Crafts in japan or very nice souvenirs ???????

What are some of the nicer crafts...especially if size is not much of a problem....that you can buy in Japan? Especially cookware? or ???????

What are some of the nicer crafts...especially if size is not much of a problem....that you can buy in Japan? Especially cookware? or ???????

Japanese cooking knives are some of the best in the world. Hand made and often customized with the owner's name stamped on the blade - in Japanese or English.

Near the temple in Asakusa is an entire city of restaurant supply shops. One of the streets in that small city has dozens of shops selling nothing but Japanese cooking knives.

I was going to mention Asakusa as well. For household kitchen supplies they are THE place.

Other then that, there are tons of things, just depends on what you are interested in. How big do you want to go and how much money do you want to spend? Plus where are you going, crafts tend to be regional.

A fun souvenir of Fuji:

Also, paper lanterns, silk flags, silk door hangings, regional tchotchkes, pretty much anything related to their various animal totems, and of course, Neko the cat.

Or go hard core and buy a set of samurai armor or a sword.

OK, maybe just a yukata.

This should give you an overview of things and the price.

https://www.goodsfromjapan.com/

another site

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/must-have-souvenirs-travel-tips

You should also see what is available at Daiso (although they have stores in the US

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/must-have-souvenirs-travel-tip

Try the 100 Yen stores, ask a tour guide or someone at the hotel, they know where they are (but look at where the item is made, many will be from China or other asian countries)

Finally, depending on where you will be in Japan, try Tokyu Hands (you can spend hours just looking at all of the things they have - a general merchandise store.)

https://www.tokyu-hands.co.jp/en/

We heard about a chain - Don Quijote (yes in Japan) and were not impressed by the merchandise. However, if you go to Honolulu, they have great prices on souvenirs from Hawaii.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quijote_(store)

I forgot to mention, have you seen or heard about Furoshiki - using square cloth material to wrap thing up.

https://www.wikihow.com/Do-Furoshiki-(Wrap-and-Carry-Things-With-Square-Cloth)

There are a number of videos on youtube that show you have to wrap things

This should give you an overview of things and the price.

https://www.goodsfromjapan.com/

 

another site

 

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/must-have-souvenirs-travel-tips

 

You should also see what is available at Daiso (although they have stores in the US

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/must-have-souvenirs-travel-tip

 

Try the 100 Yen stores, ask a tour guide or someone at the hotel, they know where they are (but look at where the item is made, many will be from China or other asian countries)

 

Finally, depending on where you will be in Japan, try Tokyu Hands (you can spend hours just looking at all of the things they have - a general merchandise store.)

https://www.tokyu-hands.co.jp/en/

 

We heard about a chain - Don Quijote (yes in Japan) and were not impressed by the merchandise. However, if you go to Honolulu, they have great prices on souvenirs from Hawaii.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quijote_(store)

Don Quijote, called "donkey" by the Japanese, is a rapidly expanding discount store chain. They have several types of stores. The regular "Donkey" stores are frequented by college students and low income people taking advantage of discounted household goods.

But if you are looking for great prices on Japanese crafts and other souvenirs, you must go to the Don Quixote "Honten" (main) stores. There are now also "Mega Donkey" stores, much larger, with many more items to buy.

A good example is those great Japanese Kit Kat chocolates. You can buy a bag of Wasabi, Sake, or Green Tea flavoured Kit Kats at Narita or Haneda Airports for about ¥1,000. Or you can get them at the new Kit Kat store in Ginza for about ¥800.

Don Quijote sells the same thing for ¥250.

I was going to mention Asakusa as well. For household kitchen supplies they are THE place.

Other then that, there are tons of things, just depends on what you are interested in. How big do you want to go and how much money do you want to spend? Plus where are you going, crafts tend to be regional.

 

A fun souvenir of Fuji:

 

Also, paper lanterns, silk flags, silk door hangings, regional tchotchkes, pretty much anything related to their various animal totems, and of course, Neko the cat.

 

Or go hard core and buy a set of samurai armor or a sword.

OK, maybe just a yukata.

The restaurant supply "city" is called Kappabashi. You can find it on the Ginza Line, 2 stops before the last stop at Asakusa.

Google " Kappabashi" for more details.

In Akasaka, where I live, there is a massive, excellent Japan Crafts store located next door to the Canadian Embassy (Kanada Taishikan) on Akasaka Dori (Avenue), across from the Akasaka Palace.

If you go there, you should carry your passport. The Canadian Embassy has an amazing Zen Pebble Garden on the 4th floor. You must show your passport to get in.

Thank you so much for all of the suggestions. some really good ideas.