Fair warning: this is one of the biggest souvenir hauls I’ve had this year
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One of my favorite parts of Japanese culture is their art of gift giving – there’s even a special word for it! Omiyage is a souvenir that’s specifically gifted to friends, family, and coworkers. However, it’s not just any regular souvenir from the tourist shop – omiyage has to be individually wrapped (usually in cute packaging) to make it easy to share. The first time I received an omiyage present was when my freelance clients, a small start-up from Japan, bought me “cat tongue” cookies” from Hokkaido.

The other reason why I love Japanese souvenirs so much is that they vary by region!
That’s right: if you visit a souvenir shop in Fukuoka, Tokyo, and Hokkaido, you’ll find souvenirs that can only be bought in that area – sort of like limited edition goodies. 

If you want to find out more about the best Japanese souvenirs to buy, check out my omiyage haul and let me know which was your favorite! ♡ Continue reading →