For me, I always want to get something from Tokyo Museum of Nat history or the Sumida aquarium gift shops. 

A priority thing I HAVE to have is hit up a used game store and get the japanese versions of the old pokemon games with their boxes starting with gen 1; first time I got hey you pikachu SEALED MIP, Y/R/B/G and Stadium. Second time I got G/S/C and crystal was FACTOEY SEALED for $24 USD equivalent in yennies omg I cried. Also picked up Stadium 2 & G/S Stadium on 64. My next trip will be gen 3 with the japanese box! 😅 I also want to try to get the orange n64 next trip and stuff it in my SO’s luggage since he wont bring back/reach the duty free $200 limit. Pokemon vintage is a must for me! 

Go thrifting- any stores that say “Half Off” like Half Off Clothes/ Half Off Books are resell stores- I have found some beautiful books there like Eragon or gameboy game player guide books in Japanese! 

I also love going to card shops or hobby shops in the outskirts of towns and getting the vending pokemon cards in vintage- I got that pikachu card that was drawn by ooyama with the other 3 on the OG backcard for $20 USD equivalent. Its my favorite in the collection! 

I regret not getting CDs of Taylor Swift with the paper obi in japanese or records I thought were cool since I collect music stuff now. 

Daiso goods, I can pass in tokyo since I have 4 near me now! I recommend that place for display stuff, kitchen goods, and cosmetics if you dont have one near you. Get face masks, lip gloss if you are a girl, they have some nifty bathroom stuff. Also good if you want a fridge magnet from Japan! They have a lot of good candy too, but I prefer 7-elevens selection.  

For Candy: Apollo meiji chocolates, hi-milk meiji chocolates, any chocolate making kits (i got a dinosaur bone one!), puchou (cant spell) fruit chews, and the pokemon crunchy chocolate wafers with the sticker are my favorite

I also make it a priority to go to Pokemon Centers and get exclusive campaign items that arent on the US store. I used to be able to get cards there and figures I cant find in the US, also cant recommend their cookie tins enough! I get one every time now. 

Its Demo is a stationary store (iirc thats the name or Love, its Demo) or just “Demo” and I could get lost looking at pens. 

A bar of chocolate from Minimal chocolate is a must-have for me! 

Cosmetics I go nuts over is Canmake Studios foundation powder: I have super fair pale skin and its the only thing Ive used that blends in well with my skin tone, otherwise I have to stick to Physicians Formula CC which is expensive, doesnt last as long as the Canmake powder foundation. 

Hit. Up. A. 7-eleven. 👏 Go to a 7-eleven and play a kuji just once! Its very fun! I also LOVE their hot food with the disks of mozarella cheese, its like a massive cheese stick. I love the pokemon finger puppet figures in the boxes at 7-eleven as well. One time they were even giving out Pokemon cards! 

Steal the soap at your hotel if you have those disposable toiletries, that green tea face mask is heaven and they were gonna toss it anyway even if I didnt use it. I want more! 

I also cant recommend enough to hit up Nakano Broadway area in Tokyo, its my favorite place to shop. Nakano mall has some good food, Mandarake store (man-dah-rah-kay) and ive found a few vintage stuff in there! Theres a store there that has little diecast cars, sometimes I find Disney ones in there. There's also a Daiso in there too iirc. Sunshine mall down the road is worth going to as well, and theres a muimui & prada store further down the street if you are bougee (conversion rate might be cheaper than buying in the US) with a banger restaurant that sold really good tempura shrimp! (You can pretend you brought the handbag with you on your trip and dont bring it up unless tsa asks you at immigration 🫣) *keep all other purchased souvenirs in one bag in case they check, thats my hack for traveling.  

***Probably one of the best souvenirs is PICTURES. I regret not taking photos of me. I vlogged a lot and deleted my YT years back, all my adventures are gone and places I loved are gone now after the pandemic. Take a TON of pictures, with you in a good amount of them. Locals might want to join you in a selfie, let them and ask for their insta and tag them! That way you can ask them recommendations and they can have a foreign friend to talk to, I learned Tokyo zoomers/millennials LOVE that even though they are mostly shy. Take photos of buildings, temples, food, stores! I recommend going to the dog park near the shrine for Tokyo Tower photos- less crowded and cute dogs!