10 Select Shops for Specialty Souvenirs in Ginza

Kurashi No Kaori, Ginza Main Store opened in November 2021. Here, you can encounter fragrances that bestow a gentle embrace to enrich your day-to-day life. True to the shop’s concept of offering “necessities of life for your soul,” there is a selection of fragrances that softly envelop you as you go about your day.

Step into the shop and you’ll instinctively want to draw in a deep breath. There are over 20 different fragrances on display, including three representative of the brand, as well as seasonal scents and fragrances embodying Japanese culture. You can try all of the fragrances, so be sure to find your favorites. In addition to candles, diffusers, and one-of-a-kind fragrance bars that aromatize spaces, the shop also has an array of personal care items such as hand milk and body soap.

All Life Fragrances are created at an atelier situated in a forest by the banks of Lake Yamanaka where each room was designed to afford a view of the magnificent Mt. Fuji to foster a beneficial work environment. Products crafted in such a wonderful environment are fabulous for your own home and great gifts for cherished friends.

Fragrance Bars approx. 24 types, 60g, 1,320–1,650 yen each; Vessels 6 types, 2,750 yen and up; Graters 7 types, 440–770 yen

Fragrance is blended into wax and shaped into fragrance bars that are placed in vessels reminiscent of inkstones. Grate the bars with an original grater to diffuse a fresh fragrance throughout a room. A faint, delicate fragrance will emanate in personal spaces such as your bedside or around your desk.

(Left) Hand Butter, (Right) Hand Milk 3 types each, 25g, 1,650 yen each

Hand care products are made with 100% natural essential oils. The hand butters, which have a rich texture, and the hand milks, which quickly absorb into your skin, are each available in three fragrances: the woody aroma of “Forest,” the floral aroma of “Nobana,” and the refreshing, citrusy aroma of “Daidai.”

Multi Balm 8g, 1,540 yen

Use this moisturizing balm wherever you feel dryness, including your lips, fingertips, and hair. The aroma of refreshing bitter orange from 100% natural essential oil helps to relax and refresh. The compact size makes it convenient to carry.

Koju Ginza Main Store is proud to have been in business for 440 years. It was established in Kyoto in 1575 during the Tensho era when Nobunaga Oda was in power. The highly prestigious and noted establishment once served the Imperial Palace by supplying the Court with goods, and its traditional scents have been passed down through generations. The Ginza Main Store was renovated in 2018 and is a place where you can gain firsthand experience with one of the unique cultural aspects of Japan, traditional incense. The Monko Course (3,000 yen) and Choko Course (2,500 yen) are workshops available to people who speak Japanese and overseas visitors accompanied by an interpreter. Please check the website for information on dates and reservations.

The store also has an assortment of aromatic items perfect for souvenirs and gifts. Sophisticated scents sought after today, such as the traditional Koju incense cakes “Kurobo,” and aromas and perfumes named after Juemon Takai, known as a master of aromas, are lovely scents that feel special and distinct from ordinary scents used by others.

Tamai each bag 440 yen and up, each scent 880 yen

Sachets are available with your scent of choice and a dedicated bag made with the Kyoto Nishijin fabric you prefer. Traditional scents including cinnamon and white sandalwood are mixed with modern scents, such as rose and chai, to produce 6–7 different original scents that are new and innovative. Put them in a closet or slip one in your bag to enjoy elegant aromas in your daily life.

Juemon 8 types 16,500–19,800 yen each
*Prices are accurate as of February 2023.

In the Edo period, the 8th-generation family owner of Koju, Juemon Takai was well known as a master of aromas. The original eau de toilette brand carries his name and expresses an exceptional world view evoking incense and trees. High-quality aromatic materials are used to produce appealing scents that are traditional and bold, yet quietly refined and clean. The understated Japanesque scents will enhance the experience of wearing a kimono.

Iroha (incense holder incl.) 18 types 30 sticks, 990 yen each

This incense is great even for first-time incense users. Variations include everything from traditional scents, such as white sandalwood and agarwood to contemporary scents that include rose and fragrant olive. The stylish package makes a pleasing souvenir or small present.

Ginza Isamiya celebrated its 100th year in business in 2022. A convenient one-stop shop for all your children, it sells an array of clothes and miscellaneous goods for newborns up to elementary school children on the 1st floor and 1st-floor basement.

With prices ranging between 2,000 yen to around 10,000 yen, the store meets a wide variety of needs, from everyday clothes to formal clothing for school entrance and graduation ceremonies, as well as for going out on the town. All products are chosen from reliable Japanese manufacturers and possess outstanding design and quality. Since the infant goods are carefully selected products manufactured safely and meticulously in Japan, they also make popular gifts.

The interior features barrier-free design enabling strollers to be smoothly maneuvered throughout the store. Plus, a children’s space where kids can take off their shoes and play, children’s restrooms, and changing tables mean that customers with small children in tow can shop with peace of mind.

(Left) OVLOV 6-Layered Gauze Belt Cover P 1,980 yen each
(Right) Pristine Carrier Cover 2,090 yen

These drool covers for infant carriers attach to the shoulder straps. The terry cloth fabric easily absorbs drool, and you can feel at ease since the soft fabric won’t hurt when your baby rubs against it. They’re easily attached and removed with Velcro, and keep the infant carrier clean.

Pompkins POP UP SOX 10 types in 2 sizes 2,200 yen

These three-dimensional socks made in Japan are woven by craftspeople using a special machine. The ears and feet of animals such as elephants, dogs, squirrels, and lions pop out in 3D, so even children who don’t like socks are sure to happily wear them! Not only do they fit comfortably and gently protect your baby’s feet, but they also have non-skid soles to prevent slipping and give parents peace of mind.

Ginza Baby Bath Towel 3,190 yen

The store brand, Ginza Isamiya collaborated with ORUNET, maker of Imabari towels, to create bath towels for babies. The towels softly cocoon your baby’s skin right out of the bath, and are light and thin for faster drying. They’re printed with a measuring scale, so each time you use it you can gain a sense of how your child is growing. It’s great to have one of these towels on hand since it can also be used as a terry cloth blanket for naps or to wrap your baby in.

Uogashi-Meicha Cha Ginza is the Ginza store of a Japanese specialty tea shop established in Tsukiji in 1931. Tea was once a luxury enjoyed by a few, but this trailblazing tea shop spread the appeal of tea to the masses out of a desire to share the flavors of tea with many.

There are 20–30 distinctive teas that can only be experienced here. This shop has a great reputation for creating many tea lovers with one sip. That’s because these are authentic teas that fully elicit the true flavor of tea. Uogashi-Meicha Cha Ginza uses a deep-steamed green tea method to slowly steam the teas over heat, which produces a distinctive yellow or gold color rather than the commonly known green. While the teas have a robust aroma, they possess a clean aftertaste free of off-flavors and cloying sweetness.

Moreover, the shop understands the importance of sampling the teas and values enjoyable conversations between customers and its highly knowledgeable staff. English-speaking staff and English menus allow tourists from overseas to shop with ease.

Shan 80 g, 1,080 yen

An enduringly popular sencha green tea from Shizuoka Prefecture, this tea uses only tea leaves grown through open-field cultivation. Its clear yellow and gold color attests to its delicious flavor. Packages feature the work of the illustrator, Tadahito Nadamoto and are available exclusively at the Ginza shop.

Cha Cha CHA 5 bags incl., 864 yen

This polished tea set has 3 bags of popular sencha green tea, and one bag each of hojicha green tea and Kamairicha green tea. It makes a perfect present. Each is individually wrapped, so even first-time drinkers of green tea can readily drink and fully appreciate the authentic flavors.

(Right) Organically Grown Matcha Kotonoha Kinjirushi 20 g, 1,728 yen
(Left) Cha Ginza Matcha 20 g, 1,080 yen

(Right) Organically Grown Matcha Kotonoha Kinjirushi is tencha (the name for tea leaves before being ground into matcha powder) from Kyoto that has been carefully selected and prepared to elicit sweetness and a full-bodied flavor.
(Left) Cha Ginza Matcha is a tea with a highly fragrant flavor made from tencha (the name for tea leaves before being ground into matcha powder) grown in Aichi Prefecture.

The “Ohajime (beginner’s) Set,” which includes utensils such as a tea whisk and tea cups, is recommended for people who want to try making matcha.

Located in the middle of Ginza, Tokyo Kyukodo Ginza Main Store is a shop with a long history specializing in incense and Japanese stationery. It was founded over 360 years ago in 1663. The shop was established in Kyoto in the Edo period. Initially, it sold herbal medicines and the raw materials for medicines, but in time it began producing and selling incense and incense sticks. In 1877, the 8th-generation family owner learned the “secret recipe for superior incense” from the then Grand Minister of State, Duke Sanetomi Sanjo. That secret recipe had been passed down since the Heian period in that family, and since learning of it Kyukodo has kept and handed it down for generations. The traditional scents that have been safeguarded for hundreds of years are distinguished by high-quality, natural fragrances and underlying, refined aromas.

The shop expanded to Tokyo in 1880. Since the shop supplied the Imperial Court with its goods, the expansion was prompted by the need for a branch office in the current Ginza 5-chome location which is down the road from the Imperial Palace. The Ginza Main Store is always busy with shoppers from Japan and abroad. It has a wide assortment of fragrances such as incense, incense sticks, and sachets, as well as Japanese paper products such as letter papers and postcards. You can’t go wrong with items that emanate a Japanese aura. They’re sure to be excellent souvenirs for people abroad.

(Left) Mukusa no Takimono Set of 6 Incense 3,080 yen
(Right) Kyukodo Incense Holder 990 yen

(Left) The Mukusa no Takimono Set of 6 Incense contains different stick incense that let you easily enjoy the aristocratic fragrances loved by the Heian nobles (incense holder incl.). Among the fragrances used as incense in the Heian period, there were six fragrances collectively called Mukusa no Takimono. These were Kurobo, Baika (plum flower), Kayo (lotus leaf), Jiju (chamberlain), Kikka (chrysanthemum flower), and Ochiba (fallen leaves).

(Right) The Kyukodo Incense Holder has a premium feel and is decorated with the Kyukodo symbol of pigeons facing one another.

Silkscreen Postcards 88 yen each

Enduringly popular postcards featuring colorful flowers and scenery in all four seasons are made using silkscreen printing. The 300 or so different prints are created by a designer who grew up in an ukiyoe printing shop. The sophisticated, serene appearance of the pale cream-colored postcards are enchanting. From the right is “Miyako,” “Ginza A,” “Ginza B,” and “Matsuba.”

(Left) Small Notepad Ginza (horizontal), (Right) Small Notepad Ginza (vertical) 418 yen each

These small notepads are made with attention paid to everything from paper quality to design and color. (Left) Illustration of the present-day intersection at Ginza 4-chome (Right) Nostalgic images of Ginza from the Showa period, including trams running on Ginza Street, a weeping willow buffeted by the wind, and a gas lamp giving off a soft light

Ginza Fujiya was founded in 1922. Today, there are few opportunities to readily wear a kimono on a daily basis. However, the well-established Ginza Fujiya continues to pass on Japan’s proud kimono culture and share its allure.

This shop started out selling ordinary kimono of materials such as wool called delaine and meisen silk. Currently, it carries vibrant, semi-formal kimono, silk kimono such as finely patterned and Tsumugi silk kimono, and accessories. The accessories made with traditional, historical Japanese designs are popular as distinctly Japanese souvenirs.

In addition, the shop carries yukata (light cotton kimono for summer) throughout the year that can be purchased regardless of the season. Since you can also learn how to wear the yukata for free if you purchase one, in summer tourists are encouraged to put on the yukata in the shop and wear it as they go sightseeing. Yukata are 10,000–30,000 yen, obi (sashes) and undergarments start at 5,000 yen, and geta (sandals) are 10,000 yen and up. The cool yukata also make beautiful bathrobes.

Tatsumuragire Table Runner 4,400 yen each

Tatsumuragire is silk fabric produced by Tatsumura Textile Co., Ltd., a prestigious textile manufacturer in Nishijin, Kyoto. Heizo Tatsumura, the company’s founder, reproduced old designs that were no longer passed on and had been discontinued. This product gracefully enhances a room and is popular as a present or souvenir for people overseas. There are English translations explaining the patterns to deepen understanding.

Kiss Lock (2.5 doru ire) 3,300 yen each

Enjoy the soft silk texture every time you use this coin purse made with Tatsumuragire. It can also be used for storing accessories. Be sure to find the one you like from the various colors, patterns, and shapes available. The fastidious design is uncommon, so it’s a delight to use every day. You can also enjoy the stories behind the designs from the English explanations that are included.

Tombo Dama Glass Bead Hairpins 3,300 yen each

The hairpins are decorated with “tombo dama,” beautiful glass beads with a delicate design resembling dragonfly eyes. Tombo dama were popular among ordinary people in the Edo period. Not only were they used as stylish hairpins, but the tip was also said to have been used as an earpick. No two are alike, as each and every extravagant hairpin is handmade by a craftsperson. You’re sure to find one just right for you.

Ginza Natsuno is a specialty shop that carries 3,000 different chopsticks, over 1,000 different chopstick rests, and regional folk crafts from throughout Japan. Step into the charming shop and you’ll be astounded by the rows and rows of chopsticks lining the walls. Chopsticks at the Ginza shop are all made in Japan. They come in a variety of materials and are available at every price point, from inexpensive to upscale, so you’re sure to find ones that captivate you and meet your needs.

When you select a special pair it feels extravagant precisely because chopsticks are familiar objects used for ordinary meals. Chopsticks also make wonderful gifts to celebrate marriages and birthdays, and are even better when monogrammed (440 yen charged separately). Compact and easy to carry, they are ideal souvenirs.

Kiyomizu Ware Shippo Patterned Couples Chopsticks 39,600 yen, Kiyomizu Ware Wave Patterned Chopstick Rests 2,200 yen each

These original chopsticks for married couples feature Kiyomizu Ware, a traditional craft from Kyoto, on the upper portion where the chopsticks are gripped, while the lower portion is lacquered. The shippo pattern, which is painstakingly drawn by artisans, is considered auspicious and represents the wish for harmony and romance. The chopsticks are placed in a box made of high-quality paulownia wood, traditionally used for special items, and are recommended as a present. Don’t forget to also buy chopstick rests to complete the set.

Japan has a custom of giving two pairs of “husband-and-wife chopsticks” as wedding gifts. They’re considered lucky items because the two individual chopsticks make a pair, which is likened to a husband and wife who support one another and live together. Chopsticks also express the wish for building “fortune” so that the couple never wants for food, and for “health” so they can enjoy their meals. Giving chopsticks as a wedding gift is popular, as there is yet another interpretation of “crossing the bridge of happiness” (the character for chopsticks in Japanese can also be read as bridge).

Good Luck Crane Chopstick Rests 8,250 yen each

Chopstick rests crafted by a woman ceramic artist in Kyoto bring colorful beauty to the table with elaborate painted designs. They can be used as chopstick rests as well as objects of artwork.

The crane is thought to be an auspicious bird symbolizing long life. In addition, because cranes pair harmoniously for life, the congratulatory crane-shaped chopstick rests encompass wishes for a happy marriage and prosperity of descendants, and can be utilized for many years.

(Black) Windmills 38,500 yen, (Red/Blue) Rikka 36,300 yen each

These gorgeous Edo Kiriko are adorned with intricate patterns crafted by highly skilled artisans. Edo Kiriko are faceted glass products that have been manufactured in Tokyo since the late Edo period. Traditional beauty is imbued in Edo Kiriko products with their bright, colorful hues, distinctive cutting, and glittering reflection of light. Ginza Natsuno carries only products crafted by the best artisans, giving you peace of mind when presenting them as gifts to the special people in your life.

Yasuda Shokeido sells Buddhist altars and religious items, and has a history and tradition dating back to its founding in the Edo period in 1792. The store’s founder from Omi was well regarded as a craftsman of Buddhist images because of his technical skills. He was so skilled that he was called to Edo and was involved in creating Buddhist images and decorative religious objects at many famous temples.

Today, the store passes on those traditional technical skills to produce high quality religious objects, while also meeting contemporary needs. Classic Japanese fragrances and Buddhist objects handcrafted by artisans have also found admirers overseas, and are popular products purchased as souvenirs by many.

“A lot of people come in with the sense this is a souvenir shop, and we’re happy if it turns into a chance for them to learn about Japanese tradition and customs. If you have any questions, please talk with our highly knowledgeable staff.” This is a dignified store, but its comfortable atmosphere entices people inside.

Buddhist Images around 40,000 yen and up

Various Buddhist images that include Dainichi Buddha, the historical Buddha, and Amida Buddha are especially popular with Asian tourists. The intricate Buddhist images are created by artisans out of Japanese cypress, Japanese boxwood, or the scarce white sandalwood. Many people apparently purchase them as artworks they appreciate, regardless of religious sect.

Hand-Carved Lotus-Shaped Dishes Pure Wood 2,860 yen each

These dishes with lotus leaf and flower motifs, which are associated with Buddhism, can be used for many things. They differ slightly in appearance from one another since each amazing dish is handcrafted by an artisan out of Japanese zelkova. They are recommended for holding pens or small articles.

(Left) White Sandalwood Incense 4,400 yen (Right) Agarwood Incense 6,600 yen

Originally, incense sticks were thin incense burned in front of the deceased during Buddhist ceremonies. Though they encompass the meaning of memorializing the deceased, today they are often used as room fragrance. Incense featuring sophisticated aromas are favored by tourists, such as white sandalwood, which has a gentle, slight sweetness, and agarwood, which is known as a premium aromatic tree with a rich scent.

Gekkoso Gazai is an art supply shop founded in 1917 that manufactures and sells all kinds of art supplies, including paints, brushes, and palettes. It was the first to develop paints entirely produced in Japan that have been the favorites of numerous artists. At the time, artists struggled to obtain even one paint. Since paints were imported products, they took months to transport and were very pricey.

The paints that were created after trial and error are colors that can only be found at this store, including the very first, Cobalt Blue and Cobalt Violet Pink, which won top prize at a global competition. There are approximately 70 different colors of oil paints, and around 24 different transparent watercolors. Craftspersons spend 7–8 hours a day making the paints, which are characterized by a fine texture enabling the colors to remain distinct even when painted atop one another, and the ability to retain their color even after many years. The descriptive captions for the paint colors also deserve attention. Rather than conventional explanations, poetic introductions are provided that evoke a visual setting for the colors. It stirs romantic feelings that will have you reaching for a paint brush.

Aside from shopping, don’t miss the painting created by the four Beatles that decorates the shop wall. The members were cooped up in their hotel when visiting Japan to perform in 1966, and out of boredom asked their accompanying staff to buy the best art supplies in Japan. The staff came back with a complete set of art supplies from Gekkoso Gazai. The fact that this legendary painting, the only one of its kind in the world, was created by the excellent art supplies beloved by Japan is a moving story. Incidentally, the “Gekkoso” characters on the store’s sign were drawn by the poet, Akiko Yosano who was an acquaintance of the store’s founder.

Paint Set of 3 Primary Colors 2,948 yen

This set of three primary transparent watercolors, Cobalt Blue, Chrome Yellow Light, and Tyrian Rose includes items such as a sketchbook and palette. You’ll be impressed with the ability to create any beautiful color with these three paints! It makes a fantastic present for someone thinking of taking up painting.

Conté Crayons in Gekkoso Colors 2,530 yen

Crayon-type art supplies in vivid colors. There are no worries about these crayons made using Japanese rice bran and edible rice wax, so they’re safe even if swallowed. The crayons can also be easily wiped off windows with a wet cloth.

Gekkoso Azuma Bag 3,850 yen

Furoshiki (Japanese wrapping cloth) and tenugui towels are sewn together to make an azuma bag with a modern design to use in place of a bag with straps. This incredibly convenient bag can be folded up into a compact size that is easy to carry. Tie the handles together and it becomes a tote bag you can carry on your shoulder, or use it as a smaller bag to hold packed lunches.

Hakuhinkan Toy Park Ginza Main Store, opened in 1982, has as many as 200,000 playful items spread from the 1st-floor basement to the 4th floor. On each floor, there’s an astounding amount of amusing items that fill the shelves in every direction, including toys, miscellany goods, stuffed animals, games, and products that make superb souvenirs for people overseas! It’s also fun to leisurely walk around the store as if on a treasure hunt.

A magic show performed by a professional magician is held on the gaming, hobby, and racing floor (4th floor; weekends 12:30–18:00). There is also a racetrack for slot cars called Hakuhinkan Racing Park (200 yen to race 5 min.), so check it out if you love cars! There is an abundance of slot cars (1/32 scale) from popular brands, and rental car machines and controllers can be borrowed for free. That means you don’t have to bring anything with you.

Solar-Powered Baby Maneki-Neko 2,000 yen

An original item from Hakuhinkan Toy Park. The maneki-neko (beckoning cat) is familiar as a lucky charm that brings fortune and it’s also very popular with people overseas! Place it somewhere where sunlight will hit the solar panel and the cat’s paw and face will charmingly move.

Simple Plastic Model of Tokyo Tower (1 multicolored LED light incl.) 1,980 yen

An original item from Hakuhinkan Toy Park. The plastic model of Tokyo Tower can easily be put together by anyone without any adhesive needed. It can also be lit up by an LED light placed inside the base. Be sure to buy it to commemorate your trip to Tokyo!

Hakuhinkan Original BICYCLE Playing Cards 880 yen

This is a limited version of Hakuhinkan playing cards from the company loved around the world, BICYCLE. Special details include not only the package, but also the closure seal, joker cards, and a reproduction of the now-defunct card listing winning poker hands. Check out the GINZA lettering and the store’s trademark, the rocking horse. The rare items only available here make fantastic souvenirs and collector’s items.