5 best customisable gifts and souvenirs to buy in Tokyo

The handkerchief is often overlooked as a useful yet stylish gift. H Tokyo specialises in small towels, handkerchiefs included, which are all made in Japan. What’s more, the store offers a customisation service that allows you to embroider letters, emblems and small icons on your little handy wipe. 

The options here are endless, as there is a lovely selection of handkerchiefs to choose from, including simple solid-coloured cloths made from smart no-iron fabric, stylish pieces featuring images of Japan, and even designs by various artists. 

Once you’ve picked a handkerchief, the embroidery takes about 30 minutes. You can include up to 15 letters for ¥550, while little icons cost an additional ¥550 each. There are a number of different fonts to choose from, as well as over 30 thread colours. Once complete, handkerchiefs can be gift-wrapped into a cute box for ¥400. Otherwise it’s folded neatly into a paper square for you to take home.

This tiny shop along the Yanaka Ginza shopping street is where you can create your own hanko or personalised seal. While hanko are commonly used to sign off documents and contracts in Japan, you can create quirky versions at this speciality shop to use for fun. 

Shinimonogurui offers hanko stamps in four different sizes (from ¥2,600) and includes space for your name (in English or Japanese) as well as one of the cheeky designs, from which there are over 500 to choose from. Some of these fun images include classics such as a shiba inu, Mt Fuji and a bowl of ramen, while among the more unorthodox doodles are a drunk bunny, a penguin holding a camera, and a snake preying on a mouse. You can have your stamp in one of five colours: red, black, orange, blue or green. This cheeky gift gets our stamp of approval.

Located in charming Yanaka is Hiiragi, a jewellery shop that specialises in prayer beads and omamori (lucky amulet) bracelets. What’s special about these bracelets is that you can create your own custom design from an array of natural stones and wooden beads.

A basic set starts from ¥2,300 and includes the threading fee, a box and one of the special hand-carved busshi no kidama (Buddha sculptor’s wooden beads). From there, you can add on your choice of beads to make up a bracelet to fit your wrist.

You’ll want to take your time choosing as there are over 50 types of rare and natural stones including jade from Itoigawa, all of which have a different meaning or function. For instance, lavender-coloured amethyst beads are said to help relieve stress and promote calmness, while vibrant green and gold garnet beads supposedly aid in vitality and fortune. Additionally, there is a wide selection of Japanese-style beads such as wooden ones made from sakura trees.

One of the most iconic Japanese products is the versatile chopsticks. At Hyozaemon, you can pick from a wide selection of beautiful eating utensils and have them engraved with your name or well wishes.

The engraving service is speedy and takes about 10 to 15 minutes. You can choose English or Japanese lettering in either gold or black. If you wish to engrave the same word on each chopstick, it costs just ¥500. For ¥800, you can engrave your name in English and Japanese.

The shop also offers many exclusive wooden boxes to present your chopsticks in as a gift. They come in a variety of designs including images of Mt Fuji, maneki neko lucky cats and even a special birthday edition. You’ll also find a selection of cute hashioki or chopstick rests, which make a great complement to your chopsticks.

Set in a traditional 90-year-old house, this charming little café is the perfect place to while away an afternoon crafting your own maneki neko, or lucky cat. As Nekoemon is also a café, you’ll get to enjoy a delicious assortment of cat-inspired snacks and desserts while you draw on your lucky kitty.

Reservations can be made in advance online, and you can choose from two types of maneki neko: one raising its right paw, which is said to bring good luck, or another raising its left paw, which is for welcoming guests. The cats are available in small (¥2,750) or large (¥3,300) sizes.

Once you’re there, you’ll get to design your maneki neko with an array of water-based colouring pens. If you need a bit of inspiration, just look at the café’s display of sample kitties. The workshop price includes a sweet treat plus coffee or tea for you to enjoy over this fun yet therapeutic activity.