My go-to omiyage gift for friends is Yoku Moku cigares packed in its signature tin boxes. Starting today through June 14th Yoku Moku has a limited edition matcha cigare with matcha chocolate inside. The sweets are sold in every department store and I believe at both Haneda and Narita airports (last time I checked). The…
Category: omiyage
Bento&co
Frenchman Thomas Bertrand and his wife Erico are the founders and owners of Bento&Co. Their shop is in the heart of Kyoto, just north of the famous Nishiki Market specializes in all things for bento lunch boxes. There is a website if you don’t make it to Kyoto. But, if you are in Kyoto do…
Number Sugar Caramels
If you love caramels be sure to visit numbersugar_official. Fun flavors like raspberry, brown sugar, and rum raisin. There are a few branches in Tokyo. The Marunouchi branch has limited edition flavors of matcha, kokuto black sugar, and miso. https://numbersugar.jp
Ginza Kikunoya
Kikunoya in Ginza came up with the idea of dry confectionaries for tea time and this colorful fukiyose was developed. Presented in colorful tins the sweets have a long shelf life and are a fun omiyage gift for friends. Opened in 1890 Kikunoya is a busy shop in the heart of Ginza (Ginza 5-9-17). The…
Where to Buy Kit Kats in Tokyo
The best place to buy regional Kit Kats in Tokyo is at the Shokoku Gotochi Plaza. The shop is in the basement mall of Tokyo Station near the Tokyo Ramen Street, across the hallway from Rokurinsha ramen shop. Kit Kat in Japan makes regional flavors that are usually only sold in that region. The Shokoku…
Gotta Get – Furikake Pen
We have just returned from a trip to Western Japan and one of my favorite things I brought back as an omiyage for myself is this furikake pen that happens to say yukari on it. Yukari is a furikake made from red shiso leaves that are dried and minced with salt. I love it as a topping over rice, but it…
Omiyage – Kamakura Hato Sable
Omiyage (oh-me-yah-gay) are gifts that are given to friends, family, and work colleagues. Omiyage are often associated with a region or a particular ingredient. The whole culture of omiyage is complicated. It is often expected that whenever you take a trip that you will return with omiyage. As an office worker, by going on vacation or on a business trip you…
Gotta Go – Utsuwa Kenshin
Asato Ikeda-san’s gorgeous pottery. I first came across these at Den in Jimbocho. Saké tastes better when served in something this beautiful. Bob Tobin and Hitoshi Ohashi of the Tobin Ohashi Gallery first introduced me to Kenshin Sato-san of Kenshin Utsuwa. When I asked chef Zaiyu Hasegawa-san of Den about these cups he too said…
Art on the Table by Asato Ikeda
It was the first time in my life that I held a cup in my hand and immediately fell in love with it. The light sky blue color, the rough and smooth texture that my fingers fell into, and the taste of the saké while holding something so beautiful. I couldn’t put it down. I…
Tokyo Sky Tree Shops – Ganso for Plastic Foods
Great news for tourists visiting the Tokyo’s hottest destination, Tokyo Sky Tree. You don’t have to go to Kappabashi to get your plastic food samples. Ganso Shokuhin Sanpuruya has a branch in the new Solamachi shopping mall. The original store is in Kappabashi and is very popular. Here you’ll find the great plastic food samples that…
Popular Omiyage – Tokyo Banana 東京ばな奈
Walking through Tokyo Station it is hard to miss the booths selling Tokyo Banana. It’s a very omiyage. I’ve received it as a gift twice in the last few months. The banana-shaped cakes are individually wrapped. It’s a soft sponge cake filled with a banana cream custard. New flavors are introduced from time to time….
Popular Omiyage – Baumkuchen
This photo of baumkuchen comes from the Juchheim website. Baumkuchen is a very popular omiyage, or gift, in Japan. It can be found at all depachika. This German cake is made of thin layers of cake that are baked onto a spool. At first sight the cake is a delight on the eyes as the…
Food Sake Tokyo 