What are the best things to give to a Japanese host when visiting their home in Japan?

Question

Please, this is important...

Answer 1

My cousin works for IBM here in NY, but was transferred to Tokyo for three years. The BEST thing to bring to a Japanese family is a Cantaloupe. I KNOW they are 99 cents here in the USA, but they sell for about THIRTY FIVE dollars in Japan. They are sold in a wooden box with fancy tissue paper...go figure !! If you are visiting an American family in Japan, bring a bag or two of FLOUR since the Japanese do not bake cookies and cakes like Americans. My cousins wife had to go to a SPECIAL STORE to purchase flour for her traditional Christmas cookies. Again, a $2 bag of flour was over thirty dollars. CRAZY but true !!

Answer 2

Japanese people LOVE regional omiyage (gifts/souvenirs). Things that you won't find anywhere else, like miniature versions of the Statue of Liberty from New York, alligator jerky from Florida, etc.

Sweets work especially well, as almost EVERY itty bitty random inaka village in Japan has it's own regional sweet, usually some kind of manju. For some reason westerners may never understand, Japanese people absolutely love omiyage like that.

Answer 3

Good things to give a host family:
-the flag of your country
-food that is unique to your country, state, or city (that you can pack)
-A cookbook with very popular or traditional recipes from your country
-A photo album with pictures of you, your family, your pets, etc.
-A book with information about your state/province, or country
-Any other items that represent your area or that your country/state/city is famous for producing
-Something that YOU or someone close to you (mother, father, grandma, etc.) has made (if you can do this)
- For younger people, music CDs by artists from your country that you like are good gifts
-Although they have cards and games in Japan, you may want to bring cards or games (or think of games, even if they are played without items) and teach them how to play games that you know. Many Japanese do not play the same types of card games, and it's an easy way to bond.
-Books with folktales from your country (children's books are best, because they're easy to understand and have pictures)

Aside from that, you simply have to keep your eyes peeled for interesting things. Also, you should contact them and find out their interests. That can help you decide what they may like (or what they may not like).

Answer 4

Something very famous here in America like statue of Liberty 's small object or thing that you can share , play with them such as Card game

Answer 5

hi! I stay in Japan, and that i'm a foreigner, so i will help ya out. [: in the beginning, whenever you enter a house, TAKE OFF UR shoes. it is unquestionably significant. you besides mght could wanna be responsive to 3 words of the language. 'A-ri-ga-to' potential thank you, 'ku-da-sa-e' is please, and hahaa, as quickly as I first got here right here, i did no longer be responsive to any eastern, yet one ingredient it is important to be responsive to is, 'Toy-reh wa do-ko dess ka?' it potential the place is the bathroom, cuz from time to time the signs and indications are in eastern. haha. additionally, till now ingesting, say 'i-ta-da-ki-mas.' in the homestead, be well mannered! well mannered is important. in the homestead, there's a huge risk they could have a Tetami room. A tetami room is in fact in simple terms yet another room with woven mats on the floor. In my homestead, our Tetami room is in fact in simple terms one extra mattress room. additionally, i'm hoping you do not have a foul returned, cuz there's a stable hazard you would be snoozing on the floor, on a futon. i think of the eastern family contributors you would be staying with will possibly assume you to be thoroughly clueless, so... you may desire to marvel them along with your awareness. [: If a eastern individual got here on your homestead to stay, i do no longer think of you may desire to do issues to lead them to sense extra at homestead, collectively with serve eastern nutrition, because of the fact the completed reason they went became into to experience YOUR subculture. i'm hoping you have a stable time, Japan is a great place. in case you're tall or blonde, [[like me]] you would be stared at by utilising human beings. plenty. have exciting!!! Gooood success! //Lucy

Answer 6

I agree, something from your home town or state is best. I am from Pennsylvania so I bring people here Pennsylvania Dutch pretzels or pickles or beets from PA. where are you from? maybe a local micro brewery or winery?

Answer 7

I would recommend candy or sweets from your country. They are very well received, and Japanese have a wonderful sweet-tooth.

Answer 8

Almost more important than the gift itself is how nicely it is wrapped.

Whiskey or sake is always good. Or if you know their hobbies something they can use that they can't easily get in Japan.

Answer 9

something that directly correlates to your country, espeically a regional thing. if your hometown is known for it's great beaches, for instance, than bring some seashells.

Answer 10

souvenirs from where you come from.japanese in general are very appreciative even in small things so you dont have to worry that much.