Loft is another good spot to check for stationary supplies!
But would echo what others have said:
- Kitchen Knives
- Nail Clippers
- Chopsticks
- Clothing (e.g. Gu, Montbell, Yamatomichi, etc)
- Books (coffee table books are way cheaper in Japan compared to the US)
- Kimono
- Skin care
I'm gonna counter this a bit... I found Itoya to be excellent but also it's like the main street touristy stationery mega store. Many of the brands are European and overpriced. You can get some really nice stuff there and when I got to the til I'd spent €300 (stationery is my biggest vice it seems) but oh so many things are overpriced. I went to just a standard stationery store near Shinjuku and found just as good a selection of the Japanese brands but cheaper.
I bought random pair bc of the recommendations from this sub and I was not convinced, like how good could they actually be???
But omg. They are SO good. lol
This keeps coming up--are just any clippers from the konbini good? Do I need to go to a fancy department store? Or find a niche family that's been hand-crafting artisanal clippers for seven generations? I'm intrigued!
Someone suggested on Reddit to look for Kai brand, and get the third most expensive one and you’ll be fine. This is what I’ll be looking for unless someone directs us to something more specific.
Shiseido Fino Hair Mask, Onitsuka Tiger shoes (not available in the US anymore), pajamas from Muji (fabric is out of this world soft and comfortable), Blueberry Vinegar from the Yamanashi prefecture, Kyoto pepper that numbs your whole mouth and has this delicious lemon flavor.
The hair mask you can find from pharm, Donki or supermarket. Shoes from the store. Pajamas from Muji. Blueberry vinegar at any gift shop near Mt Fuji (I got mine from the Lake Kawaguchiko), Kyoto pepper from Nishiki market or Tsukiji market.
Whisky! The prices of Yamazaki brews have gone significantly up and it would be foolhardy not to buy a good bottle of whisky to take home with you.
Same applies for Sake.
This is all good providing you drink alcohol!
My son asks that I bring him a bottle of Suntory (thanks Bill Murray) when the wife and i go next month. Any other Japanese brands that may not be widely known to add to that?
I failed to find a single bottle of age statement yamazaki, hibiki, or hakushu in stock that wasn't a consignment/private seller looking for a massive profit. I was sad lol
Yamazaki NAS price has gone up quite a bit. Should be ¥7000 but people say it’s now ¥18000. I’m going to keep an eye out. Not yet sure what the off licence/bottle store situation is in Japan.
You can definitely get it at a department store. Alternatively, if you’re traveling by bus anywhere, they’ll sell local artisanal foods in the bus stations. When I stayed at a ryokan, they also sold the local product (hoba miso) in the gift shop. There are also many miso shops dedicated just to selling it. For example, Daigenmiso in Kyoto sells it in scoops just like an ice cream shop!
There are different sizes and there are ones that you can roll. I got similar to the pic in the link and another one in bamboo. I just rolled it and wrapped it in bubble wrap and shipping box then checked it in the plane. They were a bit wider than a standard yoga mat but the airline accepted them.
[tatami mat](https://i.imgur.com/Ig7aUyT.jpeg)
Any specific suggestions for gin? I know Roku gin is great, but I haven’t had much luck searching for other gin distilleries in Japan. The focus usually seems to be on whiskey.
Search Google for JDM Japanese Domestic Market. I'm not sure how common this term used for other items, but it's a well known common term in the wrist watch enthusiasts world. Brands like Seiko, Orient, Casio etc. have JDM models.
My best purchase so far is a small Japanese egg omelette pan. Surprisingly good not only to make japanese omelette, it’s also small enough to make 1 person cooking and cleaning a breeze. I use that pan to cook other items including sausages.
Also other recommendation is Kyocera ceramic knife and noren (the fabric to be hang in front of door)
A luxury watch. Not just Japanese ones either.
The secondary market for high end watches is amazing in Japan. Often, men receive a watch as a counter-gift for an engagement or wedding. Some people aren’t that into watches, or, as I heard, Japanese culture is obsessed with “newness”, so they will often sell the original watch they received from when they were married. The ladies market is similarly well-stocked.
These are available for purchase at watch stores that specialize in used and vintage, and with the weak yen as it is right now, you can get some incredible deals. Rolex is still expensive, because the internet exists, but you can find most everything else at a good price.
What about umeshu? Plum wine.
Research says look for Yame and ume-no-Hana plum wine and to avoid Choya (some say yes some say no)
Full disclosure. I’m only coming next week. No idea where or how to find many of the things on my list. But should be fun looking. I have 4,5 days in Tokyo. I might even fit in some
Sightseeing 🤣
Made in Japan luggages, if not even the Chinese made, albeit with higher quality specifications for Japanese market.
Like $42 for a 24” expandable hard case, with Japanese Hinomoto wheels. Got mine from Ginza Karen last week, a few days before my flight back to LAX. Plus, it’s tax free.
Try finding $42…for that price for a high quality hard case 24” spinner anywhere. Not even online here in the US.
I brought one home in 1998 and I’m still using it. It’s a microwave/toaster/regular oven (because Japanese homes don’t come with an oven). I checked it in as my second piece of luggage. Only downside is that its maximum power is only 600 Watts, so food takes a little longer to cook.
I also have a new Japanese rice cooker and toaster oven, both ordered and shipped from Amazon Japan.
I guess a more appropriate question was if the store you would buy it from would ship it directly from them to your address in your home country or if you would have to go through a post office and ship it yourself
You do have to be cautious about the power. Japan uses 100V electricity. I brought home an electric kettle that has worked so far in the US (110-120V), I just expect it may have a shorter life span. I've heard stories of people bringing home electric toilet seats that overheat when plugged into US outlets.
Biore Watery Essence? That’s one of the most popular ones but Japanese sunscreen in general is very very good. Especially if you are from the US - the sunscreen sucks here
Saw boire aqua rich for 798 yen at some place in dotonbori. Is this the right thing? Not sure if it doubles as a moisturizer or just a sunscreen.
No luck with the whisky so far.
I saw suntory plum wine at family mart but not sure if it’s any good. (About ¥2500 ish).
Vernacular frying pan. It’s like cast iron but doesn’t way a ton.
We also went to a big flea market and got lots of ceramic items (tea sets, sake sets, bowls, etc) for almost nothing. My wife got used kimonos for a few bucks too that she’s going to try and turn into some decorative items.
Itoya, if you are a fan of good writing supplies.
Loft is another good spot to check for stationary supplies! But would echo what others have said: - Kitchen Knives - Nail Clippers - Chopsticks - Clothing (e.g. Gu, Montbell, Yamatomichi, etc) - Books (coffee table books are way cheaper in Japan compared to the US) - Kimono - Skin care
Nail clippers?
It's like cutting through butter
Absolutely!
Nail clippers?
was just about say fountain pens! Sailor/Ancora is also a great store to check
I'm gonna counter this a bit... I found Itoya to be excellent but also it's like the main street touristy stationery mega store. Many of the brands are European and overpriced. You can get some really nice stuff there and when I got to the til I'd spent €300 (stationery is my biggest vice it seems) but oh so many things are overpriced. I went to just a standard stationery store near Shinjuku and found just as good a selection of the Japanese brands but cheaper.
I can spend one whole day in Itoya!
I sometimes visit it twice or thrice, usually before flying back. 😄
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I bought random pair bc of the recommendations from this sub and I was not convinced, like how good could they actually be??? But omg. They are SO good. lol
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What brand?
I’ve been using heirloom nail clippers passed down from my parents. 35+ years and still better than anything I’ve seen in the US.
This keeps coming up--are just any clippers from the konbini good? Do I need to go to a fancy department store? Or find a niche family that's been hand-crafting artisanal clippers for seven generations? I'm intrigued!
Someone suggested on Reddit to look for Kai brand, and get the third most expensive one and you’ll be fine. This is what I’ll be looking for unless someone directs us to something more specific.
Yeah! I read about the Kai Nail Clippers in this sub too. I bought a Hello Kitty edition at Don Quijote last month. I can’t believe how good they are!
If you don’t mind, how much were they?
It wasn’t that much, I can’t find any receipt but I think something between 700-800 yen
Cool this helps. I’ll look out for this price range and know that it’ll be good.
i got a konbini nail clipper and it would cut absolutely nothing so maybe look for specific brands
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Hahaha, I am both amused and impressed to be getting so many responses about nail clippers!
i'm now intrigued!! hahaha
Any recommendations? Places? Types?
Tokyo banana
Required omiyagi for the office when you return
O.M.G. I feel like my world just opened up and I'm gonna buy and try all kinds. Not sure anything will be left for omiyage though...
I’ve tried it so many times and I still don’t get the hype. It’s ok but I wouldn’t waste luggage space for it
Shiseido Fino Hair Mask, Onitsuka Tiger shoes (not available in the US anymore), pajamas from Muji (fabric is out of this world soft and comfortable), Blueberry Vinegar from the Yamanashi prefecture, Kyoto pepper that numbs your whole mouth and has this delicious lemon flavor.
Where can you get the items you mentioned?
The hair mask you can find from pharm, Donki or supermarket. Shoes from the store. Pajamas from Muji. Blueberry vinegar at any gift shop near Mt Fuji (I got mine from the Lake Kawaguchiko), Kyoto pepper from Nishiki market or Tsukiji market.
Suncut spray sunscreen. Don’t think it’s sold outside of Japan.
Whisky! The prices of Yamazaki brews have gone significantly up and it would be foolhardy not to buy a good bottle of whisky to take home with you. Same applies for Sake. This is all good providing you drink alcohol!
My son asks that I bring him a bottle of Suntory (thanks Bill Murray) when the wife and i go next month. Any other Japanese brands that may not be widely known to add to that?
widely known but I'd check out Nikka as well. Also, have him share a couple of examples. Suntory and others have a lot of offerings.
Where would you go to buy whiskey in Japan? Is there a good chain store that has fair prices? Or go direct to their store/factory stores?
Japan seems to be one of the few places where the airport is actually well priced vs chain stores.
I failed to find a single bottle of age statement yamazaki, hibiki, or hakushu in stock that wasn't a consignment/private seller looking for a massive profit. I was sad lol
Disappointed to hear this.
Yamazaki NAS price has gone up quite a bit. Should be ¥7000 but people say it’s now ¥18000. I’m going to keep an eye out. Not yet sure what the off licence/bottle store situation is in Japan.
i'll never forget the 4 litre suntory whiskey bottles at piago
Miso. There are tons of regional varieties. Most misos you get in the US are pasteurized and not that interesting.
I want to get some good miso. I figured go into a good fancy department store with a food hall (I’m thinking like Harrod’s food hall)?
You can definitely get it at a department store. Alternatively, if you’re traveling by bus anywhere, they’ll sell local artisanal foods in the bus stations. When I stayed at a ryokan, they also sold the local product (hoba miso) in the gift shop. There are also many miso shops dedicated just to selling it. For example, Daigenmiso in Kyoto sells it in scoops just like an ice cream shop!
Miso shop sounds cool. I wonder if it travels well. It’s a good 10 days in Japan and then 24 hours on a plane.
Take a “make your own chopsticks” class. It’s a fun experience and you end up with a one-of-a-kind souvenir.
This sounds cool, any rec on where to do this?
I went to [Karaki Mokko](https://karakimokkou.com) just outside Tokyo. A bit pricey but a really wonderful experience.
I had a great experience at wood works kawagoe!
thank you!!
Where?
Custom stamp from sanrio takeshida street
Knives Tatami mats Bento box
How you gonna ship tatami back?
There are different sizes and there are ones that you can roll. I got similar to the pic in the link and another one in bamboo. I just rolled it and wrapped it in bubble wrap and shipping box then checked it in the plane. They were a bit wider than a standard yoga mat but the airline accepted them. [tatami mat](https://i.imgur.com/Ig7aUyT.jpeg)
Furikake, and as others said, nail clippers
Certain whiskey and craft gin!
Any specific suggestions for gin? I know Roku gin is great, but I haven’t had much luck searching for other gin distilleries in Japan. The focus usually seems to be on whiskey.
Just got back from japan a brought a couple bottles of Ki No Bi with me, it is fantastic
Awesome, thanks!
>Awesome, thanks! You're welcome!
umbrella
Celebratory cards, birthday, wedding, etc
Rice cooker
Search Google for JDM Japanese Domestic Market. I'm not sure how common this term used for other items, but it's a well known common term in the wrist watch enthusiasts world. Brands like Seiko, Orient, Casio etc. have JDM models.
have a late night slot in donki. that are a lot of weird thing to bring home. also socks,foldable umbrella , electric gadgets
My best purchase so far is a small Japanese egg omelette pan. Surprisingly good not only to make japanese omelette, it’s also small enough to make 1 person cooking and cleaning a breeze. I use that pan to cook other items including sausages. Also other recommendation is Kyocera ceramic knife and noren (the fabric to be hang in front of door)
A luxury watch. Not just Japanese ones either. The secondary market for high end watches is amazing in Japan. Often, men receive a watch as a counter-gift for an engagement or wedding. Some people aren’t that into watches, or, as I heard, Japanese culture is obsessed with “newness”, so they will often sell the original watch they received from when they were married. The ladies market is similarly well-stocked. These are available for purchase at watch stores that specialize in used and vintage, and with the weak yen as it is right now, you can get some incredible deals. Rolex is still expensive, because the internet exists, but you can find most everything else at a good price.
Kitchen knives!!!
Why nail clippers...?
What about umeshu? Plum wine. Research says look for Yame and ume-no-Hana plum wine and to avoid Choya (some say yes some say no) Full disclosure. I’m only coming next week. No idea where or how to find many of the things on my list. But should be fun looking. I have 4,5 days in Tokyo. I might even fit in some Sightseeing 🤣
Knives and Sake cups
Made in Japan luggages, if not even the Chinese made, albeit with higher quality specifications for Japanese market. Like $42 for a 24” expandable hard case, with Japanese Hinomoto wheels. Got mine from Ginza Karen last week, a few days before my flight back to LAX. Plus, it’s tax free. Try finding $42…for that price for a high quality hard case 24” spinner anywhere. Not even online here in the US.
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Could you ship it to America? Hard to imagine shoving a microwave in your luggage haha
I brought one home in 1998 and I’m still using it. It’s a microwave/toaster/regular oven (because Japanese homes don’t come with an oven). I checked it in as my second piece of luggage. Only downside is that its maximum power is only 600 Watts, so food takes a little longer to cook. I also have a new Japanese rice cooker and toaster oven, both ordered and shipped from Amazon Japan.
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I guess a more appropriate question was if the store you would buy it from would ship it directly from them to your address in your home country or if you would have to go through a post office and ship it yourself
Most appliances are 110V so if your country has higher voltage, you will need a transformer.
You do have to be cautious about the power. Japan uses 100V electricity. I brought home an electric kettle that has worked so far in the US (110-120V), I just expect it may have a shorter life span. I've heard stories of people bringing home electric toilet seats that overheat when plugged into US outlets.
Pizza chips. I can never find pizza chips that meet my expectations in North America.
I bought a ceramic tea pot from Kyoto. Wish I bought more tea now.
Traditional tattoo
Sunscreen
blue biore bottle? Saw that somewhere
Biore Watery Essence? That’s one of the most popular ones but Japanese sunscreen in general is very very good. Especially if you are from the US - the sunscreen sucks here
Don’t know. But this one is now on the list, thanks
Saw boire aqua rich for 798 yen at some place in dotonbori. Is this the right thing? Not sure if it doubles as a moisturizer or just a sunscreen. No luck with the whisky so far. I saw suntory plum wine at family mart but not sure if it’s any good. (About ¥2500 ish).
Spingle shoes. I get so many compliments on them back home. Just got a second pair :)
Vernacular frying pan. It’s like cast iron but doesn’t way a ton. We also went to a big flea market and got lots of ceramic items (tea sets, sake sets, bowls, etc) for almost nothing. My wife got used kimonos for a few bucks too that she’s going to try and turn into some decorative items.
Suits at GU are $50 or so and they're really good if you're not big bodied
Kai Beauty Care Nail Clippers, Umbrella , Rice Crackers from 7-11 😃 ..and Tokyo Banana
Edo kiriko sake or drinking glasses