What to Buy in Tokyo

10 Must-Buy Souvenirs in Tokyo

Tokyo is paradise for shopping as you can probably find everything you want! But in case you are confused about what to buy in Tokyo or looking for special souvenirs, I highly recommend to get these 10 items, strongly related or only available in Tokyo!

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.


1. KitKat with Limited Flavours

KitKats are sold with numbers of different flavours in Japan and many of them are sold only in limited areas. In Tokyo, Rum Raisin flavour of KitKat is available and sold at many shops. Also at Narita and Haneda Airport, “Waichigo” (Japanese strawberry) flavour is available!

2. Tokyo Banana

© GRAPESTONE CO.,Ltd.

Tokyo Banana is a sweet company based in Tokyo, currently offering over 20 types of sweets. Their best-selling, most significant sweets are “Tokyo Banana”. Banana shaped small and fluffy cakes filled with banana custard cream. Tokyo Banana is available with various flavours and cute prints, such as flowers and leopard. Tokyo Banana also collaborates with Disney for the Disney Sweets Collection by Tokyo Banana, offering exclusive Tokyo Banana sweets with special prints and packages of adorable Disney characters.

More info ▶ Tokyo Banana Collection

3. Togenuki Jizo Calligraphy Class

Togenuki Jiso Calligraphy Class

Want to have a cultural experience and get a unique souvenir at once? Japanese, especially Kanji, is popular among foreign people since it looks cool while it is one of the most difficult languages to learn. In this Togenuki Jizo Calligraphy Class, you can receive the helpful instruction from skilled instructors. They translate any words including your name and favorite phrases into Japanese for you. You can not just enjoy writing Japanese but also get a T-shirt with the calligraphy that you write printed on it. Why don’t you make the one and only T-shirt in the world and bring it home?

▶︎Click this link for more details about the discounted calligraphy class in Sugamo, Tokyo!!

4. Food Samples

Food Samples are one of the most interesting and unique items you can find in Japan. A huge variety of food samples can be found in Tokyo, especially in Kappabashi area, which actually samples are sold for professional use (for shop display and etc). They look so real so don’t mistaken them to put in your mouth! Food sample making also became one of the top tourist activities in Tokyo nowadays.

5. Sneakers

Tokyo is one of the best city to shop sneakers in the world, and the fashion capital offers a vast range of the latest, trendy kicks, and many products could be sold cheaper than other countries. Shibuya, Shinjuku and Harajuku areas are probably the best areas to shop as a large numbers of outlets gathering, including some of popular sneaker brands such as Nike, Adidas and Onitsuka Tiger. The largest shoe franchise in Japan is ABC Mart which has many outlets across the country and there you can find many discounted products.

6. Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo’s Drinkware

© 2024 Starbucks Coffee Company.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo is one of six Starbucks roasteries in Japan, which opened in Meguro, Tokyo in 2019. The shop offers an immersive coffee experience with special menu including beverages and food items that are not served at regular Starbucks stores. Besides, the shop offers store-limited merchandise including mugs, tumblers, bags and stationery with the special logo. In spring, the sakura-theme merchandise is also released around the same time of regular Starbucks stores in Japan.

7. Electronics Products

One of the most famous things about Japan is electronics products, which are known for high-quality, innovative and built with the latest technology. You can find a wide variety of electronics products in Japan with very good prices as shops compete each other, including camera, phones, audio equipment, game consoles and gadgets for cleaning, cooking, beauty and hobby. Akihabara is a great district to shop electronic products as there are several large department stores gathered within the area including Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera and EDION.

8. Jagarico Tokyo

© Calbee

Jagarico is another popular snack in Japan, which is commonly sold in convenience stores and super markets. Like KitKats, Jagaricos are also sold with various flavours in different regions in Japan. In Tokyo, “Mentai Cheese Monja” flavour is available! (Mentai=cod roe, Monja=popular Tokyo’s local dish similar to Okonomiyaki but much more runny)

9. Stationery

Japanese stationery is highly renowned for quality, design and creativity, and they are popular things to shop among tourists recently. The largest stationery store in Japan, Ginza Itoya is located in the shopping street of Ginza, offering an impressive range of stationery including pens, pencils, paper items, cards, etc spans across the 8-story building dedicated to stationery.

10. Kabuki Goods

Tokyo has been developed as the capital city of Japan during Edo period and some of traditions and cultures still remain. Kabuki is traditional entertainment from Edo period and Kabuki show still can be enjoyed in Tokyo’s Kabukiza theatre. Out of hundreds Kabuki goods, the most popular item is Kabuki Sheet Mask, which can transform you to Kabuki actor while you treat your skin 😉

11. Sumo Goods

Like Kabuki, Sumo is also most traditional Japanese culture which remains in Japan for many centuries. Watching Sumo tournaments and visiting their training session is very popular activities in the city. Take adorable sumo wrestler items to your home!

12. Tokyo Skytree Crispy Chocolat

Copyright © Morozoff.Limited.

Tokyo Skytree is now one of top tourist sights in Tokyo and numbers of limited items are sold at Skytree. The best selling item is Tokyo Skytree Crispy Chocolat by the famous chocolate company Morozoff. The 6600 times miniature sized, tower shaped chocolates are sold with various flavours.

13. Funawa “Imo Yokan”

Copyright 株式会社舟和本店

Funawa is a long established Japanese confectionary company. Funawa’s significant “Imo Yokan” (sweet potato paste) has been sold for over 100 years and still one of the most popular deserts in Japan. Even if you don’t fancy Japanese sweets, this one is definitely worth trying! Because Imo Yokan is not added any artificial flavor nor sweeteners, it’s better to eat within 2 days!


▽What to Buy in Japan▽

▽What to Buy in Kyoto ▽


Are you looking for more shopping information in Tokyo? There are still plenty things to know about what and where to shop! Check out these articles below, introducing useful tips about shopping in Japan 😉

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Written by

"The world is my oyster" A globetrotter 🌎 and hammock lover 🌞 who loves taking adventures to fuel wanderlust. Born and raised in Japan, I have lived and explored countries around the world. As a resident of Japan and based on my travel experience, I'd love to share my knowledge and tips for travelling Japan with my readers. I hope my story will help you plan your trip and have a great time in Japan 🌈