Japanese Handmade Gifts: Artisan Pieces You Can Order From Abroad

Looking for a Japanese handmade gift that is more than a souvenir? The pieces in this guide come from named artisans and small workshops in Japan: a barrette and a tie-pin set decorated with the gold-leaf techniques of Kyoto bridal kimono, bags sewn from vintage kimono, pure silver from a Tokyo workshop, and a modern hanging scroll made of Echizen washi paper.

You can order them from outside Japan. ITOSHIO does not ship to overseas addresses itself; international orders go through Buyee, a proxy shopping service. You start from the Buyee button on the product page, and the international shipping, Buyee's fees and any duties are shown on Buyee's screens (see the steps below).

Prices are in Japanese yen, tax included, as of October 2026. The amount you see on Buyee will vary with exchange rates and fees.

A handmade piece makes a better gift when you can tell its story. Ask three questions:

1. Who made it, and how? Every item below comes with its maker and technique: kinsai (gold-leaf decoration) and raden (mother-of-pearl inlay) from Kyoto, magewappa bentwood from Odate in Akita, and Echizen washi paper from Fukui.
2. Will it travel well? Accessories and textiles are light and hard to break. Glass and larger wooden pieces need more care.
3. Will it be used? A hair clip, a tie pin or a bag fits into daily life anywhere. A rice container suits someone who already cooks Japanese rice.

Food and alcohol are not included here: many countries restrict importing them, and Buyee may not be able to ship some of these items.

The Kinsai Raden Barrette (New Zealand abalone) (¥16,500) is made in Kyoto by NOB MIYAKE. The inner layer of a New Zealand abalone shell is carved out, softened with a special process and set onto the barrette as raden; auspicious patterns are then drawn over it in gold leaf. It is 11.2 cm long, 2 cm wide and weighs 30 g.

The maker, Nobuki Miyake, is a certified traditional craftsman who has hand-painted Japanese bridal kimono (uchikake) in Kyoto for more than 37 years and now brings those techniques to accessories. Each piece is made by hand, so the pattern may differ slightly from the photos and no two are exactly alike.

For more hair accessories, see our guide to raden hair clips. The kimono bags further down also make a lovely gift for her.

The Tie Pin & Cufflink Set (gold leaf) (¥17,600), also by NOB MIYAKE, has a traditional kimono komon (a fine repeating pattern) laid over gold leaf on a stainless-steel base, finished with sparkling "diamond" foil. The tie pin measures 5.5 × 0.6 × 1.6 cm and weighs 6 g; the cufflinks measure 1.9 × 1.4 × 2 cm and weigh 10 g. A natural choice for someone who wears a suit, or for a business partner. See also Japanese tie pins for men.

For a man who doesn't wear ties, consider the Silver 999 Full-Galaxy Flattop Ring (¥44,000) from 宗彩庵, a silver workshop in Tokyo. It is made of Silver999 (99.9% pure silver) rather than Silver925 (sterling silver), by an artisan from a workshop that has continued for twelve generations since the Edo period. Fine diamond-cut lines on the surface sharpen the shine, and the design suits any gender. Check how sizing works on the product page before ordering.

If the silver dulls, the maker suggests this: line a bowl with aluminum foil, sprinkle in a little baking soda, place the ring inside, pour over boiling water, leave it for a while, then wipe it dry.

kico upcycles vintage kimono into azuma bukuro, a cloth bag said to have begun in the Edo period, when people in Edo imitated Western bags using furoshiki and tenugui cloths. Only one to one-and-a-half bags can be made from a single kimono, so almost no two are the same.

• kico Azuma Bukuro 45 cm, bicolor haori with golden flowing-water pattern and red chirimen (¥33,000): about 45 × 91 cm, with an inner pocket of bright chirimen crepe and a water-repellent lining of 100% recycled nylon. The maker notes that the flowing-water pattern stands for eternity and cycles, and that kikusui (chrysanthemums on water) has long been an auspicious motif for long life.
• kico Long Porch, tsumugi with vertical stripes (¥8,800): a drawstring bag about 20 × 50 cm with a 10 cm gusset. It holds a wine bottle or works as a pouch, and its recycled-nylon lining ties into a ribbon.

Both fold flat, so they pack easily. Because the fabric is decades old, there may be fading or weaving flaws, and color can transfer if the fabric is rubbed while damp. Learn more in our azuma bukuro guide.

If the person loves Japanese food or interiors, these pieces take a little more care to ship or carry, but they bring Japanese craft into everyday life.

• Ohitsu Rice Container, 2 go (¥44,000) by 栗久, a magewappa (bentwood) workshop in Odate, Akita. Its 15 mm thick lid absorbs the steam from freshly cooked rice so no drops form, and the maker says even cooled rice stays soft enough to shape into onigiri. Rounded inner corners make it easy to scoop and wash. Go is the traditional Japanese unit for measuring rice. More in our ohitsu guide.
• Tulip Glass (¥7,480) by 石橋和法, a glass artist based in Saitama. The narrowing rim is said to hold aromas in the glass. Soda glass, 130 mm tall; it is not heat-resistant, so avoid sudden temperature changes.
• JIQUU KASANARI – Past (¥110,000): a modern kakejiku (hanging scroll) designed to hang in any room, not only in a traditional alcove. The washi, fabric, roller ends, braided cord and mounting are all made in Fukui Prefecture. 450 × 1100 mm; listed weights: scroll about 200 g, paulownia box (including its paper box) about 600 g. Lead time: 1–2 months. See modern hanging scrolls by JIQUU.

1. Open the product page from outside Japan. You will see a notice: "Purchasing from Overseas — For international orders, please use Buyee, our proxy shopping service. Use the Buyee button on this page to place your order."
2. Click the Buyee button on the page and continue on Buyee.
3. Read carefully what Buyee's screens show about international shipping, Buyee's fees and any duties or taxes.
4. Check Buyee's guide for whether it ships to your country and whether the item can be sent.

Subscription items cannot be bought through Buyee, and sold-out items cannot be ordered (you can sign up for a restock notice). Sending a gift to someone in Japan? Choose "I have a delivery address in Japan" on the product page to switch to domestic checkout. Full walkthrough: How to buy from Japan with Buyee. Buyee's site: https://buyee.jp/

Not directly: the checkout does not accept overseas addresses. Orders from abroad go through Buyee, starting from the Buyee button on each product page.

These are shown on Buyee's screens. They depend on the item, your country and Buyee's terms, so this guide does not quote amounts.

The NOB MIYAKE pieces in this guide are handmade one at a time, so patterns may vary slightly. kico can make only one to one-and-a-half bags from each kimono. JIQUU's handmade washi differs from scroll to scroll.

Some items list a lead time in the product description; JIQUU, for example, takes 1–2 months. The time needed for international delivery is shown by Buyee.