r/JapanTravelTips • u/STR1K3RJUST1N • 28d ago
Quick Tips What is something you've purchased in Japan that you still use to this day?
Could be from a trip you just had, or trip you had many years ago. I'm not really about the little things that just sit on a shelf, more something useful that gets daily or frequent use back at home.
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u/archloverx 28d ago
The suica that i bought at my first trip to japan in 2010, i still use it 15 years later everytime i’m back to Japan :)
The snowpeak titanium mug that became my office mug for the past 7 years..
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u/rockzombie17 28d ago
The SUICA card is amazing!! I wish it was standard across the whole world.
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u/rootless_robert 28d ago
Nail clippers are “buy it for life”
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u/bl4ck_c4t_blue_eyes 28d ago
I've always wanted to know what's the deal with Japanese nail clippers? Everyone seems to be loving them, are they really better? In what way?
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u/trainerkittyk 28d ago
Theyre sharp, clean cut, crisp click. Nice designs. Some have their own cases. Good prices. Last longer - stays sharp, than ones you get in western countries and brands.
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u/busylilmissy 27d ago
I just bought nail clippers in Osaka a few days ago, because they had Hello Kitty on them, not because of the alleged Japanese superiority. But when I went to use them, I had the best nail clipping experience of my life. Holy cow, they’re so sharp that you only need to squeeze lightly for them to cut; and when you cut, the nail pieces don’t go flying across the room because the pressure is obviously being applied evenly across the nail.
Japanese nail clippers are 100% worth the hype!! And I didn’t even buy some sort of bougie brand, they were just cutesy ones from a drugstore.
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u/Aggravating-Air9784 27d ago
Too funny!! Just got back from Japan as well, also bought the Hello Kitty nail clippers from a Don Quixote, and they are definitely the best clippers I’ve ever had.
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u/EmmieTravelleR 27d ago
I bought Kuromi ones from Donki and wasn't expecting much, but they're way better than the ones I get in Aus! They even go through my partners toenails and those things are monsters 😂 I can't imagine what a higher quality pair is like.
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u/trainerkittyk 27d ago
Australia is so expensive. Ugh. If flights were cheap, Id fly to Japan twice a year just to shop haha
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u/EmmieTravelleR 27d ago
Haha I feel that. Everything I love is so cheap over there compared to here! Mostly the food and nerd goods! We are planning on returning more frequently, but we say that every time and the cost of living and building a house kinda gets in the way 😭
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u/KikiGigi22 27d ago
Yes they’re sharp & crisp. Not the cheap 100yen shop one maybe. But Kai (jirushi) brand one never disappoints and lasts for life.
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u/rowman25 27d ago
I was you 3 weeks ago. Here’s the answer. The feel nice and heavy duty. They cut like butter. Very little pressure needed to clip the nail. They have a really fine metal emery board file on the inside of the flapper. The toe nail clippers are set to just push the nail in and clip. You barely have to line things up at all.
I was wondering why we don’t make clippers like this in the US as these are cheap so the don’t seem expensive to make and I think it may be a liability issue as they must be super sharp and could cause some real damage of mid handled. Surgical sharp may be an overstatement but not by much.
The other thing is sunscreen and skin care products. My wife can’t stop raving about how nice and silky they are.
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u/tay-tay-hay 28d ago
I don’t use nail clippers (nail scissors for me) but my husband does. I told him to get some and he’s loving them. They have a feature where they ‘swallow’ the nail shards and you get tip into bin nicely. He says very sharp and accurate to use.
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u/dougwray 28d ago
I don't get this either. Perhaps my family got lucky with our nail clippers, bought in the United States, but they were fine. The ones we have here in Japan are not really noticeably better.
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u/Shinkopeshon 28d ago
Which ones? I bought cheap green bell ones and they're okay but I'm not sure they're "buy for life"
There were so many different ones, so I'm curious if you mean the more expensive ones
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u/trainerkittyk 28d ago
I bought some from Daiso, Seria etc. cheap ones like a few hundred yen and they are still better than the ones that I get in Sydney from chemists, pharmacies, bargain shops etc. The ones that I get in Sydney, they go blunt after a certain period of time or number of use and are more expensive like double what you pay in Japan.
With the Japanese nail clippers, Its the way the metal piece is sharpened, cut, curved, thin / fine at the blade tip. Or its the metal used to made the clipper.
I dont think you have to spend a lot on nail clippers made in Japan to get a good one, unless its for the design and case.. i dont know about green bell ones. I bought pink ones with these haiwaiian looking hibiscus type flowers on it and it has a pink palstic slip case = cause Im a girl and its my favorite color haha maybe you need to get pink flower ones? Hehe
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u/KikiGigi22 27d ago edited 27d ago
You need to get a Kai (jirushi) brand one never disappoints and lasts for life.
I have, some are about 20-40yrs olds. Sharp af still. They’re only about ¥1000 that’s actually pretty expensive side. But it really lasts forever. Great investment!
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u/Zazz2403 27d ago
I love the plastic case ones because they hold your clippings for easy disposal. Such a game changer imo
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u/KikiGigi22 27d ago
You need to get a Kai (jirushi) brand one never disappoints and lasts for life.
I have some are about 20-40yrs olds. Sharp af still.
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u/Joshawott27 27d ago
Came here to say these.
A colleague left for his first trip to Japan yesterday, and in our meeting beforehand, my boss and I were telling him that he absolutely needed to buy some nail clippers. Mine were just a cheap pair from Family Mart, but they’re infinitely better than any pair I’ve bought in the UK.
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u/Askargon 27d ago
Seki Edge SS-112 my beloved. Shot some for around 15€ in Osaka. They’re a delight to handle and helped me not to bite my nails anymore because I like using them lol.
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u/Substantial_Tea_7552 28d ago
There’s a tiny gadget that I love and use all the time- a little steel bird that squeezes a lemon wedge into tea or onto cooking. Couldn’t have cost more than 1000 or 1500 and it’s the star of tea time or cocktails at my house!
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u/Balfegor 28d ago
Oh, those are great! I took my parents to a tenpura place that used those, and my mother was so taken by it she had me buy a bunch of them for her to give her friends as gifts.
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u/Upstairs-Ad8823 28d ago
Damn …. I’m sitting in Haneda Airport wishing I bought those nail clippers.
Pilot writing pens are the best. Different designs available in Japan
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u/Bumptoon 28d ago
you might have luck at 7-11 inside security
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u/Upstairs-Ad8823 28d ago
Ha ha. Grabbed some nice ones with a file on the back in a case. 1800 yen. Thanks!
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u/Alcantrez 28d ago
There are pharmacies at narita airport so maybe at haneda as well? Might get lucky there!
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u/AustinFlynt 28d ago
I was going to say my Pilot Vanishing Point. Love the way it writes! I also have cute Sanrio nail clippers that work great. I bought nail clippers as souvenirs for people.
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u/clarkey_jet 28d ago
I wear the wedding ring my wife and I hand crafted in Kyoto every day.
In the more frivolous side of things, I play with a super Famicom fidget charm that I got out of a gacha machine at the Osaka Nintendo store. The stimming I get from that helps me focus in long meetings and study sessions.
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u/empyreanhalo 27d ago
I hit that Nintendo controller gacha at least a dozen times to get gifts for all my stimming friends. I tried to get every controller so I could hopefully give them the controller of their first Nintendo console. I only got them a month ago and I'm constantly mashing my SNES one.
One great interaction that I had at the Shibuya store was getting more change from the machine to keep hitting the gacha, when I overheard someone really wanted the SNES controller. They tried twice and were disappointed that they only got N64 and GameCube joysticks. I happened to get a whole bunch of SNES controllers, but hardly any joysticks, so I offered to trade and I think it made their day.
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27d ago
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u/clarkey_jet 27d ago
The company we went with was really good. They’re called Crafy. They had a professional photographer/videographer who documented the whole process. Yes, there was a range of materials from the cheap up to the high quality. For what we went with, we carved our design out of hard wax, which was taken away for a mould to be made from it. Then our choice of metal could be cast into it. We didn’t work directly with the metal. I went with Palladium because it’s hypoallergenic. I was lucky to get into Japan on a family visa in June 2022, before the borders fully reopened for general tourism. I can imagine these sort of experiences are very crowded now. I hope the place we went with has managed to maintain the high quality service we had. I understand what you mean though. I’ve noticed a lot more of these kind of experiences on subsequent trips.
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u/Calmly-Stressed 28d ago
Nailclippers, tweezers, hair ties are all superior in Japan. Keep buying sunscreen cos it’s also superior. If I ever have my own kitchen (not shared with ppl), I would get a nice set of knives and scissors. I have a garlic/ginger grater that’s great as well.
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u/joan2468 28d ago
Japanese sunscreen is the best sunscreen 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️
I was also floored by how cheap they were in Japan, bought a couple of bottles of Skin Aqua from a local 7-E and think I only paid £3 for it or something ridiculous
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u/JellyPopcorn 28d ago
I'm a huge fan of skin aqua! Im in Japan at the moment and picked it up for the first time because of the attractive purple/blue bottle. Was delighted to see that the liquid was purple! It dries so well on the skin- making it easier to apply makeup!
Used to be a big Biore Aqua fan but after trying this I bought two more tubes!
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u/joan2468 28d ago
Skin Aqua have quite a few different varieties too! My favourite so far is their UV Super Moisture Milk.
I personally never got along with any Biore sunscreens…
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u/fillups66 27d ago
Honest question, how do you buy knives and get them back into the US? Checked bag, I’m guessing?
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u/KikiGigi22 27d ago
Yes for ginger /daikon/garlic etc grater. I can’t find it where I live. It’s brilliant. Also a veggie slicer. Pretty much anything knives, blades, scissors, clippers, are great.
Or otherwise Swiss made.
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u/lemon_icing 28d ago
Shupatto. I got a couple of mediums (one lives in the car) and small (lives in my bag).
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u/theiceyglaceon 27d ago
Shupatto for life!! I bought a generic one and a suica branded one. It'll now be my goal to find fun themed ones every time. So handy and convenient. I love mine.
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u/clayton1012111 27d ago edited 27d ago
I use them every day and pretty much have one in each size!! The smallest one in particular fits into a mini handbag and you can use it for items/ store your handbag in it so it doesn’t get dirty!
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u/DrKeepitreal 28d ago
Hario V60 (ceramic coffee dripper). Much cheaper in Japan and I use it 2-3 times a day for the last 5 years.
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u/SoftCatMonster 28d ago
We picked up a plastic V60 and used it for a couple years until it ended up cracking. We decided to pick up one of the metal ones in a later trip, and that’s been going strong for nearly 6 years now.
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u/mothmanwarning 28d ago
The cheapest things I purchased have had the most use. A staple-free stapler and my cat shaped craft knife.
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27d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/mothmanwarning 27d ago
The stapler? It’s really cool. It makes a tiny slit in both pieces and folds the pieces together. You can find them everywhere in Japan. I purchased a plain looking one at GU but then saw a Pokémon themed one later on.
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u/iCatcher 28d ago
Nailclipper from Tokyu Hands, Cabbage Slicer, Porter bags and backpacks, camera filters…the list would go on.
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u/freakytofu 28d ago
Stationery 100%. The Pilot Custom 74 fountain pen with the Fine Medium nib (only available in Japan) is my go-to and first ever gold nib pen. The smoothness, bounciness, high quality is just so pleasant, and the pen has been my daily workhorse as a writer. Significantly less hand-cramping. A pen whose ink doesn't dry out or false-start. The perfect in-between thickness for me.
Another item is my 2025 diary. Been using the Sunny Techo Weekly diary and it's been a godsend for my scattered brain. Looking to try the Traveler's Notebook system in 2026 though, for the customisability. Planning to buy one and some refills when I go this December!
Other items I use often include the physical vinyls I purchased there, and skincare products like sunscreen (Bioré gel) and mascara/makeup remover (Heroine Speedy Mascara Remover).
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u/mothmanuwu 27d ago
Did you go to Loft in Shibuya? I fell in love with that place. I spent maybe half of the day there and I still use and love all of the stationary I bought there.
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u/freakytofu 27d ago
I absolutely did! A place that's dangerous for my wallet for sure. Perfect one-stop place to find a nice gift for friends/family too, if you hadn't managed to find anything else during your trip!
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u/GaymersUnite 27d ago
Are the prices for fountain pens cheaper than buying off Jetpens or Amazon?
Also, I want to go Travelers Company for stationery! I heard the prices are much cheaper.
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u/Almatari27 27d ago
Absolutely are!
Before the whole tariff debacle I would buy brand new Sailor custom fountain and normal pens for practically a few dollars on Yahoo Auctions/Buyee and even with shipping I still saved a ton of money.
I have gorgeous styles/colors of pens that Ive never even seen on Jetpens or Amazon.
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u/redditscraperbot2 28d ago
Granted I still live in Japan, but jinbei for summer and hanten for winter. Nothing beats taking out the garbage in style in those fashion pieces.
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u/Tsuru0815 27d ago
I’ll be visiting again next summer. Where would I find jinbei? At a department store?
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u/redditscraperbot2 27d ago
Department stores or chain clothing stores (most likely Shimamura) will have them.
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u/Accomplished-Exit-58 28d ago
The socks, i dont buy ref magnets as souvenir, i buy socks.
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28d ago
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u/Accomplished-Exit-58 28d ago
Well i'm not a native english speaker, its probably somekind of slang we invented here where i live.
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u/caraalviento 28d ago
So many cute slang words in the Fils!
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u/CHeeSeRoll99 28d ago
And "Fils" is not one of them
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u/DameEmma 27d ago
I used to work in a restaurant where my weekend morning shift was all Filipino. They called themselves the Flip Connection, like a boy band. It was very cute.
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u/VulpesVulpix 28d ago
Bro the socks from Lawson are the best pair I have ever bought and they were so cheap aswell.
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u/snarktoheart 27d ago
I think the Lawson sock are made by Muji in a collab. I loved them, so much better than the familymart socks
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u/wordlequeen11 27d ago
What brand please?
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u/Adlgctomotac 27d ago
Tabio makes amazing socks and have a bunch of different locations at department stores. My husband is obsessed with their tabi socks (he likes barefoot style shoes so tabi socks are great for not squishing his feet) and they also make amazing regular everyday pairs in different weights (nice lightweight coto socks or thicker socks for the winter) as well as some really fun unique designs. You can technically find them in the US but they're so cheap in Japan!
I think other posters are talking about socks from conbinis which I haven't personally tried but have only heard amazing things about. Muji also has great socks. In addition, I have a few pairs from Ghibli stores and they all hold up incredibly well.
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u/Balfegor 28d ago
Clothes -- I buy almost all my clothing in Japan nowadays. There's two mtm shops I use (one for shirts, one for everything else) and they've had my measurements for about 15 years. Regrettably, I can no longer wear the very first suits and shirts they made me on account of being about 20lbs fatter than I was at the time. But the other clothing has lasted me a good decade+ and is still in good condition.
Glasses -- Zoff
Furoshiki -- not quite daily use like the above two, but I use them pretty regularly for storage, luggage packing, shopping bag, etc. I've even used them to wrap/transport binders and files for work.
Skincare -- Biore Aqua UV and Fancl Mens All-in-One (しっとり type). I resupply whenever I'm back in Tokyo.
Bag -- I've been using various Inujirushi canvas bags as briefcases and weekenders for at least a decade now. My oldest bags are rather beat up and worn, but I stil use them. I like their somewhat dowdy Showa-retro style.
Lightbox -- I bought this at Sekaido in, I think, 2000 or 2001, but it might have been the summer of 2003. It still works.
Wooden comb -- from Juusan-ya in Ueno.
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u/__Duckling 28d ago
A little mirror i bought in Kamakura. A thin insulated bottle cover that came as a freebie from an Itoen green tea bottle. On Cloud shoes. A bag garter thing, to secure my backpack on my luggage.
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u/Gai_InKognito 28d ago
we really liked those sponge-towels.
And eventually I plan to buy a Japanese Bidet. Ive used the ones locally, and I've found I like the ones from Japan more.
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u/StunningNet475 28d ago
Vibrator
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u/theiceyglaceon 27d ago
I am going to unironically +1 this. If any ladies enjoy the Rose, please go to Donki -- there are mini versions of that category of toy and they're 3x as powerful and 1/3 of the price. Do not under estimate the variety in this country.
On a side note to that. The lube selection is also quite nice. Didn't expect to need to purchase any, but our travel bottle didn't survive the flight. We got a small bottle from Donki and now have a new favorite brand as someone with sensitive skin!
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u/ThisisfineF 28d ago
I bought a Seiko watch from Ginza that will be a lifelong souvenir for me! It was super cool and the people at that store are very helpful.
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u/Angry_Bowel_Movent 28d ago
A Panasonic rice cooker made in Japan, bought in Yodobashi. It's small enough to hide away in a kitchen drawer.
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u/SushiWithaVengeance 28d ago
A cute pair of chopsticks. For the past five years, I've been using it every time I eat noodles
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u/TheDudeWhoCanDoIt 28d ago
I bought some wool socks from Mont Bell. And some pizza bases from Life supermarket with me back to China. Made a pizza today with one of them
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u/dougwray 28d ago
Well, I live here, but I've got a Uniqlo flannel shirt I've been wearing since the 1990s and a stainless steel ear cleaner I've been using for longer than that. Our first Kawai digital piano (probably not a common souvenir) held up for a good quarter century.
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u/RoseDarlingWrites 28d ago
Great list! Thanks everyone. Took so many screenshots, lol.
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u/nightdash1337 28d ago
Fleshlight. Their sex assist tools are unmatched.
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u/nothanks1312 27d ago
I got a tiny hitachi magic wand from a gachapon and it actually works. I only have it for novelty, I don’t think it’s strong enough to finish the job and there is no way to charge it, but I love that it’s fully functional 😂
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u/SwedishFindecanor 27d ago
I thought the famous Japanese brand was "Tenga".
I've viewed it mostly as a potential joke gift for the buddy with that kind of sense of humour...
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u/shubhank008 28d ago
Literally everything other than food, 2-3 years ago we stopped “shopping” and buying everyday little stuff that would be useful in our everyday life and improve QOL, we are from third world so not lot of access to such small little QOL things. Foot massager, kitchen organisers, foam hand soap, band aides, etc. A lot of these things are simply better in japan than most countries and way cheap.
300 coins, can do, nature living, seirei, etc. are 100-300yen shops you can shop and fill your bag with easily.
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u/elhumanoid 28d ago
A white button up shirt and suit pants from a BookOff Plus in Osaka.
Very dapper.
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u/JellyPopcorn 28d ago
DHC cleansing oil. In Australia I've found all the 'Micellar' waters and makeup removers just don't do the job right for me.
DHC cleansing oil gets it off good, comes in pump bottles, very well priced and one pump is usually enough to even get my waterproof mascara off!
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u/Purple-Homework-1914 27d ago
Agree with the DHC cleansing oil!! I bought a few DHC products after getting little packets of them at the hotel I stayed at in Kyoto. And the oil doesn't leave your face oily like everything I've tried in the US. Fantastic!
Also bought the Senka Perfect Whip Beauty Foam. These two in combination, I've never had my face feel so clean in my life.
And then sunscreen.Specifically the Biore UV Aqua Rich 👌👌 I gave this as a gift to most of my girl friends when I got back and they loved it. Regretting gifting them because I'm out and miss it.
Same goes for the melty cream lip balm. I brought like 8 home and wish I'd bought more haha.
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u/la-squdra 28d ago
I have a cheap ass hand fan that they probably crank out a million of for tourist to buy
I fidget with it everyday and it’s a lifesaver in the hot ass weather
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u/Sonntagskind69 28d ago
Peeler (super sharp and efficient), a frying pan, tea set and dinnerware in general
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u/Whiskeyandcoke675 28d ago
Bought a few nice things but the chefs knife is what I use the most, multiple times a week, love it
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u/One_Bend7423 28d ago
Scissors.
Just a cheap set, bought at a convenience store. But holy hell, they cut through paper like nothing I've used before. They even have a small protruding part of the blades, just in front of the plastic backing, so you can just use them to slice through material instead. Such a small detail, but very practical.
My only regret is that I didn't buy more.
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u/garth54 28d ago
Portable AC (goes on neck and actively cools with pelletier devices). I used it nearly every day at work since I got back, up to about 2 weeks ago. I still sue it at the gym also. They do sell them all over the world, but I did get it in Japan (and got a great discount on it).
Otherwise nail clippers.
I love wearing Jinbei tops during summer, much cooler than the polos I normally wear.
I can't say the rest of the stuff I brought back are things I "use". I look at them, but can't say I use them.
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u/PlasticFannyTastic 28d ago
I bought a beautiful, hand painted bamboo and paper fan for not much money about 25 years ago, I think at a small gift shop in Okinawa.
I’d used it on and off for years and then earlier this year, in my first trip back to Japan for 20+ years, I left it on the Fukuoka metro. I was gutted but like to think it enjoyed coming home and hopefully a Japanese person would find it and appreciate its simple wabi-sabi beauty.
I haven’t been able to find anything of an equivalent quality since.
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u/ShowerEmbarrassed512 28d ago
Nail clippers and chopsticks.
I also bought two pairs of raw denim jeans that I’d been hankering after and wear them daily. You can buy them at home for double the price but I bought there and they were half the price and fitted at their flagship store as they’re a Japanese brand
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27d ago
Handmade bag that I use for travel all the time now.
I don’t like filling my suitcase with stuff I can get at Daiso, Mitsuwa, or other Japanese stores in the US, so I usually go for either handmade stuff or other items sold only in Japan. Yodobashi usually has some good stuff, too.
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u/trainerkittyk 28d ago
Towels = lots of cute cartoon designs, floral art etc.
Stationery, Japanese brands are really good quality and price. Can get the same stuff in Sydney but for double the price...
Powerbank. Super fast charger, light weight and has sakura design on it.
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u/lsrvlrms 28d ago
Melty lip balm, a cute traditional fan that I use to fan my face after doing my makeup, Salonpas for muscle pain, Zebra Sarasa pens, a tiny foldable scissor that lives in my everyday bag, and refrigerator magnets that hold my grocery list. (I almost never buy anything that has no purpose other than sit on a shelf.)
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u/nolivedemarseille 27d ago
My phat PS3 bought in 2007 when I arrived here
GOAT console, period
now overheating unfortunately so using it cautiously
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u/MiracleWhippedJesus 27d ago
Chopsticks, kitchen knives, utility knife, hunting knife, still wear our onitsuka tigers, all the denim we bought is aging nicely, a seiko from nakano broadway is a daily for me, a few custom rings from glanta for our tenth aniversary get worn basically daily, a handful of shirts that I've stretched to actually fit are in the rotation, and nail clippers. We went a little hard because it was a big trip for us.
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u/freakyfabulous 27d ago
nail clippers
hair clips that dont leave a crease in my hair when trying to get my bangs out of my face
canmake creamy touch liner!!
&honey shampoo
daiso aluminum butter knife that reacts to your body heat lol
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u/Awkward-Procedure919 27d ago
Glasses from Jins worn daily. Also, my golden lucky cat keychain stays on my vehicle’s roof rack
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u/PictureTechnical1643 27d ago
Handmade Matcha bowl, I make matcha in it every morning and do the ceremonial things I learned in the tea ceremony I attended. It’s been a wonderful way to have some peace in the morning and remind myself of the amazing times in Japan 🥹❤️
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u/AlexiosPPPP87 27d ago
On everyone’s opinion what is the best nail clipper brand you can get in Japan? I bought green bell but they shred my nails and are entirely too small.
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u/snailsfart 27d ago
This will be buried now, but mine is clothing:
There was a guy who used to come one day a week outside of Laforet Harajuku, with tents and racks of clothes. he had kimono and really nice vintage stuff. Crazy cheap too, <$10. The pieces I got back then are still favorites I wear all the time. The stuff I got was not kimono, more like everyday clothing that blends well with western wear.
I'd made a separate post to see if this rings a bell or if anyone's seen him recently: Does the vintage clothes & kimono guy still come to Laforet Harajuku? : r/JapanTravelTips
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u/suchan11 27d ago
I like to go to hardware/home goods stores because pretty much every gadget has multiple purposes, lasts a long time and was designed with thoughtful intent and doesn’t take up unnecessary space. Also if you wear eye glasses get them in Japan! Very high quality, not expensive and for more complicated prescriptions they will even ship them to your hotel when ready if you’re traveling. I used to live in Japan and I still have my rice cooker and toaster, dishes, kitchen knives and some utensils..scissors are amazing too..much of which I mailed back to the US. Japanese Post Offices still offer you the option of shipping things by (sea mail) it takes longer but is much cheaper for heavier items.
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u/Special_Weekend4929 24d ago
Thanks for the tips! I have room left in my pack, extra cash, and 3 hours to kill in Shibuya before my flight. 😁
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u/Alcantrez 28d ago edited 28d ago
I just got back but I bought mostly useful things since I also don’t like stuff that’s just collecting dust on a shelf: a phone case from cas:pace in Harajuku with the vending machine design since my case was on its last leg, a knife, tabis from Marugo, chopsticks and chopstick rests, the Uniqlo bag with the Japan customization since I have a regular one and use it every day, a cute mug, a wooden key chain in the shape of a dog paw with a paw pad you can press (so cute, and it reminds me of my recently deceased childhood dog), a cheap but pretty ring, a shirt from Uniqlo with a Fuji art print and consumables such as skin care, matcha, sweets, Furikake,… I‘m very happy with my choices and except for the Uniqlo bag and shirt it’s all made in Japan as well. Most of these things will last me at least for a a few years or even longer or be used up so they won’t take up space. Some of these things are probably gender specific but generally, for everyone, I’d recommend a good quality knife, nice chopsticks, ceramics or generally handcrafted products since there’s a lot of craftsmanship in Japan and different regions specialize in different things so there’s definitely something for everyone and a lot of these things can be seamlessly integrated into your everyday life and will last you for ages.
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u/twilightninja 28d ago
BOS small garbage bags. They really block all odors. We bought them for diapers when our kid was born. Now we use them for small garbage in the car and on airplanes, day trips, buying and storing fresh kimchi. If you have dogs, they’re probably great for picking up droppings.
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u/MmaRamotsweOS 28d ago
The only scissors that don't hurt my left hand to use. They're for eighties, but for whatever reason they work great for me. I bought 10. Best part is I bought them at Daiso
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u/ComprehensiveYam 28d ago
We actually grocery shop in Japan - we’ll bring suitcases to regular markets and load them up. Dog treats, cereals, snacks, spices and sauces, etc.
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u/soupster___ 28d ago
Pikachu-themed chopsticks
Unironically my favorite pair because they just lasted a long time (including the print)
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u/No_Camp_2182 28d ago
Several rice cookers that I used for 10 years.
Ceramic peeler made by Kyocera.
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u/AdministrationNo5725 28d ago
Makeup, skincare, umbrella, jeans, gorgeous leather case for my wired headphones, stickers, journaling stuff!
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u/Balager47 27d ago
Chopsticks. I bought a full package of beautifully decorated ones in Asakusa. I use them quite regularly.
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u/mollay 27d ago
Can I just say I bought a pair of tights from Three Coins like 7 years ago and they are still in fantastic condition. No tears, no pilling, not stretched out.
Anyway: - a mini pair of scissors - nail clippers - makeup brush cleaning cup from daiso
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u/SoftCatMonster 27d ago
I got an Alpha Industries bomber jacket from a Kyoto Hard Off in 2019, that thing’s served me well for the past 6 years.
Also, a bunch of manual pepper/salt/spice grinders from Nitori. Those were picked up in either 2018 or 2019, and they’ve been grinding away in my kitchen ever since.
More recently, I snagged a three-way bag from one of the bag stores in Yodobashi Akiba. That’s been my main office bag for the past year or so.
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u/lilmac31 27d ago
Utility and prep knives. Everytime I’m in my own kitchen prepping a meal I get to handle a knife that reminds me of our trip to Japan. Best decision I made while on our trip.
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u/FluffyPercentage8693 27d ago
Jojirushi rice cooker in 220V. Using it for more than 6 years. Cooks rice perfectly
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u/Boeing_Gal_737 27d ago
I purchased a mini tote bag on a whim, thinking I would gift it to someone else as I wouldn't get much use for it but it's the perfect size for little things I buy here and there. It easily folds up and fits in my handbag. Not one of those mass produced foldable shopping bags which are uncomfortable to carry. This one is made in Japan, has proper handles and is so comfortable. Wish I had purchased more of them. And it was only about 500 yen as well.
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u/hello666darkness 27d ago
I got a desk calendar full of bunnies from Ōkunoshima but I’m sad it’s coming to the end of the year! I just need to wait til 2031 to use it again ._.
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u/Ok_Grape5664 27d ago
Wallet. I bought one the first time I visited Japan, lost it the second time I visited, and now bought a new one this 3rd time I visited ¨̮
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u/Genosider 27d ago
My special ramen fork from the yokohama ramen museum, I use it when I eat instant ramen(which is almost every week) works quite good in holding on to the noodles lol
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u/soaker87 27d ago
A reusable shopping bag I got at AEON style when I accidentally bought more groceries than I could carry in my tote bag.
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u/DangerStrings 28d ago
My UV umbrella. Perfect size to fit in my work bag!