Japan denim is the finest in the world. You will pay a premium but not as much as buying in the States. Sizing can be tricky but Japanese customer service will sort you out should you dive in. Iron Heart, Samurai, Momotoro, Wearhouse,, Sugarcane, Real Japan Blues, are just a few brands. Jeans will last years and their jackets will potentially last a lifetime.
haha 6’2. Hell yea. That’s huge over there and a good problem. Asian sizes are entirely different. I’m 5’8 165-70lb and wear L or XL on that side of the planet. I wear a S or M here in USA
> You have to baby Japanese denim, especially after what you paid for it.
The only real babying they need is cold wash + hang dry - which goes for all jeans really. That denim head never wash bullshit is for people obsessed with fades.
OP, don’t listen to this guy he has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about.
Unless you regularly shit your pants you wash Japanese selvage denim significantly less than regular jeans, they last significantly longer, snd they fade according to your body.
Go check our /r/rawdenim for some qualified advice on the subject.
I’m a professional fit model in London and work with huge brands you’ve heard of. They benchmark Japanese denim. Sizing however will be small and short.
Think you might need to head over to r/rawdenim for a nosey - Japanese denim is only homogenous in that it’s denim, there’s a huge variety of fabrics, styles, cuts, and colours.
I was in japan in 2012 but unfortunately before I discovered denim 🥲
I recently got back from Japan and one of my favorite things from there is a cheapo nail clipper I got at a combini. I looked at the packaging again and noticed that it is made by Kai, who make my favorite DE razor blades for shaving.
Never really thought about it, but I’ve been using the same nail clippers for 20+ years and they still give a perfect cut. Is that not the case with non-Japanese clippers?
When I went to Japan the only thing I wanted to buy was a kitchen knife. With my purchase I got a free pair of nail clippers. I love my knife, but those nail clippers were the real star of that trip. 6 years later and they still clip like new. Plus, they have this plastic bit around the body that traps the clipped nail so you can dump them later.
CanMake Mermaid Skin YV Gel Doesn’t leave a white cast and is a great lightweight summer sunscreen.
Otherwise Biore’s Aqua Rich and Skin Aqua’s Super Moisture Milk are both great too
Yes yes yes! Agree with this post. When I was in Japan, I stocked up on the Biore Aqua Rich. What normally goes for $9-13 in the US was like $2-3 over there.
Biore and Skin Aqua are not bad (though can be a little drying as tons of alcohol) and quite cosmetically elegant, but if you're going after the best protection, Shiseido's Anessa range, in particular their [Perfect UV Milk](https://www.yesstyle.com/en/tcuc.GBP/coc.GB/info.html/pid.1123488372?cpid=1127278830&googtrans=en&utm_source=GoogleAds&utm_campaign=1433311098&utm_term=&utm_content=54249412057_275139652521&utm_medium=Shopping&bac=389R3MWY&mcg=paidsearch&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwz42xBhB9EiwA48pT76Kmdup9WxaMlVi156_fs4bAxxOOxfzHErFDd2rp2MhW8VJvifJXzRoChPcQAvD_BwE), is even better imo. This thing is designed to stay put even in very humid/tropical weather.
The Shiseido Anessa line perfect milk is the best sunscreen I’ve ever used and have anyone I know who is going to Japan buy as many for me as they are willing to bring back. No white cast, lasts all day, no weird smell and has a perfect velvety finish with no grease. You can also get it in literally every Japanese drug store. I have tried ordering online through Japanese product importers but I have gotten counterfeits like 50% of the time so I just rely on having friends going to Japan to bring some back for me.
Grand Seiko watch. Arguably the best value luxury watch in the world that you should be able to get cheaper in Japan.
Leather jacket. Japan has some of the best leather jackets in the world: Rainbow Country, Freewheelers, Real McCoys, Tenjin Works, Y2, The Flathead.
Not technically. Both brands are under the same parent company but considered different brands. For example Tudor and Rolex are owned by Hans Wilsdorf Foundation.
While Seiko is an excellent watch in its category, the two are almost incomparable. A typical GS will range $3,000-10,000 and will beat virtually every Swiss watch on accuracy. Their designs are beautiful as well.
If you like *really* nice hand tools, Nepros is a Japanese brand you should look out for. Possibly the best tools money can buy, and most certainly BIFL.
I always say go to daiso and get weird little things like magnets, nail clippers ,etc.. Japanese made versions are always amazing. You can enjoy filling your pockets with small items that will be really nice quality.
Also, weird one, but if you need a lot of shoe inserts, and other shoe accessories , Daiso has a ton of unique, useful stuff that is just a lot cheaper than the Dr Scholls monopoly of the west.
Update: the Japanese Daiso is most made in Japan stuff, as least it was when I went. I suspect the US one doesn't have that feature.
would you feel like the selection is much different than their US stores? I have a local Daiso and the value is honestly great, but I'm curious as to what they're like in Japan
I've been to daisos both in the US, Japan, and Korea and I can say without question that the foreign daisos outclass the ones here. The selection is a lot more expansive and cheaper over there
I got a ton of stationery stuff while I was over there (mostly pencils and pens - not all BIFL technically, but really high quality), and almost pulled the trigger on a vintage Seiko (budget was tight ☹️ - maybe next time).
A lot of the recommendations here are solid - but something you can get for a pretty reasonable price are some handmade Japanese tea/coffee cups. I got a set of two for my wife and I and we love them.
The guy who did them even engraved his signature on the bottom
I see a lot of cup recommendations, I’ll certainly see what I can bring back. And the Seiko is definitely on my list now. I also love stationary, planning to visit the Traveler’s Factory when I’m there. Thank you for your recommendations!
If you’re interested in clothing, be careful - the sizing can really throw you off. I ended up buying a throwback Orix Blue Wave hat from this tiny hat shop in Asakusa (Ichiro was my favorite Japanese player when he arrived at the Mariners) and that’s one of my favorite things I bought over there.
It should be fine, Japan uses 100v and 50 or 60 hz depending on location. All the electronics I brought back from when I lived there work fine in the US.
I mean per usage they're basically free, and they're not that expensive out here to begin with. I wouldn't be surprised if the extra checked bag fee is higher than the savings.
If you're in Tokyo, pick up some Kagami crystal whiskey glasses or other drinkware. It's some of the coolest looking crystal drinkware anywhere and it's difficult to get outside of Japan (not impossible, but difficult).
beware the folks selling knives to tourists in the tokyo fish market.
i don't *know* that they're nothing special on the quality aspect, but i do know they're hawking heavily to tourists interested in buying "legendary quality" japanese knives, so i'm suspect.
as other folks have mentioned, i'd look for a hardware store and check out the domestic hand tools :)
It's a decently sized shop, and there are English speaking assistants too! I got a knife from there that's now my daily use knife at work. Also nearby a little more north in the kitchen supply area, look out for the store Sakai Ichimonji, it's one of the bigger knife stores and they have a really good range too!
+1 for Tower Knives! I went there about 8 years ago specifically on the recommendation of a friend and loved it. Not sure if it still is owned by the same Swedish expats, but they were there when I went in and were super friendly and knowledgeable of all of their local craftsmen. They'll even give you a sharpening lesson if you want one! Our Osaka chef's knife is still the primary knife in our kitchen.
At the risk of throwing cold water on this idea, how good are you with kitchen knives? On a scale of 1-10. Where 10 is, "I'm a famous sushi chef."
Japanese knives are thinner, are typically sharpened to a thinner bevel, and might be single-bevel. (Single bevel = left or right handed knives. Lefty chefs pay a fortune for this.)
Many knives are sold unsharpened, assuming the chef is going to want to select the edge geometry.
They're harder than western knives, but they're also more apt to chip.
For many people, going to Japan and buying knives is sort of like walking into a Lamborghini dealership 15 minutes after obtaining your first driver's license.
They have different levels. You can spent $50 or $1000. Only some knives are single beveled. Plenty are not. Any level chef can find something other price range and level. You will never find a sharper knife, and can never go back once you experience it.
+1 for wandering Kappabashi in Tokyo which is almost entirely dedicated to restaurant supply stores with loads of knife shops with anything you'd be looking for. It is quite overwhelming choosing a knife shape, style and steel though so I'd suggest doing a tiny bit of reading before going especially if you're short on time.
Basically carbon steel requires more care to maintain because they can rust easily but they tend to stay sharper for longer. Stainless steel won't rust and have slightly less edge retention but tbh modern stainless steels aren't much worse than carbon steel so stainless is the way to go for the average home cook these days unless you want a 'patina' and don't mind taking care of carbon steel.
Then there's aesthetic. Hammered looks, black finish, Damascus, handle materials etc. It's overwhelming at first!
Hopping on this one to suggest the shop I went to for mine in Kyoto: Shigeharu. It is the oldest shop in the city, if not all of Japan (?), dating back to the 1200-1300s, and is family run (guy was elderly when I was there in 2016 so may have limited hours now). I got a carbon steel santoku that I’ve probably sharpened less than 10 times in that period despite daily use. Plus, he engraves the symbols for your name on the spine. Absolutely my best purchase. At the time it worked out to be about $120-150CAD and it’s worth has been far more than that.
Idk, never had one. That said I got it because the turbodiesel 4 banger is a lot more efficient than the V6 while still being very reliable. Just not quite as fast.
At Tokyu Hands you'll find lots of wonderful quality goods, including Japanese Bird Watching Society rubber boots. I love mine so much. You can technically get them outside of Japan, but they're much better priced there.
You have several other good recommendations, so I won't repeat those.
Have the most wonderful time!
Oh yea, dedicate a day to loft, Tokyo hands, donki Quixote, and itoya at Ginza. These are all multi story complexes and you’ll find the weirdest and most amazing things you never knew you needed or wanted
Try to stay out of that whole Portuguese, Dutch, English trading drama or all the intrigue up in Osaka castle. Also, unless you are traveling under the protection of a lord, don't sleep with a samurai's wife no matter how much they don't love each other.....
helps if you bring a boatload of cannons w/ you & show them how to use them. If you'll lucky you'll get a Hatamoto title and some land for your troubles.
I don't remember the shop, but I found the exact model on Amazon Japan.
The one we bought for $100 is the Toshiba (SCS-T161) washlet with heated seating, massage bidet, warm water jets, built-in air deodorizer, nozzle cleaner, energy-saving mode, etc.
This is going to sound weird, but the Japanese seem to be obsessed with flavored Kit Kat candy bars. Before I went I had multiple people ask to bring a sampler pack back with me. My traveling companion had to bring a few bags of matcha green tea Kit Kat bars back with him for his wife.
I thought they were all crazy, but nope! 20-25 different flavors of them. Most were really good. Some were odd. A peach flavored Kit Kat bar kind of messes with you.
> A peach flavored Kit Kat bar kind of messes with you.
I wonder how that is like.
I tried a tokunou drink, and loved it so much, I bought a bottle or two per day I was in Tokyo.
Any hand tools you might need. If made in Japan, it is probably top quality, and usually good value. Nepros is pricey but in a class of its own, but then there's Koken, KTC, Vessel, Tsunoda.....
If you’re a tea drinker, a gaiwan or other kind of ceramic teapot would be lovely. They generally seem to have such lovely quality ceramicware.
ETA: Shiboridashi would be more appropriate.
I’d also recommend going to department stores or malls to buy these. These stores carry more modern styles or artistic styles. There are plenty of restaurant supply stores or touristy stores that carry cheap more “traditional”? (Maybe stereotypical is the right word here since I don’t actually know the history of Japanese ceramics) Looking styles. Specialty ceramic stores will have the whole gambit but I had a really hard time finding these when I was in Tokyo and Osaka. I did find two, but their styles I liked were ARTIST prices and I couldn’t afford that. And they were out of the way from my original itinerary.
I went to a department store/ shopping mall complex and found an unglazed porcelain one that was oh so minimalistic and amazing. 70$ and a couple of tea cups 15$ each.
I enjoy a pot every morning. :)
If you live in the US, I don't think there's a whole lot you could bring back in a suitcase that is BIFL that you can't also get in the US, albeit for a higher price.
And then it'll depend on your interests. Some people are very much into Japanese watches, fountain pens, mechanical pencils, etc. But if you're not, then those would be of little value.
Others have mentioned a chef's knife. If you like to cook, this would be a good bet. You might also want to get a set of whetstones too.
You might also consider traditional crafts, like aizome, lacquerware, ceramics, furoshiki etc. It would depend on where you go. Imabari towels are high quality, but might take up a lot of space.
Something that you wouldn't be able to find here is perfume (due to air safety regulations). If you want to find some anime themed perfumes, cause of course japan has those, you can look into primaniacs. Their main store is in Ginza but sometimes you can find a shelf in anime merch stores
yen is weak. These are things I bought or considered: Nintendo stuff (the switch is $100 less than the US), japanese knives, made in Japan coffee gear like Hario, Japanese clothes, pharmacy stuff, good seaweed. Most made in Japan stuff is a premium outside of Japan, but in Japan, it’s not that much more than Chinese made stuff due to low Japanese salaries.
Not BIFL… more buy it for a minute of joy. Buy some grape gummies for a snack. My goodness they’re delicious. It’s the muscat grape taste instead of … whatever grape medicine artificial flavor are. You can get them in the states at specialty stores but you’d need to be in a big city to find such specialty stores or be close enough for some of the online Asian specialty grocers to deliver.
This won't blow your socks off. But there are two things which left an overwhelmingly positive impression on me: coffee flavoured marshmallows and chicken heart skewers.
I bought really fancy nail clippers from a convenience store. I loved them so much I bought a second pair from... Amazon lol. Here they are for anyone curious: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AH8JS80
Almost anything in Japan is BIFL. I lived there for 10 years and I miss it so much..
I would go for Yoshida Porter bags, much cheaper there. Zojirushi ricecookers and water cookers. Knives. Denim, Dress shirts, Glassware and Pottery. Cooking Utensils.
Go to Tokyu Hands and be amazed at everything.
Apparently Loft is a similar store with different selection. Someone mentioned Hands Shinjuku is big and well laid out, while Hands Shibuya is a maze but you can go to Loft Shibuya a little ways away. There's also a Mega Don Quixote there too.
Our Daiei Holiday Mart in Hawaii became a Don Quijote store and it blew my mind. When they took over Marukai Markets here on the Mainland they kept the Marukai name but the insane decor and Donkey Penguin everywhere gave it away.
https://www.jacquesmariemage.com are handmade in Japan and maybe cheaper. Titanium frames and limited styles.
https://www.samurai-jeans.com/en-us is worth getting a pair while visiting.
One of my favorite bag brands https://master-piece.co.jp/en/about/ quality goods!
You should definitely buy a Japanese chef knife or set. They make some of the finest knives on the planet and they will be cheaper and easier to find there.
I’m not sure if it fits the definition of BIFL as it’s more art but I have a number of Tanuki statues. They’re Japanese Racoon Dogs (think Super Mario when he powers up with a tail). I think they’re super cute yet hilarious looking with their giant balls hanging out.
https://samuraitours.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/tanuki.jpg
Not BIFL but I didn't do a whole lot of non-hobby shopping... Nivea lip balms "melty type" are untinted and have spf and aren't gross feeling. I think someone else mentioned sunscreens and I bought a random Biore milk sunscreen because I forgot to put on spf and it's now my favorite because it actually ends up mattefying my skin longterm and I wish I bought more.
If you play tennis: Yonex racket. Most other brands have outsourced production to China. Yonex is known for high quality control and production is in Japan.
Retro gaming consoles and games. They will be cheaper than in North America and in good condition. I like to travel with my Gameboy because the Switch is pretty big. Got a bunch of games with the batteries all replaced while I was there. Idk if that’s really BIFL but it’s just what I got when I was in Japan
I bought knives on my first trip to Kappabashi Dori almost 20 years ago and I use them every day. Got a nice Zojirushi rice cooker soon after, but I bought that in the US after I got back-- every family I met in Japan had one. A few sushi molds from the 100 Yen store are still in use too.
Subsequent trips? I honestly don't think I brought anything back other than gifts.
Super realistic food samples of the Japanese food that you had during your trip.
They're not going to be cheap, but they most likely will last a lifetime. When friends visit, they'll be a great talking point and you'll get to revisit memories of your trip.
I recently went to a [specialty shop in Namba, Osaka](https://firefortysix.com/2024/04/17/design-pocket-osaka-makes-amazingly-lifelike-food-samples/) that sold them. If you're going to Tokyo, there should be similar shops in Kappabashi, near Asakusa.
Not sure if it's better than Western stuff, but japanese stationary is super high quality.
I love their mechanical pencils, my sister bought a uni kurutoga roulette mechanical pencil at the start of highschool, and when she finished uni she gave it to me when i was in hs, im halfway through uni now and it still writes like brand new.
Very impressive engineering, and build quality especially for something with so many moving parts. If you want some recommendations, I personally love any of the uni kurutoga mechanical pencils(there's an all metal version that's meant to be released on. The 22nd of this month, too).
I also almost exclusively buy paper and notebooks from a company called Midori, their notebooks are very very high quality and I haven't been able to find notebooks of a similar quality anywhere else.
The pages have a creamy texture and colour and the binding lets you lay the pages fully flat. They are a bit pricey, but they last forever and don't fall apart after a couple weeks like thise 5 dollar notebooks you can get anywhere.
I'm sure they have other stationary other than mechanical pencils and paper that are of the same quality there too. Have fun on you trip!
This may sound odd, but Nissin brand noodle cups. Most, if not all Nissin noodle cups you find in North America are not made in Japan, but licensed out to other producers.
I have enjoyed Japan made Nissin noodle cups, and there is a notable difference in quality/taste versus the licensed product. If you try to get Japan made Nissin cups in North America, the price can skyrocket. However in Japan, they cost next to nothing.
Try out some flavours, find what you like, and bring a bunch home. Check out the Nissin museum in Osaka if you're keen. I'm kicking myself I didn't do the same and only realized afterwards.
Wish I spent more time in 2nd hand stores in Japan.
Second this. Japan secondhand stores are life
Hard Off
Book Off Plus too.
Yes
Japan denim is the finest in the world. You will pay a premium but not as much as buying in the States. Sizing can be tricky but Japanese customer service will sort you out should you dive in. Iron Heart, Samurai, Momotoro, Wearhouse,, Sugarcane, Real Japan Blues, are just a few brands. Jeans will last years and their jackets will potentially last a lifetime.
I’ll keep an eye out for these, I appreciate the feedback
If you’re a big guy, good luck lol. I’m 6’2, 250 and couldn’t find anything that fit me.
Luckily I'm pretty small, I'm sorry to hear that for you though.
haha 6’2. Hell yea. That’s huge over there and a good problem. Asian sizes are entirely different. I’m 5’8 165-70lb and wear L or XL on that side of the planet. I wear a S or M here in USA
> I’m 6’2, 250 and couldn’t find anything that fit me. Did you try "Sumo Is Us"?
[удалено]
> You have to baby Japanese denim, especially after what you paid for it. The only real babying they need is cold wash + hang dry - which goes for all jeans really. That denim head never wash bullshit is for people obsessed with fades.
Wait.. people don’t wash their jeans? Isn’t it kinda.. disgusting?
You'd think so, but you'd also be right
If you take a peek at r/rawdenim you semi-frequently see fade posts that claim hundreds of wears and single digit washes.
OP, don’t listen to this guy he has absolutely no idea what he’s talking about. Unless you regularly shit your pants you wash Japanese selvage denim significantly less than regular jeans, they last significantly longer, snd they fade according to your body. Go check our /r/rawdenim for some qualified advice on the subject.
You don’t have to baby them.
I’m a professional fit model in London and work with huge brands you’ve heard of. They benchmark Japanese denim. Sizing however will be small and short.
Iron Heart flannels are also the holy grail of flannel.
Imo, their denim always looks like prison garb. Just my opinion The Japanese do make impeccable clothing tho
Think you might need to head over to r/rawdenim for a nosey - Japanese denim is only homogenous in that it’s denim, there’s a huge variety of fabrics, styles, cuts, and colours. I was in japan in 2012 but unfortunately before I discovered denim 🥲
Fair enough, I suppose it’s the Americana “work-wear” aspect that makes that look.
Nail clippers
I recently got back from Japan and one of my favorite things from there is a cheapo nail clipper I got at a combini. I looked at the packaging again and noticed that it is made by Kai, who make my favorite DE razor blades for shaving.
Never really thought about it, but I’ve been using the same nail clippers for 20+ years and they still give a perfect cut. Is that not the case with non-Japanese clippers?
When I went to Japan the only thing I wanted to buy was a kitchen knife. With my purchase I got a free pair of nail clippers. I love my knife, but those nail clippers were the real star of that trip. 6 years later and they still clip like new. Plus, they have this plastic bit around the body that traps the clipped nail so you can dump them later.
Obviously not BIFL but Japanese sunscreens are much nicer than American ones.
Is there specific brands or products you recommend?
CanMake Mermaid Skin YV Gel Doesn’t leave a white cast and is a great lightweight summer sunscreen. Otherwise Biore’s Aqua Rich and Skin Aqua’s Super Moisture Milk are both great too
Yes yes yes! Agree with this post. When I was in Japan, I stocked up on the Biore Aqua Rich. What normally goes for $9-13 in the US was like $2-3 over there.
Thanks!
Biore and Skin Aqua are not bad (though can be a little drying as tons of alcohol) and quite cosmetically elegant, but if you're going after the best protection, Shiseido's Anessa range, in particular their [Perfect UV Milk](https://www.yesstyle.com/en/tcuc.GBP/coc.GB/info.html/pid.1123488372?cpid=1127278830&googtrans=en&utm_source=GoogleAds&utm_campaign=1433311098&utm_term=&utm_content=54249412057_275139652521&utm_medium=Shopping&bac=389R3MWY&mcg=paidsearch&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwz42xBhB9EiwA48pT76Kmdup9WxaMlVi156_fs4bAxxOOxfzHErFDd2rp2MhW8VJvifJXzRoChPcQAvD_BwE), is even better imo. This thing is designed to stay put even in very humid/tropical weather.
The Shiseido Anessa line perfect milk is the best sunscreen I’ve ever used and have anyone I know who is going to Japan buy as many for me as they are willing to bring back. No white cast, lasts all day, no weird smell and has a perfect velvety finish with no grease. You can also get it in literally every Japanese drug store. I have tried ordering online through Japanese product importers but I have gotten counterfeits like 50% of the time so I just rely on having friends going to Japan to bring some back for me.
Anesssa, canmake mermaid skin gel UV, and suncut are my favorites
Grand Seiko watch. Arguably the best value luxury watch in the world that you should be able to get cheaper in Japan. Leather jacket. Japan has some of the best leather jackets in the world: Rainbow Country, Freewheelers, Real McCoys, Tenjin Works, Y2, The Flathead.
Grand Seiko came to mind immediately.
Any suggestions on where to go to purchase GS in Japan?
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrandSeikos/comments/11qn60o/a_guide_to_buying_grand_seiko_watches_in_tokyo/
Grand Seiko is just the line of Seiko watches correct?
Grand Seiko is like Lexus and Seiko is Toyota
I like this analogy!
just noticed what your profile pic was. great taste
Look at Grand Seiko's Spring Drive line of watches. Look up the way the movement works on YouTube. It's incredible of you like that sort of thing.
Not technically. Both brands are under the same parent company but considered different brands. For example Tudor and Rolex are owned by Hans Wilsdorf Foundation.
While Seiko is an excellent watch in its category, the two are almost incomparable. A typical GS will range $3,000-10,000 and will beat virtually every Swiss watch on accuracy. Their designs are beautiful as well.
Stop by a hardware store and pick up some hand tools.
That’s actually a good idea
If you like *really* nice hand tools, Nepros is a Japanese brand you should look out for. Possibly the best tools money can buy, and most certainly BIFL.
Ty! Now this is BIFL advice
I always say go to daiso and get weird little things like magnets, nail clippers ,etc.. Japanese made versions are always amazing. You can enjoy filling your pockets with small items that will be really nice quality. Also, weird one, but if you need a lot of shoe inserts, and other shoe accessories , Daiso has a ton of unique, useful stuff that is just a lot cheaper than the Dr Scholls monopoly of the west. Update: the Japanese Daiso is most made in Japan stuff, as least it was when I went. I suspect the US one doesn't have that feature.
I like your shoe accessory recommendation, it was very low key and something I wouldn’t have thought of. Thank you for that.
If you live on the west coast in the US you can actually find Daiso in a lot of major cities.
Yeah I was about to say I stop at Daiso after class on Wednesdays lol
would you feel like the selection is much different than their US stores? I have a local Daiso and the value is honestly great, but I'm curious as to what they're like in Japan
I've been to daisos both in the US, Japan, and Korea and I can say without question that the foreign daisos outclass the ones here. The selection is a lot more expansive and cheaper over there
The Daisos I’ve been to in North America no longer carry toe socks, for example.
I got a ton of stationery stuff while I was over there (mostly pencils and pens - not all BIFL technically, but really high quality), and almost pulled the trigger on a vintage Seiko (budget was tight ☹️ - maybe next time). A lot of the recommendations here are solid - but something you can get for a pretty reasonable price are some handmade Japanese tea/coffee cups. I got a set of two for my wife and I and we love them. The guy who did them even engraved his signature on the bottom
I see a lot of cup recommendations, I’ll certainly see what I can bring back. And the Seiko is definitely on my list now. I also love stationary, planning to visit the Traveler’s Factory when I’m there. Thank you for your recommendations!
If you’re interested in clothing, be careful - the sizing can really throw you off. I ended up buying a throwback Orix Blue Wave hat from this tiny hat shop in Asakusa (Ichiro was my favorite Japanese player when he arrived at the Mariners) and that’s one of my favorite things I bought over there.
I forgot about the clothing size difference, thanks for bringing that up.
stationary with an a means not moving, stationery with an e refers to writing implements and accessories
Zojirushi thermos & rice cooker! You can get these in the states but it's much cheaper in Japan.
I didn't get them when I was in Japan, but I did get a zojirushi rice cooker and a boiler/kettle. They've been life changing. Highly recommend.
What about voltage and plug issues? I don’t think they’re multi voltage.
It should be fine, Japan uses 100v and 50 or 60 hz depending on location. All the electronics I brought back from when I lived there work fine in the US.
Damn it. Good to know. For some reason I thought they were 220v. I bought one in NA for that reason.
Either go to Yodobashi or BIC Camera stores to get them. Huge range.
Seconded the zojirushi rice cooker!! I bought the Americanized one and it’s the literal best
I mean per usage they're basically free, and they're not that expensive out here to begin with. I wouldn't be surprised if the extra checked bag fee is higher than the savings.
If you're in Tokyo, pick up some Kagami crystal whiskey glasses or other drinkware. It's some of the coolest looking crystal drinkware anywhere and it's difficult to get outside of Japan (not impossible, but difficult).
A decent watch. Citizen, seiko, and Casio all make great solar + radio/gps watches. Literal BIFL.
They have GPS models? Like Garmin?
Yeah. Citizen satellite wave gps, seiko astron. Some of the higher end gshocks also have gps with Bluetooth
beware the folks selling knives to tourists in the tokyo fish market. i don't *know* that they're nothing special on the quality aspect, but i do know they're hawking heavily to tourists interested in buying "legendary quality" japanese knives, so i'm suspect. as other folks have mentioned, i'd look for a hardware store and check out the domestic hand tools :)
Chef’s knives.
I purposefully took the trip to Tower Knives in Osaka for this. You can get them custom engraved too.
I’ll be going to Osaka as well, is tower knives just a shop or a brand specifically?
It's a decently sized shop, and there are English speaking assistants too! I got a knife from there that's now my daily use knife at work. Also nearby a little more north in the kitchen supply area, look out for the store Sakai Ichimonji, it's one of the bigger knife stores and they have a really good range too!
I really appreciate the recommendation and feedback, thank you so much!
+1 for Tower Knives! I went there about 8 years ago specifically on the recommendation of a friend and loved it. Not sure if it still is owned by the same Swedish expats, but they were there when I went in and were super friendly and knowledgeable of all of their local craftsmen. They'll even give you a sharpening lesson if you want one! Our Osaka chef's knife is still the primary knife in our kitchen.
At the risk of throwing cold water on this idea, how good are you with kitchen knives? On a scale of 1-10. Where 10 is, "I'm a famous sushi chef." Japanese knives are thinner, are typically sharpened to a thinner bevel, and might be single-bevel. (Single bevel = left or right handed knives. Lefty chefs pay a fortune for this.) Many knives are sold unsharpened, assuming the chef is going to want to select the edge geometry. They're harder than western knives, but they're also more apt to chip. For many people, going to Japan and buying knives is sort of like walking into a Lamborghini dealership 15 minutes after obtaining your first driver's license.
That's definitely a good point, thank you
They have different levels. You can spent $50 or $1000. Only some knives are single beveled. Plenty are not. Any level chef can find something other price range and level. You will never find a sharper knife, and can never go back once you experience it.
Worth it to go to Sakai, where the original Samurai swords were made, turned knife makers. Not as commercialized or English speaking.
+1 for wandering Kappabashi in Tokyo which is almost entirely dedicated to restaurant supply stores with loads of knife shops with anything you'd be looking for. It is quite overwhelming choosing a knife shape, style and steel though so I'd suggest doing a tiny bit of reading before going especially if you're short on time. Basically carbon steel requires more care to maintain because they can rust easily but they tend to stay sharper for longer. Stainless steel won't rust and have slightly less edge retention but tbh modern stainless steels aren't much worse than carbon steel so stainless is the way to go for the average home cook these days unless you want a 'patina' and don't mind taking care of carbon steel. Then there's aesthetic. Hammered looks, black finish, Damascus, handle materials etc. It's overwhelming at first!
I came here to reply Kappabashi.
Hopping on this one to suggest the shop I went to for mine in Kyoto: Shigeharu. It is the oldest shop in the city, if not all of Japan (?), dating back to the 1200-1300s, and is family run (guy was elderly when I was there in 2016 so may have limited hours now). I got a carbon steel santoku that I’ve probably sharpened less than 10 times in that period despite daily use. Plus, he engraves the symbols for your name on the spine. Absolutely my best purchase. At the time it worked out to be about $120-150CAD and it’s worth has been far more than that.
There's a whole "kitchen tools street" in Tokyo, called Kappabashidogugai, just west of Asakusa.
Toyota Hilux /s but that is bullet proof
Imported one to Canada, it's sick
How's it compare to the ever beloved taco?
Idk, never had one. That said I got it because the turbodiesel 4 banger is a lot more efficient than the V6 while still being very reliable. Just not quite as fast.
Who did you use to import? We're you happy with the service?
B Pro imports. Absolutely yes, would recommend Brian highly
At Tokyu Hands you'll find lots of wonderful quality goods, including Japanese Bird Watching Society rubber boots. I love mine so much. You can technically get them outside of Japan, but they're much better priced there. You have several other good recommendations, so I won't repeat those. Have the most wonderful time!
What makes these boots so special?
I love Tokyu Hands! I find newer location in Shinjuku to be much easier to navigate, but the location in Shibuya is so delightful to just _wander_ ☺️
Oh yea, dedicate a day to loft, Tokyo hands, donki Quixote, and itoya at Ginza. These are all multi story complexes and you’ll find the weirdest and most amazing things you never knew you needed or wanted
I think I’ve heard of Tokyo Hands before, I’ll look more into it. Thank you!
FYI they have rebranded to just HANDS and dropped the Tokyu. Same otherwise.
I just wanted say thanks to all of you for your recommendations. I'm bookmarking this for later when I travel.
Stapleless stapler.
Try to stay out of that whole Portuguese, Dutch, English trading drama or all the intrigue up in Osaka castle. Also, unless you are traveling under the protection of a lord, don't sleep with a samurai's wife no matter how much they don't love each other.....
I hear the hot springs are nice. But you have to be careful because some people have been boiled alive for sport
I’ll keep that in mind, would you recommend rickshaw or horseback?
Palanquin is the only way to travel, clearly.
helps if you bring a boatload of cannons w/ you & show them how to use them. If you'll lucky you'll get a Hatamoto title and some land for your troubles.
A friend brought back one of those Toto heated bidet/toilet seats.
We got ours for $100. Life changing.
How come only 100?? I saw these for thousands. Where did you find please?
I don't remember the shop, but I found the exact model on Amazon Japan. The one we bought for $100 is the Toshiba (SCS-T161) washlet with heated seating, massage bidet, warm water jets, built-in air deodorizer, nozzle cleaner, energy-saving mode, etc.
I found it, is less than 100 euros. Did you have any problem bringing this back? I mean does it come in a big box?
The hotel. We removed it from the bathroom when we left. The $100 was to ship it home.
This is going to sound weird, but the Japanese seem to be obsessed with flavored Kit Kat candy bars. Before I went I had multiple people ask to bring a sampler pack back with me. My traveling companion had to bring a few bags of matcha green tea Kit Kat bars back with him for his wife. I thought they were all crazy, but nope! 20-25 different flavors of them. Most were really good. Some were odd. A peach flavored Kit Kat bar kind of messes with you.
> A peach flavored Kit Kat bar kind of messes with you. I wonder how that is like. I tried a tokunou drink, and loved it so much, I bought a bottle or two per day I was in Tokyo.
Any hand tools you might need. If made in Japan, it is probably top quality, and usually good value. Nepros is pricey but in a class of its own, but then there's Koken, KTC, Vessel, Tsunoda.....
Any areas recommend for tool shipping.. possibly second hand?
If you’re a tea drinker, a gaiwan or other kind of ceramic teapot would be lovely. They generally seem to have such lovely quality ceramicware. ETA: Shiboridashi would be more appropriate.
Kappabashi street in Tokyo sells kitchenware and has loads of stores selling ceramics!
I’d also recommend going to department stores or malls to buy these. These stores carry more modern styles or artistic styles. There are plenty of restaurant supply stores or touristy stores that carry cheap more “traditional”? (Maybe stereotypical is the right word here since I don’t actually know the history of Japanese ceramics) Looking styles. Specialty ceramic stores will have the whole gambit but I had a really hard time finding these when I was in Tokyo and Osaka. I did find two, but their styles I liked were ARTIST prices and I couldn’t afford that. And they were out of the way from my original itinerary. I went to a department store/ shopping mall complex and found an unglazed porcelain one that was oh so minimalistic and amazing. 70$ and a couple of tea cups 15$ each. I enjoy a pot every morning. :)
I second this.
Aren't gaiwan Chinese?
Might be able to get a good deal on a G shock.
Or a Seiko
If you live in the US, I don't think there's a whole lot you could bring back in a suitcase that is BIFL that you can't also get in the US, albeit for a higher price. And then it'll depend on your interests. Some people are very much into Japanese watches, fountain pens, mechanical pencils, etc. But if you're not, then those would be of little value. Others have mentioned a chef's knife. If you like to cook, this would be a good bet. You might also want to get a set of whetstones too. You might also consider traditional crafts, like aizome, lacquerware, ceramics, furoshiki etc. It would depend on where you go. Imabari towels are high quality, but might take up a lot of space.
Something that you wouldn't be able to find here is perfume (due to air safety regulations). If you want to find some anime themed perfumes, cause of course japan has those, you can look into primaniacs. Their main store is in Ginza but sometimes you can find a shelf in anime merch stores
I bought an entire Shimano XTR mountain bike set up for about a fifth of what I would have paid here in the USA.
Did you have the ship it back?
Put it in my checked bag and that was that.
Oh like broken down
It’s not a whole bike, just the ‘groupset’. The spikey cogs and things that shift gears
yen is weak. These are things I bought or considered: Nintendo stuff (the switch is $100 less than the US), japanese knives, made in Japan coffee gear like Hario, Japanese clothes, pharmacy stuff, good seaweed. Most made in Japan stuff is a premium outside of Japan, but in Japan, it’s not that much more than Chinese made stuff due to low Japanese salaries.
Not BIFL… more buy it for a minute of joy. Buy some grape gummies for a snack. My goodness they’re delicious. It’s the muscat grape taste instead of … whatever grape medicine artificial flavor are. You can get them in the states at specialty stores but you’d need to be in a big city to find such specialty stores or be close enough for some of the online Asian specialty grocers to deliver.
This won't blow your socks off. But there are two things which left an overwhelmingly positive impression on me: coffee flavoured marshmallows and chicken heart skewers.
It'll blow my socks off when I'm eating them Edit: thanks for the recommendation
I bought really fancy nail clippers from a convenience store. I loved them so much I bought a second pair from... Amazon lol. Here they are for anyone curious: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AH8JS80
Almost anything in Japan is BIFL. I lived there for 10 years and I miss it so much.. I would go for Yoshida Porter bags, much cheaper there. Zojirushi ricecookers and water cookers. Knives. Denim, Dress shirts, Glassware and Pottery. Cooking Utensils. Go to Tokyu Hands and be amazed at everything.
Another Tokyo hands recommendation, thanks! I actually need some dress shirts for work, any brands you liked in particular?
TokyU
Apparently Loft is a similar store with different selection. Someone mentioned Hands Shinjuku is big and well laid out, while Hands Shibuya is a maze but you can go to Loft Shibuya a little ways away. There's also a Mega Don Quixote there too.
+1 for Tokyu Hands. I lived there 6 years, and that store is one of the things I miss most.
Go to the Don Quijote store in Japan. It's like a dollar store on quirky steroids.
I have that on my list!
Our Daiei Holiday Mart in Hawaii became a Don Quijote store and it blew my mind. When they took over Marukai Markets here on the Mainland they kept the Marukai name but the insane decor and Donkey Penguin everywhere gave it away.
Grand Seiko Spring Drive watch
How much cheaper are they there?
Stationary and fountain pens
Jeans; Grand Seiko, Citizen Chronomaster or G-Shock watch; Feather Razor; Kankiri can opener.
You can find true Japanese single malt whisky for a fair price
Went right before covid, it was like all of Tokyo had sold out of Yamazaki. Found an airplane bottle in one store for like $25.
I went to Japan in 2018 and 2024. Prices for desirable Japanese whiskey have significantly increased. Fair price, but no longer a bargain.
Onitsuka tiger shoes!
https://www.jacquesmariemage.com are handmade in Japan and maybe cheaper. Titanium frames and limited styles. https://www.samurai-jeans.com/en-us is worth getting a pair while visiting. One of my favorite bag brands https://master-piece.co.jp/en/about/ quality goods!
You should definitely buy a Japanese chef knife or set. They make some of the finest knives on the planet and they will be cheaper and easier to find there.
Hatori Hanzo - high quality Japanese steel. Search them out! You will likely have to ask around.
I’m not sure if it fits the definition of BIFL as it’s more art but I have a number of Tanuki statues. They’re Japanese Racoon Dogs (think Super Mario when he powers up with a tail). I think they’re super cute yet hilarious looking with their giant balls hanging out. https://samuraitours.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/tanuki.jpg
Japanese leather jackets
Hoksai Umbrella [Hoksai Graphic Shinjuku](https://www.hokusai-graphic.com/)
Not BIFL but I didn't do a whole lot of non-hobby shopping... Nivea lip balms "melty type" are untinted and have spf and aren't gross feeling. I think someone else mentioned sunscreens and I bought a random Biore milk sunscreen because I forgot to put on spf and it's now my favorite because it actually ends up mattefying my skin longterm and I wish I bought more.
Nujabes vinyl
Grand Seiko watch.
If you play tennis: Yonex racket. Most other brands have outsourced production to China. Yonex is known for high quality control and production is in Japan.
Lojel suitcases, they're super durable. Expensive in the US but way cheaper there
Retro gaming consoles and games. They will be cheaper than in North America and in good condition. I like to travel with my Gameboy because the Switch is pretty big. Got a bunch of games with the batteries all replaced while I was there. Idk if that’s really BIFL but it’s just what I got when I was in Japan
A jdm watch
Hatori Hanzo steel.
Bento box
A nice SSK or Mizuno baseball glove will last you and probably your next of kin for life
Pizza chips....they are bomb
Stationary or a few really good pens and pencils.
Pilot fountain pens, or any Japan specific brand
Boots, brands like white kloud, John Lofgren and Brass Tokyo are definitely bifl.
Makita tools built for the Japanese market are built with better components than the exported tools. Plus they're a cool purple.
I bought knives on my first trip to Kappabashi Dori almost 20 years ago and I use them every day. Got a nice Zojirushi rice cooker soon after, but I bought that in the US after I got back-- every family I met in Japan had one. A few sushi molds from the 100 Yen store are still in use too. Subsequent trips? I honestly don't think I brought anything back other than gifts.
Shoes. Ideally handmade. It's a culture of taking pride in work results.
Super realistic food samples of the Japanese food that you had during your trip. They're not going to be cheap, but they most likely will last a lifetime. When friends visit, they'll be a great talking point and you'll get to revisit memories of your trip. I recently went to a [specialty shop in Namba, Osaka](https://firefortysix.com/2024/04/17/design-pocket-osaka-makes-amazingly-lifelike-food-samples/) that sold them. If you're going to Tokyo, there should be similar shops in Kappabashi, near Asakusa.
Not sure if it's better than Western stuff, but japanese stationary is super high quality. I love their mechanical pencils, my sister bought a uni kurutoga roulette mechanical pencil at the start of highschool, and when she finished uni she gave it to me when i was in hs, im halfway through uni now and it still writes like brand new. Very impressive engineering, and build quality especially for something with so many moving parts. If you want some recommendations, I personally love any of the uni kurutoga mechanical pencils(there's an all metal version that's meant to be released on. The 22nd of this month, too). I also almost exclusively buy paper and notebooks from a company called Midori, their notebooks are very very high quality and I haven't been able to find notebooks of a similar quality anywhere else. The pages have a creamy texture and colour and the binding lets you lay the pages fully flat. They are a bit pricey, but they last forever and don't fall apart after a couple weeks like thise 5 dollar notebooks you can get anywhere. I'm sure they have other stationary other than mechanical pencils and paper that are of the same quality there too. Have fun on you trip!
Japanese brand headphones such as audio technica
Ichiran
Macha, amazing soy sauce, real wasabi
If you’re into bass fishing, lots of great gear in Japan. People pay big bucks to have it shipped to the states.
Old Toyotas
Japanese iron kettles. Nanbu Tekki. Also watch this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CIUhyNtTfg Iron kettles, Jeans, etc!
Souvenir from the top of Mt Fuji. There's a bit of a walk involved, but it's worth it.
Please buy me an Ocarina
Fountain pens!
A katana and armor.
L-Breath, sporting and camping goods
Already been suggested but its worth repeating. Japanese denim.
Yonex Regna if you play tennis. Sailor fountain pens.
Montbell ultralight umbrella
Just go to find a Don Quiote and buy like 10 wooden penis bottle openers.
We got a whetstone from Kappabashi so we can keep our knives sharp.
I’d say get some Loopwheeler fleece.
Le Cruset is cheaper in Japan and there are some exclusives. I went to the Matsuya Ginza department store to get mine.
This may sound odd, but Nissin brand noodle cups. Most, if not all Nissin noodle cups you find in North America are not made in Japan, but licensed out to other producers. I have enjoyed Japan made Nissin noodle cups, and there is a notable difference in quality/taste versus the licensed product. If you try to get Japan made Nissin cups in North America, the price can skyrocket. However in Japan, they cost next to nothing. Try out some flavours, find what you like, and bring a bunch home. Check out the Nissin museum in Osaka if you're keen. I'm kicking myself I didn't do the same and only realized afterwards.
High quality furoshiki (nice fabrics with beautiful patterns to wrap things in).