RResidents in Japan

Things you wish you could import?

I’ll be heading back to the states for a week and would love to bring back something for my Japanese neighbors. I half want it to be a surprise but also want to bring back things they would use/enjoy. Looking for locals to chime in 🙂 There are 2 older couples with kids as well as a young couple I’m friends with. When I asked my one neighbor she asked for coffee beans (any suggestions here?).

36 comments

  1. I like to pick up unique local food items to bring back as gifts. For example, we have family in Vermont, so when we visit them we grab an awesome maple rub that’s locally made. It’s always been a crowd pleaser and something that’s really hard to find outside the area. Have a great trip!

  3. CEREAL

    I got really obsessed with cereal (Rice Chex and Puffins) while in the US and brought as many boxes as I could fit in my suitcase.

    I’ve also heard that uniquely flavored popcorn or microwave popcorn is a good gift. If you want to blow some minds, bring them candy canes because Japanese people don’t know candy canes are edible and are so shocked that a candy is toothpaste flavored 😂

  4. Trader Joe’s anything makes for great American omiyage if you have access to a store

    Last time I went back I brought my office back a bag of nuts/dried fruit/chocolate covered pretzels etc and they loved it. They have lots of cookies and candies too for kids. The ecobags are also popular here! I see them on mercari sometimes for a ridiculous amount of money

  5. >coffee beans (any suggestions here?).

    If they’re coffee aficionados ask what region and roasting they prefer, and whether they want beans or ground (and what kind of grind).

  7. sugar free Jello, man

    also, bean pasta, low-calorie pasta sauces, sugar free pancake syrup, low fat popcorn, and other diet foods they don’t sell here.

    it’s pointless to bring them back from a trip, though, since you’re just going to run out in a week…

    ​

    don’t buy coffee beans, you can get them in Japan just fine, lol

  11. Something local & something consumable, I’d say. If there’s a special coffee shop in your state, get a small bag of coffee beans with (very important) their ecobag to gift it in. A cup may be a possibility, but they break easily and are often crude & clunky compared to Japanese tourist cups.

    I wish graham crackers were a thing here. Might work as part of a gift for the kids — with chocolate and marshmallows, it’d be quite good!

    If you buy anything that needs prepared (ranch dressing powder), you’ll need to provide Japanese instructions.

    In New York State, I got this great popcorn sampler with 10 varieties of good popcorn. You’ll need to provide instructions, though.

    This time of year, caramel cups for dipping apple slices are also very nice. Possibly the caramel wrappers for diy caramel apples? Would go well with Japanese Akane apples, I think.

    Cider packets.

    Christmas coffees or Christmas pepper mix for omelettes, or the like.

  15. My neighbor really wanted to try twinkies after watching Zombieland.

    For gift giving, I usually buy individually wrapped candy like Reese’s, starburst, skittles, etc.

  20. If they like spicy things there are a lot of really good hot sauces that are hard to find/extremely expensive here. Pickled peppers that aren’t jalapeños are also nice, think banana peppers (both spicy and mild)

  22. So it may be obvious, don’t try bringing back hot rods or any type of beef jerky/meat sticks as it’s forbidden under customs law, I found out the hard way when mine got confiscated coming back at Narita… they warned me that it was either lose what I brought or potentially face up ¥100,000 fine or even jail!!??

  27. Jello pudding mix. All the instant ones here are just gelatin in disguise…
    Additionally, goldfish crackers. People also go nuts for barbecue flavored potato chips. I’ve had good success with Cheez-Its, too!

  32. Whole Foods eco bags (especially in a major city, where they list the city on the bag). Or if you are LA, Erewhon eco bags (but they start at $40 and up) are super hot in Japan.

    Whole Foods organic chocolate, or organic cashews (or other nuts).

    Good California Wine (Napa Valley).

    For kids, I got them their favorite Manga volumes translated in English. Parents loved it because it helped their kids to read and understand English better, already being familiar with the dialog in Japanese.

  33. Things I wish I could export? SAL small packet has vanished. My store closed. Can’t send a parcel to Europe, Australia or the US for ¥1200 like you could before Corona. The Japan post has gone crazy. Corona has finished. Still they insist on not returning to pre Corona shipping routes and costs. EMS? No thanks. Japan Post! Please allow people to send stuff SAL small packet again!

  34. Tricuits and sourdough hard pretzels.

    I’d kill for some soft pretzels, but they don’t keep long enough.

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