One of the most coveted snacks at Tokyo Disneyland is the Toy Story Aliens. These cute treats look adorable, but also have a distinctly Japanese twist that you can’t get elsewhere. The alien heads are made of mochi, a soft and delicious traditional Japanese sweet.

Soon, you won’t have to go all the way to Tokyo Disneyland to get Toy Story Alien themed wagashi (traditional sweets), as the beloved convenience store sweets are coming back, just in time for the new Toy Story movie, with a special summer theme.

The Japanese sweet nerikiri is made from a dough, formed by white bean paste and mochi. Since they can be easily coloured, moulded and carved into various shapes, they will often be used to create aesthetically pleasing confections.

The malleability of nerikiri has been used to create these super detailed aliens. They’re so adorable, you may even feel bad eating them!

There’s two varieties of the claw-revering extraterrestrials available, one standard and one who looks ready to make a splash on his summer holidays, wearing an inflatable pool ring.

From 24th July, they will be sold for a limited time only in Seven-Elevens all over Japan, at an affordable 258 yen (not including tax). Wagashi are a perfect accompaniment to a Japanese teatime, so it would be a waste not to enjoy these little green men with a cup of green tea.

If you're a wagashi beginner, check out our article listing 7 traditional Japanese sweets you just have to try!


By - grape Japan editorial staff.