I’ve had such a deliciously warm response to my gifts for kids post and I’ve recently been asked for ideas for grownups – so…. I’ve searched through my personal “gift ideas” pinterest list (my poor family all had to put up with the tacky tat shop Japanese souvenirs from my first high school trip… sorry guys! No more key-rings … I promise!) and this is a list that I’ll keep adding to as more ideas pop into my brain.
I’d also love to hear what other people have taken home and has been real hit.
Let me steal your ideas too! Please!
Note: If you decide to purchase electronics while in Japan, please read my advice on buying electronics in Japan first.
The cutest themed macarons
Yamaguchi Prefecture based California-born pastry chef creates these adorable macarons and other pastries. The company is called Every Flavor Macarons.
They are able to deliver all over Japan and the macarons can be eaten up to 7 days after first baked if kept in the fridge ( longer if frozen.)
Or how about a handmade dress or outfit made from Kimono fabric?
Tokyo Kaleidoscope
Lia aka Tokyo Kaleidoscope , makes these unique pieces herself in Tokyo. See the Tokyo Kaleidoscope website for more information here.
Please note that there is a little bit of wait time for bespoke orders so please check the Tokyo Kaleidoscope website for order timing info.
Morning facemasks pack
Mt Fuji version of Alfort biscuits
Omg! I can’t even begin to describe just how yummy these are. It is the perfect amount of chocolate on the perfect amount of cookie.
They are sold in all convenience stores and supermarkets with the pirate ships on the front. But these are the special addition Mt Fuji Version
So far I’ve found them sold at the Hakone Open Air Museum。
High Quality ( and engraved) Japanese Knives
The co-founders of Jikuu Japan, started their company after finding the knife shopping process to be difficult and not very transparent (hard to understand which knife to buy, where/how it was made and why that matters, how to take care of it etc.) in Tokyo. They wanted to make a change in this area and help more people experience the joy of a great knife at a reasonable price point.
They also hope to play a small role in supporting local artisans by bringing these treasures to a broader market.
Jikuu Japan allows users to enjoy a little piece of Japanese history everyday when using their Jikuu knives.
Second hand Kimono and Yukata
I have my favourite places to buy reasonably priced second hand yukata and kimono in Japan here.
Vintage stickers, stationery and leather goods
And if you’re looking for something really cool to take home from Tokyo, I love the shop called Travelers Factory.
They don’t just have vintage stickers but also stock adorable stationery, passport holders and leather goods. There stickers were 220 yen each. Follow them on instagram @travelers_factory
They have stores in Nakameguro, Narita Airport (4th floor) and Tokyo Station.
The website is here.
Japanese vintage colouring books
These are great gifts for kids AND adults.
I bought this at the Edo Open Air Museum gift shop, but I also have seen them in bookshops. But cut and paste this きいちのぬりえ into Amazon Japan and you’ll see a wide range of these series of colouring books. Most of them are under 800 yen too!
Salted Caramels & Baby Foot
Sorry to lump these random recommendations together. This brand of caramels is just so good (they are sold in smaller packs too but this is the “gift box” I found in the drugstore “Welcia.”
The Baby Foot is a foot mask that you wear for a few hours and days later the hard skin on your foot peels right off. It looks so gross while it’s happening but your feet are so smooth afterwards!
Disney facemasks
These can be found at the Disney Stores and range between 600-900 yen. So fun, right?
These Potato Chips
Jyagariko can be found in all convenience stores and supermarkets – for a reason. They are delicious !
@thetokyochapter Japan traditions for us #japanwithkids #thetokyochapter
Limited time only Japanese sweets & chocolates
The word for seasonal /limited time only is kigen gentei and flavours vary with the seasons. Especially the weird flavours.
Vintage Japanese versions of anything!
I love the second hand shops in Shimokitazawa for rummaging for treasures.
For eg. Japan, up until very recently, used to sell “programs” for films at the cinema- like we still normally do at Broadway musicals. I found a shop here that has kept a whole lot of these programs and they are now for sale. How cool is this “Stand by Me” program!!!?!!!
Hello Kitty anything!
Hello Kitty is so expensive in Australia so when my friends are fans – it’s so much cheaper to buy in Japan.
Bikudesigns
These truly unique pieces are made by the designer , Victoria Close (who is originally from the UK but now lives in Tokyo.) She uses vintage kimono fabrics and repurposes them into stunning pieces of jewellery. These make the ideal gift or Japan memento for some self-gifting too!
The best way to see, hunt down and contact Bikudesigns is via her Bikudesigns instagram (to follow and stay up-to-date with their movements, pop-up shops and new pieces. ) Go here to start shopping on the Bikudesigns website .
Or how about taking a workshop to make a christmas bauble made from repurposed kimono?
I recommend her christmas bauble workshops (doesn’t have to be christmas actually – you could use it however you like) made of repurposed kimono. They are great for kids or adults.
Issey Miyake “Bao Bao” Bag
To my knowledge, this is the only handbag brand that is actually cheaper to buy in Japan than other countries. As much as 40% less expensive than overseas. There are also many more colours and styles to choose from.
Stationery, Letter Sets & Cards
These are from Tokyu Hands in Shinjuku.
Other places to find cute stationery include department stores (toy or stationery floors), local newsagent/ paper goods shops and sometimes the convenience stores have good options.
I bought this card on the ground floor of Alta in Harajuku on Takeshita St ( at the counter of an accessory store.)
Crockery , cutlery and sake cups from Kappabashi (aka Kitchen town)
I have a post on Kappabashi and where I have shopped before.
If ultra cutesie and colourful isn’t your style I recommend the store Muji (full name is Mujirushi which literally means “no brand” or “no label.” ) *Also: if you need one last minute: the convenience store “Family Mart” also stocks a small range of Muji products.
I love how their notebooks open the opposite way to what I’m used to (binding on the right.)
Japan just does amazing cards. They almost always in the stationery or toy section of large department stores.
I also recommend trying out a Japanese company called Surprise Factory (their website is in Japanese so it’s probably best to see their work on instagram @surprise_f ). They make the most beautiful pop up cards. Tokyu Hands stocks their latest products and designs.
I also found these cards for sale in Loft in Ginza.
For other card suggestions I also recommend shopping at Sanrio World in Ginza. See my Ginza with Kids post here for other ideas in this area too.
Blackhead Nose Strips
These nose strips are really fun to do and gross us out (in a funny, semi-scientific manner) when we remove and see the prickly forrest when removed.)
I have no idea why men & women would need a gender specific option but it’s probably just to make the men feel less girlie about the whole ordeal, right?
These are in the supermarkets and drugstores.
Atelier Shinji Ginza
For a beautiful Japan inspired piece of jewellery, I highly recommend wandering into Atelier Shinji Ginza.
Make sure you take a look through the glass window in the middle counter of the store as you can see directly down into their workshop.
I also think that these Kintsugi inspired pieces are so clever!
The Atelier Shinji Ginza website is here.
Tissue packet covers
It’s probably a good idea to buy lots of tissues too to make sure the present receiver will be able to use right away. I go this cover at the Mori Art Museum gift shop but I’ve also seen them at the National Art Centre (their basement floor gift store has lots of good gift options, actually.)
Made in Japan snackbags
My friend, Lena, of Root&Blossom creates the most beautiful snackbags and wallets. I have a few of these myself. Highly recommend.
Japanese fashion magazines
Everything just looks cooler in Japanese and (the same goes for English fashion mags too but…) isn’t most of it about the pictures anyway. Some of my fashion or design loving friends like to keep Japanese magazines out like coffee table books and some have even framed their favourite cool advertisements or fashion features.
Eyedrops
Victoria Beckham swears by Japanese eyedrops. See her British Vogue interview here if you’re interested. My favourite brand is this one (it makes the whites of your eyes extra white.) For sale at the drugstore.
Disposable Hot Pockets (Kairo in Japanese)
If you have a friend or a family member who is living in a particularly cold country or likes hiking and camping etc. these hot pockets are a great novelty. You take them out of the packet, shake them and they heat up. You can put them in your pocket, inside your mittens or there are even the stick on type that you can put on the outside of your inner layer of clothing to keep a certain part of your body warm like the lower back or tummy etc. If you want the sticky ones be sure to check that they are by saying 貼るタイプですか？haru taipu desu ka? (are these the stick-on type?)
Both varieties are cheap and are sold at the supermarkets and drugstores.
Technological gadgets in funky colours
For example, these USB cords in rose gold on Amazon Japan are approximately 900 yen. There are other colours too!
Beautiful illustrations and watercolour
I’m bananas about Tokyo artist, Erica Ward’s work. Her pieces are just so beautiful.
Her website is here.
Japanese Beer Mugs
One of my favourite purchases after rummaging through the treasures inside the “recycle shops” in Shimokitazawa . See my Shimokitazawa post here for more information. They were approximately 800 yen each.
Little 100 yen goodies
I know it sounds incredibly cheap but if you need to buy souvenirs for colleagues or lots of little gifts for a large number of people, I highly recommend walking through Daiso 100 yen shop in Decks Department Store in Odaiba (4th floor.) For example: I picked up this adorable mug on the weekend.
100 yen bear tape measure. I’m putting these in so many family christmas present stockings. Kawaii!
Hairdryer Brush
I am terrible at blow-drying my own hair. I bought my first one of these at age 18 and have been using and re-buying ever since. This brand has an international voltage adapter so I can also use in Australia too.
They are so cheap!
When searching on Amazon , search using *Tescom.
Last time I looked this was the link for the Hairdryer Brush.
Adult Colouring Book
I can’t work out if this colouring book is meant for children or adults but my daughter and I are in love.
I bought this copy at the newsagency in Hiroo called OKUMOTO IROHA-DO. Here are other things to do in Hiroo with kids.
This Little Mermaid Adult Colouring book is for sale online here.
Winnie the Pooh Toasted Sandwich Maker
If you are from a country with the same voltage as Japan ( 100V ) these are the cutest presents.
We bought ours at Yodobashi Camera stores for around 5000 yen. The Winnie the Pooh Toasted Sandwich Maker is for sale online here..
Miffy Chopping Board
I know Miffy isn’t Japanese but it sure is big here!
I bought this wooden chopping board at Kiddyland in Harajuku.
It was 1800 yen.
Tokyo Banana
Now, Japanese people all know about this quintessential Tokyo souvenir. When I lived in Kobe, I used to ask ANYONE who was going to Tokyo to come back with one of these little yellow and blue boxes.
Now bear with me as its hard to describe this little treat as something that actually sounds delicious.
It’s a sponge cake with a small bit of banana flavouring and cream inside. Some of my American friends have described it as a little bit similar to a Twinkie – but it’s much more posh. I don’t even really like banana flavoured anything – but these are amazing! If you get a chance to sample? Do it!!!
You can find them at most touristy spots, train stations and at the airport too.
Interesting Kit-Kat Flavours
You can find a smaller selection in supermarkets but the best spots for unusual Kit-Kat flavours are Don Quijote general stores, airports and large department stores like Takashimaya.
and while you’re in Shinjuku, pop into Don Quijote for this box of a big selection of kit-kats.
DON QUIJOTE SHINJUKU EAST EXIT HEAD OFFICE STORE
新宿区歌舞伎町1-16-15
1-16-5 KABUKICHO, SHINJUKU
OPEN 24 HOURS
Japanese Passport Notebooks
I usually avoid the shop ‘Oriental Bazaar’ in Omotesando as it is so naff and touristy. But I had to pop in recently and I spotted these 500 yen memo books.
Warning – from the outside, they do look a lot like a real passport.
For ideas on other things to do in this area, see my post here.
Japanese Landmark Model/Puzzles
Warning. You do have to build them yourself!
I bought the pagoda model at LOFT in Shibuya. These models are 5000 yen +
