Online shopping in Japan

Shopping in Japan: what to bring from Japan, where to buy souvenirs and fashion brands. Markets, outlets, famous shopping centers in Japan. Expert advice and reviews from tourists about shopping in Japan on the “Subtleties of Tourism”.

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It is known all over the world that the Japanese are absolutely obsessed with the quality of everything they produce, from cars and plasma TVs to face cream and cookies, so since childhood we have trusted everything Japanese. Modern Japan is a consumer society in the best sense of the word, and shopping here has been elevated to the level of an art.

The Japanese love to express themselves through clothes, gadgets, cosmetics that actually work, and strange candies that taste like fried lamb or hamburger. It is better to set aside at least a couple of days for shopping in this country, especially if we are talking about Tokyo and other large cities, there is definitely something to see.

Store opening hours

Most stores in Japan are open every day, including on Saturdays - approximately 10:00-11:00 to 20:00-21:00. Many large shopping centers and department stores close later - around 11:00 pm. Some retail outlets may be closed on Wednesdays - this is not a mandatory rule, but many follow it, so it is advisable to plan your shopping trip for another day.

Small private shops operate according to their own hours, but in the central areas of Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto many operate 24 hours a day. This usually applies to small shops where you can buy snacks, alcohol and essentials.

Sales

The most generous sales season in Japan begins immediately after Christmas and continues until the end of February. You shouldn't expect discounts before Christmas - stores don't reduce prices, since people will buy gifts for the holiday anyway. But immediately after Christmas, prices first fall by 15-20%, and closer to mid-February you can count on savings of 60-80%.

The peculiarity of Japanese sales is that not only collections of past seasons are sold with discounts, but also those that are relevant in the current one.

What to buy in Japan

Clothes and shoes

The Japanese love fashion, appearance and clothing for them is a way of self-expression, a space for creativity and a point of application of fantasy. This is especially true for youth fashion: it is completely devoid of conservatism, it is difficult to attribute it to any style and can even be called destructive. There are many subcultures in Japan, and this often manifests itself in clothing - youth stores are full of “themed” clothing, cosplay costumes, etc., the lolita-fashion subculture is especially popular - the style of the Victorian era, in places with Gothic elements.

The epicenter of Japanese fashion is Tokyo, sometimes even collections of European designers appear here first, and only then in Milan or Paris. Shibuya is the main shopping area, where all the fashionable stores are concentrated, most of them are expensive, prices are higher than in Moscow and in some places even higher than in London. There are a lot of brands, it is quite pointless to single out any specific ones, they are all very high quality, you should focus only on the design. Suspiciously cheap items (for example, a dress for 3000 JPY) are most likely brought from China; their quality leaves much to be desired.

The Japanese are very fond of hats and accessories - even the smallest shopping center will definitely have a department with hats and berets, and nowhere else in the world is there such a selection of gloves, scarves, knee socks, socks and other accessories.

Pay attention to the numerous accessories for the rain: raincoats and raincoats of different colors, umbrellas, flowered galoshes, rubber ballet flats or sneakers that are indistinguishable from regular Converse, as well as rubber covers for high-heeled shoes.

Japan has its own sizing system; most of the models presented in Japanese stores are “medium Asian” sizes, which correspond to Russian 42-44. In many stores of local brands there is no size range as a fact - all items are the same size, in European Zara, Mango, etc. there are different ones, but as a rule, no more than 46. Also take into account the Japanese body type: they are not only thin, but also short height, and their arms and legs are shorter.

Japanese winter clothing for our latitudes is a meaningless thing, although beautiful. The climate in the country is very mild, so you won’t find warm clothes even at the Christmas sale. In addition, even in cold weather, the Japanese are not used to wrapping themselves up and dress up at any time of the year only for beauty.

Cosmetics

Japanese cosmetics are breaking records for popularity in the world, along with Korean ones. Hyaluronic acid, snail mucus, algae extracts, as well as high technology and modern scientific developments are the secret of its success.

There are no large chain cosmetics stores in Japan; luxury brands are sold in expensive department stores, and mass market brands are sold in drugstores and pharmacies. By the way, the Japanese mass market competes quite well with European luxury.

The most popular Japanese cosmetic brands are Kanebo, Shiseido and Mikimoto Cosmetics.

Japanese women are trying their best to maintain the whiteness of their skin, so there are a lot of whitening creams and anti-pigmentation products on the shelves of cosmetic stores, and they are of really excellent quality, you can choose any brand.

Fabric masks with a “Photoshop” effect (albeit temporary) are also very popular. Worth paying attention are the moisturizing masks with snail mucus, the warming Kao steam eye mask (price - from 800 JPY), as well as the BabyFoot foot mask with grapefruit extract, the effect of which is comparable to a procedure in a salon.

Japanese decorative cosmetics are less known in the world than skincare, but also interesting. Of the budget brands, Kose Fasio has proven itself, of the slightly more expensive ones - Ipsa, pay special attention to the mascara - it is almost perfect.

An interesting Japanese beat development is patches. These are stickers that have certain properties (one patch - one task): they relieve fatigue from the legs, remove toxins, help you sleep, relieve swelling, and some even promise to remove a double chin - a serious bid for victory. However, the patches actually smooth out wrinkles; the effect is temporary, but it’s enough for going to an important event.

In Japanese pharmacies, pay attention to dietary supplements: soda with collagen, candies with hyaluronic acid, fruit jelly for vigor and cookies for breast enlargement.

It is worth purchasing eye drops in pharmacies and cosmetic stores. They have a cooling effect and instantly remove redness and restore a rested look to the eyes. No prescription is required; in Japan, these eye drops are considered cosmetics and not medicine.

Technology and electronics

Japan is a manufacturer of the most advanced electronics, computer and audio equipment. Here you can buy new products that are not yet available in Russia (and many will never be), and gadgets from previous years can be purchased at a 3-5 times discount. Prices vary by brand. For example, Sony gadgets in Japanese stores are unlikely to be cheaper than in Russia or Europe, but the difference in price for Panasonic equipment (in particular, cameras) can reach 50-70%.

In Japan, it is profitable to buy photographic equipment; local stores have a huge selection of camera models, lenses, tripods, as well as photographic film, developing chemicals and disposable cameras that instantly print pictures. Compared to Russian stores, prices can be 1.5-2 times lower. In Tokyo, large discount photographic equipment can be found in the Ginza area, but keep in mind that in most cases the warranty will only be valid within Japan.

Buying Japanese cell phones is pretty pointless. They are rarely sold without connecting to a local operator, and this can only be done if you have a visa for more than 90 days.

When buying a camera or other equipment, pay attention to what languages ​​the menu is translated into; in some cases, only Japanese will be available. Another important point is the possibility of compatibility with Russian sockets. We are talking not only about the shape of the plug (it is different, but this problem is easily solved with the help of an adapter), but also about the voltage: Japanese sockets have a voltage of 100 volts, almost all modern equipment operates in the range of 100-220 volts, but there may be exceptions ( eg electric heaters and chargers), so pay attention to this marking.

In Japan, you can also purchase various gadgets that are unusual for our customers, for example, rice cookers and compact “smart” bread makers, electric rugs and electric blankets, many models of robotic vacuum cleaners and electric toilets with a heating function. In addition, electronics stores sell many stylish and funny accessories: sushi-shaped flash drives, phone cases from Japanese designers, etc.

In Tokyo, electronics stores are concentrated in the Akihabara district, in Osaka - in the Nipponbashi district.

Jewelry and costume jewelry

It makes sense to buy jewelry and costume jewelry in Japan. Particular attention should be paid to pearls, their prices are approximately European, and the processing and design are much more interesting. In jewelry stores in large cities you can find white, pink and blue pearls, in particular from the Misaki brand, which uses marine motifs in its works and very elegantly combines pearls with silver. Prices for rings start from 10,000 JPY, for bracelets - from 13,000 JPY.

A more budget-friendly option is costume jewelry; in Japan it is very stylish and at the same time inexpensive. Pay attention to the Inori brand - this is costume jewelry made from stainless steel, there are products with Swarowski crystals, a fashionable abraded effect, in the form of fruits and berries, etc. Prices for rings start from 2000 JPY.

Food and alcohol

You can bring many unusual gastronomic souvenirs from Japan: sushi and sashimi with marinated fish in sealed packaging, caviar, canned crabs, local sauces, dried seaweed and noodles. All this is sold in regular supermarkets, but if you don’t have time, you can buy it at the airport before departure - the range and prices are the same.

The most interesting are Japanese sweets, for example, wagashi is a traditional Japanese dessert made from rice, red beans and other natural ingredients. Appearance is important (like everything else in Japan); each such “candy” is a whole work of art. Wagashi is usually served with tea, and you can buy this dessert in pastry shops or supermarkets.

Other unusual sweets are cookies with seaweed and seafood, ika - chocolate-covered squid, candies with the flavor of radish, burger, fried ribs, cabbage and other flavors that are not obvious for candy, and both tourists and the Japanese themselves are very fond of green-flavored Kit Kat chocolates tea, sake, apple, strawberry, etc.

The most popular alcoholic souvenir from Japan is sake rice vodka, but there are others that are less known in the world. For example, the Herb no Megumi herbal tincture, which contains 13 herbs, is considered beneficial for health and beauty (it even has its own rating on Japanese cosmetic portals). It is rarely drunk in its pure form; it is usually added to tea or desserts, such as ice cream.

Another popular drink in Japan is Choya Ume Liquor plum liqueurs, which in Russia are sometimes called plum wine. This tincture is made from unripe ume plums, which are poured with strong alcohol and sugar and infused for several weeks. In Japan, this drink is considered homemade - many people prepare it at home almost in buckets and cans, but it is also sold in stores. It is difficult to drink this tincture in its pure form; it is too sweet; traditionally it is diluted with hot water or added to cocktails.

Other souvenirs

• Pottery - The Japanese are strong in pottery, and each region has its own recognizable style. Most ceramics are produced in the city of Mashiko (north of Tokyo), where you can not only buy interesting ceramics inexpensively, but also take pottery lessons;
• Puzzles and puzzles for children and adults;
• Figurines of maneki-ieko - a cat with a raised paw, is considered a symbol of wealth in Japan;
• Fan and wagasa (Japanese umbrella) - fans are still popular in Japan to this day; Japanese women not only use them to escape the heat, but also protect their white skin from the sun’s rays;
• Japanese shoes (wooden geta or more comfortable zori);
• Kimono - sold in many clothing stores and souvenir shops, the former is preferable. Since the quality of the fabric is usually better there. A cotton kimono will cost about 3500 JPY, a silk one - 7000 JPY.

Maneki-neko

Walking along the streets of Japanese cities, you will probably notice Maneki-neko - good luck talismans, whose name is translated from Japanese as “beckoning cat”, displayed in the windows of shops and restaurants. Every detail of the funny figurine carries a meaning. Thus, a raised right paw promises success in business, while the left paw attracts interesting and profitable acquaintances. Seals with two limbs stretching upward are purchased to protect the hearth.

The color of the talisman also plays an important role:

• gold represents prosperity and wealth
• white means purity of thoughts and a positive attitude towards life
• black protects from evil spirits
• green brings health and helps in mastering new knowledge
• blue helps to find spiritual harmony
• red and pink promote success in love and friendship

Maneki-neko are sold everywhere, filling the shelves of all souvenir shops. The most sacred place for shopping is the Gotoku-ji Temple in Tokyo, where the cult of alluring cats began in the 17th century.

Order a private transfer from the airport to your hotel for RUB 17,638

Japan stores

In Japan, the concept of “trading” is unpopular; there are specialty shops and department stores. Japanese department stores essentially have the same assortment as shopping centers: clothing, shoes, accessories, cosmetics, groceries, etc., but the space is organized like a market. Typically, products are distributed across floors: cosmetics floor, shoe floor, jewelry floor, women's and men's clothing floors, restaurant floor, and the ground floor is usually occupied by food. Large department stores have a more detailed division - youth clothing, business clothing, plus size clothing, etc.

For shopping, it is better to choose a district rather than a specific department store, since goods of different price and other categories are usually concentrated in a certain quarter.

In the Shinjuku quarter in Tokyo there are the most expensive shops, in the Shibuya area - the kingdom of relatively inexpensive youth trendy clothing and accessories, and the most popular shopping district, where you can find everything, is Ginza, where the country's largest department stores "Mitsukoshi" and "Matsuya" are also located. "

On Omote-sando Street in Shibuya, the selection is about the same as in Ginza, but the prices are slightly lower, although it is not as luxurious. At the end of this street there is a small quarter of Harajuku, where all the punk chic of youth fashion is concentrated: from European Zara and Mango to the clothes of metalheads, emo, goths and “lolitas”, all the Japanese freaks and fashionistas hang out here, and you can buy torn Levis inexpensively. , fuchsia velvet jacket and Mickey Mouse earrings.

The epicenter of shopping in Osaka is the World Trade Center, which is located in the second tallest building in Japan (55 floors + 3 underground). There are not only shops, but also restaurants, entertainment centers, observation decks, etc.

The most popular shopping complex in Kyoto is The Cube. It is located underground, under the railway station and is interesting for its shops of original household goods, inexpensive restaurants (desserts deserve special attention), cosmetic stores, and here you can buy the most unusual costumes for Halloween.

Outlets in Japan

The largest outlets in Japan are located in the vicinity of Tokyo.

Gotemba Premium Outlets

- the largest and most popular outlet in Japan, on its territory there are more than 200 stores of local Japanese and famous world brands. This is a “village” type outlet, it is a small town divided into 2 districts by a river, across which there is a pedestrian bridge. Here all year round you can find discounts from 30 to 70%; the most generous offers here are always from sports brands - Nike, Adidas, Puma, etc., as well as from Lego and Sanryo toy stores.

You can get here from Tokyo by the Gotemba Premium Outlet Liner bus, which departs every day from Tokyo Station (Yaesu South Exit) and Shinjuku Station (New South Exit). Buses run once a day - in the morning to the shopping complex, and back in the evening (on weekends - twice a day). The journey will take about 1.5 hours, the ticket costs 1650 JPY one way, and a brochure with discount coupons is included with the ticket.

Shisui Premium Outlets

- a relatively new outlet, opened in April 2013 near Narita International Airport. There are about 120 stores here that offer discounts from 30 to 70%. You can get here by any transport that goes to Narita Airport.

Vagasa

A traditional wagasa umbrella will help complete the exotic ensemble of yukata and zori. The birthplace of any self-respecting geisha's accessory is China. This exquisite item came to the Land of the Rising Sun in the 6th century. Initially, elegant folding umbrellas were the privilege of the elite, and only two centuries later they became widespread among the people.

The technique for creating vagas is not complicated, but it is labor-intensive. The bamboo parts are joined together with horsehair. A dome made of the thinnest paper is attached to the resulting frame, which is then painted and impregnated with oil. Wooden elements are varnished. As a result of these manipulations, a light and elegant, but at the same time durable and waterproof umbrella is born.

Today, only a few craftsmen in the country have the skills to make traditional bamboo frames. Therefore, if you decide to buy real wagasa, go to the city of Gifu, which is located 390 km from Tokyo. Since the mid-18th century, local craftsmen have been handcrafting exquisite products that are considered the standard of national umbrellas in Japan.

Markets

• Tsukiji Fish Market (Tokyo) is one of the largest fish markets in the world, selling more than 2 tons of fish and seafood daily and employing more than 60 thousand people. Tsukiji Market consists of two sections, the first for wholesale trade and fish processing workshops, and the second for retail stores, fish restaurants, sushi bars and kitchenware stores. The market is open only on weekdays, it opens early, around 3:00, and by noon there is almost no one here, so it’s better to come early - around 5:00-6:00. Here you can not only buy the freshest fish and have a snack, but also watch how a huge tuna is cut with a band saw; it’s not an amateur spectacle, but it’s impressive.

• Oi Racetrack Flea Market (Tokyo) is a weekend flea market in the Japanese capital. There are about 600 outlets where you can buy antique dishes, paintings and vintage kimonos. A silk kimono will cost about 27,000 JPY, but it is still several times cheaper than in stores. Rare geta are also sold here - traditional Japanese platform sandals, but they are useful only as a souvenir, since they are designed for very tiny feet.

• Kuromon Ichiba (Osaka) is the largest food market in Osaka, affectionately known as “people's cuisine” here. Local restaurants buy their products here, so you can be sure of the quality of the products. There are many unusual delicacies on the shelves, there are snack bars and restaurants, as well as several stalls with clothes. The market is open every day from approximately 8:00 to 18:00, but each seller has his own schedule, many are closed on Sundays and holidays. Since the 8th century. They traded fish here, and for this purpose they dug many wells to store fresh fish in cold water. Today, fish is still sold here, but the assortment has become more diverse: vegetables, pickles, fruits and sweets.

Sweets

Local delicacies are an ideal gift for those with a sweet tooth. Many of you are probably familiar with KitKat candies, but in the Land of the Rising Sun alone you can find about 250 types of these popular filled candy bars. Tasting them is like eating Bertie Botts beans: Nestlé's Japanese factories produce candies with unimaginable flavors of green tea, sakura, fried potatoes, pepper, wasabi, pickled plums or soy sauce.

Wagashi also belongs to the category of exotic desserts. To create this classic of the country's confectionery art, which differs from European candies in its less sweet taste, natural ingredients are used: chestnuts, agar-agar, herbs, rice, tea, sweet potatoes and legumes.

Lovers of sweet pastries should take a closer look at dorayaki or taiyaki pancakes - fish-shaped cookies filled with custard or chocolate. And fans of healthy eating will be attracted by amanatto - candies that are nuts dressed in a “coat” of bean paste.

Tax free

In Japan, you can save 5% of your purchase price by refunding VAT. To do this, you need to spend 100,000 JPY in a store that participates in the tax-free system, get a purchase receipt that will be pasted into your passport, and present this receipt at the airport before departure. The money will be given immediately in cash; in rare cases, you will be asked to present the purchased product. VAT is not refundable for alcohol, food, cosmetics and medicines.

Best places to shop

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• Austria Vienna
• England London
• Andorra
• Bulgaria
• Vietnam: Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City
• Germany: Berlin, Dusseldorf and Munich
• Georgia: Tbilisi, Batumi
• Hungary: Budapest
• Greece (fur tours): Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Thessaloniki
• Israel: Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
• Spain: Alicante, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Madrid (and its shops), Mallorca, Malaga, Tarragona and Salou
• Italy: Milan, Bologna, Venice, Rome, Rimini, Turin, Florence and fur factories in Italy
• Cyprus
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• Netherlands: Amsterdam
• UAE: Dubai
• Poland: Warsaw and Krakow
• Portugal: Lisbon, Porto and Madeira
• Baltics: Vilnius, Riga, Tallinn
• Russia Moscow
• San Marino
• Serbia: Belgrade
• USA: New York
• Thailand: Bangkok, Pattaya
• Türkiye: Antalya, Istanbul
• Finland (and its shops): Helsinki (and the shops of the Finnish capital)
• France Paris
• Montenegro
• Czech Republic, Prague
• Switzerland: Geneva, Zurich
• Sweden: Stockholm
• South Korea: Seoul
• Japan
  Tokyo

Subtleties of shopping tours

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• How to profitably shop at sales
• Sales calendar in Europe, Italy and around the world
• Reminder for tourists: how to return tax on purchases
• The best Christmas markets and boutique towns in Europe
• Where to go for jewelry
• Shopping tours with and without obligations
• 10 best markets in the world
• What can you buy in the world for one dollar?
• FAQ about shopping tours

Bell Furin

Total industrialization and advanced technologies coexist perfectly with deep reverence for the beliefs and traditions of our ancestors. Here, special significance is attached to talismans called omamori. One of these amulets is the Furin bell, whose melodious ringing is designed to protect houses and their inhabitants from negative energy and evil spirits.

Traditionally, furins are made from glass, ceramics, metal and bamboo. A rectangular piece of paper is attached to the tongue, on which wishes or haiku tercets are written. To prevent adversity from happening at home, the Japanese decorate the windows and cornices of their homes with bells. In the summer heat, gentle chimes, associated with a fresh wind and a babbling brook, create an aura of coolness and comfort.

Every year, in the second half of July, the surroundings of the Kawasaki Daishi Shrine (8 km from Tokyo) are filled with the sound of more than 600 bells of various shapes and sizes. Melodious polyphony marks the opening of the popular Furin festival, attracting thousands of tourists and locals.

Fan

A fan decorated with an intricate pattern would be a good gift for the fair sex. This constant companion of geishas and Kabuki theater actors appeared in the country in the 12th century. The first fans (utiva) were a non-folding structure made of a skillfully turned piece of wood covered with silk.

Fans are not just a lady's privilege. The ogi, a folding fan with a small number of ribs, was considered an exclusively male attribute, used in court ceremonies and indicating the rank of its owner. The combat gunsen, made of wood and metal, stands apart. Such a fan was a full-fledged weapon, with the help of which warriors attacked, defended and distracted the enemy’s attention.

Traditional fans are made by hand using bamboo and special multi-layer paper. And today, for the Japanese, fans are more than just an escape from the heat and an element of national costume. These accessories are used to decorate walls in houses, they are collected, given to loved ones and used in marriage ceremonies.

Food sticks

If you don't have much room left in your luggage for gifts, buy hashi - Japanese chopsticks, which differ from Chinese chopsticks in their shorter length and rounded shape. In the Land of the Rising Sun you will find many stores specializing only in the sale of this accessory. The range is huge: from the simplest disposable ones to patterned and varnished wooden masterpieces.

The Japanese use traditional cutlery for more than just tasting rice or noodles. Chopsticks are used to wrap sushi, pick out bones, cut fish, and stir soups and sauces. Khasis are an extremely personal item; sharing them even with close people is considered a bad omen.

Chopsticks are a multifunctional souvenir. They are given not only to fans of Asian cuisine. According to legend, Khashis promise longevity and good luck to their owner. Sticks painted with oriental patterns can also be presented to newlyweds with the wish to be inseparable like a hashi couple.

Cosmetics

The velvety snow-white skin of Japanese women is the envy of many European women. The secret of the beauty of Asian enchantresses lies not only in good genetics and proper nutrition. Residents of the Land of the Rising Sun pay great attention to the choice of skin care products, among which the first place belongs to whitening and moisturizing products.

Toners, masks, emulsions and creams containing natural ingredients and designed to give the skin a delightful porcelain matte finish are leaders in the Japanese cosmetics market. The most famous manufacturers are Kanebo, Suhada, Yokota Lab, Shiseido, SK-II, Biore. Among decorative products, it is worth noting the products of the brands Isehan, Shu Uemura, Celvoke.

You can purchase cosmetics in specialized departments of shopping centers or pharmacies. You will find the most affordable prices for mass market goods in the chain stores Matsumoto Kiyoshi, Daiso or CanDo. Luxury brands are found only in fashionable department stores.

Samurai sword

It's hard to imagine a better souvenir for a man than a samurai sword. The weapon, mesmerizing in its shape, is the spiritual symbol of the Land of the Rising Sun, personifying courage, valor and the highest justice. Buddhists perceive this unchanging regalia of ancient warriors as the embodiment of strength, wisdom and divine purity.

The first sword (katana) appeared in Japan at the beginning of the 13th century. Soon, steel blades were canonized, and the craftsmen who made them received high social status. According to archival data, from ancient times to the mid-20th century, only about 2 million swords were produced in the country. Each copy was truly priceless and was passed on by warriors from generation to generation.

Today, authentic samurai swords have enormous historical and cultural significance; the value of the relics is tens of millions of yen. However, in stores you can find good replicas: from souvenir miniatures to full-size copies of katanas, made based on the creations of the best weapons makers of the Middle Ages.

Porcelain

Interest in porcelain products arose in the country in the 14th century thanks to trade with China. At that time, exquisite fragile things were the privilege of the powerful: the emperor and his entourage. The country's own porcelain industry began to develop two centuries later, after the discovery of kaolin deposits on the island of Kyushu.

The art of creating porcelain has been brought to perfection. Elegant figurines and sophisticated dishes are resistant to chips, do not absorb odors, and withstand both high and low temperatures. The products are characterized by laconic design, modestly expressed relief and numerous small details with clear lines. The painting is either extremely minimalistic and unobtrusive, or full of images of flowers, birds and fairy-tale creatures.

Today, the most famous brands are Japonica, Nikko, Keito, Narumi and Noritake. To avoid purchasing a fake, pay attention to the marking when purchasing: original products bear the stamp “Fine Bone China,” which means “fine bone china.”

Masks

One of the greatest traditions of world theater is the Japanese Noh theater. Wooden stages that amaze with the deep meaning of the performances, minimalist music and grandiose costumes - all this has reached contemporaries almost unchanged since the 14th century - the era when the Zeami father and son created a new art direction. Masks, a mandatory attribute of actors’ equipment, have not changed either.

The actors of the No theater do not resort to facial expressions and makeup. To express feelings and emotions, they wear masks made from cypress. Each theater carefully preserves a collection of 150–200 masks. They are divided into male (otoko-men), female (onna-men), and also differ in appearance, character and age.

Today, “No” masks have become widespread as popular wall decorations. In souvenir shops you can purchase full-size wooden copies or smaller copies made of ceramics, inserted into exquisite frames.

Music Box

When choosing a gift for friends who know a lot about Asian melodies, pay attention to the traditional music boxes that were born more than a century ago in the vicinity of the now popular resort of Hakone. These regions have long been famous for the variety of wood species, and local craftsmen are known for their ability to create real works of art.

The Japanese box is a unique phenomenon. Its shape, size and pattern depend only on the author’s imagination. There are no generally accepted standards: on store shelves you will find square, rectangular, and round products, the lids of which are often painted using the artistic aizu-nuri technique or decorated with yosegi mosaics. Inside the musical representatives of the glorious family of decorative caskets lies a mechanism capable of playing up to 25 melodies.

Each box has its own secret. Opening it means solving a difficult puzzle. To lift the stubborn lid, you need to find a cleverly hidden lever or move the moving parts of the recalcitrant “puzzle” in a certain sequence.