We all go shopping when we travel, but sometimes it’s hard to find the perfect souvenir that reflects a culture but is not sold on every street corner. Travel correspondent Alyssa Caverley’s Savvy Souvenirs report heads to Tokyo. Go beyond hello kitty to see an ancient and authentic part of Japanese culture you can bring home.
Throughout Japan, there are paper shops filled with colorful designs and handcrafted paper. This isn’t a modern trend. In the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo, Caverely visits Haibara, which opened in 1806 and sells paper for drawings, artwork and decorative wrapping paper. Washi or Japanese handmade paper is an ancient Japanese tradition, which is a pretty – and useful – memento of Japan.
For more information on travel and shopping in Japan, check out:
- Alyssa’s Savvy Souvenirs report in Amsterdam
- Travel Planning & Shopping section
- Free and Budget Activities in Expensive Japan
- A Foodie’s Tour through Kyoto
By Alyssa Caverley for PeterGreenberg.com