Japan is one of our favorite places to visit, and because of this our friends and family always ask us to bring stuff back for them. Well, we like to be customized souvenir givers and as time as gone on, here are some souvenirs we recommend buying to take back home that your friends and family will love:
1. Custom Patchwork Accessories
Something we’ve brought home that a lot of our family and friends love are customized gifts, mainly patchwork accessories from stores like The Object and Uniqlo.
At The Object store we visited in Osaka, it was a DIY patchwork accessories store where you could pick whatever patches you wanted and get them ironed on by staff onto your accessory of choice. There was everything from little coin purses to wallets, and we chose drink sleeves!
2. Japanese Pajamas
Our favorite places to buy Japanese pajamas are from Muji or Uniqlo, which luckily are two stores that are widely spread out especially in Tokyo. There’s nothing comfier than a pair of pajamas and is a great souvenir you can use long term!
3. Kimono
This is another clothing item, but it’s more on the cultural side! A kimono is a traditional Japanese garment that is typically made of silk or cotton. They can be worn for special occasions, or for everyday wear.
4. Makeup/Skincare
A great souvenir that all of our friends and family love is getting makeup and skincare from Japan. It’s a known fact that some of the best products in the beauty industry come from Japan, and there are a lot of stores that will market the best products to make it easier for consumers to shop. Our favorite places to get souvenirs like this are from the local pharmacies and Don Quijote.
5. Japanese Ceramics
Although this definitely takes up more space and weight in a luggage, buying ceramics like bowls, little plates, and even mugs are some of the best souvenirs to give your loved ones. Some of our favorite Japanese ceramics to bring home are matcha bowls and mugs.
6. Japanese tea
Japan has some of the best tea, and we aren’t just talking about Matcha! You don’t even need to go to a special tea store to buy
7. Coffee from a Japanese Cafe
Japan has some of our favorite coffee shops, and a lot of them will sell their own beans. Here are some of our favorite coffee shops in Tokyo.
8. Furikake
Furikake is a Japanese seasoning that is made from dried seaweed, sesame seeds, and other ingredients. It is often sprinkled on rice, but can also be used to flavor other dishes.
9. Chili Oil
This one feels self explanatory, but this is a fun (and spicy) gift to bring back for your loved one! Our favorite that is really affordable and accessible is from Don Quijote.
10. Convenience Store Snacks
This is an easy souvenir you can get at the airport before you board your flight. The convenience stores in Japan have some of the best snacks, and we love getting the convenience-store branded ones to bring home because they’re unique to Japan.
11. Gachapon Keychains
This is arguably one of our favorite kinds of souvenirs to give to family and friends. While it may be a little more unique (depending on what kind of gachapon you’re pulling), you can really customize which machines you go to depending on who you’re shopping for.
12. Mintia
This could have easily been thrown into the “convenience store snack” category but we love these so much we had to separate it into its own category. These remind us of Tic Tacs in the US, but these mints are the BEST.
These are just a few of the many souvenirs that you can buy in Japan. With so many options to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect souvenir to bring back home from your trip.
I hope this post has helped you to learn more about the best souvenirs to buy for your loved ones in Japan! Happy shopping!
