Gift-giving can be stressful, especially when you’re looking for something that a parent will actually enjoy—and even more so for moms! If you’re looking for a gift straight from Japan that will feel special to the maternal figure in your life, these recommendations (from our store) are a great place to start and get those gifting ideas flowing!
We put these recommendations together based on the different vibes of mom out there to help make sure you get a great pick for your mom archetype!
Snack Loving Moms
Japanese Sweet Treats
Many of us here at MiauMall have a huge sweet tooth, so we got some good recommendations for you in that department! Image via Instagram (@hiyoco_tea)
Some of the moms in our lives have a near-insatiable sweet tooth, but luckily, Japan has tons of amazing sweets from both big makers and smaller ones. For chocolate lovers, Japan has everything from regional Kit Kat flavors to more local options like the Cybele Sakura Rusk Cookies and Hokkaido’s Ishiya Shiroi Koibito and Suqu Langue de Chat Cookies!
However, as it gets warmer, you may want some non-chocolate options that won’t melt. Akai Bohshi makes for a great gift with their cute packaging and tasty cookies. A staff favorite with a more traditional feel is the Aoki Shofuan Iyemon Tsukigesho Matcha Manju (such a long name). The Kyoto Veneto Cho-berry-cha Matcha Strawberry cookies are also a super tasty gift option!
Japanese Savory Treats
These treats aren't just salty and satisfying. They're also regional favorites, like the Jaga Pokkuru from Hokkaido! Image via Instagram (@sakurano_hachinohe)
For those parents with a more savory preference, Japan has tons of treats that are sure to satisfy. One staff favorite is the Calbee Jaga Pokkuru potato sticks, and the Jaga Pirika is a tasty variation featuring white, yellow and purple potato squares!
For a mix of both traditional and contemporary flavors, give the Ogura Sansou Arare-zutumi Komachi Cheese & Butter Rice Crackers a try! And if you want to go really traditional, these super cute Keishindo Daruma Shrimp Crackers are a great option!
Beauty Loving Moms
Facial Masks
Sheet masks are great for providing moisture to the skin, and Japanese sheet masks tend to have some amazing ingredients! Image via Instagram (@lisa.1656)
Makeup and skincare can be so personal and varied that it can hard to know exactly what any one mother may want without asking (or sleuthing). That’s why facial masks can be a great gift option as they can be used by almost anyone. And Japan has tons of amazing masks that fit all kinds of skin types and concerns.
For those who prefer sheet masks, Derma Laser Super Retinol 100 Sheet Mask and Clé de Peau Beauté Illuminating Concentrate Masks are great for high-quality presents. If your mother is more of a pack kind of person, try the Ishizawa Labs Keana Rice Pack Mask, PDC Sake Lees Pack Mask or the Kose Clear Turn Keana Komachi Vitamin & Cica Peel-Off Mask!
Beauty Sets
Just like anywhere else, some of these gift sets even come with things like special bags or containers! Image via Instagram (@vocemagazine)
Beauty sets are great for several reasons! They allow the giftee to try a new brand or new product. They’re often a value steal, with the set being cheaper than buying the items separately. Last, people just love to receive a gift set! For a mom who wants to dip her toes into higher-end skincare, try the Shiseido First Experience Kit.
But if you’re looking for a bit more and with great packaging, try the SK-II Facial Treatment Essence Gift Set. The Attenir Dress Lift Aging Care Trial Set and the AXXZIA Sakura Limited Edition Eye Care Set are two more great picks!
Cosmetic Tools
Beauty tools are great because it's like having an aesthetician right there in your home! Image via Instagram (@makiakisada)
Japan is well-known for its cosmetics tools, from interesting face muscle exercisers and brushes to high-end beauty tools and devices. Today, we want to recommend some of the cool beauty devices! The Dr. Arrivo Zeus III Facial Device and Yaman Photo Plus Prestige SP II are popular tools in Japan for those willing to drop some major coin for beauty.
However, beauty devices like the Yaman Bloom 6, The Horuseye Facial Device and the Axxzia Mate for Eyes are more affordable tools that beauty-conscious moms can enjoy and get tons of use out of!
Tea Loving Moms
Matcha
Matcha is a versatile gift that can be used to make hot, cold, sweet and not sweet drinks but can also be used to make tasty matcha treats! Image via Instagram (@asuka345)
We can’t talk about Japanese tea without talking about the tea that has taken the world by storm lately—matcha! Matcha, the famous powdered green tea, can be enjoyed straight, mixed with milk for a matcha latte, or used in food. That means that matcha is really flexible present idea, allowing the giftee to enjoy it however they want. And if you want to go with a premium gift for mom, try Uji matcha from Kyoto!
If we had to give our own recommendations, we’d have to go with Kamitsujien Uji Matcha or the Dejimaen Single Origin Uji Hikari Matcha for straight-up green tea. Meanwhile, the Tsujiri Matcha Milk and the Suntory Itoemon Matcha Latte are two great examples of tasty instant green tea lattes!
Other Japanese Teas
Hoho Hojicha is one of those brands that has gained a lot of popularity with its tasty tea and sweets and iconic design! Image via Instagram (@hohohojicha)
We also can’t talk about Japanese tea without all of the other amazing tea products that the country produces. For those who love a bit of smokiness, a tea like hojicha, made from roasting matcha, is a great option! HOHO Hojicha has been really popular lately, including their Kiwami no Hojicha and Premium Hojicha Latte.
You also have amazing brands like Nittoh and Lupicia that make tons of amazing options. Some of our Nittoh favorites include their Strawberry Royal Milk Tea and the Premium Juicy White & Yellow Peach Tea. Lupicia, on the other hand, has us in love with their Rose Royal Tea and Hokkaido Virgin Snow Darjeeling Tea.
The Mom on the Go
Tumblers
Taking your favorite hot or cold drinks on the go is great for creating a bit of 'me time' during the day! Image via Instagram (@bluetan_1224)
Tumblers are great for anyone on the go but especially for a busy mom. They make a perfect gift by being both practical—keeping drinks hot or cold—and adding style or personality to your thirst-quenching experience. Japan has tons of amazing, high-quality tumblers that fit this bill perfectly.
For example, Starbucks Japan makes tons of Japan-only tumblers and mugs with amazing designs. Meanwhile, other brands, like Sanrio, make super cute character tumblers, like these Sanrio Stainless Steel Travel Mugs and Bottles!
The Home-y Mom
Incense
Incense is also a great way to help busy moms to relax as well! Plus, the cone or spiral shaped incenses are oddly cute! Image via Instagram (@nipponkodo_japan)
Incense is great for creating a relaxing, “Zen” space in any room or home. Plus, they’re easy to use and don’t take up much space, and in the case of some incense stands, they may even add a bit of style to your space.
Nippon Kodo makes tons of cool incense and incense holders, including a stylish and elegant Red Mt. Fuji Incense Holder & Incense Set that is a perfect present idea. You You Ang also has a Mt. Fuji Incense Holder with a Prayer and Healing Incense Set that is gorgeous! Check more Japanese incense products here!
Bath Salts & Tablets
"Travel" or "Traveler" series bath powders and tablets are a great way to experience different famous Japanese hot springs at home! Image via Instagram (@yukomoriguchi)
A nice, hot bath is another amazing way to relax, and Japan knows all about how to take a bath thanks to the country’s onsen hot spring culture! And while you may not be able to send your parent to Japan, you can get them some excellent bath bombs, powder or tablets, all capturing the onsen experience.
Some of our favorites are the Hakugen Earth Iiyu Tabidachi Nigori Carbonated Bath Tablets, the Bison Bakkanto Germanium Bath Salts (for an extra hot bath), and the Ayura Aroma Herbal Bath powders. Those are just a few of many, so definitely find scents the moms in your life will enjoy!
Bonus Mention
Amorosa Moderno Diamond Rose
This is probably the most gorgeous idea on this list and is really a stunning, long-lasting choice! Image via Instagram (@amorosa_japan)
Flowers are a staple for Mother’s Day (and other holidays, like Valentine’s Day). However, while a bouquet is beautiful, it only lasts for so long. That’s why we recommend one of these gorgeous preserved flowers by Amorosa Moderno.
Their Diamond Roses feature a preserved rose with a natural diamond-infused lamé that gives it a gorgeous shimmer. It also smells amazing and comes in a box with a sleeve for your own photo, giving it a customized touch! Plus, it lasts much longer than a typical rose or bouquet, making it a gift perfect for Mother’s Day and beyond!
They also have various colors so that you can either get the mother's favorite color or get the one that fits with the Mother's Day color representation. Image via Instagram (@amorosa_japan)
And that’s our list! We can’t fit every one of favorite gift ideas, but we hope this will be a good start for ideas. Feel free to check out our site for tons of amazing high-quality products that are perfect treats for mom (or yourself)!
