Essential Tokyo souvenirs

No trip to Tokyo would be complete without some souvenir shopping, but scoring the ultimate omiyage can be a real pain sometimes. We've made life easier by picking 25 great Tokyo souvenirs, ranging from the traditional (incense, combs, lucky charms) to the downright quirky (tooth-shaped jewellery, anyone?), and most of them are sold close to the city's main sightseeing spots. Happy shopping, and remember: there's more to souvenirs than Tokyo Banana.

Fake food keyring
Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya, Asakusa
A fixture on the Kappabashi 'Kitchen Town' circuit since 1932, Ganso Shokuhin Sample-ya produces fake food for display in restaurant windows, but in recent years it's branched out into keyrings, mobile phone straps and DIY 'Sample'n Cooking' kits. Address and map

Maneki-neko figurine
Imado Shrine, Asakusa
The maneki-neko 'beckoning cat' figurines beloved of Japanese shops and pachinko parlours are believed to have started life at this shrine to all things romantic. Imado's distinctive conjoined cat statuettes would make a perfect gift for a lovestruck couple. Address and map

Boxwood comb
Yonoya Kushiho, Asakusa
Handmade combs may be a dying art, but the boxwood beauties on sale at this Asakusa shop (established all the way back in 1717) should last for a generation or two if taken care of properly. Prepare to be tempted by the elegant hairpins and keyrings on offer. Address and map

Made-to-order notebook
Kakimori, Asakusa
You might find yourself falling in love with the art of writing all over again after a visit to stationery shop Kakimori, where staff can craft you a custom-made notebook using a range of locally produced paper, covers and bindings. Address and map

‘Akari kokeshi’ doll
Tokyo Kitsch, Yanaka
Traditional Japanese motifs are given a modern twist at Tokyo Kitsch. Their 'akari kokeshi' wooden doll conceals an LED light that switches on automatically when it's picked up or knocked over – a neat trick that might prove invaluable if (or when) the Big One hits. Address and map

Bamboo birdcage
Midoriya, Yanaka
Operating for over a century now, the family-run Midoriya offers bamboo products ranging from the everyday to the exquisite. Its traditional mushikago cages come in a range of shapes and sizes, and you can even buy bamboo birds and insects to put inside. Address and map

Japanese-style Be@rbricks
Medicom Toy Solamachi, Oshiage
Housed in Tokyo Skytree's onsite mall, the flagship shop for Medicom Toy shows an admirable respect for its 'hood, with traditional-style Be@rbrick figures decorated to resemble kabuki actors, daruma dolls and more. Address and map

Lacquered chopsticks
Ginza Natsuno, Ginza
Small and portable, chopsticks make for ideal souvenirs. Mind you, some of the offerings at Natsuno – including lacquered pieces from various regions of Japan – look so gorgeous you might be reluctant to actually use them. Address and map

Japanese stickers
Ito-ya, Ginza
Huge and almost invariably busy, Ginza's Ito-ya shop is the go-to place for Japanese stationery. Head down to the basement and you'll find a selection of suitably Japan-style stickers, including images of Mt Fuji, sushi, maneki-neko cats and kabuki. Address and map

Incense pouche
Kyukyodo, Ginza
Established nearly 350 years ago, Kyukyodo supplied incense to the Imperial family during the Edo period, while also specialising in Japanese paper. We're particularly fond of their palm-sized incense pouches, including the sandlewood-scented kinran kinchaku. Address and map

Lacquered pencil
Gojuon, Ginza
Ballpoint pens and pencils must be some of the most humdrum stationery around – at least, that is, until you've seen the items sold at Gojuon. The gorgeous lacquered pencils here are crafted using traditional techniques, to produce a range of different finishes. Address and map

Edo-style broom
Shirokiya Denbe, Kyobashi
Floors, tabletops, clothes: if there's something that needs sweeping, you'll probably be able to find a broom for the task here. Shirokiya Denbe's Edo-style brooms are also available in compact sizes that are ideal for getting dust off suits and jackets. Address and map

Fortune toothpicks
Saruya, Ningyocho
There are toothpicks, and then there are the hand-crafted little marvels sold at this three-century-old shop in Ningyocho. The kumadori box set comes adorned with a kabuki motif, and its toothpicks are wrapped in fortune slips carrying traditional love songs. Address and map

‘Chigibako’ charm
Shiba Daijingu Shrine, Shiba-Daimon
People have been buying these distinctive, three-tier lucky charms since the Edo era, when women bought them in the hope of finding a good husband. Decorated with wisteria flowers, the three boxes contain beans that rattle when shaken. Address and map

Origami paper
Souvenir From Tokyo, Nogizaka
With a name like that, it'd be rude not to include Souvenir From Tokyo in this list. The NACT's shop lives up to its billing with a well chosen array of Tokyo- and Japan-themed design products, including this nifty printed origami paper – also sold in postcard format. Address and map

Bonsai kit
Oriental Bazaar, Harajuku
Tokyo's most famous souvenir shop is a no-brainer if you're on the hunt for Japanese gifts. This DIY bonsai set comes complete with seeds, soil and a pot to put them in, meaning that all you'll need is water – oh, and the patience of a Zen monk. Address and map

‘Tenugui’ towel
Kamawanu, Daikanyama
Tenugui – traditional hand towels made from dyed cloth – have been coming back in vogue recently, and there are few better places to get one than at Kamawanu. Don't be fooled by the name, either: these 'towels' can be used for a lot more than just drying stuff. Address and map

Honeyx bathtime box
Claska Gallery & Shop ‘Do’, Shibuya
Keeping people's skin fresh and perky since 1927, Hoken's honey- and royal jelly-dervied cosmetics are an ideal gift for the lady in your life. This gift set includes soaps, shampoo and conditioner, all housed in an attractive paulownia box. Address and map

Mt Fuji tissue case
Katakana, Jiyugaoka
There's an entire section devoted to Mt Fuji at Katakana, Jiyugaoka's ever-reliable 'shop presenting Japanese cool'. Their tissue cases are particularly nifty – notice how the protruding tip of the hankie matches the shape of the mountain's peak. Address and map

Rilakkuma phone straps
Kiddy Land, Harajuku
Harajuku toy shop par excellence, Kiddy Land devotes a hefty chunk of its fourth floor to ubiquitous bear character Rilakkuma, including these only-in-Tokyo phone straps featuring landmarks like Kaminarimon and Mt Takao. Address and map

Retro kit models
Tokyu Hands, Shibuya
One of the nerdiest corners of the Tokyu Hands shop in Shibuya is floor 7B, home to a panoply of plastic model kits. The nostalgia-inducing Fubutsushi sets recreate scenes of Showa Japan, from the local sweet shop to the late-night soba cart. Address and map

Tooth jewellery
Aquvii Tokyo, Shibuya
As unusual Tokyo souvenirs go, you could do a lot worse than Aquvii's line of tooth earrings and necklaces. And don't worry: they're fashioned from medical-grade resin rather than real human gnashers, so you shouldn't have any trouble getting them past customs. Address and map

Cheap snacks
Don Quijote, Shinjuku
Sure, you could splurge on some highfalutin Japanese sweets at a department store. But your recipient would get a far better sense of contemporary Japan from a selection of cheap 'n' nasty children's snacks, courtesy of our friends at Don Quijote. Address and map

‘Washi’ paper goods
Bingoya, Wakamatsucho
A six-floor bazaar devoted to traditional Japanese crafts, Bingoya should satisfy even the most jaded souvenir shopper. Their handmade washi (Japanese paper) products are oh-so-practical, with business card holders, book covers and more. Address and map

Manga... in English
Manadarake, Nakano
Manga, dojinshi fanzines, out-of-print books, fan merchandise: whatever your otaku obsession, you'll be able to sate it here. Perhaps more importantly, Mandarake also has a selection of English titles, if you want something that people back home can actually read. Address and map