What to buy in Tokyo? — Top +11 cheap gifts, souvenirs & best things to buy in Tokyo

Traveling in Japan is one of the great experiences that any backpacker should have. However, you shall get some worries about what to buy some “omiyage” (Japanese means gifts) for your friends and yourself as souvenirs to Tokyo. It’s not that there’s nothing to buy here, but it’s a gift paradise which you are spoilt for choice in Japan. With a little digging, you can find the item you want, old or modern, classy or kitschy.

So, what is famous in Tokyo, what to buy in Tokyo and what should I buy in Tokyo? Let’s check out our suggested 11+ best Tokyo souvenirs, top things to buy in Tokyo, must buy items in Tokyo, best things to buy in Tokyo including cheap things to buy in Tokyo, things must buy in Tokyo, things to bring back from Tokyo to help you grab meaningful best gifts from Tokyo for your loved ones!

Let’s explore the best gift ideas, and what to buy the best things for your gift selection when you visit Tokyo in Japan.

Japanese fake food samples (#what to buy in tokyo)

Surfing YouTube daily, you usually see food samples that are likely realistic. If you are stuck on the idea of buying a unique and entertaining gift, Japanese fake food samples will be a good choice.

These food samples look so realistic that they can be mistaken for real food. You only distinguish food by touching or smelling it. You can find sushi or tempura (deep-fried seafood) key chains, cute earrings, or anything else that looks like dessert. With a wide variety, you should not be surprised to see many people buying large quantities of them as souvenirs.

Japanese wine and Edo Kiriko glass (#best things to buy in tokyo)

Kiriko is the name of the famous art of cut glass in Japan. It has been traditional craftwork for 1,000 years since the Edo period and has been preferred to date.

Among Edo Kiriko products, the cold wine cup or wine decanter is mostly preferred. Thanks to its superb texture and transparent beauty, the Edo Kiriko mug is perfect for pairing with Japanese alcohol, to enrich the meals for guests. Therefore, you should choose a gift with a set of Edo Kikiro mugs accompanied by a bottle of Japanese wine for special recipients.

Edo Tsumami Kanzashi (Kanzashi hair ornaments)

If you want to give gifts that highlighted Japanese culture, the Edo period’s hair ornaments are an interesting choice. Edo Tsumami Kanzashi is thin silk pieces made to be flowers or birds that are then worn as hair accessories. Their elegant beauty is well-known all over the world due to the Maikos’ and the geishas’ frequent use.

They are considered traditional craftwork in Tokyo. Therefore, you can find artisans who have been making in hands with higher-class versions than the Edo Tsumami Kanzashi’s.

Kabuki mask (#best tokyo souvenirs)

This mask is designed to look like Kumadori makeup (Kabuki makeup), characterized by traditional Japanese theatrical art. Like other regular face masks, it also has moisturizing essences that penetrate the skin to make the skin softer and more radiant. This is a very useful skin care product.

Bvlgari Chocolates (#must buy items in tokyo)

The Bvlgari Chocolates Shop opened in 2007. The design of each chocolate bar is nice and delicate. They look so beautiful that people liken them to the luxury jewelry of celebrities. However, just a few stores in the world are selling them. Hence, if you want to give gifts to important and special people, this is a very suitable item.

Funawa Imo Yokan (#top things to buy in tokyo)

 

Funawa Imo Yokan is a popular food for all ages. It is made from whole sweet potatoes, kneaded with sugar, and then shaped using a mold. Because it’s a popular store, many people make a long sequence to buy food on weekends and holidays.

This gift is bought as one of the most popular souvenirs in Japan. What could be better than taking your Imo Youkan home and simply grilling it up and enjoying it?

Senjafuda (#what should i buy in tokyo)

You should carve or paint your name on a favorite wood piece as a memory for your trip to Tokyo. Senjafuda (literally means “thousand shrine tags”) are votive slips, stickers, or placards posted on the gates or buildings of shrines and Buddhist temples/pagodas in Japan. Because of its popularity and popularity, this is considered a souvenir left by tourists while coming to Japan.

Japanese Banana (#things must buy in tokyo)

Japanese banana is a specialty souvenir in Tokyo and it is extremely popular. Recently, manufacturers have started to produce products with both traditional flavors and limited editions. Surely many customers buy this product.

With a plump shape and cream puff filling, it makes you feel happy from the first bite. For those who love Japanese snacks, this must be a very interesting gift.

Ukiyo-e Edo Uchiwa (#things to bring back from tokyo)

Ukiyo-e is a folk art form from the Edo period, it is considered one of the traditional art forms of Japan.

Uchiwa is a hand fan made from bamboo and paper. They are a traditional Japanese summer product and are often given as gifts. During the Edo period in Japan, craftsmen who made them were called Edo Uchiwa used the Ukiyo-e technique with printing such as Kabuki actors, landscapes, and portraits of beautiful women. Nowadays, you will see Uchiwa everywhere on the street in the summer.

KitKat, limited edition in only Tokyo (#best gifts from tokyo)

KitKat is a famous product of Nestle and it launches many limited editions, each with different flavors in each domain. The raisin flavor sold in Japan is one of the most elegant and delicious KitKat boxes in the world. This is also a limited edition Kitkat only available in Tokyo, Japan. The unique flavors of each region are not only embedded in the chocolate but also in the wafers inside. Each flavor comes from a specific region of Japan and these Kit Kats allow you to experience those flavors and tastes, even if you’re on the other side of the world.

If you’re traveling in Tokyo, please try some chocolate bars that can only be found in one place worldwide.

Makanai Cosme

Place: Tokyo Skytree Town Solamachi 4F, 1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Opening hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm
Phone: +81364561552

The Makanai Cosme, a Japanese-style cosmetic brand was founded in 1899 by a woman, who worked for a long-established gold leaf shop in Kanazawa that has been in business for over 100 years. She started researching formulas for skin care products to protect her skin.

Because the products only use natural ingredients such as Konnyaku (made from potatoes) and silkworm cocoons, it is completely safe. This is a popular line of skin care products that remove all impurities, leaving your skin cleaner, and healthier.

Here are some good ideas on what to buy in Tokyo, the best gifts you must buy for your great options when you come to Tokyo, Japan. Hope you have a wonderful trip with an interesting experience and show a part of Japanese culture through gift-giving as souvenirs to your friends and family.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, to and from Tokyo you can refer to

• Private Narita International Airport Transfers (NRT) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Private Haneda International Airport Transfers (HND) for Tokyo 23 Wards, Hakone, or Karuizawa
• Airport Limousine Bus Transfers from/to Narita and Haneda International Airport (Free Wifi Onboard)
• Tokyo Amazing Sightseeing Bus Day Tour
• Tokyo Highlights Private Day Tour
• Nikko Day Tour from Tokyo
• Mt Fuji & Hakone Day Tour: Lake Ashi & Ropeway Day Trip from Tokyo
• Nikko Cultural Day Tour from Tokyo
• Tokyo Subway Ticket (24, 48, or 72 Hours)
• Tokyo Skyliner and Tokyo Subway Ticket
• Shuttle Bus Transfers (One Way/Round Trip) from Shinjuku/Ikebukuro to Tokyo Disneyland or Tokyo DisneySea
• Tokyo Disney Resort Park Ticket
• Klook Pass Greater Tokyo
• SHIBUYA SKY Ticket
• Warner Bros. Studio Tour Tokyo – The Making of Harry Potter Ticket
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express Ticket
• TeamLab Planets Ticket
• TOKYO SKYTREE® Ticket
• Limousine Bus Narita or Haneda Airport to Tokyo
• Skyliner Narita Airport Express With Tokyo Subway Ticket
• JR Tokyo Wide Pass
• Sky Hop-on and Hop-off Bus Pass
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (BKK and DMK Airport Pick Up) for Japan (Unlimited Data)
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Looking for best autumn spots in Japan? Read here. And Kyoto here. And top things to do in Tokyo: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Read more: Tokyo travel blog — The fullest Tokyo city guide for a budget trip for the first time visiting Tokyo, Japan.