Satisfied with sightseeing, it’s time to have fun shopping for Japanese souvenirs for your dear friends and family at home. There are many choices of products that you can take home as souvenirs. What’s even more exciting is that you can shop while exploring the area where the souvenirs are sold. Klook guarantees, your shopping agenda will be really fun. So, what souvenirs can you make into typical Japanese souvenirs? Come on, check out this article!
1. Souvenirs from various theme parks in Japan!
A holiday to Japan is the best opportunity to have fun at the world’s best theme parks! Starting from Warner Bros Studio – The Making of Harry Potter (a must for big Harry Potter fans!), Tokyo Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea, to Universal Studios Japan; you can visit all of them.
So, once you’ve had enough fun playing, don’t forget to buy merchandise for the theme park you visited at the gift shop there. There is a lot of merchandise that you can buy, ranging from stationery, cute knick-knacks, household equipment, dolls and toys, to various adorable accessories. So, to make it more practical and economical; You just order tickets to the theme park of your choice on Klook. There’s no need to queue anymore; get a discount too!
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
You just have to buy this souvenir when you visit the theme park. Every theme park definitely has its own gift shop so you don’t need to bother buying souvenirs outside the theme park.
2. Chopsticks Set
One of the Japanese souvenirs that is interesting, but easy to get, is a chopstick set. For Japanese people, chopsticks are more than just the main eating utensil. Japanese people have considered chopsticks as a very important tool since ancient times because chopsticks are a lucky charm to connect humans with humans and humans with gods.
Japanese chopsticks are usually made of wood or bamboo and are available in various designs and colors so they are not only functional, but also decorative. Because of its meaning, function and beauty, chopstick sets will become Japanese souvenirs for your loved ones.
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
There are many shops in Japan that specialize in chopstick sets. You can visit shops like this because there are so many chopsticks that you can collect or make into Japanese souvenirs.
In Ginza, for example, try stopping by Ginza Natsuno. You will be surprised by the variety of chopstick sets they sell. It is said that the number of chopsticks in this shop is more than 2,500 pairs. The good news is, Ginza Natsuno only closes every January 1st so you can visit there all year round.
If you travel to Shibuya, you can also buy souvenirs at a specialty chopstick shop called HYOZAEMON Chopsticks Specialty Shop. The chopstick sets sold here are artisan chopstick sets so they are unique and hard to find elsewhere. Here, you can decorate your chosen chopstick set with your name and can do it and pick it up on the same day. The shop is closed every Tuesday, but will be open every day in December.
3. Tea Cup and Sake Drinking Set
Other Japanese souvenirs that will really make the atmosphere of Sakura Country really strong are tea cups and sake drinking sets. The reason is, tea and sake are two drinks that are very synonymous with Japan. In fact, sake is truly a typical Japanese alcohol. Basically, sake is alcohol made from fermented rice and drunk using a special small glass known as sakazuki.
Sake sets usually have unique colors and designs, and Japanese tea cups are no different. Don’t forget to tell the seller to pack your tea cup or sake drinking set safely because you will be taking it on a long trip to Indonesia.
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
You can find tea cups and sake drinking sets in various ceramic shops in many cities throughout Japan. However, if you are traveling in Tokyo, you can explore the Kappabashi Kitchen area. This is a long shopping area between Ueno and Asakusa, filled with dozens of shops selling household, especially kitchen, appliances and equipment, typical of Japan.
4. Various Anime Merchandise
Photo Credit: Daily Choice via Unsplash
Japanese souvenirs in the form of anime merchandise will certainly be a very pleasant gift for your otaku friends. Starting from t-shirts, stationery, cute knick-knacks, Japanese comics or manga, to action figures you can choose.
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
Klook recommends that you visit areas that are synonymous with anime and manga if you choose this merchandise as your Japanese souvenir. There are at least six areas that are very famous for anime and manga in Japan:
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Akihabara , Tokyo: Besides having many shops selling anime and manga merchandise, this area is famous for its video game and gadget shops.
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Nakano Broadway , Tokyo: This area is known as the indoor version of Akihabara. Uniquely, Nakano Broadway is synonymous with retro anime and manga. The prices of the products are also more affordable compared to Akihabara.
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DiverCity Tokyo Plaza , Tokyo: This is a paradise for Gundam and Digimon fans. Also take the time to take a photo in front of the famous Unicorn Gundam statue, OK?
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Ghibli Museum, Tokyo: This special Ghibli museum has a gift shop that you can explore to buy Japanese souvenirs. Because the shop is inside the museum, you have to buy an entrance ticket first, but this is the right choice for those of you who are visiting there. If you want to buy Ghibli merchandise without visiting the museum, there are a number of official stores in Japan, such as the Donguri Store which has 37 branches. However, the branches that are usually tourist destinations are in Tokyo Sky Tree Town (Tokyo), Tokyo Station Store (Tokyo), Ikebukuro (Tokyo), Namba (Osaka), Umeda (Osaka), and Ningyoshaka (Kyoto).
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Kyoto International Manga Museum , Kyoto: Coming to Kyoto, you can buy merchandise related to manga and anime at this museum. It is said that the Kyoto International Manga Museum has more than 3,000 pieces of merchandise, you know!
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Pokemon Center, Tokyo: Time to hunt Pokemon! In fact, there are many Pokemon Centers in Japan and what is unique is that each center has its own signature Pokomen and special merchandise that is only sold there.
5. Daruma
Have you ever seen dolls and toys from Japan with an almost round shape, with empty insides and no legs or arms? Well, this doll is called Daruma. Daruma dolls are believed to bring good luck and symbolize unfulfilled hopes.
Don’t be surprised if the Daruma you buy doesn’t have eyes on it. Because, buyers who want their wishes to come true must draw Daruma’s eyes using a brush and ink. However, what was drawn first was only one eye. The other eye will be drawn if this hope has been achieved.
Because of the meaning behind it, Daruma is also often taken home by tourists, and is often even used as a Japanese souvenir. You can also do the same thing. Give Daruma to your loved ones as a sign that you support them in achieving all their dreams and hopes. Very thoughtful, right?
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
It’s really easy to find Daruma because there are many souvenir shops throughout Japan that sell them. In addition, Daruma can be purchased in shops at Japanese temples. While visiting a temple, you can really buy Daruma as a Japanese souvenir for friends and family at home.
Another alternative, try traveling to Takasaki, a city in eastern Japan that is part of Gunma Prefecture. The city is home to the towering Byakue Kannon statue and the Shorinzan Darumaji Temple which is famous for its round Daruma dolls. It is said that around 80% of the Daruma in all of Japan are made in Takasaki.
6. KitKat Various Flavors
You can only find the Yubari Melon KitKat in Japan.
OK, it’s time to fill your bag with Japanese souvenirs in the form of food. The first option that you should consider is KitKat. This chocolate is very popular and is produced in many countries, including Japan.
Klook’s suggestion, you buy the KitKat variant which is not sold in Indonesia. Surprise your friends and family when you eat KitKats flavored with matcha, cherry blossom, pumpkin, melon, even wasabi and soy sauce!
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
Photo by Filiz Elaerts on Unsplash
You can find KitKat with these unique flavors in various supermarkets and minimarkets in Japan. Another exciting option, might as well visit KitKat Chocolatory, aka the KitKat special store. Here you can buy various KitKat variants with various packaging. There are at least 2 KitKat Chocolatory in Tokyo and 1 in Osaka.
7. Ichiran Instant Ramen
There’s no harm in bringing home instant Ichiran Ramen as a Japanese souvenir. Your friends or family will definitely be happy with the different taste compared to instant noodles made in Indonesia. Well, Ichiran Ramen itself actually focuses on tonkotsu ramen.
This is a typical Fukuoka ramen dish that uses a soup stock made from pork bones and a number of other ingredients that are simmered for hours. Because of this basic ingredient, Klook recommends that you give this souvenir to non-Muslim friends or family. In fact, instant Ichiran Ramen once had a halal version. However, since June 2023, production of this variant has been stopped.
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
Apart from various supermarkets in Japan, you can buy instant Ichiran Ramen at the Ichiran Ramen restaurant. This instant ramen is sold in boxes containing three or five packs. Finding Ichiran Ramen in Japan is not difficult because this restaurant has 80 outlets spread as follows:
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Kyushu – 19 outlets
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Tokyo – 19 outlets
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Kanto – 13 outlets
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Kinki – 18 outlets
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Chubu – 10 outlets
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Chugoku – 2 outlets
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Hokkaido – 1 outlet
8. All about Matcha
It’s time to make your friends or family who really like matcha happy! In simple terms, matcha is a type of powdered green tea from Japan. Matcha is popular all over the world for its unique taste and health benefits. Matcha in Japan is sold in a variety of products, ranging from instant matcha lattes, powdered matcha as a dessert ingredient, as well as matcha ice cream and various kinds of cakes.If your friends or family want to still feel the typical Japanese ambience at home, you can buy them matcha complete with a traditional Japanese tea set with a spoon and bamboo whisk.
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
If you want to buy high quality matcha, specialty matcha and tea shops in the Ginza area are the right choice. In Asakusa there are also a number of small shops selling similar products. However, you can still buy high quality matcha at large department stores. An alternative to shopping for matcha that you can try, shopping while learning to make matcha tea directly in Kyoto!
9. Furikake
Furikake on top of a bowl of rice
Furikake is a typical Japanese food spice such as shredded meat and is used as a complement to rice or side dishes. Furikake is actually made from one type of protein – fish, chicken, beef, or other protein – which is cooked, dried, mashed, and mixed with nori, sugar, salt, roasted sesame seeds, dried eggs, dried fish, katsuobushi, and spices. dried spices. In this era, furikake is available in ready-to-eat packaging and in various flavors.
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
Furikake is not a food that is difficult to find in Japan. You don’t even have to buy it in big supermarkets because furikake is also available in minimarkets.
10. Tokyo Banana
This is a cute Japanese snack; Tokyo Banana! This is a soft and tender sponge cake filled with banana pudding cream. Tokyo Banana is made from real bananas which are processed into puree so it tastes really delicious.
Tokyo Banana has various variants; starting from original, honey, coffee milk, banana pudding (banana custard), and maple. Apart from that, there are also variants of cookies, sandwiches, cheese cake, butter madeleine, kamakura hangetsu, and pie. In a number of branches in certain cities, Tokyo Banana is available in various adorable cartoon character shapes.
Where can you find these Japanese souvenirs:
Tokyo Banana outlets can be easily found in various shopping centers to stations and airports. The following is a list of Tokyo Banana outlets that you can visit to buy this really hyped Japanese souvenir:
Airport:
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Hanada Airport Terminal 1
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Hanada Airport Terminal 2
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Narita Airport Terminal 1
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Narita Airport Terminal 2
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Narita Airport Terminal 3
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Haneda Airport International Terminal
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Kansai International Airport Terminal 1
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Chubu International Airport
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Fukuoka Airport International Terminal
Station:
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Shinagawa station
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JR Tokyo station
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Shinjuku station
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Ueno station
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Hachio-ji station
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O-miya station
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Shin-Yokohama station
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Odakyu-Shinjuku
Landmarks and shopping centers:
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Tokyo Tower
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Daimaru Tokyo Store
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Isetan-Fuchu
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Tokyo Skytree
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LAOX Ginza
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Seibu-Ikebukuro
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Odakyu-Machida
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Odaiba Aqua city
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Yokohama Sogo
