What to Buy in Japan for Kids — Gift and Souvenir Ideas
Last Updated on October 31, 2024 by Kay
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Wondering about what to get in Japan for kids?
I’m a local mom who has been living in Japan for over a decade. I’ve been shopping in Japan not only for my daughter but also buying gifts for my Japanese brother-in-law’s kids as well as getting souvenirs for my cousins, nieces, and nephews in Canada.
It can be overwhelming trying to figure out the best things to get from another country, especially when it comes to another demographic like kids. And just because we were a kid once, that doesn’t mean what was popular then is still popular now. I mean, I grew up in Canada and was still blown away by all the new toys available now when I visited home two years ago (what happened to the Water Baby, I loved that thing!).
This is why I thought I would share my top picks for the best Japanese products for kids that would make amazing presents and souvenirs. Hopefully, this curated list will help those of you who would like some help from a local with experience in this area.
If you have a baby to shop for, check out this article on the best Japanese gifts for babies.
TIP: If you have a kid you’re shopping for, ask them if they have a favorite cartoon, video game, or anime. Especially when it comes to anime characters, you’re more than likely to find something featuring that character in Japan.
My Picks for the Best Japanese Presents and Souvenirs for Kids
Japanese Toys
I might be a little biased but I think that Japanese toys are absolutely amazing. They’re high-quality yet affordable, not to mention look really cute (or cool, depending on what you’re getting).
I’ve written an article about popular toys in Japan so if you’re wondering what’s available, make sure to give it a read!
Bento Boxes
Bento boxes are practical and unique, making them the perfect item to gift kids. They come in various designs, many featuring popular Japanese characters from Pokemon, Sanrio, Disney, Nintendo, and even Paw Patrol!
You can find these for sale at major children’s stores in Japan and some toy stores.
For those who are parents, you might also be interested in reading my article about how to make a bento for kids.
100 Yen Goods
There are so many great things to get from the 100 yen store, which is basically Japan’s version of the dollar store. Although some people might be put off by the thought of shopping somewhere so cheap, the 100 yen store is a place where pretty much every parent in Japan shops. Their products are great quality and they have so many wonderful things for kids.
In fact, I’ve written an entire article about what to get from the 100 yen store for kids, so please take a look!
Socks
Japan has so many adorable socks that they’re my go-to Japan souvenir for adults and kids alike when I go back to Canada. I love the unique and seasonal designs that you can’t find anywhere else. There are also plenty of socks featuring popular characters from Sanrio, Pokemon, and other popular anime.
These socks are very budget-friendly as well, usually priced at three for 1000 yen.
Quick Tip: Socks for kids are sized in centimeters according to the average length of a child’s foot at a certain age. Below is a chart you can use to find the right sock size according to age:
There are lots of stores that sell socks for kids throughout Japan, including souvenir stores, so you’re likely to encounter one while you’re in the country. But if you’re having trouble or are in a rush, check out any children’s store or Tutuanna.
Gashapon (Capsule Toys)
My daughter is obsessed with capsule toys. It’s hard to go anywhere without her noticing a machine and wanting something.
There are so many kinds of gashapon machines offering different kinds of goodies like keychains, rings, small bags, coasters, figures, small stuffed animals, and more, so you’re bound to find something for anyone. I like buying whacky kinds for my cousins in Canada, which always makes them laugh.
Note that capsule toys are recommended for children ages three and up. The recommended age is written on every machine so keep that in mind when deciding whether to get a toy from one.
Bath Balls
Kids love bath balls, especially ones with surprise toys inside, so what better gift to get them than one from Japan?
These are individually wrapped and come in various kinds like Disney, Sanrio, Pokemon, and more. You can find them for sale at any children’s store, drug stores, as well as the 100 yen store in Japan.
Bath balls in Japan are recommended for children ages three and up.
Uchiwa
Uchiwa are flat, round fans that are typically used during summer in Japan, especially at summer festivals.
They come in multiple designs as well as kid-friendly sizes, making the perfect unique souvenir that kids can use or display.
Plushies (Stuffed Dolls and Characters)
Japan absolutely loves its plushies and there are so many that it can be hard to narrow down what to get! My daughter has an entire bed filled with plushies and somehow we end up with more every month.
They come in different sizes and forms, so you can buy some luggage-friendly keychain ones that kids can put on their bags or hang in their rooms.
There are also plushies for almost everything, but the most popular are undoubtedly Sanrio, Pokemon, Nintendo, and Minecraft.
Ghibli Kids Products
I absolutely love Ghibli products (in fact, I wrote an entire article on Ghibli baby goods) so I’m more than happy to recommend their goods for kids. There is a lot to choose from, especially from their official store, Donguri Kyowakoku.
For instance, they have the cutest Totoro and Cat Bus hats for toddlers, Totoro bubbles, a little yellow bag similar to the one Mei carries, and lunch supplies.
Puzzle Erasers
Kids love these erasers, not only because they’re adorable but also because they can be taken apart and put back together as puzzles. And yeah, I guess you can use them as an eraser, too, but I personally would find that hard to do.
My daughter has a few of these and she still hasn’t used them as erasers yet because they make the perfect toy!
These are also small, so they’re luggage-friendly.
You can find these erasers for sale at stationery stores, bookstores, and 100 yen stores in Japan.
Fake Food
In Japan, many restaurants and cafes display plastic models of their food (or “fake food”) so that customers know what each dish looks like.
If you want to get something truly unique for a child you know, then consider getting them a fake food dish. My recommendation is the cute animal-shaped onigiri pictured above, which you can buy from Morino Sample in Osaka or Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya in Tokyo.
(I don’t recommend these for toddlers or any kid you think might try to eat these!)
Origami Paper
My daughter loves origami, as do her classmates in preschool. There are lots of origami paper and sets for sale in Japan at stationery stores and 100 yen stores.
There are also origami papers with popular characters on them like Disney, Sanrio, and Paw Patrol.
Puzzles
For something educational and fun for kids, consider getting them a puzzle from Japan. There are tons to choose from featuring various popular anime and movie characters.
Make sure you take into account the number of pieces since younger kids might have difficulty with larger puzzles. My daughter is five years old and prefers 100-piece puzzles.
You can find puzzles for sale at stationery stores, bookstores, as well as Toys R Us.
Bandages
I think this is a fun but practical souvenir for kids. Kids get hurt and need bandages, so why not get them a package from Japan? (I wouldn’t recommend having this be the only souvenir you buy a kid, though, because that might be disappointing.)
Anime Merch
Unsurprisingly, there is a lot of anime merchandise in Japan. If you’re shopping for a kid who loves anime, there’s a high chance you’ll find something for them.
I think you can never go wrong with getting them a figure or plushie of their favorite character. You can also be practical and get them a pencil case, notebook, or another type of stationery.
Jinbei
If you’re shopping during the summer, consider getting a jinbei for kids. These two-piece outfits are easy to wear and very airy. They come in plenty of designs, some featuring popular Pokemon or Sanrio characters.
These are found at any children’s store in Japan from around May to September and have sizes for babies up to kids in elementary school.
Children’s Kimono
For toddlers, you might want to consider getting a children’s kimono. These are super easy to put on kids and unlike real kimono, way more affordable and comfortable to wear.
Similar to jinbei, these can be found at children’s stores in Japan and some souvenir shops (for instance, the photo above is from a souvenir shop in Tempozan Marketplace, Osaka).
Snacks and Chocolates
There are plenty of snacks and chocolates just for kids in Japan, some of which feature popular anime characters. To read more about what’s available, check out my article on Japanese snacks for kids.
Wrap-up: Souvenirs and Gifts for Kids from Japan
I hope this look at my picks for souvenirs and gifts for kids from Japan has been helpful to you. As you can see, you’re bound to find something for that special little person in your life.
Don’t stress too much about what to get because I’m sure they’ll be happy with whatever you give them from Japan!