Japanese-inspired presents

[LondonMummer]

We are on a very special family trip to Japan at Easter and I'd like to buy my 13 and 14 year old boys some cool Japanese inspired stocking fillers. Other than the ubiquitous snacks and sweets are there any ideas for things i could get get them - best of all things that they could 'use' there.

For example my dad came across notebooks for Eki Stamps which are amazing although I'm slightly worried about finding the stampers in hectic stations when we are travelling with luggage.

https://thejapaneseshop.co.uk/collections/kimono?filter.v.price.gte=&filter.v.price.lte=&sort_by=price-ascending

Not cheap but they are authentic

A promise to buy a family subscription to a pocket Wi-Fi service for the trip? Essential for us and we just used our phones as mini computers and took the SIM cards out to be certain we wouldn’t have huge data bills on return.

Or some spending money?

Thanks so much. Actually the company we've booked with are giving us a pocket Wi-Fi device. So strange that such an technologically advanced country hasn't got ubiquitous Wi-Fi

They do have ubiquitous WiFi, we went earlier this year and used data SIMs and had zero issues with connectivity anywhere. I was glad not to have to carry a power bank to charge a pocket WiFi.

My gifts for mine include a real Bandai gashapon machine 😅 (from eBay), matcha flavoured chocolate and curious Japanese sweets, general little pop culture toys. Some ¥ is the best gift though, because literally anything you buy in Japan will be amazing! Take more spends than you think you need, if you're anything like me haha.

Japanese flash cards.
Chopsticks
Origami paper
Washi pencils

If going to Japan don't buy these! Vintage kimonos are super cheap in second hand shops over there!

Yen (and if you can find coins, there is one with a hole in the middle which always fascinated me.

Chopsticks - maybe with a training spring - depending on if they can already use them.

Everything beautifully wrapped!

Little lucky waving cat.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Relaxdays-Maneki-Neko-Waving-Bringer/dp/B01N33SXL9?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A1YJDEOHYPS880

Something I didn't know before I visited Tokyo is that Japanese public toilets (which were always lovely and clean in my experience) don't tend to have hand dryers or paper towels.

The Japanese carry their own personal pocket hand towel (tenugui) like these - https://oshoppu.com/products/super-mario-crackling-bomb-soldier-hand-towel

Obviously it doesn't have to be super mario! If you search Japanese hand towel or tenugui online you should find lots of options, but you would find it helpful to have one each. Of course, you can buy lots there!

Also, like the Eki stamps in stations, if you are planning on visiting any temples of shrines you can also get stamps/calligraphy from them as well. A goshuincho book is typically what people use for this (it unfolds so you can see all the stamps beautifully together) but you are expected to donate to get each stamp/calligraphy so maybe weigh up if you want the expense of that. Lots of info about them here, but again you can buy the books once you get there - en.japantravel.com/guide/goshuin-the-perfect-traditional-souvenir-from-japanese-shrines-and-temples/69653

Have an amazing time! DH and I am desperate to go back to Japan for a longer trip as it was incredible.

(Oh and FYI if you are from London prepare to be confused on the escalators as they stand on the left and walk on the right! Caught me out every time!)

Amazing!! I love love love your tips. Thank you! And yes, I'm from London. Expecting to be overwhelmed everywhere all the time 😊

As a Japanese living in the UK, it always makes me smile to see the posts like this. :)
Sorry OP, no ideas for stocking fillers other than Japanese instant noodles that we can buy from major supermarkets... (I always believe Japanese instant pot noodles are the best.)

March, April are one of the best time to visit Japan. I hope you will have an amazing time!

Thank you so much. We are beyond excited.

Hand fan
Slippers
Tokyo Michelin restaurant guide
Something sakura/cherry blossom themed
Japanese language lessons?

Can you share where you got the Eki train stamp book from please.

I haven't actually bought it yet but I think Etsy has them

Will take a look, thanks. I found a couple on Amazon but no reveiws so wasnt sure on quality etc.

Isn't it a bit 'coals to Newcastle'?

I'd buy travel accessories and the like.

There are always quirky and interesting things here:

Or a sushi making class? YO! Sushi School (yosushi.com)

If you wanted to do something different/keep up the excitement I did this with the tweens/early teens pre covid and it was a really fun day.

https://yosushi.com/sushi-school

Haha @SM4713 great minds!!

Hi, it really isn’t the case that there is ‘wi-fi’ everywhere- I have been to Japan several times and my oldest DS has been far more often. It’s very ‘hit and miss’.

The first time we went, I had very few issues - got connected for free quite regularly. The second visit, we basically had two weeks without internet except for the odd few minutes here and there. Third time, we learnt and hired the wi-fi/internet pack thing from the airport.

Re: Preparing - you and your kids might like to have a go on Duolingo in the run up to your trip. It’s free if you can put up with the adverts.

The Japan House is a good place to visit for a taste of Japanese culture:

https://www.japanhouselondon.uk/whats-on/2023/ainu-stories-contemporary-lives-by-the-saru-river/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAvJarBhA1EiwAGgZl0JHsu2D_nKJODVUzisWElTMJw0BBa-UBg4pbxTgyuAc1uem6iH75bxoCzWMQAvD_BwE

You can see some great Japanese art at the V&A:

https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/japan

Hope you have a great trip - I am very jealous!

Save your money for when you are there and the choice will be better too. PS, we found the WiFi terrible!

I should also have said: You could get them a couple of Japanese print t shirts from Uniqlo for Xmas - they could then wear these on holiday.

A crossbody bag from Uniqlo with space for a water bottle would also be useful.

Souvenirs in Japan are very cheap, relatively speaking, so I personally wouldn’t go mad buying stuff this side of your visit.

You really will be able to buy most of these things in Japan, OP, and they’ll be much more exciting there - don’t miss a visit to Tokyu Hands, or if you’re going to Tokyo, to the mega-huge Muji in Ginza, the largest in the world.

It may be a bit large for a stocking-filler but this jigsaw of the Tokyo metro is quite fun.