Tokyo Apple Juice Reviews
Apple juice is a sacred ritual. During my birthday trip to Tokyo, I tried every apple juice I came across until I ran out of coins to use at the vending machines. I’m ranking some of the most memorable ones below.
For context, Fuji apples are the most popular apple type in Japan. I keep saying “pear taste” throughout this list, but -- to my understanding, that’s just due to how the Fuji apple is very sweet, much like an Asian pear.
- Tamanoi Honey Apple Vinegar
Design: 4/10 Taste: 1/10
I didn’t know this translated to an apple vinegar drink, so that’s my bad. But I still think it’s worth mentioning how gross this was. It tasted like someone else got to drink the apple juice before you and you’re drinking their post-pee. Tastes like a fart and made me hate my life!! The vinegar-y taste comes off very rotten tasting. I’m assuming it could just be intended as a superfood health product thing instead of any old yummy juice box, but it was extremely disarming either way.
- Kenkutsu? Apple Juice 3-Pack
Design: 11/10 Taste: 6/10 Practicality: 0
I actually liked this more than the Muji one ranked next, but it’s not very fair to rank it above because at least that one is a serving portion that is more realistic for an adult to enjoy. The small 3-pack is great for babies, but if you’re not a baby, then these are basically a 1-3 sip experience each. And it’s super hard to get all of it out of each box so you’re gripping it and squeezing it and losing your breath. But it’s extremely adorable and tasteful and wonderful to look at. Not mad at it, just impractical.
- Muji Apple Juice
Design: 10/10 Taste: 5/10 (polarizing)
The Muji juice has a much different twinge to it than the others, which can be good or bad depending on your taste. Justin felt like it “tasted more realistic, less syrupy and more watery.” I thought it was just a bit too…sweaty? Couldn’t get into it.
- Kirin Apple Juice
Design: 4/10 Taste: 6/10
Fine apple juice. Doesn’t really taste too much different than the others. Still pear-like, still good. But not more good than the other good ones. It lacks charisma.
- Q100
Design: 10/10 Taste: 6/10
The mascot alone makes it so worth the yen, but I have a preference for less sweet drinks. For instance, I loved vending machine drinks like Pocari Sweat. Basically anything too sugary sweet rubs me the wrong way, but this one wasn’t bad. It was fun to have the cute dude greet me in the vending machine slot and easily finish him in a quick sitting. I don’t want to scare anyone away from it. It’s a very popular drink brand for kids it seems by the branding and other kinds of little pouches they make. I think it’s very universally palatable, but just a bit syrupy and artificial tasting in a way that can get tiring after a while if you were to get this often. A main theme that is especially present here is that a lot of Japanese apple juice tastes more like how I would identify a pear. I still think this can be a great choice for sweet tooths if you’re not bothered by something that leans a bit more syrupy in taste.
- Suntory Gokuri
Design: 6/10 Taste: 8/10
Suntory seems to have more iconic apple juice products than this one that I wish I was able to try, but this one was surprisingly refreshing. I was a bit worried because the bottle design kind of reminded me of those disappointing, spiritually void, healthy juices/spritzers they sell at stores like Whole Foods or Erewhon. Especially because I cracked this one open after being rejected from a very serious fancy mini pig cafe. It’s not too sweet, not syrupy. It’s a good apple juice, but maybe too big. I still think it may be too sweet for the size, making it a bit unnecessary to finish.
Justin: “There’s definitely a big drop off between the top three and the rest.”
Claudia: “Mmmm. That’s very true.”
- Pokka Sapporo
Design: 7-8/10 Taste: 9/10
Classic looking bottle, and the taste resonates the same too. It’s still definitely continuing the theme of apple juice here tasting more pear-like, but it’s not so much a syrupy pear taste like the others are. Tastes clear and, most importantly, refreshing. On the back it says that they’re Tsugaru apples. Tastes most similar to the Gokuri bottle.
- Glico Boxed Carton Apple Juice
Design: 9.5/10 Taste: 9/10
The boxed carton with the little straw poking out added a lot of the appeal for me in finishing this drink, but the taste brought it home with how it had the crispness and just the right level of sweetness. Probably least pear-like taste to the others, but it’s still there. That’s just the charm though with these apple juices —which I can appreciate when it’s done well like it is here. More like what I’ve grown up with as a classic apple juice taste. I think the size of the drink is perfect. Not as small and taunting as those smaller Chinese juice box packs where you’re left wanting more, for example. It just needed a little guy on it or something on it though to be perfect.