Souvenirs
Furoshiki – traditional cloth used for wrapping and carrying things. It’s simple, versatile, and rooted in everyday life—used to bundle gifts, wrap lunch boxes, as a scarf or even an accent over a white tablecloth to elevate your table setting. What makes it special is its balance of function and beauty. The fabric is usually cotton or silk, often printed with seasonal patterns or geometric designs.
Tenugui, a cousin to the furoshiki, but a little less fancy. It's used as a hand cloth, a headband, a dust cover, even wall art. No finished edges, just raw cotton that frays a little with time. It’s a beautiful personal object.
Taoru hankachi (towel handkerchiefs) – a fusion of a Western handkerchief and a mini terry towel. People carry them daily to dab sweat, dry hands at public bathrooms, a soft coaster, wrap a water bottle or handy impromptu wipe. Lots of cute versions of these
Imabari towels - city in Ehime Prefecture, on Shikoku island, and it's become synonymous with some of the highest quality towels in the world.
Sashiko kits - a great choice because it’s both rooted in tradition and still modern Japan. You can find them as coasters, pouches, clothing, etc., with the patterns pre-marked so that you only need to hand sew along the lines.
Yukata – light, wearable, casual cotton kimono, traditionally worn at festivals, fireworks displays, and hot spring towns. Unlike a formal kimono, the yukata is easy to slip on, unlined, and often comes in playful or seasonal patterns—morning glories, fireworks, waves, dragonflies.
Upcycled Kimono – upcycled kimono scene blends heritage with creativity. KUON reimagines vintage silk through hand-dyed patchwork fashion. MACHIKO KIMONO transforms old kimono into modern dresses and haori. Kimono Reborn and Tokyo Kimono Shoes give fabric new life as bags, shirts, and handcrafted footwear—especially popular in Asakusa. For raw material or inspiration, Recycle Kimono Kanno in Nishi-Ogikubo offers antique pieces and accessories.
Stationery – find beautiful paper, brush sets, pens etc. Also lots of cute things such as stickers, erasers, post-its, bookmarkers, stamps, and more. Also, customized notebooks. See homely crafty section above.
Hanko – a personal seal used in place of signatures, deeply rooted in tradition and daily life. It can also be a unique, personalized souvenir, at certain shops artisans can create a custom seal for you, allowing you to select the material, script, and design that resonate with you.
Tabi Socks – split-toed separating the big toe from the rest, dates back centuries, worn with geta or zori sandals. But they’ve been reimagined for modern life: stretchy, colorful, and often with playful or elegant designs.
Daruma – it’s a symbol of persistence, hope, and the quiet power of starting again. Darumas come with blank eyes: you paint one pupil when you set a goal or make a wish, you paint the second when it's fulfilled. The doll sits somewhere visible—not to pressure you, but to remind you.
Preserved Flowers – real blooms treated with special techniques to maintain their shape and color for months or even years, often arranged with a minimalist aesthetic: elegant glass domes, delicate ikebana-style compositions, or even blended with washi paper. Because they have been preserved/dried, would not be restricted for import customs (depending on country’s laws)
Book Nook – a tiny world hidden between your books—a miniature diorama that fits snugly on a bookshelf, creating the illusion of a little scene tucked among the spines. Originally popularized in Japan, they are often designed to look like narrow alleys, fantastical libraries, train stations, or cozy shops—sometimes lit from within, giving the impression of life just beyond the page.
Ceramics – See above about ceramics. Here is a guide about shops for household ceramics in Tokyo
Glassware – Different styles, Edo Kiriko (cut glass with precise, geometric patterns), Satsuma Kiriko (richer colors and softer cuts), Hand-blown Glass (Soft shapes, often asymmetrical), Tin-Infused Glass – Used for its cooling properties, especially in sake ware.
SGHR is known for hand-blown glass made by skilled artisans. Every item—from tumblers to sake sets, vases to paperweights—is shaped one at a time, often with subtle asymmetry and soft curves.
Tsuchi-ya Glass embodies a blend of Japanese minimalism with a tactile, organic quality, handcrafted.
Usuhari, ultra thin drinking glasses, it really does make your beverage tastier I think.
Dealership there’s a strong subculture around collecting retro American branded glassware—think Fire-King, Pyrex, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, and fast food promotional cups from the '50s to the '80s.
Metalware Nousaku– metalworking brand from Toyama Prefecture, their signature material is tin—soft, pure, and unexpectedly flexible. Napkin rings that reshape, baskets you can sculpt, tableware that responds to touch. Lovely wind chimes and bells that have beautiful sound.
Matcha and teaware. See section about tea
Tools for Japanese cooking – mortar and pestle, donabe pots, drop lits, wasabi grater, rolled egg pans, kamenoko brushes, molds for bento making (or onigiri), rice basins
Woodcrafts
Prefectural Mascots and product: yuruchara are regional mascots—soft, strange, each one represents a prefecture, town, or city, blending local culture, history, and humor into a character. Find souvenirs featuring favorite yuruchara or prefectural specialities in antenna shops, outpost shops to promote local products, food and crafts from other parts of Japan.
Kokeshi Dolls - simple, hand-carved wooden figures—no arms, no legs, just a rounded head atop a cylindrical body. They were first made as toys for children and sold at hot spring towns. They are fun decorative items, you can find vintage versions of these at low cost at flea markets.
Omamori – charms from temples and shrines, small, embroidered pouches, each one holding a blessing or prayer inside, you carry it with you: for luck, for health, for safe travels, or even for success in love or exams. Each shrine or temple offers its own designs, some are seasonal, some themed around local legends or gods. As gifts, omamori are thoughtful and deeply personal.