7 Popular Japanese Soft Drinks You Should Try

While Coca-Cola is the most popular and widely enjoyed soft drink around the globe, sometimes you just fancy something a little different… perhaps it’s time for you to explore the world of Japanese soft drinks.

Japan’s vending machines and convenience store shelves are laden with unique flavours and fun drinks, offering beverages you won’t often see in western supermarkets. From fizzy classics to bottled teas, there’s plenty to quench your thirst.

Check out some of our favourite Japanese soft drinks!

The Best Japanese Soft Drinks

Japanese drinks are not only so recognisable because of their distinct flavours, but their packaging and designs also set them apart. A feast for all the senses, there’s a lot to love with these fan-favourite drinks. Our top picks include:

• Ramune
• Ocean Bomb Sparkling Water
• Melon Soda
• Pocari Sweat
• Calpis
• Kirin Milk Tea
• Pokka Green Tea

1. Ramune

Ramune is perhaps the most popular soda in Japan; in recent years, it has started gaining popularity in other countries, too. It is a fizzy drink, originally with a sweet lemon and lime flavour.

Ramune is so recognisable because the bottles are sealed with a marble. This keeps the drinks fizzy and fresh and acts as a fun, unique addition. Codd-neck bottles with marble stoppers were popular in the 19th century but are less common now, with Japanese ramune being one of the few drinks that still use this method.

While the original flavour of ramune was lemon and lime, you can now buy a wider range of fruity flavours like:

• Lychee
• Blueberry
• Melon
• Strawberry
• Sakura

2. Ocean Bomb Sparkling Water

Originally from Taiwan, these refreshing beverages from the brand Ocean Bomb embrace the popularity of Japanese anime characters to create colourful, eye-catching cans that you just can’t help but be drawn in by. Inside the cans, you’ll find refreshing sparkling water with several mild fruit flavours to choose from, such as:

• Peach
• White grape
• Lychee
• Pomello
• Pear
• Orange
• Cucumber

Some of the anime franchises you’ll see used in the drinks cans’ designs include Dragon Ball, Pokemon and Sailor Moon.

3. Melon Soda

Melon is a very popular flavour in Japan – not just for drinks but for desserts and snacks as well – so it’s no surprise that melon soda is such a hit.

The drink is fizzy and bright green. With a mellow melon taste, it’s ideal for accompanying warm summer days or when you need a bit of a pick-me-up. There are a couple of brands that make different melon soda variations, but one of the most popular is Sangaria Melon Soda.

A tasty way to enjoy it is by making a melon soda float – i.e. pour your soda into a glass and add a scoop of ice cream on top!

4. Pocari Sweat

Pocari Sweat is a non-carbonated sports drink that contains ions/electrolytes to replenish the body’s supply and quench your thirst after doing activity or hydrate you in the morning. It has a mildly sweet grapefruit taste.

Along with being an ion supply drink, many people also swear by Pocari Sweat as a go-to drink for when they are sick.

It is available in bottles, cans and even in powder form.

5. Calpis

Calpis, or Calpico, is another non-carbonated drink with an interesting profile. It is a unique milk-based drink that uses the lactic acid fermentation process to produce a sweet and tangy, yoghurt-like drink that’s a particular favourite in summer.

It’s often likened to Yakult and can be bought in various flavours, ranging from the traditional water version to strawberry, peach, mango and more. Calpis is available in several forms, including water bottles and cans, Calpis soda and a concentrated form that can be mixed with water or milk.

6. Kirin Milk Tea

Tea is, of course, a Japanese staple, and there are plenty of tasty bottled teas to enjoy on the go. Milk tea is a particularly popular beverage, combining mellow tea flavours with a creamy milk base for a comforting drink to keep you going.

Kirin is one of Japan’s leading beverage companies, with their afternoon milk tea range offering a tasty bottled tea option. Kirin Milk Tea is mildly sweet, rich and full-bodied, giving you that smooth tea experience with all the convenience of a bottled soft drink.

Milk tea is especially refreshing if you pour it over ice before enjoying it.

7. Pokka Green Tea

If milk tea isn’t your thing, don’t worry; you’ll certainly have your pick of green tea drinks! Green tea claims several health benefits, including containing natural antioxidants, so depending on the sort you buy, it can be a healthier alternative to other soft drinks or energy drinks.

Pokka Green Tea boasts a rich tea heritage, which is evidenced by its deliciously authentic flavour derived from expertly blended tea leaves. With no sugar, this drink has an intense, deep flavour that’ll refresh and invigorate you.

Did we miss any of your favourite Japanese drinks? Along with soft drinks, we also stock herbal teas, instant drinks and Japanese alcohol like sake – check out the full range at our Japanese food online store.