Four Speciality Snacks from Don Quijote in Okinawa
👋 Haisai! I’m CULT.
Today, I’m going to recommend four types of Okinawan specialty snacks that you can purchase at Don Quijote in Okinawa. While Don Quijote is found all over Japan, there are products that can only be bought in Okinawa. Choosing something a bit more unique to Okinawa as a souvenir could make your travel experience even more special.
📌 Okinawa Don Quijote Locations
Today, I’ve decided to introduce the Don Quijote in Okinawa located on Kokusai Street. This is because it’s quite large and the most accessible. ⏰ Opening hours are from 9 AM to 5 AM every day. Yes, that’s 5 AM, not 5 PM. It’s open even if you visit late at night. [Google Map]
Parking fees around here are quite expensive, so it would be helpful to check the list of the cheapest parking lots on Kokusai Street below. You can easily find them by displaying the layer on Google Maps. Please note, there are no free parking lots around Kokusai Street.
This is the entrance of the Don Quijote International Street store in Okinawa. You can enter through the back door and take the elevator to explore other products immediately, but it’s more enjoyable to start from the first floor and work your way up, so I recommend entering through the main entrance. It’s connected to the Makishi Market, right at the heart of International Street, making it the most accessible spot in Okinawa 😊
🛍️ Purchased Items
Today, I will introduce four types of Okinawan speciality sweets. You can purchase all of them on the first floor, and they are easy to find. The Beniimo Tart, Chinsuko, and Yukishio Sand are prominently displayed, while the Pineapple Mochi is located at the back of the display.
- Pineapple mochi made with Okinawan pineapples 398 yen
- Beniimo tart made with Okinawan purple sweet potatoes 438 yen
- Chinsuko biscuits made with Okinawan sugar 650 yen
- Yukishio sand made with Okinawan salt 1,200 yen
🍍 Pineapple Mochi
First up is the pineapple mochi.
One of Okinawa’s specialities is pineapple, and this mochi is made with Okinawan pineapples. The reason I particularly recommend this is because the other three types of sweets are all sweet, making them a great gift for those who are sensitive to sugar levels.
When you open the packaging, you’ll find a total of 10 pineapple mochi inside. The pineapple flavour is quite mild, and it’s more akin to mochi. It’s a great snack to enjoy without any fuss. The downside is that once you open the packaging, you need to eat them all at once. Otherwise, you’ll need to wrap them well for storage.
🍠 Beni Imo Tart
The following is Beniimo Tart.
It’s a tart made from Okinawan purple sweet potatoes, which are a speciality of Okinawa. These purple sweet potatoes are sweeter than regular sweet potatoes, making the tart deliciously sweet and tasty.
They are individually packaged like this, and the smallest product contains three items in a box. The box is made of slightly hard paper, so unless your luggage is extremely full, it won’t get crushed. Alternatively, you can opt for a slightly larger product. The larger product comes in a sturdier box.
The instructions suggest heating it in the microwave, but from personal experience, I wouldn’t recommend it. I suggest enjoying it as it is.
Since purple sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, the tart is also quite sweet. It’s delicious 🥰
🍭 Chinsuko
The following is Chinsuko, made by frying flour and sugar.
This snack tends to divide opinions quite a bit, as it has a slightly dry texture, which makes some people avoid it altogether. Personally, I think it pairs really well with milk or coffee, but for those with different tastes, offering something else might be a good idea.
Chinsuko is much cheaper and comes in larger quantities compared to other products.
The smallest size available at Don Quijote contains 12 bags, but if you visit Makishi Market, you can find products packaged in sets of three bags. If you’re looking for something simple to share with friends, it might be better to purchase from the market.
Despite being made with sugar, these sweets aren’t overly sweet. It seems like there’s more flour in them.
Okinawa has been famous for its sugar since ancient times, and it has been a long-standing specialty.
🧂 Yukisio Sand
When it comes to souvenirs for those travelling to Okinawa, the most famous one has to be the Yukisio Sand. And that’s because it’s delicious. It’s a slightly special delicacy made with salt from the small island of Miyakojima, located to the east of Okinawa. Although it’s a bit pricey, it’s definitely worth trying. It’s classified as a luxury snack and can be easily purchased not only at Okinawa Don Quijote but almost anywhere.
Some people often ask about ways to buy this cheaply, but the price of Yukisio Sand is the same everywhere in Okinawa. So, there’s no need to make an effort to find it cheaper 🥲
Among the products introduced today, this one is the most expensive. It comes in a pack of six for 1,200 yen, which is about 200 yen each, and it is also the largest in size with sturdy packaging, making it ideal for placing in your suitcase.
The details are as follows.
Although it’s a snack made with salt, it’s not overly salty. You can taste a hint of saltiness, but you really need to try it to understand. It’s truly delicious. I often go out to shoot corporate seminars, and this snack is often given as a souvenir to participants at the end of the seminar. It’s a treat that even VIPs enjoy.
How does that sound? At Okinawa Don Quijote, you can easily purchase local speciality snacks all at once. Of course, you don’t have to buy them at Okinawa Don Quijote. You can easily find them at the airport or souvenir shops. While most items are easy to find, pineapple mochi can be a bit tricky to get hold of.
I hope this helps you decide on souvenirs to remember Okinawa by and local specialities to share with those around you. That’s all for today! I’ll be back tomorrow with more Okinawa travel information. Matayasai 👋
