Kawaii Japan At Home

My social media feeds are full of sakura photos from friends and businesses in Japan and it makes me miss being there so much! If you’re wishing you were in Tokyo or Kyoto right now, these cute and fun picks will help bring a little bit of Japan to your home.

I love the happy illustrations of Scout Editions (UK) so had to treat myself to one of their Fuji pins recently. They’re made using porcelain in Japan and there’s all sorts of cute Japanese icons, plus some collectible stamps.

I’m also tempted by this trio of kawaii hair clips at tokyo shojo (Japan) as they’re too sweet, especially the onigiri! You can also get these as phone grips and there’s more Japan-themed cuteness up for pre-order.

Making ramen at home isn’t too tricky but for a special treat, how about Hatsune Miku ramen? This is a DIY kit from Shoryu (UK only) that comes with everything you need for 2 bowls of pork or vegan ramen plus mocktails, blue cookies and exclusive tote bag and decorations. You’ll have to hurry though as orders close on April 4th. Amy of Cakes With Faces got to try it and wrote a blog post with lots of photos. If you’re outside the UK, you can order other fun ramen from sites like Sugoi Mart (Japan).

One of the most fun things about visiting Japan is stumbling across some kawaii transportation and you can do that at home with these Animal Bus blind box vinyl toys at My Plastic Heart (USA). There’s 6 animals to collect, each with tiny animal drivers and matching bus stops!

I also enjoy picking up weird Hello Kitty regional souvenirs and these kaiju monster-themed enamel pins have the same energy. Get the set from Loungefly (USA) with super cool packaging.

You’ve probably come across the TABINEKO Traveling Cats postcard series by Toshinori Mori and there are so many to choose from. They’re really affordable too so you can pick up all your favourites. You can find them at the TabinekoJAPAN Etsy shop, or add some to your next order from Cute Things From Japan (both in Japan).

While browsing Japan art on Society6 (USA), I came across Ryo Takemasa, an illustrator based in Tokyo. I really love the simple textured landscapes, but you’ll also find food and birds for your walls. This Waterside in spring print takes me right back to happy times sitting in Japan’s perfect public gardens.

You may not be able to go shopping in Harajuku right now, but Dreamy Bows (UK) can give you a virtual experience with all the big kawaii fashion brands. This ACDC Rag unicorn yukata will make lounging on the sofa feel a bit more special, or use as a light cover up for summertime.

If you’re lucky enough to be planning a trip, have a look at our Visiting Japan section for travel ideas and tips. We hope to start sharing more guides and travel inspiration in the summer.