If you’re traveling to Japan, be sure to pick up some great souvenirs! Japan’s unique environment and culture offers many options for things to take home to remember your journey.
It might be tempting to get a t-shirt, Japanese mug, or other keepsakes that you can get anywhere, but the best souvenirs in Japan are uniquely Japanese, with a unique history that offers something interesting to display and talk about when you get home.
1. Daruma
Daruma are traditional Japanese dolls. These round red dolls can be found in shops all through Japan. They are symbols of good fortune and perseverance that date back to the Edo period.
They are typically made of carefully painted paper and can come in a variety of sizes. Daruma are weighted at the bottom so that no matter how hard you try to knock one over, it goes back upright.
It is this trait that symbolizes perseverance, a reminder for you to never give up, no matter what tries to bring you down.
You may find this made-in-Japan Daruma doll a great gift idea for someone you love.
2. Maneki Neko (Lucky Cats)
These charming cats are one of the most recognizable souvenirs from Japan. Often made of ceramic, they can be made from a wide range of materials, including paper, plastic, and even jade or gold for very expensive ones!
Gotokuji Temple in Setegaya City, Tokyo is believed to be the birthplace of the Maneki-Neko cat. You can see thousands of lucky cats there.
Lucky cats can be found all over Japan, from shrines to pachinko parlors. It’s not clear where or when they originated. These lovely little cats are often accompanied by symbols of luck and good fortune and come in a variety of symbolic colors.
If you are looking for an iconic traditional Japanese souvenir, take one of these kittens home!
3. Kimono & Yukata
Kimonos are well known as the silken robes worn by both men and women at Japanese events. Yukata are a simpler, more everyday version.
You can buy both in many Japanese shops, especially near historical towns. Kimonos can cost quite a bit, while yukata tend to be cheaper, as well as easier to wear.
These unique souvenirs are excellent display pieces and yukata actually make great loungewear for when you are at home!
4. Kokeshi
These simple, traditional dolls are popular Japanese souvenirs. Dating back to the Edo period where they were made as children’s toys, Kokeshi dolls are made of wood and have no arms or legs.
They are painted in unique colors, with designs often unique to the region or even venue. The painted colors are sealed with wax so they will not fade over time.
Kokeshi are often handmade using traditional techniques, then hand-painted. There is often an artist’s signature on the back or bottom of the doll. These are unique display pieces that are perfect to take home from your trip to Japan!
5. Green Tea & Matcha Sweet
One of the best things about any trip to Japan is the food, so bringing some home is sure to be a great souvenir. One of the most transportable Japanese food items is matcha green tea.
You can purchase matcha tea sets along with the tea itself to be able to prepare it properly. If tea is not your thing (or even if it is), you could also take home some unique match sweets.
Matcha is used in many treats in Japan, including cookies, mochi, cake, pancakes, and much, much more.
A package of matcha sweets is easy to fit into your luggage and is sure to be hit with whoever you give it to, or to brighten your day if you keep it for yourself!
6. Japanese Pottery
Japanese pottery is very unique and is excellent for home use or display. You’ll find that pottery varies by region, with several Japanese towns famous for their ceramics and many having a history of being places built around creating pottery.
You can find delicate porcelain pieces or hardy, colorful earthenware, often made by local artists whose heritage is this unique craft.
Beautiful teapots, tea cups, and pots are some of the more common items to take home as a souvenir from Japan, but you can also get chopstick rests or even small ceramic figures from Japanese folklore.
7. Chopsticks
While chopsticks might seem like odd souvenirs, they are in fact really great ones. Japanese chopsticks come in many types, varying in length and shape depending on their intended use.
Many people think of chopsticks as plain eating utensils, but souvenir chopsticks come in a variety of colors and designs. Be sure to get a lovely matching chopstick rest, too. You can find unique, beautiful chopstick sets all over Japan on your trip.
They’re great utensils and display pieces; if you would like to treat your friends to some traditional Japanese foods when you get home, be sure to get multiple sets!
8. Hand Fan
Beautifully decorated Japanese hand fans are small items with a lot of history. Originally made to serve a practical purpose, handmade fans came to have far more symbolism to them, serving ceremonial and sometimes even diplomatic purposes as gifts to foreign rulers.
There are many different kinds of Japanese hand fans to view and purchase as you travel the country.
There are also places you can go to make a fan yourself in special workshops where craftsmen whose families have been making fans for generations teach the basics of their art.
Whether you’re looking for a unique household tool or a piece of art for your home, a hand fan is an excellent souvenir to bring home from Japan.
9. Sake
Sake is the iconic Japanese liquor. Commonly called nihonshu in Japan, sake has been a part of the culture for a long time and had many rituals associated with drinking it.
There are many flavors and grades of sake to choose from. You can find it served everywhere from ordinary bars to high-end restaurants and can buy it from grocery stores ad liquor stores, where you will have more options.
Sake can be served warm, cool, or at room temperature; it all depends on the kind of sake. If you purchase sake, you should also get traditional sake serving ware, which typically consists of a serving carafe called tokkuri and smaller personal cups called ochoko.
10. Ukiyo-e Woodblock Prints
These iconic woodblock prints originated in the Edo period, where they were very popular. They usually depicted popular sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, and geisha in a unique, colorful artistic style.
The name ukiyo-e means “paintings of the floating world” in reference to the images’ detachment from the ordinary world. While the art became less popular once photography reached Japan, it is still practiced today.
You can buy copies of woodblock prints at many places, especially museums, and newer originals from artisans, including occasionally some takes of modern imagery in the traditional style.
11. Noren Curtains
Noren curtains originally served as dividers in doorways, helping make rooms distinct and maintain privacy. Today, they are often used by businesses more than private homes and often feature a business’ name.
Noren tend not to come all the way down so as not to block sunlight and are kept ‘closed’, as they function like a door. Many have splits in the middle. Noren are often decorated with traditional Japanese symbols and patterns.
Taking one home can be a unique addition to your home. Be sure to consider where you would place it. You may want to get one made of hardier, fade-resistant fabrics, and you certainly want to get the measurements right.
12. Wagashi
Traditional Japanese sweets make great fun souvenirs, either for yourself or as gifts. There are a great variety of these.
Some kinds are available everywhere and year-round, while others might be regional or available only during a certain season.
Many wagashi contain sweet azuki bean paste (anko), rice cakes (mochi), rice flour, Japanese agar (kanten), sesame paste, and/or chestnuts. You can find them pretty much anywhere you can buy food, though there are also specialty shops.
Wagashi are often eaten while drinking green tea and are a part of traditional tea ceremonies, so consider getting some green tea to go with them!
