Miyabido

At Miyabido, the sansho-seasoned rice crackers called Azekura are an obvious place to start. People who have bought them say the sansho may seem subtle in the first bite, then spread across the palate as you keep eating. One person described the texture as unlike anything they had tried before, making the crackers themselves as intriguing as their peppery, numbing spice.

Sansho fans can choose between the regular flavour and Mashi Mashi, with extra sansho. Some buyers say they started with the regular version, while others always order the extra-sansho option, so there is a choice to suit different preferences for heat and numbing spice.

If the stronger sansho flavour sounds like too much, Tagane and the mixed selection offer alternatives. One buyer said the black-pepper rice crackers suited their taste, making them another option when looking for a Kyoto souvenir that is different from something sweet.