Local Souvenirs & Specialty Products – streetgokart.com
After exploring Tokyo’s tourist attractions, why not pick up memorable local souvenirs? This article provides detailed information about popular souvenirs and specialty products in the Tokyo area, where to buy them, and shipping services. Enjoy a fulfilling sightseeing plan combined with a street kart experience.
Popular Souvenirs
Tokyo offers a diverse selection of souvenirs, from traditional Japanese sweets to the latest confections. Tokyo Banana is a classic choice, with its fluffy sponge cake and banana cream creating a perfect combination. When in doubt about souvenir selection, this is a crowd-pleaser.
For Japanese sweets enthusiasts, Asakusa’s Kaminari-okoshi (thunder crackers) and Ningyo-yaki (doll-shaped cakes) are highly recommended. Kaminari-okoshi features a light texture and moderate sweetness, making it popular with tourists due to its long shelf life. Ningyo-yaki can be purchased along Nakamise Street near Sensoji Temple, available in two varieties: red bean paste and custard filling.
Western-style sweet lovers enjoy Ginza West’s dry cakes and Shiseido Parlour’s cheesecake. Ginza West’s dry cakes have an elegant flavor that’s well-received in business settings. Shiseido Parlour’s cheesecake, while rich, has a clean aftertaste and appeals to a wide age range.
Recently, Western-style souvenirs like TOKYO MILK CHEESE FACTORY’s cookie sandwiches and New York Caramel Sand have become standard favorites. With stylish packaging designs, they’re ideal gifts for younger generations.
If you want to enjoy souvenir shopping after your street kart experience, the Asakusa and Ginza areas offer convenient access. Street Kart experience courses include routes through Asakusa, allowing you to efficiently combine sightseeing with souvenir shopping.
Specialty Products
Tokyo has many surprisingly lesser-known specialty products. Edo Kiriko represents traditional craftsmanship, featuring beautiful glassware with intricate patterns. Items range from practical glasses and plates to decorative pieces for interior design.
Edo Kimekomi Dolls are also famous as Tokyo traditional crafts. Created using a technique of fitting fabric into wooden molds, these are cherished as Hina dolls (Girls’ Day dolls) and May dolls (Boys’ Day dolls). Each piece is handcrafted by artisans, with delicate expressions and coloring as their main attractions.
Among food products, Jindaiji Soba is renowned. The area around Jindaiji Temple in Chofu City has many soba shops offering authentic hand-made buckwheat noodles with a rich buckwheat flour aroma. Dried noodles and soba sauce sets are also available, allowing you to enjoy authentic flavors at home.
Tokyo X, a brand of pork, is another local specialty. Characterized by tender meat quality and elegant sweetness of the fat, it’s available at department stores and specialty shops throughout the city. It’s perfect for shabu-shabu or tonkatsu and popular as a gift.
Additionally, the Tama region produces Tokyo Black Tea. As a rare domestic black tea, it features a refreshing aroma and mellow flavor. Available at specialty shops and roadside stations, it makes a delightful gift for tea enthusiasts.
When touring the city with Street Kart, consider stopping by specialty shops and department stores carrying these products. Experiencing local culture between rides makes for a more fulfilling sightseeing experience.
Shopping Locations
For souvenir shopping in Tokyo, Tokyo Station’s commercial facilities are a top recommendation. The station complex includes themed zones like “Tokyo Okashi Land” (Tokyo Sweets Land) and “Tokyo Ramen Street,” ideal for souvenir hunting. Since you can stop by before boarding the Shinkansen, it’s convenient for tourists with limited time.
Asakusa’s Nakamise Street is a historic shopping arcade with over 90 shops lining approximately 250 meters of approach to the temple. It offers a rich selection from Japanese sweets like kaminari-okoshi, ningyo-yaki, and rice crackers to traditional items such as fans and hand towels. Many tourists visit in combination with Sensoji Temple worship, keeping the area constantly vibrant.
The Ginza area concentrates luxury department stores, with Ginza Mitsukoshi and Matsuya Ginza offering everything from long-established Japanese sweets to the latest confections. The basement food floors are particularly comprehensive and suitable for business gifts due to careful packaging.
Haneda Airport and Narita Airport also feature well-stocked souvenir areas. Particularly, Haneda Airport Terminal 2’s 4th floor “Edo Koji” recreates Edo-period streetscapes and gathers Tokyo specialties in one place. You can shop until just before departure, making it convenient for last-minute purchases.
Major department stores in Shibuya and Shinjuku also have abundant Tokyo souvenirs centered in their basement food floors. Shinjuku Takashimaya and Shibuya Scramble Square offer extensive selections with many shops providing samples, recommended for those who want to choose carefully.
The Asakusa area is most accessible before and after street kart experiences. Nakamise Street is within walking distance from Street Kart shops, allowing you to efficiently combine karting with sightseeing and souvenir shopping. Check the official website for details.
Shipping Services
If you don’t want to carry heavy souvenirs, utilize shipping services. Many department stores and souvenir shops offer delivery services via courier. Purchased items can be packaged on-site and sent to your home or specified destination.
Shops in Tokyo Station’s commercial facilities provide delivery services partnered with Yamato Transport and Sagawa Express. If you request shipping at checkout, items typically arrive home the next day or day after. They also support refrigerated delivery, so fresh sweets and perishable foods are safe to send.
Some shops along Asakusa’s Nakamise Street also accept shipping requests. Since availability varies by store, we recommend confirming before purchase. This is especially convenient for bulk purchases, allowing you to continue sightseeing hands-free.
Department stores use systems similar to mid-year and year-end gift delivery services, accommodating gift wrapping and noshi (decorative paper). At places like Ginza Mitsukoshi and Shinjuku Takashimaya, dedicated counters handle shipping procedures, allowing batch shipments to multiple destinations.
Airport purchases can also be shipped. Haneda and Narita airports have courier counters where you can ship purchased souvenirs together. Processing before boarding your return flight means you can receive packages upon arriving home—very convenient.
Since you cannot carry luggage during street kart experiences, we recommend either purchasing souvenirs beforehand and completing shipping procedures, or shopping leisurely after your ride. Coin lockers are also available near Street Kart shops, so use them according to your situation. For details about driver’s licenses and other requirements, please check the official website.
Enjoy Tokyo Sightseeing and Souvenir Shopping
Tokyo offers an abundance of attractive souvenirs, from traditional Japanese sweets to the latest confections and traditional crafts. Why not enjoy hunting for unique local souvenirs along with your street kart experience? By utilizing shipping services, you can fully enjoy shopping without worrying about heavy luggage. Please enjoy a fulfilling Tokyo sightseeing experience.
