In Search of Green Tea Kit Kats

I dont know where I originally heard of them, perhaps my friend Sarah who loves candy, but I decided to spend a few hours trying to locate the illustrious Green Tea Kit Kat, which are only available in Japan. So, after checking out mini-mart after mini-mart in my travels this week, I came across NO Kit Kat at all. Not even the normal chocolate American ones. Feeling defeated, I turned to Google where I should have started with in the first place.

There were several blogs I found which talked about where to find these mysterious candies, and all of them said go to Tokyo Station. So I headed there. Mind you, Tokyo Station is the largest train station in Tokyo (home to two subway lines, a monstrous JR Railways line, the Shinkansen (bullet trains), and a dozen other train lines. 

Tokyo Station is also enormous. Its much larger than Grand Central Terminal in NYC, in physical size (though GCT has more train lines). I also went there around 6pm, when it was rush hour. Wikipedia tells me that 400,000 people move through Tokyo Station every day, while only 100,000 move through Grand Central. Yeah, its that insane.

So, back to Kit Kat. Several blogs said go to Tokyo Station Central, and you’ll find the gift shop. Keep in mind thats like saying “Go to O’Hare airport and  you’ll find your plane” without giving any other direction. Finding this gift shop was impossible, but I was determined. I wandered around the entire first floor of Tokyo Station, starting on the Marunouchi side, and ending on the Yaesu side. I went into every single store – and there must be 25 gift shops, confectionary stores, and food stores on the first level inside the JR Station… No one had these darn Kit Kat. I turned back to Google.

Finally someone on another blog said, “its easy to find, its on level B1 next to ‘Ramen Row’ ” – well hell, I was on level 1. No wonder I couldnt find it. Down the flight of stairs towards the Tokyo Metro line I go.

I head towards a map of level B1 (called B1F, since every floor in Tokyo ends in F). Holy crap, B1 is twice as large as the first floor. I start hoofing it around. I cover every square inch of B1F, and no damn Kit Kat. Finally, I stop and ask someone who looks official, and show them a picture of the Green Tea Kit Kat. She says, “Outside the terminal”. Good grief, are you kidding me? None of these blogs said it was outside the terminal. She points towards the terminal exit, and away I go.

Of course, I had scanned my Suica card to get into the terminal, and since I was now leaving without going on a train, the card got denied. I had to see an agent, and they had to manually let me out. I finally head into an area called 1st Avenue Tokyo Station (http://www.tokyoeki-1bangai.co.jp/en/) – no, there is no 1st Avenue street, we’re still underground. Its just the name of the area of over 100 shops. I keep on walking around aimlessly…. and where is that damn “Ramen Row” that the blogs kept on talking about that the Gift Shop was near? Ugh.

Finally, my nose directs me to and area of food. I wouldnt call this “Ramen Row” its not like there’s 100 noodle shops. But, I walk in that direction anyway. Finally, right at the end of this concourse, I see the damn Gift Shop. And the Kit Kat are right in front. After about an hour of wandering this train station, I had come to the end.

So, if you’re every in Tokyo, and you want to find Green Tea Kit Kat, follow these directions precisely. Ignore every other blog.

1) Head to Tokyo Station. If you’re arriving by train, and you’re inside the station (either by Metro) or by JR, head to level B1F and skip to step 3. If you’re arriving from outside, enter inside the station (you’ll have to swipe your Pasmo or Suica card. Dont worry, you wont be charged).

2. Depending on what door you entered, head downstairs to B1F (follow the signs to the Marunoushi Underground). Once you get downstairs, you’ll head East and actually exit the JR station. You’ll have to swipe your Pasmo/Suica card and you’ll get denied (because you entered and exited at the same station) so see the attendant and he’ll let you out. Look for signs taking you towards Yaesu exits. 

3. You’re now in whats called 1st Avenue Tokyo Station shopping area (http://www.tokyoeki-1bangai.co.jp/en/index.html). There’s about a 100 stores here. Head towards the Yaesu South exit. You’ll walk past a bunch of restaurants. This is called Ramen Street. Keep walking all the way to the end of the corridor.

4. Once you reach the end, turn left, and the shop will be immediately on your right. Kit Kat are facing the corridor.

After all of that, I couldnt just buy 1 flavor. There were 10 there. So, I bought 7 of them. I skipped the odd ones (Wasabi Flavor? Red Bean Sandwich?) but I did get:

• Citrus Golden Blend
• Blueberry Cheesecake
• Rum Raisin
• Strawberry
• Strawberry Cheesecake
• Brown Sugar Syrup
• as well as the Green Tea that I originally came here for.