These days, everyone wants “experiences,” not “stuff,” so how about digging into your Santa sack for presents that deliver #youllneverguesswhatwedids that could only come from (where else?)…Japan! This year, give the gift of…

1

…making your own Panda Face sushi and finding out who’s the fastest panda-grabber in the land

Seen at the Akihabara Yodobashi Camera

Level up by slipping in a few made with natto (stinky, slimy, fermented soybeans) just to keep it extra-competitive

•

2

…drinking to The One That Got Away with these fishy beer glasses

Seen at the Shiga prefecture antenna store in Kyobashi

After hoisting a few trout-themed brews with these beauties, coming home with an empty creel could become an annual Thing.

•

3

…getting on your holiday cheer decked out as Shiba Santa instead of St. Nick

Seen at the Shinjuku Don Kihote

Because what could be more useful than being able to do a heckin’ refuse when Auntie Gert insists on giving you a perfume-drenched hug in return?

•

4

…lighting up with the cutest matches to ever ignite what you’re smoking

Seen at the Tobacco and Salt Museum gift shop

Excuse me, I think we need to see those again

•

5

…getting an instant face lift without all that pesky surgery

Seen at the Shinjuku Don Kihote

(Although it’s unclear how these stretchy ear-squishers can vanish the saggies without the benefit of a little slicing and dicing (｀_´)ゞ)

•

6

…owning the pet of your dreams (or the next best thing): an animal face washcloth

Seen at the Shibuya Loft store

Sure, you might be able to convince a garden variety feline or canine to wash your face if you smear it with enough peanut butter or chicken livers, but if your giftee is craving a facial cleansing from, say, a red panda or a fox or a koala, you can’t do better than wrapping up one of these oh-so-friendly facecloths.

•

7

…spend more time eating bonbons on your chaise lounge while a dedicated JAPANESE slow cooker whips up dinner

Seen at the Akihabara Yodobashi Camera

Which is just like a Western crock pot, except the presets aren’t for Three Alarm Chili or mom’s chicken soup, they’re for kakuni (braised pork stew), nikujaga (beef and potato stew), edamame (boiled soybeans) and both kinds of rice (white and brown).

•

8

…scooting your kitchen chair across the floor on little cat feet

You can get these on Amazon

With these cat paw chair socks, your midnight snacking can be silent AND deadly.

•

9

…becoming the supreme ruler of the coffee break with this 3D latte foam tool

Seen at the Akihabara Yodobashi Camera 6th floor

Yes, now you can top your double shots of espresso with adorable bears, cats, bunnies and Godzillas in your very own home.

•

10

…sharing the pleasures of extreme personal grooming with that boyfriend who insists you maintain an immaculate Brazilian, with the Gosso Nose Wax System

Seen at the Shibuya Tokyu Hands

What it lacks in waxable square inches, it more than makes up for in pain.

•

Or you could instantly whisk away your bestie to the seedy underworld of Tokyo with a novel set in Japan. (And in case you’re a bit late checking off your list, this one will still arrive in time for Xmas)

There’s nothing I like better than to discover a new mystery series, and it’s even better if they take me to a place I love. If you know anyone who’d like to spend more time in Japan…THESE