Hiking in the mountains of Kyoto is no picnic, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have one anyway! So be sure to grab these combini supplies!
Whether it’s Hieizan or Mt. Daimonji, Kyoto’s mountains are pretty challenging to hike! Luckily, Japan is abundant in convenience stores or “combinis” as they’re called here where you can grab yourself all the nutrition you need.
Egg Yolk & Soy Sauce Onigiri
My go-to choice of onigiri (rice ball) is the egg yolk and soy sauce option from 7-Eleven!
The combination of rice and gooey egg yolk make for a compact easy-to-carry hit of carbs and protein in one go.
It’s also super delicious and you get plenty of much-needed salts too with the added savory soy sauce (which tastes amazing too!).
Melonpan
Of course, you’ll need some sugars to keep you going too, but you don’t want to overdo it!
The melonpan is a lightly sugared sweet bread that you can typically find at any convenience store in Japan.
Its hard exterior makes it less likely to get squished in your bag, and it has just the right amount of sugar to keep you going without leaving you with a crash shortly after.
Yakitori!
Perhaps a bit of a strange one, but I actually recommend some straight-up protein for your hikes, too.
You’ll find your muscles yearning for some extra power, and there’s nothing like a pack of yakitori (marinated grilled chicken skewers) from your local combini that’ll deliver exactly that.
Juicy, tender, and full of flavor! Yakitori is truly one of the all-time greats of Japanese cuisine, just hit up your local Torikizoku if you don’t believe me!
Stay Hydrated!
Finally, you’ll need to stay hydrated, and with the incredible range of choice that Japanese convenience stores offer, this won’t be an issue.
However, with so much choice, it can be hard to decide, so I’m going to recommend a cold brew of bottled green tea.
For a combined hydration and caffeine hit with zero sugar and zero calories, it’s the perfect choice!
If you also desire some electrolytes, then definitely pick up a Pocari Sweat or equivalent sports drink too.
To learn more about life in Japan, check out my book: The Japanese Pursuit of Perfection. This book features my most profound observations of Japanese culture and society as a foreign resident. Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Grab your copy today!