Buy Souvenirs in Japan Like a Local: The Best Gifts from Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido & Okinawa

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Japan is home to the excellent tradition of bringing back snacks and food gifts as souvenirs (called omiyage/お土産 in Japan), a habit that leaves few disappointed. Souvenir keychains and magnets can be cute, sure, but how many of those do you really want to collect? How many more do you need? Instead, on your trip to Japan, do as the locals do and get your friends and family delicious edible treats! Most parts of Japan have a handful of local food specialties, and while some of these delicacies are harder to bring home, you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere in Japan that doesn’t have some elegantly packaged local specialties ready to tuck into your suitcase. So let us show you some of the best gifts and must-buy snacks to bring back home!

① Tokyo: Karinto (Traditional Japanese Sweet Snacks)



If you've never tried them, karinto are sugary, crunchy little sweets that are hard to stop eating! They carry all the hallmarks of the most addictively delicious snacks: Dough-based? Yep. Deep-fried? You bet! Traditionally coated in brown sugar? Yeah, our mouths are watering just thinking about them.

You can get cheap bags of standard karinto in convenience stores and supermarkets all over Japan, but we recommend you stop by Nihonbashi Nishiki Horin in Tokyo to get some for your friends. Not only are these some really classy karinto, the shop also makes specialty versions in all sorts of interesting and unique flavors. Brown sugar might be the standard, but Nihonbashi Nishiki Horin offers everything from seasonal cherry-blossom flavor, to savory veggie-flavored varieties.



The packaging at Nihonbashi Nishiki Horin (日本橋錦豊琳) is nice enough that you can just give the bags to your friends as-is.



If you did want to gift the most traditional variety of karinto, of course they make those too.

The shop also makes them in different thicknesses, so you can choose which level of crunch you're looking for. If you're giving the karinto to your grandparents, maybe give their teeth a break and give them one of the thinner versions.

Sweet potato, rose, plum, there's an intriguing flavor for every palate! You can see more of what all the different karinto are like in our previous article.

② Osaka: Butaman (Succulent Pork Buns from 551 Horai), Plus Glico Snacks



Image Source: Official Website

The pork buns at 551 Horai are so popular that they sell 150,000 of them a day. Yeah, they're that good. You can buy one piping hot to eat then and there, or get a few in a box to eat later that day. They even sell them frozen, and will ship them for you! Unfortunately, they don't do international shipping at this point, so you can only get them shipped to another part of Japan. Maybe someday we'll be able to enjoy these glorious pork buns in any country…

But in the meantime, that's not all you'll find in Osaka!



You might recognize this guy's face, and his pose, from a certain famous billboard.



Pork buns really aren't your only option.

These days Glico manufactures sweets and snacks on a huge international scale, but back in 1919 the company started small in Osaka. Buying Glico snacks where it all started just feels more special than anywhere else in Japan. Plus, you'll find some specialty Glico souvenirs only available in the Osaka area, which are perfect to bring home to any friends who love the Glico running man.

Not sure where to shop for Glico stuff? Try Shinsaibashi!

③ Hokkaido: Potato Snacks!



Hokkaido is famous for having lush farms, which leads to excellent dairy, but also really delicious potatoes! (And trying to take home a bottle of milk seems like a bad idea.) Bringing high-quality potato snacks home, you're unlikely to get many complaints. Who doesn't want to eat potato chips? Especially ~fancy Hokkaido potato chips~?



Hokkaido produces 78% of the potatoes grown in Japan!



If you're looking something a little less run of the mill, these individually-packaged potato sticks will bring a smile to anyone's face.

For all the picky eaters you want to please; they can't say no to fried potatoes! 

If you want to know more about traveling in Hokkaido, and what else the area has to offer, read about our road trip through the prefecture.

④ Okinawa: Purple Sweet Potato Tarts



Japan's northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido might be where you'll find the majority of Japan's everyday spuds, but go all the way south to Okinawa, and it's a treasure trove of purple sweet potatoes! These sweet potatoes are turned into sweets and snacks of all kinds, but the most popular by far are little tartlets filled with a swirl of bright purple sweet potato filling.



You'll find these all over the Okinawa islands.



The potatoes are naturally intensely purple, lending kind of a magical feel to the already delicious process of stuffing them in your face.

The little pastries are often packaged individually (in robust boxes), making it easy to chuck them in your bag for a few days and then deliver one to each of your friends. If you do want a little variety, they also make versions with the yellow sweet potato that's a little more common in Japan (and a little more similar to what you'll find in the west). The yellow ones might be a little less startling, but the sweet potato tarts in two colors right next to each other are definitely an impressive sight.

A while ago we went on a big summer trip to Okinawa, and brought home lots of the tarts. Read about it all right here.

⑤ The Rest of Japan: Chiba, Hiroshima, Ibaraki, Yamagata



Chiba is known for peanuts! Bring home a bag of the roasted nuts to share with your family. Or, if you want something a little less commonly available, you can also pick up a few packs of special cup noodles. They're flavored like dandan noodles and made with local Chiba peanuts.

While you’re in Chiba, see the underwater tunnel connecting it to Tokyo, or get a vision of hell in Japan at Mount Nokogiri!



From Hiroshima, we recommend momiji manju, traditional cakes shaped like maple leaves and stuffed with a variety of fillings (most often red bean or custard). They're mostly available on Miyajima, around Itsukushima Shrine. Momiji manju are a souvenir triple threat: delicious, affordable, and adorable!

If you want a local product that comes in a few different forms, though, you can always look for the many souvenirs made with Setouchi lemons. We've rhapsodized about how good they are before.



When you travel to see a mountain, you're going to want mountain-themed snacks! So of course you'll find "Tsukuba-san Yaki" cakes at Mount Tsukuba, in Ibaraki Prefecture. They're a little like filled pancakes, with a satisfying dollop of red bean in the center, and shaped like the mountain itself.



In Japan, Yamagata is famous for its high-quality, juicy and delicious pears. So you know what that means: tasty souvenirs of all kinds, all made with local pears! Outside of Yamagata you won't find a lot of Western pears in Japan (the Asian variety is, unsurprisingly, a little more common), so this is the place to get pear cookies, crackers, cakes, and more.

It might be a little silly to plan a trip solely around the souvenirs you want to bring home to your family and friends, but we hope this article has given you some idea of what tasty options are available! Bringing back snacks is a great way to give your loved ones a (literal) taste of the fun experience you had away from home, so do as the Japanese do, and return with snacks for everyone to enjoy. (You can even follow the Japanese example and really endear your coworkers to you by bringing a big box of little edible souvenirs to the office to share!)

Be sure to look out for more exciting articles every day at JAPANKURU!
Or add us on Instagram and Facebook to share your pictures of Japan. 🗾

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    • HOKKAIDO

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      Hokkaido (北海道) is the northernmost of the four main islands that make up Japan. The area is famous for Sapporo Beer, plus brewing and distilling in general, along with fantastic snow festivals and breathtaking national parks. Foodies should look for Hokkaido's famous potatoes, cantaloupe, dairy products, soup curry, and miso ramen!

    • Niki, in south-west Hokkaido, is about 30 minutes from Otaru. The small town is rich with natural resources, fresh water, and clean air, making it a thriving center for fruit farms. Cherries, tomatoes, and grapes are all cultivated in the area, and thanks to a growing local wine industry, it's quickly becoming a food and wine hotspot. Together with the neighboring town of Yoichi, it's a noted area for wine tourism.

    • Niseko is about two hours from New Chitose Airport, in the western part of Hokkaido. It's one of Japan's most noted winter resort areas, and a frequent destination for international visitors. That's all because of the super high-quality powder snow, which wins the hearts of beginners and experts alike, bringing them back for repeat visits. That's not all, though, it's also a great place to enjoy Hokkaido's culinary scene and some beautiful onsen (hot springs).

    • Otaru is in western Hokkaido, about 30 minutes from Sapporo Station. The city thrived around its busy harbor in the 19th and 20th centuries thanks to active trade and fishing, and the buildings remaining from that period are still popular attractions, centered around Otaru Canal. With its history as a center of fishing, it's no surprise that the area's fresh sushi is a must-try. Otaru has over 100 sushi shops, quite a few of which are lined up on Sushiya Dori (Sushi Street).

    • SAPPORO

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      Sapporo, in the south-western part of Hokkaido, is the prefecture's political and economic capital. The local New Chitose Airport see arrivals from major cities like Tokyo and Osaka, alongside international flights. Every February, the Sapporo Snow Festival is held in Odori Park―one of the biggest events in Hokkaido. It's also a hotspot for great food, known as a culinary treasure chest, and Sapporo is a destination for ramen, grilled mutton, soup curry, and of course Hokkaido's beloved seafood.

    • Consisting of six prefectures, the Tohoku Region (東北地方) is up in the northeastern part of Japan's main island. It's the source of plenty of the nation's agriculture (which means great food), and packed with beautiful scenery. Explore the region's stunning mountains, lakes, and hot springs!

    • Akita Prefecture is on the Sea of Japan, in the northern reaches of Japan's northern Tohoku region. Akita has more officially registered important intangible culture assets than anywhere else in Japan, and to this day visitors can experience traditional culture throughout the prefecture, from the Oga Peninsula's Namahage (registered with UNESCO as a part of Japan's intangible cultural heritage), to the Tohoku top 3 Kanto Festival. Mysterious little spots like the Oyu Stone Circle Site and Ryu no Atama (Dragon's Head) are also worth a visit!

    • FUKUSHIMA

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      Fukushima Prefecture sits at the southern tip of Japan's northern Tohoku region, and is divided into three parts with their own different charms: the Coastal Area (Hama-dori), the Central Area (Naka-dori), and the Aizu Area. There's Aizu-Wakamatsu with its Edo-era history and medieval castles, Oze National Park, Kitakata ramen, and Bandai Ski Resort (with its famous powder snow). Fukushima is a beautiful place to enjoy the vivid colors and sightseeing of Japan's beloved four seasons.

    • YAMAGATA

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      Yamagata Prefecture is up against the Sea of Japan, in the southern part of the Tohoku region, and it's especially popular in winter, when travelers soak in the onsen (hot springs) and ski down snowy slopes. International skiiers are especially fond of Zao Onsen Ski Resort and Gassan Ski Resort, and in recent years visitors have been drawn to the area to see the mystical sight of local frost-covered trees. Some destinations are popular regardless of the season, like Risshakuji Temple, AKA Yamadera, Ginzan Onsen's nostalgic old-fashioned streets, and Zao's Okama Lake, all great for taking pictures. Yamagata is also the place to try Yonezawa beef, one of the top 3 varieties of wagyu beef.

    • Japan's most densely populated area, the Kanto Region (関東地方) includes 7 prefectures: Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa, which means it also contains the Tokyo Metropolitan Area. In modern-day Japan, Kanto is the cultural, political, and economic heartland of the country, and each prefecture offers something a little different from its neighbors.

    • Gunma Prefecture is easily accessible from Tokyo, and in addition to the area's popular natural attractions like Oze Marshland and Fukiware Falls, Gunma also has a number of popular hot springs (Kusatsu, Ikaho, Minakami, Shima)―it's even called an Onsen Kingdom. The prefecture is popular with history buffs and train lovers, thanks to spots like world heritage site Tomioka Silk Mill, the historic Megane-bashi Bridge, and the Watarase Keikoku Sightseeing Railway.

    • TOCHIGI

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      Tochigi Prefecture's capital is Utsunomiya, known for famous gyoza, and just an hour from Tokyo. The prefecture is full of nature-related sightseeing opportunities year-round, from the blooming of spring flowers to color fall foliage. Tochigi also has plenty of extremely well-known sightseeing destinations, like World Heritage Site Nikko Toshogu Shrine, Lake Chuzenji, and Ashikaga Flower Park―famous for expansive wisteria trellises. In recent years the mountain resort town of Nasu has also become a popular excursion, thanks in part to the local imperial villa. Tochigi is a beautiful place to enjoy the world around you.

    • Tokyo (東京) is Japan's busy capital, and the most populous metropolitan area in the world. While the city as a whole is quite modern, crowded with skyscrapers and bustling crowds, Tokyo also holds onto its traditional side in places like the Imperial Palace and Asakusa neighborhood. It's one of the world's top cities when it comes to culture, the arts, fashion, games, high-tech industries, transportation, and more.

    • The Chubu Region (中部地方) is located right in the center of Japan's main island, and consists of 9 prefectures: Aichi, Fukui, Gifu, Ishikawa, Nagano, Niigata, Shizuoka, Toyama, and Yamanashi. It's primarily famous for its mountains, as the region contains both Mt. Fuji and the Japanese Alps. The ski resorts in Niigata and Nagano also draw visitors from around the world, making it a popular winter destination.

    • Nagano Prefecture's popularity starts with a wealth of historic treasures, like Matsumoto Castle, Zenkoji Temple, and Togakushi Shrine, but the highlight might just be the prefecture's natural vistas surrounded by the "Japanese Alps." Nagano's fruit is famous, and there are plenty of places to pick it fresh, and the area is full of hot springs, including Jigokudani Monkey Park―where monkeys take baths as well! Thanks to the construction of the Hokuriku shinkansen line, Nagano is easily reachable from the Tokyo area, adding it to plenty of travel itineraries. And after the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics, ski resorts like Hakuba and Shiga Kogen are known around the world.

    • Aichi Prefecture sits in the center of the Japanese islands, and its capital city, Nagoya, is a center of politics, commerce, and culture. While Aichi is home to major industry, and is even the birthplace of Toyota cars, it's proximity to the sea and the mountains means it's also a place with beautiful natural scenery, like Saku Island, Koijigahama Beach, Mt. Horaiji. Often used a stage for major battles in Japanese history, Sengoku era commanders like Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu left their own footprints on Aichi, and historic buildings like Nagoya Castle, Inuyama Castle, and those in Meiji Mura are still around to tell the tale.

    • NIIGATA

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      Niigata is a prefecture on Japan's main island of Honshu, situated right on the coast of the Sea of Japan, and abundant with the gifts of nature. It's known for popular ski resorts such as Echigo-Yuzawa, Japanese national parks, and natural hot spring baths, plus local products like fresh seafood, rice, and sake. Visitors often spend time in the prefectural capital, Niigata City, or venture across the water to Sado Island.

    • SHIZUOKA

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      Shizuoka Prefecture is sandwiched between eastern and western Japan, giving the prefecture easy access to both Tokyo and Osaka. Not only is it known for beautiful natural attractions, with everything from Mount Fuji to Suruga Bay, Lake Hamanako, and Sumata Pass―Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula is known as a go-to spot for hot springs lovers, with famous onsen like Atami, Ito, Shimoda, Shuzenji, and Dogashima. Shizuoka attracts all kinds of travelers thanks to historic connections with the Tokugawa clan, the Oigawa Railway, fresh eel cuisine, Hamamatsu gyoza, and famously high-quality green tea.

    • Kansai (関西) is a region that includes Mie, Nara, Wakayama, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, and Shiga Prefectures. Kansai contained Japan's ancient capital for hundreds of years, and it's making a comeback as one of the most popular parts of Japan. Kyoto's temples and shrines, Osaka Castle, and the deer of Nara are all considered must-sees. Plus, the people of Kansai are especially friendly, making it a fun place to hang out.

    • Kyoto flourished as the capital of Japan between the years 794 and 1100, becoming a center for poilitics and culture, and to this day it's a great place for close encounters with Japanese history. The cobbled streets of Gion, the atmospheric road to Kiyomizudera Temple, Kinkakuji's golden walls and countless historic attractions, even Arashiyama's Togetsukyo Bridge―Kyoto is a place of many attractions. With new charms to experience throughout the seasons, travelers can't stop themselves from returning again and again.

    • Nara Prefecture's important history reaches back to 710, a time now called the Nara era, when it was once capital of Japan. Called "Heijo-kyo" during its time as a capital, it's said that nara was once the end of the silk road, leading it to flourish as a uniquely international region and produce important cultural properties of all kinds. To make the most of each season, travelers head to Nara Park, where the Nara deer who wander freely, or climb Mount Yoshino, a famous cherry blossom spot.

    • Osaka is known for friendly (and funny) people, but its history is nothing to laugh at, playing a major part in Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 16th century unification of Japan. Thanks to long years of economic activity, it's one of Japan's biggest cities, and Osaka's popular food culture earned it the nickname "The Kitchen of the Nation." To this day Osaka is the model of western Japan, and alongside historic structures like Osaka Castle, it also has major shopping malls like Umeda's Grand Front Osaka and Tennoji's Abeno Harukas. Osaka is a place to eat, eat, eat, with local specialties like takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and kushi-katsu, and for extra fun, it's home to Universal Studios Japan.

    • CHUGOKU

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      The Chugoku Region (中国地方) consists of five prefectures: Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi. In Chugoku you’ll find the sand dunes of Tottori, and Hiroshima’s atomic bomb site, plus centers of ancient history like Grand Shrine of Izumo.

    • HIROSHIMA

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      Hiroshima Prefecture has everything, from world heritage sites to beautiful nature and delicious local cuisine, and it's either an hour and a half from Tokyo by plane, or four hours by train. Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island and the Atomic Bomb Dome, two Hiroshima UNESCO sites, are famous around the world, but in Japan it's also famous for food. Seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, especially oysters, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, and Setouchi lemons are all popular, and the natural scenery alone is worth seeing.

    • SHIKOKU

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      On the other side of the Seto Inland Sea opposite Japan’s main island, Shikoku (四国) is a region made up of four prefectures: Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima. The area is famous for its udon (in Kagawa), and the beautiful Dogo Onsen hot springs (in Ehime).

    • Kagawa Prefecture is on the northern part of the island of Shikoku, facing Japan's main island and the Seto Inland Sea. It's known for being the smallest prefecture in Japan, by area, but at the same time Kagawa is called the "Udon Prefecture" thanks to its famous sanuki udon. Aside from Kotohiragu Shrine and Ritsurin Garden, the prefecture's small islands are popular, and Kagawa is full of unique destinations, like Angel Road. They say that if you lay eyes on Zenigata Sunae, a huge Kagawa sand painting, you'll never have money troubles ever again.

    • Located in the most southwestern part of Japan, Kyushu (九州) is an island of 7 prefectures: Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima. The island's unique culture has been influenced by Chinese and Dutch trade, along with missionaries coming in through Nagasaki's port. Modern-day travelers love the lush natural scenery and fresh food, plus the natural hot springs found all throughout the area (thanks to volcanic activity)!

    • FUKUOKA

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      Fukuoka Prefecture has the highest population on the southern island of Kyushu, with two major cities: Fukuoka and Kitakyushu. Thanks to growing transportation networks, Fukuoka is more accessible than ever, and so are the many local attractions. On top of historical spots like Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, travelers shouldn't miss Fukuoka's food scene, with motsu nabe (offal hotpot), mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and famous Hakata ramen―best eaten from a food stall in the Nakasu area of Hakata. Plus, it's full of all sorts of destinations for travelers, like trendy shopping centers, and the beautiful nature of Itoshima and Yanagawa.

    • KAGOSHIMA

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      Kagoshima Prefecture played a major role in Japan's modernization as a backdrop for famous historical figures like samurais Saigo Takamori and Okubo Toshimichi, who pushed Japan out of the Edo era and into the Meiji. Because of that, Sengan-en Garden is just one of many historical destinations, and when it comes to attractions Kagoshima has plenty: the active volcano of Sakurajima, popular hot springs Ibusuki Onsen and Kirishima Onsen, World Heritage Site Yakushima Island, even what Japan calls the "island closest to heaven," Amami Oshima. Kagoshima might be found on the very southernmost tip of the southern island of Kyushu, but there's plenty to see.

    • OKINAWA

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      The island chain of Okinawa (沖縄) makes up the southernmost tip of Japan, which is why it's also the most tropical area in the country. Thanks to a history of independence and totally distinct political and cultural events, Okinawa has a unique culture, and remnants of the Ryukyu Kingdom are still visible all over the islands. Food, language, traditional dress, it's all a little different! It's also said to be the birthplace of karate.

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