No trip to Japan is complete without some form of Japanese souvenirs to take home, from tasty treats like Pocky or sake to more lasting treasures like gachapon toys or Studio Ghibli gifts.
This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
Be it ‘cutting’-edge Japanese knives, gorgeous glasses, cool Kirby Cafe merchandise or customizable gifts there are super Japanese souvenirs for you to take home alongside your photos and magical memories.
Here is our guide to Japan souvenir shopping with gifts to suit all budgets and tastes (quite literally) – and don’t forget to claim a tax refund on any single purchases over 5,000 Yen!
Japan checklist
We love using booking.com and agoda.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels. You can also purchase eSIMs from Airalo.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator or Klook.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars.
Check out our Japan travel resources page >
Tax free souvenir shopping in Japan
Big stores in Japan like Don Quijote and BIC Camera have tax free shopping in place for visitors from overseas. International customers who do not live in Japan can purchase items without consumption tax on items they take back home as souvenirs.
You must present your passport or landing permit in store to get tax free shopping.
One of the key criteria for tax free shopping is that these specially packaged consumable products must not be opened until you have left the country.
Tax free purchases in Japan for overseas visitors only apply to a total purchase amount of 5,000 Yen or more (excluding tax/after discount has been applied), or 5,500 Yen (including tax).
Specially packaged consumable tax-free products must not be opened until you have left the country.
Many Japanese stores like UNIQLO and Matsumoto Kiyoshi pharmacy also have tax free counters – so get shopping and enjoy some cash back!
1. Pokémon Souvenirs
There are several Pokémon Centers and stores in Tokyo including Pokémon Center Shibuya, and the Pokémon Store Tokyo Station Shop found in the famous Tokyo Character Street.
However, Mega Pokémon Center in Tokyo is one of Japan’s biggest Pokémon stores – because you’ve gotta catch ‘em all!
Located in Ikebukuro (inside the Sunshine City Alpa mall), the Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo is packed full of all your favourite Pokémon characters including exclusive Pokémon Japan merchandise, trading card games, Pokémon Go Lab and even a Pikachu Sweets Cafe – talk about Pika Mix!
You might like our guide to Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo >
2. Cup Noodle souvenirs
Oodles of instant noodles! No trip to Japan is complete without trying some Instant noodles from a Japanese convenience store (konbini) – find your favourite flavors and then take some back home!
For the noodle super-fan, take a trip to the famous Nissin Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama or the Nissin Cup Noodle Museum in Ikeda near Osaka.
You can design your own instant cup noodle to take home and visit the quirky gift store to buy Nissin Cup Noodle merchandise!
3. Japanese Knives
Japanese knives are known for their quality and bringing a brilliant blade back home is a popular present and gift idea (we also know a few chefs who do this too).
Kappabashi Street near Asakusa is perhaps the most famous place to browse and buy Japanese knives, often in shiny showrooms.
One of the best known Kappabashi Knife stores is Kama-Asa, which has been crafting beautiful blades and perfect pans since 1908. Inside, the attentive staff speak English and you can even get your own personalized inscriptions or initials on your chosen knife.
Alternatively, other famous places to buy Japanese knives as souvenirs are Sennichimae Doguyasuji (Osaka’s Kitchen Street) or Tower Knives Osaka in Shinsekai.
4. Japanese sunglasses and prescription glasses
Good quality prescription glasses and sunglasses are often cheaper than from your home country so if you want to ‘see’ Japan in its full glory, be sure to bring your latest eye test and prescription.
Famous eyewear retailers in Japan include JINS, Matsuda, Azabu and Oh My Glasses. Waiting times and prices will vary depending on your prescription and style of choice.
5. Daiso and 100 Yen store products
Daiso Japan is one of the best 100 Yen stores and discount product chain stores in Japan, with branches now popping up all over the world.
With many Daiso products costing around 100 Yen (£0.50 / $0.65 USD equivalent) and upwards, Daiso Japan makes it easy to fill your home, garden or school-bag with affordable items and budget buys.
Here is the ultimate guide to 40 fun Daiso Japan souvenirs to buy >
Join our Facebook Japan Travel Tips Group!
Need help with your Japan itinerary or have any questions?
Head on over to our friendly Facebook group with 100,000+ members and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >
Or if you just want to see more of our Japan photos, follow our Plan My Japan Facebook page >
6. Sake and sake cups
Perhaps Japan’s best known spirit, buying a premium bottle of sake in Japan is likely much cheaper than the often over inflated prices back home.
Sake is an alcoholic drink (usually 15 to 18% ABV) brewed from rice, water, yeast, and kōji mold – it tastes better than it sounds.
Best served in special sake cups which are wider than usual cups to allow for better aromas and tasting, some of the designs are so beautiful and intricate.
You can buy sake all over Japan in places such as Don Quijote, convenience stores, specialty shops, major department stores like BIC Camera (yep they sell liquor!), and directly from breweries in places like Saijo Sake Brewery Street near Hiroshima.
7. Kirby Souvenirs from Japan
On our most recent trip to Japan, we managed to get Kirby Cafe Tokyo restaurant reservations and sat down for a Kirby themed meal in a forest setting plus bought some cool souvenirs in the gift store as we left.
All of the Kirby Cafes have gift shops with exclusive merchandise plus opportunities to buy souvenir cups and plates from the main dining menu.
As well as the permanent Kirby Cafes, there are two smaller Kirby Cafe Petit stores which are sublime sweet shops and dessert palaces where you can take away themed Kirby sweet treats.
The two Kirby Cafe petits can be found at Tokyo Station in the Tokyo Character Street area plus in Osaka at Tennōji MIO / Tennoji Station.
You might like our guide to visiting Kirby Cafe in Tokyo >
8. Ichiran Ramen noodle kits
Our favourite ramen chain restaurant in Japan, Ichiran Ramen is all about the dining experience – if you are so inclined, it is possible not to speak to anyone during the entire ordering and eating process.
There are around 100 Ichiran Ramen restaurants across Japan – it is one of the best ramen chain restaurants in Japan, usually costing around 900 Yen per bowl.
Available from stores like Don Quijote, you can also buy Ichiran noodle kits to bring home and recreate this rather good ramen at home.
Shop for Ichiran Ramen products on Amazon >
9. Studio Ghibli Souvenirs / Donguri Republic Stores
Donguri Republic is Japan’s official Studio Ghibli store chain, comprising around 40 stores plus mountains of Princess Mononoke merchandise, shedloads of Spirited Away souvenirs and tonnes of Totoro gifts.
Each store has thousands of different items to buy and take home, often with exclusive and seasonal merchandise. So popular are some of the limited edition gifts, people have been known to queue for hours.
From plushies to photos, locations to original characters, here is our ultimate guide to visiting Japan’s Donguri Republic Studio Ghibli stores with photos >
10. Gachapon toys
Popular with otaku fans and visiting families, gachapon machines in Japan are vending machines that dispense capsule toys in a small round plastic case. They are also one of the best budget and most collectible souvenirs from Japan.
Most gachapon machines have four to six types in each machine meaning you often don’t know which one you are going to get (so it can get costly if your kids want the whole series). Parents – be prepared to bring lots of 100 Yen coins.
The largest gachapon shop in the world is Gashapon Ikebukuro Main Store in Tokyo – it has between 3,000 and 4,000 gachapon machines at any one time.
If you can’t get to Ikebukuro, don’t worry as there are hundreds of gachapon stores all over Japan, particularly in Tokyo’s Akihabara and Harajuku neighbourhoods.
Check out our guide to gachapons and the coolest capsule toys here >
11. Japanese Kit Kats
We’re crazy for Kit Kats! Any chocolate fan or traveller to Japan is likely to be captivated by the sheer number of Japanese Kit Kat flavours available. Over the years, there have been over 300 different Japanese Kit Kats to try and taste (but alas many are limited edition).
Kit Kats in Japan are almost a religious experience with chocolate enthusiasts – incredibly, over 1.5 billion Kit Kats in Japan are bought annually (we suspect many are souvenirs to take home).
Known in Japan as ‘Kitto Katto’, the Japanese Kit Kat name sounds similar to the phrase ‘Kitto Katsu’ meaning ‘to surely win’ so they are even seen as a popular good luck chocolate charm.
From melon to milk-tea, purple sweet potato to Tokyo banana, here is our guide to the best Japanese Kit Kat flavours you can still buy (and yes, there is a wasabi Japanese Kit Kat too) >
12. Perfect Whip
Made by Senka, Perfect Whip is a popular Japanese beauty product and cleansing foam that can be bought in pharmacy stores like Matsumoto Kiyoshi and the beauty section of Don Quijote.
We always buy several tubes of perfect whip on every Japan trip (plus it is easy to purchase in many other Asian countries).
Beauty fans like the rich foam consistency of Perfect Whip and it is available in several varieties including anti acne and collagen editions. We’ve even spotted Perfect Whip gachapon capsule toys!
13. Pocky
Pocky perfection! Time to take a snack break with Japan’s most iconic thin chocolate biscuit; Pocky has plenty of flavours to choose from and is easily available in pretty much every Japanese convenience store. Its small size and low price also makes it a classic Japanese souvenir.
A pocketful or purse of Pocky is a pleasurable experience and is a tasty snack to enjoy by yourself or share with others.
With over fifty flavours available (alas many are limited edition), you’ll never tire of their biscuity bite and chocolate coverings.
Find our more more about Japanese Pocky >
14. Kimono
Hiring traditional Japanese kimono is a very common activity, especially at palaces, tea ceremonies and temples but many travellers also want to buy kimono as souvenirs to take home.
Popular places to buy kimonos in Japan include traditional and vintage kimono stores in Kyoto (such as Mimuro and Kimono atelier Akane) or flea markets in Tokyo (and Asakusa in particular).
You might like these Tokyo neighbourhood guides:
Akihabara
Asakusa
Ginza
Harajuku
Ikebukuro
Nakano
Odaiba
Ryogoku
Shibuya
Shimokitazawa
Shinjuku
Also check out our
Where to stay in Tokyo guide
15. Sanrio Souvenirs
Seriously, Sanrio is everywhere in Japan. From Puroland to Sanrio gift stores, you will see your favourite Sanrio characters everywhere in gift form including Hello Kitty, Kuromi, Poccacho and Keroppi. It is a cool Kawaii thing to do in Tokyo and across Japan.
Sanrio Gift Gate Asakusa has several Sanrio souvenirs, here you’ll find all your favourite cute and Kawaii characters from Kuromi to Keroppi, Pompompurin to Pocaccho.
It is also one of the best places in Tokyo for Gudetama gifts – eggs-cellent stuff! Or head to Tokyo Character Street below Tokyo Station for a surfeit of Sanrio souvenirs.
Plan My Japan tip – for a unique souvenir, create your own personalised Sanrio stamp at the Harajuku Sanrio store on Takeshita Street.
16. Matcha powder and whisk
Bring a taste of Japan back home with a matcha and whisk set.
Matcha whisks (chasen 茶筅) are often made from bamboo and used to whisk matcha powder into a smooth drink (because no-one likes matcha lumps in their tea)!
Matcha green tea can be bought with the whisk to make a top thirst quenching gift for tea addicts.
17. Japanese fans
Especially useful during the hot Japanese summers, there are usually two types of traditional Japanese fan you can buy to take home.
Most popular as souvenirs are the sensu fans ( 扇子) as they can be folded and easily slot into your suitcase – alternatively, you can purchase the bamboo uchiwa (団扇) fans which are usually larger and a little harder to carry.
Join our Facebook Japan Travel Tips Group!
Need help with your Japan itinerary or have any questions?
Head on over to our friendly Facebook group with 100,000+ members and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >
Or if you just want to see more of our Japan photos, follow our Plan My Japan Facebook page >
18. Japanese whisky
‘Kanpai’ (cheers) to Japanese whisky – with the first distillery opening in Japan just over 100 years ago, whisky in Japan is a big part of the drinking culture (especially when mixed with a soda to create a ‘highball’).
Famous brands include Suntory and Nikka – we also found international whiskey and bourbon prices (eg Jim Bean, Jack Daniels, Grants) MUCH cheaper to buy in Japan than at home, especially in supermarkets and at Don Quijote stores.
19. Hagoita
Something we spotted one December in Tokyo at the Sensōji Temple Hagoita-Ichi Fair in Asakusa (which has taken place almost every December for over 350 years)!
Hagoita (羽子板 ｢はごいた｣) are wooden paddles which are often covered in beautiful adornments that are used to hit shuttlecocks, when playing the historic ‘hanetsuki’ during the Japanese New Year.
There used to be an old custom of giving hagoita as a year-end gift to families.
20. Sumo Souvenirs
Sumo Wrestling is a BIG sport in Japan (literally) and no trip to Japan is complete without purchasing tickets for a sumo wrestling match or at least buying one sumo souvenir.
We’ve seen everything from sumo wrestling gachapon toy capsule machines to sumo wrestling magnets or sumo stickers (and even sumo wrestling fans in the shape of wrestlers faces).
You might like – Sumo wrestling tournament ticket guide >
21. B-Side label stickers
B-Side Label is a Japanese sticker and stationery company with nationwide stores, selling sublime high quality stickers with thousands of different designs (they in fact have over 5,000 different stickers to choose from).
B-Side Label has shops in Tokyo neighbourhoods like Shimokitazawa and Harajuku or in cities such as Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya.
Working with established and up and coming Japanese designers and artists, the B-Side Label range is huge. They license hugely popular anime and comic characters like Pokémon or One Piece.
Check out our ultimate guide to B-Side Label Japan with photos >
22. Nintendo Souvenirs
The Nintendo Tokyo store in Shibuya Parco is well worth a visit – it is Tokyo’s only permanent Nintendo shop and also located on the 6th floor.
Featuring games galore, Nintendo toys, character models plus trading cards and more, be prepared to queue to get into Nintendo Tokyo at the weekends and during school holidays.
One of our best Japanese souvenirs on our last trip was Nintendo retro controller gachapons bought at this store.
Alternatively, try and get a ticket to the new Nintendo Museum in Uji (near Kyoto) and visit the Nintendo gift store here. Read our guide to getting Nintendo Museum tickets >
23. Fake food
Fantastic plastic food! Known as ‘shokuhin sanpuru’ in Japan (食品サンプル means food sample), these fake foods and plastic models of pints can be seen all over Japan, in restaurant windows and outdoor displays.
‘Sanpuru’ in Japan is big business with millions of pieces of plastic foods and sublime samples that look good enough to eat (literally).
So realistic and life-like, you can even make your own sampuru and plastic food models whilst in Japan to bring home as unique souvenirs.
Read our guide to the cult of ‘sanpuru’ / fake plastic foods or book a wonderful wax workshop.
24. Blind boxes
Japan has lots of collectible toys from gachapon toys to TOMY Tomica cars but one of the most popular items of merchandise is the ‘blind box’.
From Sanrio to Pop Mart, Pokemon to Mofusand, there are lots of blind box toys and collectors series to choose from, with highly decorated and ornate figures.
Known locally as “buraindo bokkusu” ( ブラインドボックス), there are lots of toy stores in Japan to buy blind boxes like chain stores including Village Vanguard and Kiddyland or more specialist shops like Amiami in Akihabara or Yamashiroya in Ueno.
Check out our guide to Japanese blind box toys >
25. Takara TOMY Tomica cars
You’ll often see Tomica toy cars and trains in big toy stores like Hakuhinkan Toy Park in Ginza, Japan’s biggest toy store, but at the Tokyo Character Street store, this is a dedicated TOMICA store chock full of collectible cars, tiny trains plus lots of character cars like Disney or Studio Ghibli.
You will also find TOMICA at many Japanese chain stores including BIC Camera, Don Quijote plus second hand ones at stores like Hobby Off, Mandarake and Kenbox in Shinjuku.
26. Hachikō the dog souvenirs
Possibly Japan’s most famous canine statue, Shibuya’s Hachikō Statue 忠犬ハチ公像 is one of the most photographed sites in the whole of Tokyo, up there with the Nara deer and Mount Fuji.
On the 14th floor of the Shibuya scramble mall, you’ll find a dedicated Hachikō gift-shop, stockpiled with plushes, crackers featuring the statue, doggy tote bags and more.
Called Hachifull Shibuya Meets Akita, you’ll see lots of adorable akita gifts here plus Hachikō merchandise exclusive to this store. Take a selfie with the carved wooden Hachikō statue too.
You can also buy Hachiko souvenirs at the nearby Mega Don Quijote Shibuya store.
Our guide to Hachikō The Dog Memorial Statue in Shibuya, Tokyo >
27. Ema
Ema (絵馬) wooden plaques are a common keepsake and can be bought at many of Japan’s shrines and temples.
Locals usually write wishes or prayers on them and leave them at shrines so the deities/spirits can honor the wishes – but they make meaningful souvenirs too.
Themed Ema can be bought at many famous temples including at Tokyo’s onigiri themed shrine (Hikifune Takagi) and at Gotokuji Temple – the lucky cat shrine.
28. Japanese Baseball souvenirs
Baseball in Japan is one of the countries most popular sports – so if you happen to be visiting during the Japanese Baseball season (usually March to October), try to purchase tickets and make a home-run to see a game.
Every team in the Nippon Professional League has a Japanese baseball mascot and furry figure – so for the games we saw, we were treated to antics by the ‘Giabbits’, giant rabbits wearing Tokyo Yomiuri Giants clothing.
As you’d expect, you can even buy loads of baseball merchandise at Japan’s baseball stadiums from baseball shirts and bats to branded clothes and Kawaii gifts.
We bought a Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks toy wearing all the baseball gear – such a cool souvenir!
29. Shinkansen bullet train souvenirs
Bullet train bound in Japan? These superfast Shinkansen trains are so iconic in Japan, you can find numerous train related gifts.
We found everything from light-up Shinkansen pens in Daiso to bullet train gachapons and backpacks – there is also a range of TOMICA Shinkansen Transformer style toys plus we spotted a second hand (and bright pink!) Hello Kitty Shinkansen in a Mandarake store.
Love cute and ‘kawaii’ stores in Japan?
Check out our shopping guides!
• Tokyo Character Street stores
• Studio Ghibli stores
• Don Quijote stores
• Doraemon Future Department store
• B-Side Label stores
• Mandarake stores
• Best Gachapon Capsule toys
• Pokémon Center Mega Tokyo
Plus our guide to the best kawaii things to do in Tokyo >
30. Japanese Rice face masks
Japanese rice face masks such as the popular Keana Nadeshiko brand use five types of extracts from 100% Japanese-grown rice to provide deep hydration, minimise the appearance of pores, brighten the complexion and create softer skin.
31. Rilakkuma souvenirs
Is there any Japanese cartoon character more beloved than the Rilakkuma series? We couldn’t ‘bear’ to visit Japan without dropping into a Rilakkuma store (one of the biggest is in Tokyo Character Street).
Be sure to check out the exclusive Rilakkuma Tokyo merchandise including a cute Rilakkuma cuddly toy where he is climbing up the nearby Tokyo Skytree – adorable!
32. Cute Onigiri Rice Moulds
Very cheap to buy and widely available in 100 Yen stores like Seria and Daiso, try these egg-cellent omelette or rice molds to make cute omelette rice for kids.
We spotted these Cinnamoroll omelet rice molds plus a Hello Kitty rice mold set.
33. Nail clippers
Japanese nail clippers are a popular item many visitors like to purchase due to their exceptional sharpness using high-grade, often double-hardened stainless steel.
Many top nail clipper brands are manufactured in Japan’s Seki City – a region with an 800 year history of forging samurai swords!
Popular brands to look out for include Kai, Suwada, Seki Edge, Muji and Green Bell.
34. Manhole cover merch
Japanese Manhole covers (マンホール蓋 – Manhōru futa) are colourful and often delightfully designed with intricate patterns – they also make for great souvenirs (well, when in miniature form).
You can however buy a range of Japanese manhole inspired merchandise such as calendars, coasters and colouring books. We’ve also bought wind-up manhole cover gachapon toys as silly souvenirs for ourselves.
Our final Japanese souvenir
35. Miffy Bakery merchandise
There are lots of beautiful bakeries and themed shops in Japan where you can buy sublime souvenirs and Miffy Kitchen Bakery / Sakura Kitchen is no exception.
Of the cutest and most Kawaii things to do in Japan, Miffy Bakery and Sakura Kitchen has five branches as of early 2025, mainly in very popular tourist areas like Arashiyama (Kyoto) and Kurashiki (near Okayama) – or go to the Miffy store at Tokyo Character Street.
From Miffy Kitchen utensils and cute cooking tools to tasty sweet treats in the Miffy Bakery section, here is our guide to Miffy Kitchen Bakery in Japan >
Found this Japanese souvenirs article helpful?
Did you enjoy our Japanese souvenirs article? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.
You can follow us on:
Instagram
Tik Tok
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube
Join our Japan Travel Tips Facebook group >