Most of these are great souvenirs, but I couldn’t help but notice that two are definitely problematic. The first one is the Bonsai tree. AirPort customs will confiscate and destroy any foreign plant entering the country (for the record, I’m speaking from a United States perspective, so I don’t know the regulations regarding bringing in a foreign plant into another country.) For the katanas, depending on what state or country, they may be illegal to own. For example, New York State identifies katanas as a weapon, hence they’re considered illegal. A possibility third problem (this one is different from the first two) is regarding the kimonos, where, depending on the price, be prepared to pay a customs tax on it. When in doubt, check with customs to see what the regulations regarding if the item is legal to bring into the country and if a customs tax is required. For an alternative list of some souvenirs, here’s a few interesting items: 1. Omamori/amulets - these little charms are sold at temples and shrines. Colorful with beautiful designs, they bring luck, protection, health, prosperity, and so on. A great keepsake that is a huge part of Japanese culture. 2. Emma - these little wooden tablets (usually in the shape of a pentagon) are sold at shrines and temples. They have beautiful illustrations on them. 3. Gashapon - one of the greatest, cheapest, smallest, and most fun souvenirs to buy. These toys (they can also be little coin purses, keychains, and cat hats) are in little coin operated machines found all over Japan. They can be anime figures, tiny animals in funny poses, little trains and cars, monsters, anthropomorphic food, or anything cool, cute, weird, and silly. One type of Gashapon that exists are little toys designed specifically to hold your smartphone charging cables to prevent them from falling down to the floor. Funny story regarding them: I was visiting my parents (they’re snowbirds) and they were gripping on how they step on their iPhone cables so often. I mentioned of the existence of the Gashapon iPhone cable holders to prevent the cables from falling to the floor. They looked at me and asked why I didn’t get any on my last trip to Japan. Turns out that they’re hard to find. They would be easier to find in Ikebukuro (Sunshine City mall has the world’s largest Gashapon store,) Akihabara, Shibuya, Aeon malls, and other locations that would have hundreds of gashapon machines. I’m getting 20 of the iPhone cable holders once I find them (my mother wants 4.) Most Gashapon are between 300-500 yen, with the premium ones costing more. They’re high quality and make for a fun souvenir.
