Here’s the truth: the list of things to buy in Japan isn’t short. It’s endless. You walk into a corner shop just to grab a bottle of water, and suddenly you’re holding green tea Kit Kats, pens that feel smoother than butter, and socks with cartoon sushi on them. That’s how it starts. Japan pulls you in with the ordinary and somehow makes it magical.
Stationery You’ll Actually Miss
Let me start with pens. Yes, pens. You think, “Why would I care about pens?” Then you walk into a Tokyu Hands store and test one, and suddenly you’re buying a dozen because you know you’ll never find them back home. That’s when you realize everyday stationery tops the list of things to buy in Japan.
Notebooks with paper so soft you want to write letters just to hear the sound. Washi tapes in designs you didn’t know you needed. Even erasers come in weird, collectible forms—fruit, trains, sushi.
Candy That Doesn’t Exist Anywhere Else
Everybody jokes about Japanese Kit Kats, but the joke ends when you taste them. Matcha, sake, baked sweet potato, strawberry cheesecake—it feels like they invent flavors just to surprise you. There are even region-only packs. People literally plan trips around buying them. Honestly, Kit Kats might be the most Instagrammed of all the things to buy in Japan.
Ceramics That Don’t Feel Like Souvenirs
Kyoto shops sell bowls and cups that look too delicate, too perfect—but here’s the thing, they’re meant to be used. You buy a teacup, and every time you drink from it back home, it feels like a quiet memory. That’s what makes Japanese ceramics special: they’re souvenirs that don’t sit on a shelf gathering dust.
Skincare Aisles That Don’t End
Even drugstores here are overwhelming. Rows of serums, sheet masks, sunscreens. Some cost half what they would back home. A friend of mine once filled half her suitcase with Japanese skincare and laughed the whole flight home because customs looked at her like she owned a spa. If you’re making a serious list of things to buy in Japan, skincare has to be there.
The Tech Dream (and the Trap)
Yes, Akihabara is still wild—blinding lights, floors stacked with gadgets, gaming gear, headphones, cameras. But here’s the catch: not everything is export-friendly. Voltage, language settings, compatibility. Still, the fun little gadgets—pocket translators, gaming accessories—are safe bets. Tech stays high on the radar of things to buy in Japan, but shop smart.
Snacks, Ramen, and the Konbini Magic
The 7-Eleven here isn’t like at home. It’s better. Instant ramen bowls, bento boxes, soft-serve ice cream, even onigiri that taste like someone’s mom packed them. You can spend hours in a convenience store. People laugh about it, but it’s true: konbini shopping is one of the most underrated things to buy in Japan.
Pop Culture and Play
If anime or manga are part of your life, Japan is paradise. Pokémon Centers, anime figurine shops, capsule toy machines in every train station. Even if you’re not into it, you end up buying something just because it feels fun. And yes, grown adults walk out with plush toys. No shame.
Knives and Kitchen Gear
For the practical traveler, Japanese knives are legendary. Osaka and Kyoto have shops where the knives are handmade, razor-sharp, and passed down through families. Even basic kitchenware—whisks, pans, chopsticks—feels like it’s built to last. These aren’t just souvenirs; they’re tools.
Tea That Tastes Like Place
Green tea from Uji. Matcha from Kyoto. Loose-leaf packs from little shops where the owner still scoops it by hand. Tea is quiet, simple, and one of the most soulful things to buy in Japan.
The Odd, Unplanned Finds
Honestly, this is the best part. A keychain from a vending machine. A packet of stickers from a 100-yen shop. Lucky charms from a shrine. None of it planned, all of it meaningful.
Final Thought
The real secret? The best things to buy in Japan are the ones you stumble into. Sure, everyone talks about Kit Kats and gadgets, but it’s the small, unexpected purchases—a pen, a teacup, a pack of ramen—that bring the trip back to life when you’re home.
Japan has a way of making even the ordinary unforgettable.
Read Next:
Cafescore: The Metric Reshaping Hospitality Investment & Urban Development