Dagashi are the Japanese version of old-fashioned penny snacks. These snacks come in an amazing variety, some familiar but some unique to Japan. They are often sold loose from glass jars and priced cheap enough for kids to afford with their pocket money. The snack stores, known as dagashi-ya, are more than charming reminders of a bygone age – they give children a chance to learn to handle money, and a safe place to hang out with friends under the watchful eyes of neighborhood adults.

Video by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan