17 best Japanese products and gadgets you need in your life

When the air gets a bit dry, the quickest fix is to use a humidifier. This adorable mini humidifier features some of Ghibli's most iconic characters such as Totoro, Calcifer from ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’ and Jiji the cat from ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’. The humidifier is ideal for your desk or bedside table and comes with a USB cable, so it can easily be plugged into any USB port or even your computer. 

¥5,280, from Donguri Sora and selected Donguri Republic stores.

Want to learn the anatomy of a fish? This puzzle lets you do just that. The three-dimensional puzzle allows you to take apart the fish piece by piece just like a fishmonger. You can even learn the names of every part as each piece is labelled. There are cute mini sushi pieces and a mini knife to complete the set. 

¥1,780, from Yodobashi.

Embrace the Japanese ethos of wabi sabi with this DIY Kintsugi Kit from Pieces of Japan. Kitsugi is the art of mending broken pottery by filling in cracks, chips or broken areas with lacquer and gold. You can try it out for yourself, guided by the easy-to-follow instructions on POJ’s YouTube masterclass. The kit is created in collaboration with a master restorer and follows the traditional Japanese method, which will help your items last longer. Best of all, POJ ships internationally, so you can experience a bit of Japan from wherever you are. 

¥14,000, from POJ Studio.

This petite flower vase is perfect for small living spaces and adds an instant pop of nature to any room. Unlike a regular vase, this one functions similar to an ikebana holder where you place flowers between the small spikes for easy arrangement. You don’t need to go all out with fancy flowers, either. The vase is inspired by michikusa, or roadside flowers, meaning you can simply pluck a cute bloom or leaf from the street on your way home. 

¥2,420, from Koncent.

Incense isn’t just reserved for temples and shrines. Hibi, meaning ‘everyday’ in Japanese, are matchstick-style incense sticks that burn for ten minutes. Scratch the stick against the box, place it on the applicable mat and enjoy natural scents like lemongrass, sandalwood, lavender and more. Highly portable and compact, everything you need is within the box so you can light incense anywhere, anytime. 

Starting from ¥770, available online or at retailers in Japan.

From trusty pen brand Pilot, these erasable ballpoint pens and highlighters mean you’ll never have to cross-out your work again. Using a special ink that turns invisible when heated, Frixion pens look like magic the first time you erase a line. They’re available in a rainbow of colours, and even better, you can purchase ink refills so you can use the same pen forever. Since the ink disappears at high temperatures, though, you might want to stick to a traditional ballpoint when signing a document. 

From ¥189. Available at most convenience and stationery stores.

Produced in Akita and Ishikawa prefectures, this quick-drying bath mat is essentially a large, flat stone made from natural diatomaceous soil that has deodorising and quick-drying properties. Thanks to its porous nature, the mat wicks away moisture instantly and dries fast, too. The mats don’t need to be washed, but for general upkeep, gently polish it with sandpaper. It’s especially useful when the weather’s humid.

¥6,050, from Bruno.

Oil blotting paper can be found throughout the world, but Yojiya’s aburatorigami is the vintage wine of blotting sheets. Originally used by geisha, kabuki and film actors, Yojiya’s oil blotting paper was released in 1920 and soon became popular with Kyoto locals for its gentle texture, perfect for sensitive skin. The paper is now sold in a compact-style notebook that’s discreet enough to use in public.

From ¥550. Available online and at Yojiya stores in Kyoto and Haneda and Narita airports.   

While initially shocking, first-time visitors to Japan are bewitched by the warm waters of onsen, or hot springs. You can't bring home the onsen water – however, onsen enthusiasts can turn their own humble bathroom into a hot spring with special boxes of bath salts sold in drugstores. One of the most popular brands is Tabi no Yado, which offers two types of powder, clear and milky, to recreate the warm waters of famous onsen including Kusatsu, Hakone and Beppu. 

From ¥590. Available at most drugstores.

When a normal eye mask just won’t cut it, try putting a heated pad on your face. Kao MegRhythm is a heated eye mask that feels like a warm spa towel. Perfect for long plane rides, the mask heats up and soothes your eyes and forehead to prevent puffiness and fatigue when you wake up. The masks come in a variety of scents: lavender is supposed to ease you into sleep, while yuzu apparently energises your body and appearance. For something to wake you up after a quick nap at work, there’s the menthol eye mask.

From ¥980. Available at most drugstores.

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