Let’s just say you won’t have a problem finding souvenirs from Japan. But! You might actually have a problem finding useful and practical things to buy in Japan!
I’ve never traveled somewhere with such an overwhelming amount of things to buy that will ultimately collect dust at home.
And it’s SO HARD to avoid buying everything because it’s also all SO CUTE!
So I want to tell you about some Japanese souvenirs that you’ll actually use once you’re back home. The trick is to buy these souvenirs with a cute Japanese theme, and don’t worry, I’ll give you some suggestions for what to look for too!
Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!
Souvenirs From Japan To Buy At The Start Of Your Trip!
Look for these next few souvenirs from Japan right when you land.
You’ll be able to use them back home, and even in other warm destinations. But they’ll also be really useful for your time in Japan as well (especially if you’re visiting during the summer!).
P.S. See my tips for travelling to Japan in the summer.
1. Sun-Umbrella
A sun-umbrella is exactly what it sounds like – an umbrella for the sun!
A lot of people carry a sun-umbrella in Japan, and for good reason.
It protects you from the UV rays, so you can relax a tad about sunscreening (but you should still apply sunscreen!). And! It gives you shade wherever you go, making it ever so slightly cooler when you’re outside.
Typically, sun-umbrellas will also be waterproof (and these are the ones you really want to keep an eye out for).
This way, you can carry around one umbrella for rain OR shine!
2. A Handheld Portable Fan
Another thing we noticed locals using on the daily were handheld fans, like this one on Amazon. These were a GAME CHANGER!
And I’m not talking the traditional Japanese fans, though we saw people with those too, but they’re not as effective. Plus, you’re exerting energy which heats you up, just to cool off.
So you want to look for battery powered handheld fans. It cools you down while walking, waiting for public transit without wasting precious energy… Honestly, I don’t think we could have survived without one!
They were surprisingly hard to find though. Originally we bought from Daiso, but they weren’t very strong.
The best fans we found (and cheapest) were at Edion in Kyoto.
3. Wafuka – Handkerchief
You can find a wafuka (or handkerchief) pretty much everywhere, and all the tourist shops will have them with cute Japanese designs and patterns.
The wafuka has two uses, so you might actually want to buy more than one as souvenirs from Japan!
First, bathrooms in Japan don’t always have a way to dry your hands so locals all carry a wafuka to dry them.
Second, it comes in very handy to wipe off the sweat dripping off your face (or other places!) in Japan’s sweltering summer heat.
Kitchenware Japan Souvenirs To Buy
If you’re from North America (as I am), Japan has completely different cuisine and cooking styles.
It’s always fun to buy some traditional and useful kitchen items to use back home. Because, let’s be real, we all like eating!
4. Chopstick Set: Chopsticks (Hashi), Rest, & Dipping Bowl
You can obviously get chopsticks anywhere these days. But Japanese chopsticks are actually a bit different.
For starters, they will have different sizes for both men, women, and even cooking. They tend to taper off a lot more at the ends, making them pointier.
Plus, this way you can stop using the disposable ones that come with takeout.
On top of buying the perfect chopsticks from Japan, you should also look for a matching chopstick rest and soy sauce bowl.
P.S. These also make GREAT gifts from Japan! We found a unique theme for everyone in my family and they all loved them!
5. Bento Box Container – What To Buy In Japan
A bento box is a to-go container that has separate compartments for different types of food.
If you take lunch to school or work, this is a different way to package it up to take to go. It even works for picnics on the weekend!
6. Rice Paddle (Shamoji)
Rice paddles are used to mix, scoop, and serve rice.
I don’t know why I didn’t have one of these before. It keeps your rice fluffy and makes it so easy to scoop it out!
Just know that there is a second type of rice paddle in Japan. Rice paddles are symbolic for bringing in good fortune (you scoop in your harvest of rice!).
So there are a lot of wooden decorative rice paddles with kanji written on them. These are to hang in your kitchen, and shouldn’t be used to actually scoop rice!
7. Sake Bottle & Cups (Tokkuri & Ochoko)
Japan makes their own beer and whiskey, but an alcohol unique to Japan is sake.
Sake is a rice wine, made from, you guessed it, rice!
It’s common to pour your sake out into a separate bottle for serving (a tokkuri). Sake cups (ochoko) are usually smaller cups, like a small tea cup.
They sell beautifully crafted sake bottles and cups all throughout Japan.
8. Takoyaki Pan – Things To Buy In Japan
An Takoyaki pan is a very specific souvenir from Japan and it’s the perfect way to bring a taste of Japan home with you.
Takoyaki are a staple snack from Osaka. It’s a dough ball filled with octopus, tempura, ginger, and green onions. If you go to Osaka, you’ll see Takoyaki stands everywhere!
Takoyaki are made in a very specific pan, so if you ever want to make it at home, you’ll have to buy the pan in Japan.
Plus, if you have the pan, you can experiment with different recipes.
I saw the pans for sale in Osaka at the Sennichimae Doguyasuji Shopping Street.
9. Japanese Wooden Pick (Kuromoji)
Kuromoji is a Japanese wooden pick that’s used to eat dessert, specifically yokan ( a red bean paste jelly), but you can use it for other desserts and even fruit.
A kuromoji is really just a thicker, larger, and all around better toothpick.
Tea Souvenirs From Japan!
Japan is one of the leading producers of green tea in the world, and the top producer of Matcha.
So it’s kind of necessary that you bring back some Japan souvenirs related to tea!
Discovering tea culture in Japan is one of my top things you HAVE to do.
10. What To Buy In Japan: Tea!
Green tea is always better the fresher it is because it’s the least oxidized. So it’s no wonder that tea in Japan tastes better (not to mention it’s also cheaper!).
The most popular Japanese green tea is Sencha. In Japan, try to find hand rolled Sencha, which uses the original method for making tea before machines existed. It’s more expensive too, so it’s often not exported.
My favourite Japanese green tea is actually Kukicha, tea stems, and Hojicha. Hojicha is a roasted green tea, but in Japan, you can actually find different roast levels of Hojicha!
Genmaicha is another popular after-dinner green tea that’s mixed with roasted rice. But in Japan, I found Genmaicha Powder, which can also be used in cooking!
Take a look at my full list of Japanese green teas.
Another unique tea in Japan isn’t green at all but black tea. Japanese black tea is called Wakoucha, it tends to be sweeter than both Chinese and Indian black teas.
11. A Traditional Matcha Set
On the traditional side of Japanese tea is matcha. Although it’s gained popularity over the years for its health benefits, matcha powder dates back centuries!
At the very least, you should find good quality matcha in Japan to bring home.
But while you’re here why not also pick up the traditional matcha set that’s used for the ceremony.
The minimum you need for the ceremony is the bowl, chawan, and bamboo whisk, the chasen. Read more about the basics of matcha.
You can also buy the bamboo scoop and to really elevate the ceremony find a ceremonial handkerchief, or Fukusa.
12. Traditional Teapot (Kyūsu or Shiboridashi)
If matcha isn’t your jam (I’ll admit, it’s a very acquired taste!), then you can also bring back a traditional Japanese teapot.
The most common Japanese teapot is the Kyūsu. It looks a bit odd at first because the handle is off to the side. I find this make it easier to pour and hold the lid with one hand.
But if you’re lucky you might be able to find a Shiboridashi, which is similar to a gaiwan (from China) but larger. I preferred using the Shiboridashi because it’s larger so you can fit more tea, but it was also easier to hold and pour.
The only problem? The Shiboridashi is not very common at all! I regret to this day not buying it when I saw it at Obubu Tea farms in Wazuka.
Fun Japanese Tea Gift Idea: Chayori – Tea Mail
This is one of the most neat Japanese gifts I saw.
It’s like a postcard, but better! It’s actually an envelope filled with Japanese tea! So write your message on the back, and send it to your loved ones back home.
It’s nice way to send the gift of tea while you’re still traveling.
Stationery Souvenirs From Japan
Japan is well known for their stationery goods like pens, papers, and everything in between!
They tend to be of a higher quality, but more importantly, everything comes with a cute design.
13. Calligraphy Set (Pen & Paper)
Traditional Japanese language, Kanji, uses calligraphy techniques.
We actually did a calligraphy course in Miyajima (at okeiko Japan) where we learned how to write in Kanji, and it was a lot of fun! We even brought back our own handwritten Kanji rice scoop (though it was definitely more about the experience than the rice scoop!).
If you can’t find a calligraphy course, you can also just opt to bring back some calligraphy essentials, like a calligraphy pen, paper, or ink set.
P.S. Visiting Miyajima Island in Japan? Read my full guide on how to get to Miyajima from Hiroshima, and what to do!
14. All The Washi Tape In The World!
Washi tape is a functional tape that can be used for anything from a simple art projects to decorating your house!
The best part? Even though it’s tape, it can be easily removed without leaving any residue behind.
And why am I telling you to buy washi tape? Well it’s from Japan, and they come in cute A.F. patterns and themes. So it will seem like you have an unlimited amount of washi tape options here!
15. Origami Paper – Japanese Souvenirs
Origami is the Japanese art of folding paper.
You can buy pre-made origami designs in Japan, or just the pieces of paper. They sell beautiful patterns on their origami paper.
You can bring it home and make your own design, but I would even argue that you could frame the paper on it’s own it’s so beautiful!
Other Useful Things To Buy In Japan!
If you want something you can’t find anywhere else, these next few Japanese souvenirs might be just what you’re looking for.
16. Japanese Bathrobe (Yukata)
A Japanese Yukata is a more casual kimono that is worn as a bathrobe, or for summer festivals.
Yukatas were provided to us when we went to the bath town, Shibu Onsen, to wear between baths, and as pyjamas.
So why not pick one up to use as a bathrobe at home?
P.S. Would love to go to a Japanese Onsen but feel too shy, or have tattoos? Read my guide on how to book a private Onsen in Japan!
17. Toe Socks (Tabi)
Tabi socks are socks that separate your big toe from the others.
They’ve actually been worn since the 15th century for their convenience with sandals (geta). Geta are just more traditional flip flops!
And even if you don’t want to wear them with flip flops, they can be worn just as socks.
18. Onsen Powder – What To Buy In Japan
Japan is also known for their hot springs, or onsens. There are entire towns dedicated to bathing in the water from these natural hot springs.
But, if you really want to bring home the baths of Japan with you, you can pick up some onsen powder.
They’ve taken the deposits from the onsen water and turned it into a powder. It includes all the same minerals and benefits of the hot Japanese onsen water.
Make your regular bath at home, and add the powder, and transported yourself back to Japan!
I couldn’t find the powder when I went to Japan, but you can order it online, so it arrives before you get home (US only).
19. Wrapping Cloth (Furoshiki) Japan Souvenirs
As my tour guide put it, “Japan just seems to like folding things!”.
A Furoshiki seems like a regular cotton cloth at first, but it’s meant to be folded in a specific way to hold different things.
They come in various sizes, so you can get one that turns into a bag, can hold a water bottle, or even be used as a Kleenex box cover!
As with everything in Japan, they come in beautiful patterns with uniquely Japanese themes!
20. Good Luck Charms (Omamori) Or Ema In Japan
Omamori are good luck and best wishes charms. These are sold at EVERY shrine in Japan. Each charm has a different meaning attached to it.
So although they’re not the most useful, omamori at least have a good meaning behind them.
But, instead of buying an omamori, you can write and leave an ema. An ema is either a small wooden plaque or ceramic figurine where you write a wish and leave it at the shrine.
This at least gives you a fun activity to take part in when you visit a shrine. You can either leave it there, or opt to take it home with you.
We did this at the Yasako shrine with the Wishing Rabbit believed to “bring happiness” and “leading to the good relationships”.
Whatever You Buy, Don’t Buy Books As Souvenirs From Japan!
I love buying books as souvenirs as a way to transport me back to that country and trip.
But don’t buy books as souvenirs from Japan unless you know how to read Japanese. Any book in English in Japan is going to cost you twice as much.
That’s because it’s translated abroad and needs to be re-imported to Japan.
We actually found a few books that we liked (some were in Japanese, but others were in English) and always found them cheaper online in English. So we ordered them online and had them waiting for us by the time we got home!
P.S. Interested in what else you shouldn’t be doing in Japan? Read my post on top things to do in Japan that you should actually avoid, and what you should do instead!
Japanese Souvenirs – Japan Subjects To Look For
Japan is known for SO MUCH!
I’m talking iconic historical people (samurai), to fictional animated characters (Pokémon). Japan is even well known for its nature, like Mount Fuji or the Cherry Blossoms.
Lucky for you, almost every Japanese souvenir will most likely have one of these iconic themes attached to it.
Japan is also big on what’s known as Kawaii – or cute in English. They LOVE everything and anything that is ultimately cute.
If you’re already a fan of Japanese culture, then you’ll already know what you want to look for on your souvenirs from Japan. But here are a few suggestions of classic Japanese subjects to keep an eye out for.
Popular Japanese Pop Culture Characters
There are so many Japanese pop culture characters that I don’t even know where to start. These are from TV shows, movies, books…etc.
Some of them are so popular that there are entire stores dedicated to these franchises.
I’m talking Pokémon, Studio Ghibli, Jump Shop (Dragonball Z), Godzilla, Hello Kitty, Nintendo (Mario, Zelda), and Mofusand… just to name a few!
P.S. The best place to look for more niche anime character souvenirs from Japan is Akihabara in Tokyo.
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Traditional Japanese Characters With Meaning
There are also quite a few historical Japanese characters that are more symbolic and carry further meaning.
For example, Maneki Neko, which is the lucky cat with its paw raised. A ton of merchandise will feature this feline kitty.
But perhaps one you haven’t heard of before are Daruma Dolls. They’re usually made of papier-mâché and represent perseverance and good fortune. They are meant to help the recipient achieve their goals.
P.S. Did You Know There Are Right-Handed & Left-Handed Cats!?
Not every cat is the same! Maneki Neko can be either be raising their right or left paw, and the each paw means something different…
A right handed cat is seen as male, and is said to bring money and good luck.
Versus a left handed cat is seen as female, and is said to call people, either by bringing in customers or through matchmaking.
Historical Japanese Positions
Japan has a lot of historical occupations that aren’t seen anywhere else throughout the world. I’m talking samurais, ninjas and geishas.
Samurais were Japanese warriors, with iconic armor and helmets. Ninjas were less fight, more distraction and sneak attacks to get information.
Geishas actually still exist today, but are known for their elaborate kimonos and hair with white makeup.
But, there are also Kabuki actors, who present a very specific look as well. They often have elaborate costumes and wigs, and paint their faces with extreme expressions.
Yuru-Kyara: Japanese Prefecture Mascots
Over the years in Japan, it has become popular for prefectures or even cities in Japan to have their own mascot, known as Yuru-Kyara (or Yuru-chara). This was used as a way to draw tourists to a city, town, or prefecture.
Depending on where you’re visiting in Japan, you can find something with the prefecture’s mascot on it!
Read more about this trend.
Here’s are some examples of regional mascots:
| City / Prefecture | Name | Mascot |
|---|---|---|
| Narita, Chiba Prefecture (You might see him when you land at the airport!) | Unari-kun |   |
Kumamoto Prefecture (Most popular Yuru-Kyara) | Kumamon |   |
| Nagano Prefecture | Arukuma |   |
| Nara City | Shikamaro |   |
Sports Teams As Souvenirs From Japan
Most countries will have sports team merchandise, and Japan is no exception.
Japan actually LOVES baseball, and all the major cities have their own team (Tokyo actually has two baseball teams!).
But, there’s also sumo wrestling, an ancient sport that’s still played today. They have quite the iconic look, with their single piece of cloth and pinned up hair.
P.S. You might also be interested in reading about Sumo wrestling in Japan.
Iconic Japanese Nature
As I said, Japan is also very well known for their natural beauty of the islands. Most prominent would be the cherry blossoms that bloom a beautiful pink in April/ May.
And all year round you have the epic Mount Fuji, which is a dormant volcano 100 km from Tokyo. The most iconic depiction of Mount Fuji is of course with the bit of snow at the top.
Gold Leaf In Japan
Japan is also known for their production of gold leaf, which is a very thin and fragile form of gold.
You’ll find a lot of lacquered boxes or even chopsticks decorated with gold leaf.
In fact, 99% of Japan’s gold leaf is produced in Kanazawa. If you can make it there (which I highly recommend – see why!), we made our own gold leaf chopsticks to bring home.
Where To Shop For Souvenirs From Japan
Japan has tax free shopping for tourists if you spend over a certain amount (usually around ¥5 000).
Not all stores offer tax free shopping, so if it’s a bigger purchase I’d try to find a store that offers the discount. There’s often a sign in the window for tax free shopping, but if you’re unsure just ask the cashier.
To be able to take advantage of the discount, you’ll need your passport with the visitors stamp inside to qualify.
Japanese Souvenirs In Tokyo
Tokyo is so big that there’s shopping wherever you go, and honestly, it’s a bit overwhelming.
As I mentioned, Akihabara is anime central with TONS of themed stores perfect for shopping for Japanese souvenirs.
Nakamise-dori Street leading up to Sensō-ji shrine is lined with small tourist shops filled with knick knacks. But around the corner we stumbled on a shop where they made chopsticks out of old baseball bats and had logos from each Japanese team.
Shibuya in Tokyo is also a large shopping area, but I recommend heading to Shibuya Parco Mall. It’s a multi-level shopping mall where each level has a different theme. There are some permanent stores, including both a Nintendo and Pokemon store on the top level, but also has a good mix of pop-up shops too!
If you are looking for more themed character stores in Tokyo for Japanese souvenirs, head to the underground of Tokyo Station to First Avenue Tokyo Station.
This was a gold mine, we found it on our last day in the city and did most of our shopping here! They have every themed store imaginable. From Mofusand, to Pokemon, to Ghibli all conveniently in one place!
Japanese Souvenirs In Kyoto
It seems like everywhere we went in Kyoto had unlimited shopping options for souvenirs from Japan.
In Downtown Kyoto, head to Compasso Teramachi, which is a covered shopping mall. And nearby you’ll find the Nishiki Market, although that’s more focused on food, they have some shops.
Near the Compasso Teramachi South Entrance is Edion, a larger electronic department store, but we found the best deal on handheld fans here. We even saw a jacket equipped with a built-in-fan. Plus, they had the best price on video games!
In Gion, Sannenzaka and Ninenzaka are lined with small tourist shops with knick knacks and pottery. But they also each have a Ghibli store.
I also found some great artwork and gifts along Ginkakuji Temple approach (銀閣寺参道), just before Kannon-den (Ginkaku), or the Silver Pavilion.
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