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This translation was generated by AI and may contain wording that differs from the facts. Please check the Japanese original or official sources for anything important. Japanese original
Key points
- 38 items across food, crafts and everyday goods, each with what it is, where to buy it and an approximate price.
- Watch expiry dates: Akafuku keeps 2–3 days, fresh yatsuhashi about a week. Many countries ban meat products and fruit.
- Links to find the same item on Rakuten (sponsored).
Contains affiliate links
🍪 Shiroi Koibito (white chocolate langue de chat)白い恋人
The king of Hokkaido souvenirs: white chocolate between butter cookies. No refrigeration, easy to share
🍌 Tokyo Banana (sponge cake with banana custard)東京ばな奈
Tokyo Station's best-seller. Seasonal patterns appear
🥮 Hagi no Tsuki (custard sponge)萩の月
Fluffy sponge with custard — Sendai's classic
🍵 Yatsuhashi (cinnamon mochi)八ツ橋（生八ツ橋）
Cinnamon-flavoured mochi folded over bean paste; Kyoto's top-selling souvenir
🍡 Akafuku (mochi with red-bean paste)赤福
Ise's 300-year-old mochi; keeps only 2–3 days, so buy on your last day
🍁 Momiji manjū (maple-leaf cakes)もみじ饅頭
Maple-leaf cakes with bean paste, chocolate or cheese; try them deep-fried in Miyajima
🌺 Chinsuko (Okinawan shortbread)ちんすこう
Ryukyu-era shortbread in salt, purple-sweet-potato and brown-sugar flavours; cheap and long-lasting
🍫 Regional Kit Kat (matcha, wasabi, sake…)ご当地キットカット
Over 300 Japan-only flavours: matcha, hojicha, wasabi, sake
🥜 Kaki no tane (rice crackers & peanuts)柿の種
The classic beer snack; try wasabi and plum flavours
🍃 Matcha & sencha (green tea)抹茶・煎茶
Matcha from Uji, sencha from Shizuoka and Kagoshima; pair with a bamboo whisk
🍶 Sake (incl. one-cup sake)日本酒・ワンカップ
Tax-free at airports; small 'one-cup' sake makes a great gift
🫐 Umeboshi (pickled plums)梅干し
Sour, salty preserved plums; honey-sweetened ones are easier for first-timers
🌶️ Shichimi (seven-spice chilli)七味唐辛子
Beautiful tins from old shops; sprinkle on udon and yakitori
🍬 Konpeitō (star sugar candy)金平糖
Portuguese-origin sugar stars; colourful and light
🐟 Mentaiko (spicy cod roe)辛子明太子
Spicy cod roe for rice and pasta; needs refrigeration, so buy at the airport
🍰 Castella (sponge cake)カステラ
Nagasaki's Portuguese-origin sponge cake; coarse sugar on the bottom marks the real thing
🍘 Senbei (rice crackers)煎餅（せんべい）
Soy, sugar or seaweed crackers; everywhere at stations and airports
🐱 Maneki-neko (beckoning cat)招き猫
Right paw for money, left for customers — a lucky charm for shops
🪆 Kokeshi (wooden dolls)こけし
Wooden dolls from Tohoku onsen towns; each region has its own face
🔴 Daruma (wish doll)だるま
Paint one eye when you make a wish, the other when it comes true
🫖 Nambu ironware (cast-iron kettles)南部鉄器
Colourful cast-iron teapots are hugely popular abroad; heavy, so consider shipping
🥃 Edo Kiriko (cut glass)江戸切子
Cut glass since the Edo period; whisky glasses are the classic buy
🍶 Arita, Kutani and Mino porcelain有田焼・九谷焼・美濃焼
Four centuries of porcelain; small plates and chopstick rests travel well
🧣 Furoshiki (wrapping cloth)風呂敷
Wrap, tie, carry — a cloth that becomes a bag; light and flat
🪭 Sensu (folding fan)扇子
Practical in summer; Kyoto fans have fine bamboo ribs
🧵 Tenugui (printed cotton towel)手ぬぐい
Towel, handkerchief or gift wrap; hundreds of patterns
📜 Washi paper & goshuin books和紙・御朱印帳
A book for goshuin — temple and shrine stamps — a beautiful travel record
🔪 Japanese kitchen knives包丁
Craftsman knives coveted by chefs worldwide; must go in checked luggage
🥢 Chopsticks & rests箸・箸置き
Some shops engrave names; chopstick rests are the lightest gift
🖌️ Kumano makeup brushes熊野筆（化粧筆）
Calligraphy-brush craftsmanship turned into makeup brushes loved by artists worldwide
👘 Yukata & jinbei (casual kimono)浴衣・甚平
For summer festivals and ryokan; buy with an obi and geta sandals
🧧 Omamori (amulets)お守り
For study, safety, love… Tradition says return them after a year, but many keep them
🎐 Fūrin (wind chimes)風鈴
The sound of summer: glass Edo fūrin or iron Nambu fūrin
🎰 Gashapon capsule toysガチャガチャ（カプセルトイ）
Astonishingly detailed miniatures; airports have dedicated corners
💊 Drugstore cosmetics, eye drops, pain patchesドラッグストアのコスメ・目薬・湿布
Eye drops, pain-relief patches, face masks — tax-free available
✏️ Stationery (pens, notebooks)文房具
Erasable pens, smooth gel pens, grid notebooks — light and cheap
🧦 100-yen shops (Daiso, Seria)100円ショップ
Chopsticks, cloths, tableware and stationery for ¥110 — bulk gifts
🧴 Imabari towels今治タオル
World-famous for absorbency and softness; look for the logo tag
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to spend for tax-free shopping, and what is the consumption tax?
Consumption tax is 10% (8% on food and drink). Foreign visitors can shop tax-free from ¥5,000 per store per day; show your passport at the counter.
Do I need cash in Japan, or can I pay by card?
In cities, credit cards and IC cards (Suica, PASMO) work almost everywhere. Small shops in the countryside, temple admissions and festival stalls are often cash-only, so carry ¥10,000–20,000. Convenience-store ATMs accept foreign cards.
