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. Be it ‘cutting’-edge Japanese knives, gorgeous glasses, cool Kirby Cafe merchandise or customizable gifts there are super Japanese souvenirs for you to […]
Category Archives: SHOPPING
18
Nov
Nov
We adore shopping and browsing Japan’s biggest chain stores and for beauty products in Japan, the biggest Japanese drugstore is Matsumoto Kyoshi. Some branches also have pharmacy staff to assist with your medical needs. Most high streets and city centers in Japan have Matsumoto Kiyoshi drugstores – their red yellow and blue branding is a […]
18
Nov
Nov
We love Japanese chain stores and none more so than the cheap and cheerful second hand ‘Off’ chain that consists of Hard-Off, Book Off, Hobby Off and more. With over 1,000 ‘Off’ ハードオフ second hand stores across Japan, this is one way to buy lots of Japanese souvenirs and cut price collectibles without breaking the […]
27
Oct
Oct
From manga to Mario Kart, anime to Akihabara, Japan is the best place in the world for wonderful ‘weeb’ activities and to release your inner ‘otaku’. Japanese otaku things to do range from maid cafes to a manga museum, the world’s biggest gachapon store to the Taiko no Tatsujin fun drum arcade machines – we […]
27
Oct
Oct
Japan is known for its cool collectibles and perfect playthings, so as you’d expect, there are some top Tokyo toy shops from iconic independents like Yamashiroya in Ueno to famous chain toy stores like Kiddyland and Sanrio. We’ll share the best places to play and pick-up plushies, like the six storey Hakuhinkan Toy Park in […]
26
Oct
Oct
Looking to give a Japanese gift or the ultimate present for a Japanophile? Or maybe a lasting reminder of your time in Japan, like an amazing meal you want to recreate at home. From Japanese snacks to manhole cover coloring books, stamp books to Studio Ghibli, we’ve got you covered with our Japanese gift guide. […]
14
Oct
Oct
Japan has lots of collectible toys from gachapons to TOMY Tomica cars but one of the most popular items of merchandise is the ‘Blind Box’. They can be bought in most Kawaii gift or toy shops and major department stores. From Sanrio to Pop Mart, Pokemon to Mofusand, there are lots of Blind Box toys […]
13
Oct
Oct
No trip to Japan is complete with looking around a 100 Yen store – if you are looking for fun souvenirs, cute stationery or even toys for your pets back home, 100 Yen stores in Japan are a treasure trove of gifts (plus to be honest, some terrible tat)! 100 Yen shops in Japan are […]
13
Oct
Oct
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 […]
13
Oct
Oct
Visiting convenience stores is a classic traveller rite of passage when in Japan – and one of Japan’s biggest and best convenience stores is FamilyMart Japan (JP). As of late 2025, Japan has over 55,000 convenience stores (or konbini コンビニ as they are known locally) and the most popular shops are FamilyMart Japan, 7-Eleven and […]