Mamehide

Choose the lively kick of sansho or take time to savour the flavour of the rice itself. At Mamehide, the character of each rice cracker or senbei can help you find a pack to suit your taste. Visitors describe the shop’s signature “oni sansho” crackers and other sansho rice crackers as firm and satisfying to bite, with a distinctive fragrance of sansho. One visitor singled out the “oni sansho” for its numbing heat and hard texture. Others say they enjoyed the sansho rice crackers and would buy them again, making them a good choice when you are after a peppery bite.

For a taste that is less about heat and more about the rice crackers themselves, try plain-roasted senbei. One visitor praised the plain-roasted senbei with black beans for their toasted aroma, crisp texture and simple flavour. Others return for rice crackers with green laver or chilli, as well as mirin-glazed varieties, so there are different flavours to choose from. The selection also includes bean snacks and sweets, offering more options if you are looking for something to enjoy with beer.

Some visitors appreciate being able to choose from small, individually packed portions. That makes it easy to try a few flavours for everyday snacks or take home a larger selection of favourites. Visitors have also remarked on the colourful presentation and gift boxes wrapped by hand, making the shop a place to consider when choosing a Kyoto souvenir. You might pair a pack of sansho crackers for yourself with plain-roasted or mirin-glazed senbei as a gift, choosing according to taste.