9 Unique Souvenirs To Buy From Japan That You’ll Actually Want

Are you bored of the usual Japan souvenirs? Why don’t you look at other items that capture Japan’s nature and culture, yet not commonly thought of as souvenirs?

Tokyo is a fantastic place to shop for souvenirs, with a wide range of product offerings to browse. In this post, I will also be suggesting stores where you can find these unique Japan souvenirs. You may even end up picking up a new hobby at the end of this souvenir shopping trip!

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What is the Tax Free rule in Japan for Souvenirs Shopping?

It is common for larger stores to offer consumption tax free purchases if you spend more than 5,000 yen. Do look out for tax free signs in the shop and ask about it when checking out at the cashier.

There are 3 main things to keep in mind if you wish to make a tax free purchase.

• You need to present your foreign passport that is stamped at customs immigration
• Do not open or use the items before leaving Japan
• Keep the purchase receipts until you depart

1. Bonsai Seeds as Japan Souvenirs

With the growing popularity of all things Japanese, what better way to introduce more zen nature to your living space than with Japanese Bonsai. Bonsai is the art of growing mini trees in pots, requiring intentional care and patience to shape them into your desired form.

In Japan, you can find a wide variety of bonsai seeds, including popular species such as Japanese Black Pine (Pinus thunbergii), Japanese White Pine (Pinus parviflora). You can also consider Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum), Juniper (Juniperus spp.), among others.

Do remember to look at your country’s regulations about bringing back seeds before purchasing. For example, if you want to bring seeds to the United States, you just need to make sure that they are not on the parasitic plant or noxious weeds list. It is a good idea to bring these to the plant quarantine office before departing in order to get a phytosanitary certificate which you can present upon arrival declaration.

Where can you buy Bonsai seeds in Tokyo?

For casual plant hobbyists, you can find Bonsai germination and cultivating kits in Tokyu hands. You can find a selection of black pine, white pine, and maple seeds there. The packaging is also very beautiful as a gift.

I heard of these places to check out for Bonsai seeds in Tokyo as well, so we may be checking out these places in our next trip.

• Omiya Bonsai Village
• Koju-en Bonsai Nursery
• Ameyoko Street 

2. Vintage and Old School Toys as Japan Souvenirs

Japan created many of the games we used to play as kids – Nintendo, Tamagotchi, Gameboy, etc. Although most of them have ceased production, the nostalgic element still brings people to seek out these vintage toys.

For example, there are rare versions of Tamagotchis that sell for more than $100 USD now, when their original retail price was just $20. Recently, Disney also featured a semblance of a Tamagotchi in their movie Red. If you are a collector of old toys, shopping for these Japan souvenirs is a dream.

Where can you buy vintage and old school toys in Tokyo?

Akihabara is a great place to start as it is a hotpot for electronics and gadgets.

• Super Potato
• Mandarake Complex
• Retro Game Camp

Of course, there’s no guarantee you will be able to find what you want when you visit the stores. That’s also part of the thrill as the items are not easily found even in Japan. If you manage to find something though, I bet it would be worth a lot in the international market.

3. Japanese Art and Ukiyo-e (Wood Block) Prints as Japan Souvenirs

Ukiyo-e is a style of Japanese wood block print art that originated in the Edo period. It involves transferring original artwork to a wooden block by carving it out, then applying ink to reproduce it as paper copies of the artwork. It has played a crucial role of preserving Japanese culture and influencing world-famous western artists like Claude Monet and Van Gogh.

Does anyone find this artwork familiar? It’s the The Great Wave off Kanagawa, one of the great Ukiyo-e works.

Beautiful and iconic Ukiyo-e art can be found at various price points, ranging from $3 (reprints) to more than $200,000. If you are keen on any valuable or antique Ukiyo-e pieces, be sure to go to a reputable seller who can verify their authenticity.

You can also find influences of Ukiyo-e on modern Japanese art prints as well. Depending on your preference of art style, there will definitely be unique ones to take home as Japan souvenirs.

Where can you buy Japanese art and Ukiyo-e prints in Tokyo?

• Hara Shobo
• Mita Art Gallery
• Walls Tokyo
• Yamada Shoten Prints Tokyo

A few of the shops I’ve mentioned are located in Jimbocho, so there are probably many more shops there to check out.

4. Studio Ghibli Merchandise as Japan Souvenirs

There is no better place than Japan to shop for Studio Ghibli merchandise. They are highly popular among fans in and outside Japan, and makes for a good souvenir to bring back. Some of the popular animation films produced include My Neighbour Totoro, Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away, and more.

Where can you buy Studio Ghibli merchandise in Tokyo?

• Studio Ghibli Museum
• Donguri Kyowakoku

Donguri is the official store selling Studio Ghibli merchandise, and they have multiple branches across Tokyo. You will be able to find them at Ikebukuro, Tokyo Station Store and Tokyo Sky Tree Town. There are so many different types of accessories ranging from stationary to kitchenware, each store with its own mesmerising interior decor.

5. Hanko Name Stamps as Japan Souvenirs

If you are looking for a small and personalised from Japan, this souvenir will be a great choice. Hanko name stamps are traditionally used to sign off on contracts and documents in Japan, similar to the Chinese tradition. It is a great way to bring back another part of Japan’s culture.

The fun thing about buying Hanko name stamps is that you could choose to customise it, or choose from various types of signature font styles. You can get one of these for about $20-30 USD. Personally, I like the idea of adding cartoon animals decorations onto the Hanko name stamp design.

Depending on the complexity and quality of the Hanko name stamp, you can expect to wait anytime between 30 minutes to a few days for the Hanko name stamps to be ready. For example, wooden stamps take a longer time than vending machine stamps.

Where can you buy Hanko name stamps in Tokyo?

• Shinimonogurui Stamp Shop
• Hanko Land

6. Mini Zen Garden Kit as Japan Souvenirs

Inspired by the beautiful gardens in Japan? Why don’t you recreate it in your own space with a mini zen garden?

Traditional Japanese architecture often feature small gardens within a space, offering an aesthetically-pleasing break from dense urban living. Zen gardens (karesansui) are usually easy to maintain as they are just patterns formed by raked gravel, pebbles and stones.

Their design is made to reflect the movement of natural elements like water and waves. You could even redo the arrangement from time to time to change the look and feel of the garden.

Where can you buy a mini zen garden kit in Tokyo?

Many of the items required for a mini zen garden can be found in the local gardening shops, though they may not sell it as a kit.

• Tokyu Hands
• Green Shop Oto-no-ha
• Okudoen

7. Japanese-Style Home Decor as Japan Souvenirs

Japanese home decor has a wide range of styles, including minimalist and modern contemporary. Tokyo is one of the best places to search for unique pieces that are not only great Japan souvenirs but also suitable as housewarming gifts.

Aside from department stores and larger retailers, you can also look into antique shops for small decorative items. These small items are also easier to pack home in your luggage.

Where to buy Japanese-style home decor in Tokyo?

• Loft
• DECOR TOKYO
• Francfranc
• Antique Life Jin
• Spiral Market

8. Outdoor Gear as Japan Souvenirs

With all the nature and outdoor recreation that Japanese people get to enjoy, it’s no surprise that they take their outdoor gear seriously. It is a lifestyle that many adopt here, and you can find locals going tent camping in all parts of Japan. The cool thing about Japanese camping culture is that people enjoy glamping and all things aesthetically-pleasing even when they are outdoors or hiking in Japan.

Japan’s many outdoor shops cater to all kinds of outdoor-goers, such as solo campers and also family weekend trippers. You can expect to find compact and innovative outdoor gear widely available in Japan, and outdoor enthusiasts will love browsing through the huge collection here.

Where to buy outdoor gear in Tokyo?

You could go to specific retail stores if you already know what you want to buy. Otherwise, huge outdoor shops that carry a wide variety of local and foreign brands is one of the places you don’t want to miss. On our last trip, we went to WILD-1 in Odaiba, and look forward to visit Alpen Tokyo in Shinjuku on our upcoming trip.

• Columbia
• WILD-1
• Montbell
• Snow Peak
• Alpen Tokyo

9. Coffee Equipment and Accessories as Japan Souvenirs

When you think of Japan, you think of good quality. This goes the same for the coffee equipment, and Japan is a great place to buy these as unique souvenirs or to upgrade your own setup. Aside from international brands like Hario, you should check out the wide range of coffee equipment from boutique shops too.

Whether you’re a casual or serious coffee enthusiast, there’s going to be something for you. Besides, they look really nice even as decor pieces on your kitchen counter.

Where to buy coffee equipment and accessories in Tokyo?

• Koffee Mameya
• Kitchentown
• Union coffee supply 
• Kurasu
• Yamamoto Coffee Shop
• KINTO STORE Tokyo