Souvenirs from Japan?
 

My advice is not to go over the top. Unless you're buying something for someone crazed about Japan, most people don't really care what they get as long as they get something. The first time I went I spent too much money on things that other people will put in a drawer somewhere and not enough on things for me to treasure.

Asakusa is a great place for buying souvenirs. Last time I went to a 100yen shop and got lots of lollies and gift bags. In each gift bag I put a handful of lollies and a nice fan, toy, chopsticks or purse etc. It's all about presentation. ^_^

For myself, I collected little statues from each place I went in Japan. They are small, durable, and uniquely Japanese. I have everything from Buddhas to Geishas to the 7 Lucky Gods to Neo and oni. I also have a few black velvet hanging wall scrolls! :)

For omiyage, I'd buy local food that could be shared.

For family, I bought silk yukatas and some nice little items, like a lacquered jewelry box and fans.

There are always great food wrapped for gifts at the airport. Food it good because it doesn't clutter up the house.

The first 2 times i got random gadgets and postcards from Don Quixote.

Fans/keychains/bandanas with kanji/wooden shoes/charms from temple gift shops etc etc.

the next 6 or so times i went, i just didnt bother =P

go for cheap light things. over do it and you'll pay big time at the airport if you go over the weight limit

what's the weight limit at the airport? I'm thinking of picking up some clothes and a few art books.

I want to say 40kg per suitcase.

Thank you, guys, for the responses so far!

I happen to be old enough to remember the days when the exchange rate was still 360 yen per U.S. dollar. Back then foreign tourists stayed at the most expensive hotels and they always sat in the Green Cars of Shinkansen trains. I'm sure they bought all the pricey stuff in Japan as well.

Now I often see tourists shopping at 100-yen stores and actually eating at Yoshinoya. What a change! In a sense, I still can't believe this is happening even though I see it almost on a weekly basis. Old images die hard...

When I go to Japan I plan to buy japanese teaware along with some fine green tea. I've heard Kyoto is one of the best places for this.
And I would probably buy some anime related things as well (dvds/cd's or statues) :) ...

I'm buying me a Tanuki at a Kyoto pottery shop.

I love the gift bag idea so I think I am going to keep an eye out for items I can use in the bags and i'm going to keep it small, simple and light.

I calculated that I may need between 10 and 15 so I might make up 5 special bags and 10 standard ones.

Thanks for the idea

That sounds like an excellent idea! Unless you know exactly what your firends want for souvenirs, it should be much safer to give them many little things rather than one or two big items. Safe in the sense that they probably will like some of the items, if not all of them.

If I were to hit the weight limit on what I collect, I would have a mess when I got home. I have an ever growing collection of kyo-sensu and now a colelction of hashi has begun. I have about 100 folding fans, but they are not all Japanese.

Wow, that's a lotta sensu! No wonder I see less and less sensu around Japan these days!

I collect prayer boards from temples because they are cheap light weight and pretty, even though they are supposed to be left there =p, I have over 50 different ones

Hmm, that actually is a good idea, never thought of that... i do purchase charms for souvenir, but never thought of the prayer board... good suggestion, i will do that next time :)

Perhaps you are just making your own shrine with them, instad of leaving them at the temple where you purchased them.

I'd like to ask you people a question here.

As you all know, many of the things sold in Japan are not actually made in Japan. The 100-yen stores are the prime example in that regard. It's pretty difficult to find Japanese-made clothes like T-shirts as well.

Would foreign tourists care about that to any extent? Wouldn't their friends and families, who receive those items as souvenirs, be somewhat more pleased if they were made in Japan?

Thanks in advance.

from my observation, people don't care where its made, but the do want something that truly represent the country. Like t shirt for examples, the love ones with Japanese marking. I bought a load of tshirts that has the map of Kyoto and some with the shinsengumi flag, people love it. Next time I am not even traveling with any clothing and just buy everything there :)

we r actually talking pre-plaza era here. i always love to hear stories from ppl that were actually here during the bubble years. the only thing i can bring to the table in this matter is being in japan when the yen was under 90:1. needless to say there were no green cars for me then, and no, there r no green cars for me now either.

as for souvenirs, i must be the worse souvenir buyer there is. for me it ranks as number one of めんどくさい things on the "things-to-do-when-leaving-the-country list.
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come to think of it, having to go to shinagawa to get the re-entry permit might be even worse, but it is indeed tight between the two.

For me, if in Japan, I'd probably bring back key chains or something to show what part of Japan I went to, but as long as it's small.

Now, although not a souvenir, I'd probably buy cds that costs too much to import by groups I like. If I ever end up going there, I'd ask about cd shops in whatever area I'm going to.

As for CD's go to Harajuku Yoyogi park on a Sunday and check out the bands playing live. Many of them offer free CD's and flyers. Not actually in the park but stay left of the park and walk along that road on the right.

Go to UT teeshirt store Harajuku where you can buy limited edition tees in plastic cans. average 1200 yen.

Loopwheeler in Harajuku for high end casual (very well made) designer JP clothing. SICK!!!!! bust out your wallet for a one off!

Go Mcdonalds and take a few menu's, everyone loves a Japanese McMenu.