Recommend 18 gifts to buy when going to Japan

Are you traveling in Japan and wondering what to buy as gifts for relatives and friends?

Don’t worry, because this wonderful country has a lot of cute and convenient gifts for you to choose from.

Besides gifts with bold Japanese identity such as Tenugui towels, Daruma dolls.., cosmetics or confectionery are also very popular gifts for visitors to Japan.

This article will suggest 18 gifts to buy in Japan, sure to help you find the right gift to give to your loved ones.

The list of chain stores that sell Japanese gifts is also mentioned at the end of the article.
Definitely check it out!

18 gifts to buy when going to Japan

Confectionery

Great taste, beautifully designed and easy to find, confectionery is the top choice on the gift list from Japan.

If you are afraid to carry a lot of luggage, you can go to the airport a little early to buy sweets directly here.

Don’t worry about the price because in Japan the price of the same confectionery is the same no matter where it is sold, from the city’s supermarket, high-end confectionery store to the airport.

Not to mention the confectionery at the airport are all famous brands, so it will save you a lot of time choosing.

Types of alcohol

Japanese alcohol is also a meaningful gift to give to friends and relatives after returning from Japan.

There are many types of Japanese alcohol, most notably Sake (called Nihonshu in Japanese).
Choose sweet sake (called Amakuchi in Japanese) instead of spicy, it will be easier to drink.

For girls, you can choose plum wine (called Umeshu in Japanese) or Chuhai cocktail which is also very reasonable.

As for those who love Whiskey, they will certainly be happy to receive a bottle of Suntory Yamazaki Whiskey.

In Japan, you can buy alcohol at any supermarket, or even at famous electronics store chains such as BIC CAMERA, Yodobashi Camera… also sell alcohol.

Matcha (Japanese Green Tea)

Matcha (Japanese green tea) is also one of the most chosen gifts for Japanese travel.

Due to being made from 100% young tea buds grown in a sunny environment, Matcha powder is very fragrant and has a characteristic bitter taste. Compared to other types of green tea, Matcha contains higher levels of antioxidants and also more nutrients.

In Japan, you can find Matcha everywhere, from supermarkets, shopping malls to local stores.
Prices also vary depending on the strength of the tea powder, ranging from a few hundred yen to about 2,000 yen for about 50g of Matcha powder.

Or instead of powdered Matcha to mix and drink, you can also choose Matcha-flavored confectionery for convenience.

Electronice device

Made in Japan electronics have long been popular around the world for their impeccable quality.

You can choose a facial cleanser cum massager for yourself (if you are a man, you can choose a shaver), or a blood pressure monitor for Mom and Dad, for example.

If the luggage weight allows, I suggest you buy a Japanese rice cooker.
Personally, I also bought it as a gift for my family, and after more than 7 years of use, the pot is still durable and the rice cooked is extremely delicious even though only using mid-range rice.

Some of you even bought a smart toilet with automatic washing function.
It’s interesting, isn’t it?

In Japan, you can find electronics at electronics store chains like BIC CAMERA, Yodobashi Camera or Yamada Denki.

Note that Japan uses 110V current, so most products displayed at electronics stores can only be used for 110V electricity.
If you want to buy electronics that can be used for other currents, you should ask the staff for detailed instructions.

Medicine

Medicines in Japan are not only diverse but also very effective, so you can also choose as a gift when going to Japan.

Some of the medicines that foreigners often buy are pain relievers, eye drops, etc.
Or if you want to choose a more affordable gift to give to many people, you can also choose Japanese toothpastes such as: term.

In Japan, you can find drugs at Drug store chains such as Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Welcia, CREATE…
These chains have many branches across the country so they are easy to find.

Functional foods

Japanese functional foods are very good, so if you can, remember to buy them and try them out.

In addition to spirulina and collagen, Japan also has many functional foods to help reduce stress, reduce visceral fat or whiten skin…

You can refer to the following article for more information.

Cosmetics

If choosing a gift to give a female friend, there is nothing better than Japanese cosmetics.

Japan can be considered a cosmetic paradise when there are hundreds of product lines suitable for different ages.

Such as:

• For girls under 20 years old: you can choose cosmetics of CAN MAKE or Chifure.
• For girls about 30 years old: you can choose cosmetics of KATE, Kose or Shiseido (SK-II line).
• For girls about 40 years old: you can choose cosmetics of FANCL or Shiseido (HAKU line).

If you do not have enough time to choose carefully, you can buy a sunscreen or a moisturizing mask as a gift, which is also very suitable.

You know, in Japan there are a lot of moisturizing masks that are both effective and come in interesting shapes!

Kitchen utensils

Fish shaped dishwasher

Price: 1,100 yen

Mua ở Amazon (3 pieces)

Mua ở Rakuten (4 pieces)

Choosing gifts to give to those who love to cook, don’t ignore dozens of useful kitchen utensils sold a lot in Japan.

I especially recommend 3COINS stores (single price 300 yen/ dish) or Loft.
Here you can not only freely choose from a variety of beautiful and convenient gadgets, but also admire many products that show the great creativity of the Japanese.

Starbucks cup

Exclusive Starbucks cup in Japan

Price: 2,800 yen

Buy at Amazon

You wonder why Starbucks cup?

Because this coffee brand is very creative when designing exclusive cups for each country, even each province of that country.

Starbucks in Japan is no exception when from Hokkaido to Okinawa, you can easily find Starbucks cups printed with landscapes, landmarks or typical local dishes.

Many Japanese people have a hobby of collecting Starbucks cups with exclusive designs in the places they travel to, so that they can nostalgic about that place when they return home.

Starbucks cups are not only a unique gift for relatives and friends, but you should also buy one for yourself to remind you of the precious experiences you had in Japan.

Stationery

Stationery can be said to be a great gift to give to colleagues after a trip to Japan.

The lovely notebooks, cute notepads, and neatly designed pens in all colors will surely make you fall in love when walking around the stationery stores in Japan.

Try visiting a 100 yen shop or a Loft store to pick up cute and convenient stationery items to give as gifts when you come back from Japan.

Omamori lucky charm

If you have the opportunity to visit a temple during your trip to Japan, don’t forget to buy some Omamori lucky charms at that temple.

Called charms, but Japanese Omamori lucky charms are not magical but very cute.
The Japanese often hang it in their bags as a decoration to bring good luck.

Omamori lucky charms have many shapes such as rectangles, pentagons, circles … wrapped in brocade cloths with many different colors and textures.

On each talisman is embroidered the name of the temple along with the use that the talisman brings.
For example, Omamori for health, Omamori for charm or Omamori for good study …

Omamori lucky charms are usually not expensive, only about 500 yen ~ 1,000 yen, and are compact, so remember to buy a lot to give to relatives and friends.

Yukata

For those of you who love Japanese culture, there is no better gift than a Yukata.

Yukata is the Japanese summer kimono.
Yukata is usually made of cotton fabric and has only one layer so it is easy to wear.

In Japan, you can find Yukata in shopping malls or traditional shops in tourist areas.
Depending on the fabric and pattern, the price will vary, on average a Yukata will cost about 3,000 yen ~ 6,000 yen / set.

Not only is there an adult version, in Japan Yukata also has a very cute children’s version.
You can buy it to give to your children in the family, for example.

Tenugui towel

Tenugui is a traditional Japanese scarf.

Tenugui towels are usually rectangular (about 90cm x 35cm) and are made of cotton, so they dry very quickly.

Not only foreigners, even Japanese people often choose Tenugui towels as gifts because of their beauty and usefulness.

You can use Tenugui towels to make handkerchiefs, scarves, or frame them for home decoration, for example.

Tenugui towels are usually sold at souvenir stalls in tourist areas or traditional shops in shopping malls at very affordable prices, only from a few hundred to about 1,000 yen/piece.

Chopsticks

Because the Japanese eating culture is using chopsticks, in Japan, chopsticks are meticulously designed so that it is both easy to pick up food and pretty to make the meal more beautiful.

You can find a wide variety of chopsticks in Japan with different materials (such as oak, bamboo), different thicknesses, and different tip shapes (plain or serrated).

Depending on the material, “Made in Japan” chopsticks usually cost around 1,000 yen ~ 3,000 yen/pair.
It is true that it is a bit high, but this price range is all very beautiful and durable chopsticks.

If you want to buy more affordable Japanese chopsticks, you can visit a 100 yen shop or 3COINS store.
The chopsticks here are also very beautiful, the price is also cheap, so it is very suitable to buy as a gift for many people.

Daruma doll

Daruma dolls (also known as darting Daruma) are a type of traditional Japanese doll.
In Japan, the Daruma doll is considered a lucky item that can make all wishes come true.

Daruma dolls are sold without eyes for buyers to draw their own eyes on.
Make a wish and draw in one eye (usually Daruma’s left eye), and when your wish comes true, draw in the other eye.

Daruma dolls are usually made of mache or ceramic, with many sizes (from a few centimeters to several tens of centimeters) and different colors that look very cute.
This is a special gift suitable for those who love Japanese culture or like to collect small and beautiful things.

You can find Daruma dolls at souvenir shops in tourist areas for as little as a few hundred yen.
And don’t forget to buy for yourself so Daruma can help you fulfill your wishes.

5 finger socks

Both useful and cute, Japanese 5-toed socks are a gift that I personally choose to give to friends when I return home.

5-toed socks help you move each toe more easily, improve blood circulation and absorb sweat more effectively, so it is very good for health.

Japanese 5-toed socks are not only durable, but also come in a variety of materials and patterns, so you can be sure to find the right pair of socks for the person you want to give them to.

Every shopping center in Japan has a store that sells socks, so it’s easy to find.
Or you can also buy socks at souvenir shops in tourist areas for only 700 yen ~ 1,000 yen / pair only.

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Model food

If you come to Japan for the first time, you will have to admire the sophistication of the model foods displayed in front of restaurants in shopping malls or in train stations.

These model foods are also sold as souvenirs in tourist areas, so you can also buy them as gifts for relatives and friends to have a surprise.

Depending on the sophistication, the price of a keychain or decorative magnet usually ranges from 800 yen to 2,000 yen.

Lucky Cat Maneki Neko

The lucky cats Maneki Neko with their adorable smiles are also a very popular Japanese gift.

The Maneki Neko cat in Japan has many versions.
Cat waving right hand brings fortune, cat waving left hand brings customers.
The white cat means good luck, the black cat wards off evil spirits, the yellow cat represents money or the pink cat is a symbol of love…

Any souvenir shop around the tourist area you can find the Maneki Neko cat.
Cats are usually made of ceramic and porcelain and cost about 500 yen ~ 1,000 yen / cat.

List of shops selling Japanese gifts

In addition to tourist attractions and outlet stores, you can also easily find Japanese gifts at electronics stores, drugstores, or 100 yen stores.

Especially in electronic stores or drugstores in Japan, in addition to specialized items, there are also many types of Japanese cosmetics, confectionery or alcohol on sale.

Here are some very popular chain stores in Japan that sell a wide range of goods suitable for buying as gifts.

These systems have branches all over Japan, so it’s easy to find, if you see them, you should stop by to check them out.

Electronic store chain BIC CAMERA

Branch information (English):
https://www.biccamera.com.e.lj.hp.transer.com/bc/i/shop/shoplist/index.jsp

Electronic store chain Yodobashi Camera

Branch information (English):
https://www.yodobashi.com/ec/store/list/en/

Electronic store chain Yamada Denki

Branch information (English):
http://yamada-taxfree.com/en/

Drug store chain Matsumoto Kiyoshi

Homepage (English):
https://www.matsukiyo.co.jp.e.yy.hp.transer.com/store/online?_ga=2.203810134.718479270.1670222018-890912613.1669089871

Japanese multinational discount store chain Don Quijote

Branch information (English):
https://www.donki.com/en/

Japanese household goods specialty store chain Loft

Branch information (English):
https://www.loft.co.jp/en/store_search.html

Japanese household goods specialty store chain Tokyu Hands

Branch information (English):
https://info.hands.net/en/list/

100 yen shop chain DAISO

Branch information (English):
https://www.daiso-sangyo.co.jp/en/shop

100 yen shop chain Seria

Branch information (in Japanese):
https://www.seria-group.com/shop/

300 yen shop chain 3COINS

Branch information (in Japanese):
https://www.3coins.jp/shop_search

Conclusion

If I could list them all, there must be more than 100 Japanese gifts that I would like to introduce to you.

But hopefully the 18 selected gifts above will also help you to have more ideas when looking to buy gifts after your trip to Japan.

Surely relatives and friends will be very happy to receive gifts that are both bold in Japanese identity such as the lucky cat Maneki Neko or Daruma doll… that you took the effort to bring home.

And don’t forget to buy yourself an Omamori charm or a Yukata to keep as a great memory you have in this beautiful country.

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