Tokyo Banana Omiyage

Tokyo Banana.  You either love it or hate it, but I think it's one of the best omiyage to receive other than fresh ramen.  You can find it in Tokyo Station or Narita airport among the omiyage stalls.  It's always a nice surprise when my former colleague visits DC for work and brings me a box of Tokyo Banana.

 Pretty wrapping and an odd poem decorate the cover.  “People gather to TOKYO with memories of their home. And then, Tokyo gets the everyone’s hometown. TOKYO BANANA.”  (The nonsensical Engrish is just another reason to love it.)

 Each one is individually wrapped.  Makes it easier to share.

Soft outside, like a Twinkie, with a delicate banana-flavored middle.

Tokyo Banana

I first saw Tokyo Banana in Tokyo Station when I was heading to Shikoku to visit friends.  A few years later one of my coworkers brought me back a box.  I shared them with my classmates and now they too are fans of the delicate dessert that is best described as a banana-flavored twinkie, but better.  Even my former coworkers bring me boxes of Tokyo Banana when they return to DC on business trips.  

 http://www.tokyobanana.jp/

 There are a variety of other TB products, including a dark chocolate version filled with the banana cream, or sugar cookies shaped like bananas, but I prefer the original.

Individually wrapped, they're perishable and should be consumed within a week. 

However, I have never had a package that lasted that long.