From Tokyo, With Love
Japan Travel Tips
Stories, travel tips, and behind-the-scenes from two photographers living in Japan.
What NOT to Buy in Japan (The Tourist Traps Locals Avoid)
Things to avoid buying in Japan from a Japanese-source perspective: generic 'Japan' boxes, gold-bottle sake, polyeste...
Japan Food Souvenirs and Snacks: What Japanese People Actually Bring Back
Japan food souvenirs and snacks from a Japanese-source perspective: regional meibutsu sweets, omiyage snack tiers, se...
Last-Minute Japan Souvenirs at the Airport — Are They Worth It?
Japan airport souvenirs from a Japanese-source perspective: what Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and New Chitose carry that's...
Tokyo Shopping: The Local Japanese Brands Worth Buying
Tokyo shopping guide to the local brands Japanese consumers actually rate — Beams, Porter, Snow Peak, Muji, United Ar...
Best Japanese Gifts to Bring Home (For People Who Don't Like Snacks)
The best Japanese gifts to bring home for people who don't like snacks — non-food picks from Japanese gift-culture an...
Japan Souvenir Plates: What Japanese Pottery Communities Recommend
Japan souvenir plates from a Japanese pottery community perspective: named-kiln ceramics worth bringing back — Arita,...
Japanese Vintage Souvenir Jackets (Sukajan): Where Locals Buy Them
Where Japanese vintage collectors buy sukajan — the embroidered souvenir jackets from Yokosuka. Tailor Toyo, Buzz Ric...
Japanese Stationery Souvenirs: The Brands Locals Actually Use
Japanese stationery souvenirs — Hobonichi, Midori, Kokuyo, Pilot, Uni, MT washi tape, Tombow, Kakimori — the brands J...
Things to Buy in Tokyo That Aren't Touristy
Non-touristy things to buy in Tokyo — the specific items Japanese design and lifestyle press features as serious Toky...
Cheap vs. Premium Souvenirs in Japan: What's Worth the Money
Cheap Japan souvenirs versus the upgrade tier: a category-by-category breakdown of what's worth paying more for and w...
Hidden Gem Shopping in Tokyo: 12 Spots From Japanese Lifestyle Blogs
Hidden gem shopping in Tokyo — 12 neighbourhoods and small shops Japanese lifestyle blogs feature regularly: Koenji v...
Vegan Snacks in Japan: What to Buy and Where to Find Them
Vegan snacks in Japan: MUJI's plant-based range, rice okaki, sweet-potato snacks, dark chocolate, konjac gummies. Wha...
Where Locals Shop in Tokyo: The Real Shopping Districts
Where locals shop in Tokyo — the neighbourhoods Tokyo residents actually use for clothing, design, kitchen tools, and...
Unique Japanese Souvenirs Under ¥5,000 Worth Buying
Unique Japanese souvenirs under ¥5,000 — stationery, kitchen tools, craft objects, and pantry goods that are genuinel...
What to Buy in Osaka: The Local Picks Tabelog Reviewers Love
What to buy in Osaka: Tabelog reviewers and Japanese food media point to food omiyage from Kuromon Market, specific c...
What You Can Actually Buy in Japan for 100 Yen
Japan's 100-yen shops, convenience store basics, and gachapon: what you actually get for ¥100 and which categories ar...
What to Buy in Kyoto: A Local-Source Souvenir Guide
What to buy in Kyoto: yatsuhashi, Uji matcha, Kiyomizu ceramics, Nishiki pickles. Japanese sources point to where loc...
Cute Things to Buy in Japan: The Kawaii Souvenirs Worth Buying
Cute things to buy in Japan: from Pokémon Center exclusives and Sanrio flagship stores to gamaguchi purses, gachapon,...
The Best Souvenir and Gift Shops in Japan (Not the Airport Ones)
The best souvenir and gift shops in Japan: depachika gift floors, station meibutsu corridors, Tokyu Hands, Don Quijot...