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📦 Japanese things you can order from home

Snacks, tea, Gunpla, knives and gadgets: what to choose, what the rules are in your country, and where to order without flying to Japan.

  1. 1Japanese Gifts From Japan, Ordered Online: Shops That Ship to the US and CostsJapanese gifts you can order from Japan to the US: shops that ship (Ippodo, Bento&co), forwarding fees, duties after de minimis, and what to skip. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
  2. 2Japanese Souvenirs Online: Classic Omiyage to Order or Post HomeWhich classic Japanese souvenirs (omiyage) you can buy online at home, what posting them from Japan by EMS costs, and the US and UK import rules. Checked 20 Oct 2026.
  3. 3Japanese Stationery: The Pens and Notebooks Worth Buying, and Their RefillsWhy FriXion, Jetstream, Sarasa, Kuru Toga, Campus and Hobonichi are different, and the official refill codes to check before buying abroad. Checked 20 Oct 2026.
  4. 4Imabari Towels: How to Spot a Certified One and Where to Buy ItA towel only earns the Imabari mark if a sample starts to sink in water within 5 seconds, before and after washing. How to check the label, and buying from the US or UK.
  5. 5Christmas Gifts From Japan: Ideas and Japan Post's Christmas DeadlinesJapanese Christmas gift ideas that ship well, Japan Post's deadline guide for Christmas delivery (air vs sea), and US duty after de minimis. Checked 19 Oct 2026.
  6. 6Japanese Snack Subscription Box: Bokksu vs Sakuraco vs TokyoTreat From $32.50/moTokyoTreat for limited-edition snacks, Sakuraco for wagashi and tea, Bokksu for small makers. One month of Bokksu to the US was $56.98 with shipping.
  7. 7Weird Japanese Snacks: 4 Odd Flavors (Natto, Sake KitKat) and Where to BuyFrom natto corn sticks to sake KitKat and DIY sushi candy. The US catch: orders from Japan are no longer duty-free, and food sent by a shop needs FDA Prior Notice.
  8. 8How to choose matcha, and how to buy it from Japan in the USIs ceremonial matcha a real grade? How to read origin and colour, store and whisk it, and buy matcha from Japan in the US (duties, FDA Prior Notice). Checked 12 Oct 2026.
  9. 9Types of Japanese Green Tea: Sencha, Gyokuro, Hojicha and More ComparedSencha, gyokuro, kabusecha, hojicha, genmaicha and bancha compared by taste, caffeine (Japan's official food tables) and brewing heat, plus buying from Japan in the US.
  10. 10Golden Curry vs Vermont Curry vs Java: Only One Lists No Meat Extract or MilkGolden Curry (S&B) lists no meat extract or milk; House Vermont and Java contain pork extract and beef-and-pork fat. Allergens, heat levels and US customs rules.
  11. 11Ramen types explained: shoyu, shio, miso, tonkotsu and tsukemenShoyu, shio, miso, tonkotsu and tsukemen compared by region, what a bowl costs in Japanese cities, the ticket machine, and US rules on soup bases. Checked Oct 2026.
  12. 12Gunpla Guide: HG, RG, MG, PG and Entry Grade Explained for BeginnersWhich Gunpla to buy first: grades and scales from Bandai's official site, tools you need, Gundam Base Tokyo's lottery entry and buying rules, and where to order.
  13. 13Japanese Knives Explained: Santoku vs Gyuto, Steel Types and CareWhich Japanese knife to buy first – santoku vs gyuto, single vs double bevel, carbon vs stainless steel – and how to care for and sharpen it. Checked 9 October 2026.
  14. 14Japanese Chopsticks Made in Japan: Read the Label, Pick the BowlLacquered chopsticks from Obama, the label word that proves real urushi, the red mark on certified crafts, and which bowls can't go in the microwave. Checked Oct 2026.
  15. 15Takoyaki maker, kakigori machine, taiyaki pan: Japanese festival food at homeMake takoyaki, kakigori and taiyaki at home: which maker or pan to buy, why Japan's 100V machines are a risk abroad, and what is in the flour. Checked Oct 2026.
  16. 16Japanese Rice Cooker Guide: Micom vs IH vs Pressure IH, Cup Size and 100VChoosing a Japanese rice cooker in the US – micom, IH or pressure IH, what 3, 5.5 and 10 cups mean, and why a cooker bought in Japan runs on 100V. Checked 12 Oct 2026.
  17. 17Japanese Bidet Toilet Seat in the US: Bring One From Japan or Buy 120V?Japanese bidet toilet seats in the US: why Japan-market seats are 100V, what a TOTO WASHLET needs (GFCI outlet, bowl shape, water) and what it costs. Checked 14 Oct 2026.
  18. 18Japanese vs Korean Sunscreen: Which Is Better? 4 Checks Before Buying in the USNeither is simply better: Japanese sunscreens are often lighter, and PA++++ shows UVA protection. In the US, Bioré's SPF 50 is a modified version – 4 checks to make.
  19. 19Japanese Drugstore Skincare: Quasi-Drug Labels and Spotting the Japanese VersionHada Labo, Melano CC and Curél explained: what the 医薬部外品 (quasi-drug) label means, how to read a Japanese box, and what US rules mean for ordering. Checked 21 Oct 2026.
  20. 20Korean Skincare Routine Order: Steps, Skin Types and Buying It in the USKorean skincare routine order for morning and night, toner vs essence vs serum, picks by skin type, and buying real K-beauty in the US now. Checked 15 Oct 2026.

Guides to read in order