The Best Practical Souvenirs and Gifts to Buy from Japan
Japan is an incredibly popular tourist destination, and it’s easy to see why. From its rich cultural heritage to the warm hospitality of its people, there’s so much to love. No matter where you go in Japan, there’s always something interesting to see, do, or experience. It’s a country that has something for every type of traveler.
And beyond the unforgettable experiences, Japan also offers some of the best souvenirs to take home. Whether you’re shopping for yourself or for loved ones, this list has something for everyone.
I’m not the kind of person who buys souvenirs just for decoration. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that—but in our case, we move every few years, so collecting decorative items just doesn’t make sense for our lifestyle. That’s why I’ve started focusing on meaningful souvenirs that are both practical and useful.
Below, you’ll find a curated list of unique and functional souvenirs from Japan, items that can easily become part of your everyday life. I hope it helps you to find the right souvenir for anyone in your life.
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Japanese Tea
Matcha
The only thing my husband requests that we buy when we are in Japan is their tea. You really cannot beat the quality and price of Japanese tea from Japan.
Our favorite tea to buy from Japan is their matcha tea. Each time we go back, I buy over ten containers of matcha for us and family members (this was before the matcha shortage).
I even travelled to the “Matcha Capital of the World”, Uji in Kyoto to load up on matcha to bring home. You can read all about it here.
If you’re only staying in Tokyo, I’ve found some great matcha shops there too. There are tons of shops you can choose from and a quick google search will bring you to many of them.
Some great options are Ippudo with several shops in Tokyo. There is also the matcha shop Nakamura Tokichi in Ginza, whose main store I visited in Uji, Japan.
If you or someone you know loves matcha, Japan is the best place to stock up on it. You get the best quality for prices cheaper than you’d find anywhere else. So far, we’ve only bought Japanese matcha from specialty shops in Japan and have not been disappointed.
My husband and I actually used to not like matcha, but that was because we’ve only ever had bad quality matcha. It wasn’t until we discovered higher quality matcha that we learned it does not have to taste bitter and grassy. Good quality matcha actually has a subtle and fresh tea taste with a vibrant green color.
Green Tea
If you’re looking for green tea there is a small mom and pop shop in the Ueno Ameyoko Shopping Street called Tea Garden. They specialize in green tea and have beautiful tea containers. They even sell their teas in single serving packets for you to try various ones. They are a popular shop for matcha soft serve, which they sell in the front of their shop.
Another wonderful specialty tea shop we discovered in Japan is Lupicia. They have a huge variety of tea with many different flavors to choose from. We got a delicious chestnut flavored green tea from there, which is a seasonal item in the winter. The tea is fresh from the green tea but nutty and comforting from the chestnut. We love using it as a cold brew.
You can also easily find good quality green tea in any Japanese grocery store since locals drink it daily.
2. Japanese Teaware
For a country with a rich tea culture, you can expect Japan to have some of the best teaware. You can find anything tea related from matcha whisks to teaspoons and teacups. Japan is also known for producing some of the most beautiful ceramics.
Their teaware really reflects their Japanese culture. The refined yet rustic pottery comes from thousands of years of craftsmanship passed down through the ages. Painted on them are usually traditional Japanese designs such as cherry blossoms, fishes, or ocean waves.
I always loved the minimalist style and design of Japanese ceramics. Their earthy tones and natural colors would fit in with any kitchen style and make the perfect gift.
In Japan I was able to find myself a dark brown matcha spoon. Before that I’ve only ever been able to find bamboo matcha spoons, which tend to be lighter in color.
I also got myself a beautiful matcha whisk stand from a local shop in Uji in the Kyoto prefecture. You can read about that shop in my post here.
3. Kitchenware from Kappabashi Street
If you looked up some of the top things to do in Tokyo, you probably were directed to Kappabashi Street. The famous kitchenware street in Tokyo not too far from Tsukiji Fish Market. Even the entrance of the street lets you know it’s related to culinary.
Here you can find specialty shops for all things related to cooking. Items here are sold at great prices so it could be a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to buy souvenirs.
At Kappabashi, you can find some of the best Japanese knives and even personalize them to your liking. You will find stores with bakeware for all types of desserts. There are also Japanese pottery stores that sell bowls and cups of all shapes and sizes.
This street is where many Japanese restaurants go for all their tableware supplies. I even recognized many of the bowls used in ramen shops in the US there. The prices are really competitive. I also found some of the most beautiful and unique kitchenware items for myself. For example, I was able to find a beautiful wooden plate that I now use as a spoon rest for when I am cooking.
I bought some beautiful white scalloped dessert plates for my mother-in-law from here. I loved that it was locally made in Japan from a special clay found there. It made it all the more special.
And some of my favorite items from this street are the chopstick and spoon rests. They are miniature clay versions of various foods and animals. I find them so cute and fun.
4. Imabari Towels
Next on the list are Imabari towels. These are some of my favorite purchases from Japan ever.
Imabari towels are produced by local artisans in a special method. They have to go through rigorous quality control in order to be awarded the label of being an “Imabari Towel”. You will recognize it by a special logo they are allowed to display on their products.
They are famous for being durable, absorbent, yet super soft. The level of craftsmanship on these towels is unmatched. If you see a towel with that Imabari symbol on it, you can be sure that it is high quality.
I personally bought hand towels that I still use everyday in the bathroom. I am constantly blown away by the softness of it and how well it has held up with daily use. There are many varieties of Imabari towels such as the waffle style, ones with intricate designs, and the most popular ones are the plain fluffy ones.
The next time I go to Japan I will definitely stock up on more of them. I went to three different shops but my favorite one in Tokyo is “Made in Imabari” also known as “Imabari Kinsei”. This is their location here.
They have such simple yet beautiful towels. The towels are some of the softest ones I’ve ever felt. I also love that they’re all made of 100% cotton.
I highly recommend you go and see all the options in person. They have all different colors, sizes. and textures so it is best to feel it for yourself and choose your favorite ones.
Japanese Hand Towel Culture
Another thing I noticed was that every time I went to a Japanese public restroom, there were no paper towels. Instead, everyone pulled out a little towel from their pockets and dried their hands that way. It’s instilled in the culture to always carry a pocket towel.
Because of that, you will always find these hand towels sold everywhere. I saw them in souvenir shops, department stores, train stations, and even convenience stores. They come in all sorts of colors and beautiful designs with some having famous Japanese characters on them.
I thought it was such a smart and environmentally friendly idea. I started emulating the Japanese and bought some pocket towels for myself that I still use today.
5. Stationery
Anyone with even a slight interest in stationery knows that Japan is home to some of the best stationery in the world. In fact, there’s a legendary stationery store in Ginza, Tokyo, called Itoya—spanning an impressive 12 floors dedicated entirely to all things stationery. There is a floor dedicated to just pens and writing utensils, a floor of just paint, a floor for all the postcards and lettering. You get the idea.
Some of the best Japanese souvenirs were the beautiful cherry blossom pop-up postcards we found there. They were so unique and made lovely gifts for our family and friends.
Another special find was a postcard featuring The Great Wave of Kanagawa printed on the traditional Japanese paper, washi. The texture and quality of the paper made it feel especially meaningful and authentically Japanese.
Traveler’s Factory
My all-time favorite Japanese stationary store is the Traveler’s Factory. I had already fallen in love with the Traveler’s Notebook years before I ever set foot in Japan.
Back then, I was fresh out of college and searching for a durable, stylish planner to help me stay organized as a young professional. That’s when I stumbled across the Traveler’s Notebook, and it was exactly what I was looking for.
I loved everything about it: the elegant design, the customizability, and the vintage travel theme that added a touch of nostalgia and charm. But what really sold me was the leather cover. I always had a soft spot for leather, it’s timeless and classy, and I love how it ages beautifully with use.
Japan is the perfect place to stock up on Traveler’s Notebook inserts and accessories as they’re about half the price of what you’d pay in the U.S. Plus, their stores around Japan carry exclusive, region-specific items, like the Tokyo Station notebooks or Kyoto-themed planners, which make them highly coveted.
On our last trip, I even dragged my husband along to a few of their shops, and now he’s hooked too. He chose the navy blue cover, while I use the camel leather one.
6. Japanese Beauty Products
Japanese beauty products are popular souvenir items and Japan is famous for producing some of the best skincare products. Their overall approach is preventative care so you will see a lot of products catering to that such as sunscreen and vitamin C serums.
My mom personally requested rice or sake face masks from Japan, since Japanese rice is known to have properties that are great for keeping skin smooth and young.
For beauty products, I highly recommend you do your research prior to going to the store. It’s a bit hard to understand what each product does if you don’t read Japanese.
That was my experience at Don Quijote (one of the best places to go souvenir shopping), so I relied on all the beauty gurus on Youtube to tell me what I should get and what it does. Just do a quick search for specific items such as “Best sunscreen to buy in Japan”, etc and make note of what it is before you head to the store.
7. Instant Ramen
As the birthplace of instant ramen, you can expect them to have some of the best options available. Japan has the most creative instant ramen I ever saw, and I made sure to bring back plenty so that my family and friends to get a taste of Japan themselves.
The Japanese convenience stores have whole aisles dedicated to instant ramen. There are so many flavors to choose from such as butter, curry, tomato, tonkatsu etc. I’ve even had some where there were whole cuts of meat in it, which just softened up to be like chashu pork once you added boiling water.
Japan also sells higher quality prepackaged ramen developed by various ramen shops around the country. The most popular one is produced by Ichiran, a famous ramen chain found throughout Japan.
Their ramen is sold in sets within boxes. You can purchase them at their ramen shops or various stores such as Don Quijote. They make great souvenirs because they are quite easy to transport back.
These ramen boxes are not like typical instant ramen because their noodles do not seem to be fried. Also, the broth packet is more of a concentrated broth than a packet of flavor powder.
Once you boil the noodles and add the sauce packet to it, you get a wonderful bowl of tonkatsu ramen. The noodles have the correct firmness to it and the broth comes out creamy and flavorful. At home, we like to add a soft boiled egg and green onions on top. It brings me right back to Japan whenever we have this easy meal.
8. Japanese Snacks
When you visit Japan, one of the first things you notice is how much the Japanese love their snacks. Entire floors of department stores and large sections of train stations are dedicated solely to snack vendors. This love for snacks ties closely to Japan’s deep-rooted culture of gift-giving, which is also why nearly every souvenir you buy comes beautifully packaged, ready to be given as a thoughtful gift.
Japanese snacks are carefully designed with presentation and practicality in mind. The packaging is often elegant, creative, and sturdy, making them easy to transport and perfect for gifting.
Some of the most popular snacks to bring home are Japanese Kit Kats, which come in an incredible variety of unique flavors you won’t find anywhere else. It’s always fun to try them and see how unexpected ingredients, like sweet potato, are transformed into surprisingly delicious chocolate.
Another iconic Japanese sweets is the Tokyo Banana, a soft, banana-shaped sponge cake with creamy filling. It’s one of Japan’s most popular souvenir snacks.
Regional Japanese Snacks
Each region in Japan has its own local food specialty, and they take great pride in showcasing it. In Kyoto, for instance, a popular snack is yatsuhashi, a delicate, triangular mochi often filled with sweet red bean paste. In Nagasaki, you can find some of the country’s best castella cake, a soft and fluffy sponge cake with Portuguese roots (you can read more about it [here]).
No matter where you go, regional streets are often lined with shops selling their signature snacks, so you will have plenty of chances to find the perfect edible souvenir along your journey.
Other unique Japanese snack items can be found at any konbini (convenience store) such as fun flavors of soda, chips, or candy. These are all small items that are usually easy to pack and bring back home so they make for some great gifts.
More traditional souvenirs would be some sake, cooking sauces, furikake (Japanese seaweed rice seasoning), or Japanese curry boxes. If your taste buds are really bold, you can bring back some Japanese fermented soybeans called natto. It’s considered a super health food. I personally enjoy the taste of it over a hot bed of rice.
9. Japanese Eki Stamps
This is a more unique souvenir item because it is free for you to get. In any major landmark or place in Japan, you will be sure to find a stamp that you can collect. They’re commonly found at large train stations, popular landmarks, and historical sites.
All you need to do is bring a little notebook with you wherever you go and whenever you find one, make a stamp in your book to commemorate the moment. There will be times where you will have to ask for it and the staff will provide the stamp for you or they will gladly point you in the right direction.
I love the eki stamp culture in Japan and how the country overall is united in providing this experience. We’ve found stamps in some of the most unexpected places too, such as small Catholic churches around southern Japan in Kyushu.
The creativity and details on some of these stamps are remarkable. It’s a very fun way to cherish the memories of your Japan trip. If I could go back in time, I’d get a notebook dedicated to these stamps and mark where I got each one and when. Currently they’re just all over my traveler’s notebook and sometimes I can’t remember where it came from.
10. Clothes & Merchandise
Some of my most worn items right now are basic tees and shirts that I purchased at Uniqlo in Tokyo. Japan is the perfect place to shop for clothes. I find their clothes to be of great quality and I love their more minimalist yet classy approach to fashion.
No doubt you’ve heard of the cosplay culture in Japan but it seems to be a small minority. And although fun, the majority of Japanese people dress very formally for their workday. I especially loved the fashion in the winter. All the long coats and attire were very elegant and classy.
I personally love that their clothes are mostly a more modest style overall. Japanese clothes will make a great gift for anyone since you can easily find wonderful quality basic items.
Also, if you like or have friends and family members who love cute characters or cute designs on their clothes, Japan is also very well known for that. Japan is famous for having some of the best animated movies and shows, especially the ones by Ghibli studio. Merchandise for these items can be found everywhere.
You’ll also find merchandise featuring Japanese characters like Pokémon, Hello Kitty, and Miffy all across Japan. There are specialty gift shops dedicated entirely to these characters, and they’re a joy to explore. The shop interiors are always so creatively decorated and thoughtfully designed. It’s fun just to wander through them, even if you’re not buying anything. I love popping in just to admire the displays.