What to bring from Japan as a gift? What can and cannot be exported

What to bring from Japan as a gift or as a souvenir? Let's look at all the best items in cosmetics, technology and other categories that will remind you of your trip. Let's find out prices and where to buy cheaper based on reviews from tourists. And most importantly, we will touch on the topic of what can and cannot be exported from Japan in order to avoid problems at customs control.

Visiting distant countries leaves pleasant memories. But you can rejoice even more when you bring pleasant gifts and souvenirs with you. The main thing is to understand 100% what exactly to take with you and under what conditions.

What to bring from Japan as a gift and souvenir?

It’s not difficult to figure out what to bring from Japan as a souvenir; there is a huge variety of items that will remind you of your holiday in Japan. We definitely advise you to focus on the recommendations presented by the experts of the Asian country themselves.

Maneki neko . Those who understand the culture of the land of the rising sun, and especially those who specifically study the language, will unmistakably recognize that we are talking about a figure that brings happiness. Alluring cat figurines are found in shops, banks, restaurants and even in reputable offices. Traditional culture implies that these sculptures attract good luck and help improve one's financial situation. But this is something that can be brought from Japan to decorate houses. You can buy such a souvenir in any specialized store. The copies sold in Gotoku-ji, where this talisman was first made, are considered the height of perfection.

Maneki neko

Tenugui . Or in other words, a rectangular piece of material covered with an ornament or some more complex pattern. The product is multifunctional. Its main purpose is as a towel. The main material is cotton. The length of the towel is about 0.9 m. The pattern is formed using the printed method, the motifs can vary significantly. For Japanese culture, traditional flower themes. But geometric compositions also occur. Tenugui is used for wrapping gifts and is also used as a replacement for tablecloths and panels.

Tenugui

Yukata . You can buy souvenirs in Japan inexpensively by choosing this type of kimono. It is made from cotton and is used mainly in summer. Within the country itself, such clothing is worn during national cultural festivals and in traditional hotels. Experts advise purchasing yukata not in specialized shops, but in mass clothing stores for locals or in supermarkets, department stores, and shopping centers. Then the quality will be higher and the variety of available options will be greater.

Kimono

Geta . This is the name given to classic national shoes worn along with the same yukata. Geta resembles both flip-flops and wooden shoes. For those who are not going to tune in to complete authenticity, zori is better suited - this is the name of a more gentle modification of geta, which often suits Europeans, and at the same time corresponds to the island canons.

National shoes

Veera . The Japanese take folded or rigidly made hand fans on the train when going to a restaurant. In the summer, people carrying them are found on every street. Therefore, we can confidently say that uchiwa fans express national flavor.

Traditional fans

Wagasa . The classic Japanese umbrella has a similar name. In this country, the tradition of using and creating umbrellas dates back hundreds of years. The Japanese need this both for protection from bad weather and during tea ceremonies and when staging theatrical performances.

Umbrella

Furin . Air bells are specific to the culture of the Asian country. They can be heard even in the most modern buildings and structures. Furin is made from glass or metal. When the bell swings, it signals the approach of a cool breeze.

Japanese bells

Paintings of the Ukiyo-e type . The literal translation is “painting of the floating world.” It has been popular since at least the 17th century. This genre is a leader in Japanese fine art. Therefore, such souvenirs should definitely be in the luggage of travelers leaving the Japanese islands.

Ukiyo-e

Food sticks . According to the old tradition, they are made from varnished wood. It is customary to make cutlery in several different sizes. Compared to the Chinese version, the length is shorter and the shape is closer to an ideal circle. Stores mainly sell sets of sticks. To improve their decorative qualities, they are equipped with elegant ornaments.

Sticks

Cosmetical tools . The question of what cosmetics to bring from Japan that are not available in Russia is difficult to resolve. Almost any product is brought to our country. But it’s definitely worth purchasing original Asian collagen. Such goods are sold not only in boutiques and supermarkets, but also in pharmacies and modest stores. The shapes are varied, and it is easy to choose the one that suits you. The island country also sells many types of face masks. There are fabric, gel-like and cream-like ones. The compositions vary greatly: algae, gold, pearls, and extracts of various tones are used. The choice is made individually. Attractive cosmetics are made under the brands Kanebo, Biore, Shiseido.

Japanese cosmetics

Technically complex products . The question of what equipment to bring when visiting Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido or Okinawa will arise with 100% probability. The range includes both those made in Japan itself and in other Asian countries. Some goods are produced for domestic national consumption. The lack of translated documentation is a strong negative factor. The cost is also not too cheap. Experts recommend coming to Tokyo's Akihabara district.

Robots

First class knives . Local manufacturers have long known how to make the sharpest blade and give reliability to the product. Even world-famous chefs willingly purchase knives with the Japan brand.

Knife set

Tea will be the right answer to the question of what food and drink to bring from Japan. We recommend paying attention to Matcha tea - the green powder type. The harvest takes place once a year. Before harvesting, the leaves are protected from the sun for 14 days. Therefore, the finished product acquires a sweet taste.

Green tea

Sweets of national format. A great variety has been created for this position. A classic is wagashi (a candy made by mixing rice paste, sweet potato paste and tea). Chocolates will also be original. Here they learned to give them over 300 different flavors. Cakes or cookies are no worse.

Wagashi

Other exotic dishes . These are bento, sashimi, vacuum-coated Pacific fish fillets, fish roe, crabs, other canned food, dried seaweed, noodles, mushrooms, and delectable sauces.

Bento

Choosing a Japanese souvenir

If traditional Japanese souvenirs don't appeal to you, you can buy something really strange on the islands.

Often the trinkets of Japan seem like just beautiful little things, but some of them strike the wanderer to the very heart.

A panel with a hieroglyph will become the “highlight” of the interior.

3 unusual souvenirs

Samurai sword . Let’s make a reservation right away: real swords are very expensive, they are considered both a weapon and a work of art, so it will not be possible to take them out of the country. Tourists can purchase copies of samurai katanas at fairly affordable prices. Copies come in full-size and miniature. The level of detail also depends on the density of your wallet.
Hieroglyphs . The Japanese brought calligraphy to extreme perfection. A good souvenir would be a panel decorated with a hieroglyph. You can give it to a friend or a girl, but the essence of the gift is that no one except you will know the meaning of the hieroglyph.
Puzzle . The Japanese are an extremely smart nation, as you can easily see if you buy a local puzzle. The return flight time will fly by for you.

What souvenir is worth bringing from Japan is up to you to decide.

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Where is the best place to buy souvenirs?

Connoisseurs of photographic equipment should go to the specialized area around Shinjuku Station . Both new and discounted copies are sold there. They are definitely cheaper than similar models in our country. Tokyo's main shopping district is Ginza . EVERYTHING is sold here. You can also buy used equipment in the Akihabara .

You need to look for the fish market on Tsukiy Street . More souvenirs are sold on Nakamise Street . It doesn’t make much sense to look for a specific store or shop. Japanese tradition predetermines the concentration of homogeneous establishments in certain areas. Omote-sando Street from Shibuya offers a similar selection to Ginza. However, the cost of goods has been significantly reduced. The Harajuku quarter , which this street abuts, contains clothing in a non-standard punk style.

In Osaka, we advise you to first go to the World Trade Center , which occupies the second largest Japanese skyscraper.

Ginza district in Tokyo

Cost of travel to Japan

KFC food for Christmas

When most of us think of Christmas, we think of Christmas themes, and Westerners think of Santa Claus. As it turns out, the Japanese are no strangers to Santa either, only with a slight change. Instead of Santa, the Colonel represents the Christmas holiday season in Japan. All residents of Japan gather at the nearest KFC at the end of December to stock up on a portion of fried chicken. The theory goes that even though Christianity is not common in Japan, foreigners started the trend of searching for "KFC" when they looked for turkey (or anything close to it) during the Christmas period. The company learned of this and launched a huge advertising campaign in the 1970s that made people associate the Christmas holiday with KFC. Apparently, KFC food is so popular at Christmas that potential customers place their orders in advance to have the Colonel prepare their order.

What can and cannot be exported from Japan?

The island country's customs have strictly enforced rules. You can transport both national and foreign currency of any type. Amounts from 1 million government yen and their equivalents in foreign banknotes are required to be included in the declaration. You can take no more than 56 milliliters of perfume with you on a plane. Most goods are limited in value to 200 thousand Japanese yen for export.

strictly prohibited to transport artistic and antique objects, cultural values without official permits from control authorities. The ban applies to pornographic items and publications, weapons, explosives, psychotropic drugs and substances with a narcotic effect. You will not be allowed to take with you anything that violates patent restrictions and copyrights.

Special pillows for men and women

Residents of Europe and North America often associate the Japanese with strange inventions. This product only reinforces this stereotype. For single men who either do not have a lady of their heart, or who has been away for a long time, the Japanese have created a knee pillow called Hizamakura . This "pillow" looks like the lower half of a woman wearing a miniskirt. Ladies don't have to worry either, as the single lady pillow was also invented. The Japanese have come up with a body pillow with a built-in “arm that hugs you.” Known as the hug pillow or boyfriend pillow, this pillow has been around for many years. All you have to do is hug her and she will hug you - perfect for everyone.

How to save money on your trip? Working lifehacks!

These tips will help you plan an independent holiday at resorts in winter or summer for less:

We recommend looking for the best hotel prices on ROOMGURU . The search engine searches among all hotel databases on the Internet, even from such giants as Booking, and compares prices. If you are a smartphone lover, then the HOUSING SEARCH is a must. It is very convenient to open options upon arrival and book immediately.
TRIPINSURANCE service will help you profitably insure your health and life while traveling ; the search engine shows results from all major insurance companies. All you have to do is choose only the most profitable option, but we advise you not to skimp on your health!
Air tickets? Experiencedly, we recommend using AVIASALES , it is still the No. 1 search engine among independent travelers.

Foods with unusual flavors

If you compare the cultures of Japan and North America, you will find examples of huge differences. When it comes to food, the Japanese have perhaps the strangest creations. Take ice cream, for example. If you want to try ice cream that is less traditional than some of the domestic, European or American ice cream flavors, then you need to go to Japan. After all, coffee ice cream, cookie ice cream, and Rocky Road ice cream were once considered rather strange and unconventional flavors.

If you go to a regular convenience store in Japan, you will be able to purchase unusual, purely Japanese ice cream in flavors such as roast, horse, curry, eel, oyster, chicken, beer, cactus and crab. If you're not tempted by any of these flavors, maybe you'll go for a regular Kit Kat. In Japan, you can buy a regular Kit Kat or choose a Kit Kat with flavors such as baked potato, wasabi, soy sauce, peach, green tea (Japanese green chocolate made from green tea), pumpkin, apple, mango, lemon and dozens of others. tastes.

Mr. Kanso

Eating canned food with plastic spoons or forks is not what any of us would call gourmet eating. We usually resort to canned food when our significant other has gone somewhere and we have to cook for ourselves and are too lazy to go to the store. In Japan, Mister Kanso is a restaurant that specializes in serving canned food in a restaurant setting. Sounds like a recipe for a failed business, doesn't it? Mr. Kanso has been in business since 2002 and is currently open in 17 locations. Visitors do not have menus and the restaurants do not have chefs to prepare food. Instead, you can get any canned food from different parts of the world. Perhaps someday you will find yourself in this restaurant and be able to try canned potato salad and canned omelette, opened and placed on a plate by restaurant workers with the addition of mayonnaise. Yummy!

Capsule hotels

In most cases, space is the biggest luxury in Japan. The population of this island country is more than 126 million people and most of it is concentrated in ever-growing cities. Cities such as Tokyo, Yokohama and Osaka have the highest concentrations of populations, meaning space has to be used more efficiently. Capsule hotels, which appeared in Osaka in 1979, became the best example of efficient use of space. However, they are definitely not a suitable place for people suffering from claustrophobia. Here, visitors are taken to a room measuring two meters by two meters, a meter high and a meter wide. Inside there is a mattress, TV, air conditioning and wifi. The "rooms" are arranged in two rows and, in addition to the fact that they accommodate people in a tiny space, they are a great solution for people who do not have huge amounts of money or for those who just need a break and do not need an ordinary hotel room.

Donut on the head

Body modification is nothing new and it is not limited to Japan. Piercings, hair extensions, enlargement of body parts, tattooing - there are different types of body modifications that people do to themselves all over the world. One of the strangest body modifications associated especially with Japan is the “donut on the head.” This modification involves injecting a saline solution under the skin of a person's forehead, creating a lump that is then formed into a bagel or donut. In fact, this process first appeared in Canada, but since 2007 it has gained incredible popularity in Japan, when it was adopted by the “underground” movement, which began holding parties for people with donuts on their heads. This modification may seem strange, but it is not permanent, as the body will usually absorb the solution by the next morning.