is the real omiyage meta-game — and we cover it the week things appear.
All seasonal coverage
All guides →Sakura snacks: which ones are real, and which are pink food coloring
Every spring, Japan's shelves turn pink. Most sakura snacks taste like nothing — a few genuinely capture the season. Here is how to tell the difference before you buy.