It’s customary to bring back a small souvenir (omiyage) to your friends and co-workers when you go on a trip or holiday. There are small souvenir shops in many of the main stations like Tokyo station. These often sell a mix of knick-knacks and speciality food items, although these are mostly sweets. Some even stock goods from other regions, in case you only remember to buy something when you get back.
Keyrings and mobile phone straps are popular, as are specialty food items like jams, pickles, sweets and biscuits. Loft and Tokyu Hands have a wide selection of the latter, as well as handkerchiefs and fans. If you’re looking for cheap, authentic Japanese items you don’t really have to look much further than your local Hyaku-en (100 yen) shop. As the name implies, everything is ¥100 (¥105 with consumption tax) and they stock a staggering array of home, garden, household and decorative items. Oriental Bazaar is a perennial favourite, though some of the items might seem a bit tacky. It has a nice selection of used kimono in the basement that’s worth a look.

For more upmarket souvenirs, Kiddyland, just down the street from Oriental Bazaar, is a Mecca for plush toys and one-of-a-kind character items. The area just inside the Kaminarimon Gate of Sensōji is also an ideal souvenir spot as the path leading to the temple (known as Nakamise) is the main shopping strip and is lined with vendors. Some of the quality may be iffy, but they’re good for Japanese kitsch, small statues, incense and burners and traditional washi paper.