It's almost the winter holiday season (at the time of writing), so it's time to get those gifts for those special people in your life. As more and more people all over the world fall in love with Japanese products, gifts from Japan are becoming great options for the holiday season. While we have tons of products for women, we wanted to point out some Japanese gift ideas for men that will be amazing for dads, brothers, friends, boyfriends, husbands and more!
All of the products on this list are available right here at MiauMall and are some of the favorites of the dude staff members in our office! To make sure you find the right gift, we divided the list by the type of man in your life, from the savory snack lover to the anime enthusiast! (Also, many of these recommendations are pretty gender-neutral, so give these options a try for the women in your life, too!)
Let's get started!
Why Choose Japanese Gifts?
Choosing a gift can be hard, with many people struggling to find something special or something that stands out. A lot of Japanese gifts are perfect already in that regard. Japanese goods already stand out in the market for their unique designs and flavors, often being distince from Western designs. However, the care and craftsmanship that goes into Japanese products elevates it even more, creating a gift that feels even more special for any giftee, Japanophile or not.
Plus, Japan has a huge gift-giving culture, which many brands and companies have tapped into to create products that are perfect for gifting to someone else or to yourself.
Japanese Savory Snack Lover
Japanese savory snacks are popular in Japan, especially because they go well with a cold drink after work. Try pairing snacks like Jaga Pokkuru with a nice drink as a gift set. Image via Instagram
Japan loves a good salty or 'umami' snack and it shows in some of the amazing snacks that Japan has put out. With newer options like potato sticks and traditional options like rice crackers, you have tons of tasty options that a savory snack lover will truly appreciate.
For a more traditional Japanese snack, try treats like senbei rice crackers or shrimp crackers that are nice and crunchy while packing great flavor. More traditional rice crackers can provide a more traditional taste of Japan, such as the Bankaku Sohonpo Sakusaku Nikki Shrimp Crackers, the Ogura Sansou 100 Tanka Poem Card Rice Crackers, and the Kyosendo Double Assorted Bean Rice Crackers. You can also give some newer-age rice crackers a try, like the Kakitane Kitchen Wasabi & Soy Sauce Rice Crackers or the Chuoken Senbei Risocotti Parmagiano Reggiano & Black Pepper Crackers, which has a more modern flavor.
Kakitane Kitchen rides the line between traditional and modern snacks with their kaki-no-tane snacks in flavors like sour cream & onion and wasabi. Image via Instagram
For more modern savory snacks, we can't recommend brands like Calbee and Glico enough. Calbee has a great series of souvenir-style boxes of potato snacks, all made with locally-sourced Hokkaido potatoes. The most famous is the Jaga Pokkuru in a salt flavor, but they have other flavors like their Salted Scallop Flavor. They also have their Potekotan Onion-Flavored Potato Bites, their Imota and Mamejiro Potato & Edamame, and their multi-colored Jaga Pirika potato squares.
You can also give Glico Pretz a try. Their series of pretzel sticks comes with different flavors that would be great for a snack-oriented gift pack. We recommend the Roasted Salted Butter and the Otsumami Smoked Cheese. You can also give their famous Cheeza Crackers a try! And for a combination of salty and sweet, give this Caramel Corn and Spicy Snack combo pack with an interesting caramel and tandoori chicken flavor.
For more Japanese snack ideas, both sweet and savory, check out our Japanese Snack collection!
Japanese Sweets Lover
Chocolate treats, like Kit Kat, are great ways to experience Japanese flavors with a sweet twist, like these fancy sake and plum wine Kit Kats. Image via Instagram
In Japan, some men try to act like they don't like sweets, but it's impossible for many to resist the huge variety and amazing taste of Japanese sweets. With great limited-time flavors and tasty staples, there are plenty of sweet treats that make for a perfect gift for those guys with a sweet tooth.
Let's start with chocolate lovers! If you're looking for straight up chocolate, definitely give Mary's Chocolate Chrismas Truffle Assortment or the Morozoff Christmas Truffle Assortment, both high-quality brands. You can also gift Japanese regional flavors in choco form with items like the Nanaya Matcha Chocolate, the Umeshu Plum Wine Kit Kats or the Kyoto Veneto Chocolaccha Matcha Chocolate.
Kyoto Veneto is a really popular brand that specializes in matcha treats. While the main store has even more matcha treats, you can still enjoy matcha cookies and chocolate here! Image via Instagram
If the sweet toothed guy in your life is more of a cookie person, you can enjoy some really great options. Kyoto Veneto makes some great matcha cookies, like their Galettcha Cookies and their Cho-berry-cha Matcha Strawberry Sandwich Cookies. For some Hokkaido exclusives, try the Milk Baton Raisin Sand Sandwiches, the Ishiya Langue de Chat Cookies, and the Hana Matcha Cream Roll Wafer Cookies.
If the giftee is more of a baked goods kind of person, there are some really tasty gift ideas that you may or may not expect from Japan. The Suzette C3 Baked Tiramisu, the Aoki Shofuan Tsukigesho, and the Ginza Senbikiya Fruit Baumkuchen Cakes are fun, delicious baked options with a uniquely Japanese twist. And an honorable mention to Milk Baton's The Waffle, which has a wonderful matcha flavor, and the Toraku Kobe Pudding for its rich, sweet Japanese-style pudding flavor!
For more sweet treat gift ideas, check out our Japanese Sweets collection for some tempting treat ideas!
Noodle-Loving Man
A gift set of high-quality ramen packs makes for a memorable present, allowing the giftee to enjoy regional flavors like Kumamoto Mokkosu Ramen at home! Image via Instagram
Another thing Japan is famous for is its variety of tasty noodle dishes, including ramen, soba and udon. And while nothing beats a fresh bowl of noodles, you can get pretty close to that restraurant bowl experience with instant noodles. If the person you're shopping for is a noodle lover, try gifting a whole set of ramen or other noodles for them to try!
Ichiran is one of the most famous ramen chains worldwide, so a pack of Ichiran's Hakata Thin Straight ramen would definitely be a welcome gift for most noodle lovers. Marutai also makes some great options, including their regional packs like their Hokkaido Asahikawa Shoyu Ramen, their Oita Chicken Paitan Ramen and the Kurome Tonkotsu Ramen.
Itsuki is also great for their regional ramen packs, especially their Kumamoto ones. Try adding the Fire Country Kumamoto Tonkotsu, the Kumamoto Tonkotsu Black, and/or the Kumamoto Mokkosu Ramen to any gift set for a tasty ramen experience. If you're looking for a ramen alternative, give the Higashimaru Udon a try with its delicious Kansai-style dashi broth.
For more noodle-inspired gift ideas, browse our Japanese Ramen collection for gifts that are sure to please any ramen lover (yourself included).
The Skincare Man (Or the Man Who Needs Skincare)
Japanese men's skincare brands and series take on a very simple and sleek design, often matching the simple, streamlined steps for men's skincare. Image via Instagram
More and more men are taking their skincare seriously and with good reason. The “macho” reasons not to are overshadowed by the fact that good skincare can help with more aging well, skin concerns, UV protection and general confidence. And it’s no secret that Japan does an amazing job with skincare products that embrace the slow and steady approach, improving the skin over time, making them a great gift for male skincare lovers (or those who might need it). These three brands are great places to start if you’re looking for a skincare gift for the men in your life!
FANCL Men
FANCL is a big brand here in Japan that is known for affordable yet effective skincare products (and supplements) that aren’t overstimulating to the skin. This makes them a great gift option as you won’t spend too much but also be able to gift a product that will work without causing him skin issues.
In terms of products, the FANCL Men Face Wash is great because it cleanses the skin, removes excess sebum, can be used for shaving and doesn’t leave the skin feeling dry. Meanwhile, the All-in-One Skin Conditioner is also a great option because it works as a toner, serum and essence all-in-one. That means that it’s a great, low-effort yet highly effective (and highly rated) product for men’s skincare.
Bulk Homme
Bulk Homme does a great job of simplifying the skincare routine with formulas that work great to hydrate men's skin. Image via Instagram
Don’t tell anyone this, but I am super biased toward this brand. Bulk Homme is relatively new in Japan’s men’s skincare scene, but it is probably my personal favorite line of products. Bulk Homme is relatively simple with each product being labeled in English with the corresponding step in the Japanese skincare routine. They also come in convenient pouches that make it easy to store and take with you.
Their Face Care Travel Set makes for a great gift option with their face wash, repair lotion and emulsion all coming in one pack.
Shiseido Men
Shiseido is just one of those brands that perfectly combines luxury and effectiveness and that combination extends to their men’s skincare products. For those men who are just getting into skincare, try items like the Ultimune Trial Kit, the Face Cleanser, the Toning Lotion, the Energizing Moisturizer and the Clear Stick UV Protector. For more advanced, consistent skincare users, the Total Revitalizer Light Fluid, Eye Cream, and the Skin Empowering Cream are all great options.
For more skincare gift ideas, check out our growing Japanese Men's Skincare collection!
The Tea & Coffee Lover
Matcha
Straight matcha may not fit everyone's palate but options like matcha lattes and matcha milks, like the one above, are easy for anyone to enjoy! Image via Instagram
Matcha is popular with all kinds of folks, being well-known as a tasty, healthy alternative to coffee. So, it's no surprise that many men are hopping onto the matcha train as well. For those who aren't a fan of sweet, try straight matcha like the Hatoya Ryoyousha, the Kamitsujien Kyoto Uji, or the Yano Seichajo Miyabi no Shiro matchas.
For those who want a softer matcha experience, try creamy matcha lattes like the Tsujiri Uji Double Rich Matcha Milk Tea, the Tsuboichi Seicha Organic Matcha Latte Mix, or the Starbucks Matcha Latte (which we heard is better than the US version).
Still need matcha ideas to brainstorm, check out our large Matcha collection!
Hojicha
Hojicha is a great matcha alternative, with a milder, smoky flavor, a natural sweetness and a lower caffeine content than it's green cousin. If your giftee is a fan of tea but not matcha, hojicha makes a great gift option. HOHO Hojicha's Yorokobi no Hojicha is a great option for an easy yet mild roasted tea experience from Uji. The ITO EN Instant Hojicha is also a good everyday option that you can adjust by adjusting the amount of powder used. Meanwhile, the Yamashiro Uji Hojicha Latte is a great way to experience the flavor of hojicha with an added bit of creaminess and richness.
HOHO Hojicha is a great intro to hojicha with its lighter taste, but you can adjust the flavor by adjusting the amount of water used. Image via Instagram
Coffee
While Japan isn't particularly known for coffee, but many people here love coffee, leading to shops and brands making a pretty solid cup and a great gift for Japanese coffee lovers. The Ajinomoto AGF Little Luxury Cafe Drip Coffee is a great small present for those who want to make a quick and easy fresh cup.
If the coffee lover in question is more of a latte person, the Cafe Latory series makes for a great instant experience. Their Rich & Melty Chocolate Latte, their Strawberry White Chocolate Latte, and their Hazelnut Latte are really tasty and ripe for customization.
Other Drink Options
Japan's tea and drink options go well beyond matcha and coffee, with plenty of unique flavors that people fall in love with. For a uniquely Japanese experience, the Kuki Sangyo Black Sesame Latte, the Meito Stardust Yuzu Black Tea and the Lupicia Chestnut Tea offer that unique experience. A giftee might also enjoy the a big beautiful box from one of Japan's high-end tea brands with the Lupicia Holiday Black Tea Box.
For more tea and coffee ideas, including matcha alternatives, fun teas and tasty coffee, check out our Japanese Tea & Coffee selection!
Honorable Mention
This cute little Mt. Fuji-shaped item is a gift that both gives a permanent piece of Japan and pays for itself if you live in the same household as the giftee. Image via Instagram
One gift that a coffee lover will absolutely love is a reusable filter. That idea gets a super stylish interpretation with the Kameya Japan COFIL Ceramic Coffee Filter. This reusable, paper-less coffee filter is both form and function with a beautiful Mt. Fuji-inspired design and a ceramic structure with micron holes that hold back grounds, allow natural coffee oils to pass through for a richer cup and filter out grounds and other nasties. And it's super easy to clean and only occassionally needs to be cleaned via boiling.
The Anime & Games Fan
It can be hard to know what exactly to get an anime fan, but we recommend merch of their favorite anime shows or movies. One of our personal favorites are figures. If they have a specific figure and a bit of space in their collection, try figures or plushies, like this Banpresto One Piece Nami figure, these Figuarts Demon Slayer Gyomei and Nezuko figures, or this Alolan Vulpix Plush!
If your giftee doesn't have a whole lot of space, mini figures, like the ones made by Re-Ment are great options. Their blind boxes have a great element of surprise for your giftee while also featuring some iconic characters. Check out the Pokémon Neon Party set, the Pokémon Terrarium Collection EX set and the Swing Kirby in Dream Land sets for some starting points and ideas!
You can also try smaller gifts that are subtle ways to add anime flair to their everyday, like this mug or these Spirited Away playing cards or Princess Mononoke playing cards.
For more anime and game-inspired gift ideas, from plushies and figures to stationery and playing cards, check out our growing Anime Goods collection!
Some of our favorite Re-Ment figures combine IPs, like Pokémon, with a uniquely Japanese aesthetic for a figure that truly feels Japan-exclusive! Image via Instagram
Winter holiday shopping can be tough, but with these gift ideas, you can get ahead of the rush all while getting something special and high-quality for your dad, brother, friend, boyfriend or husband. And if our huge gift suggestion list isn't quite what you're looking for, get more ideas by browsing the rest of MiauMall!
