omiyage. souvenirs for others. this is a huge part of japanese culture. and something i have mixed feelings about. if you go somewhere it is expected that you bring back souvenirs for everyone. everyone. seriously. family. friends. and coworkers. everyone. if you told somebody you are going on holidays then you better return with something for them. because it's expected of you.
buying omiyage is not just for folks who travel overseas. this also applies to day trips within japan. if you go to disneyland. or kyoto. or anywhere. everywhere. the omiyage industry does well. you will always see folks on trains and airplanes with bags of it. and it is not cheap either. add up everything in that bag. and that's a lot of yen. seriously.
my mixed feelings. when i travel i often see things i'd like to buy for others. for close friends. or family. and i do. because i want to. not because i have to. but since i live in japan i usually play by the rules set up here. so when we were in hawaii we went to the cheapest place to get omiyage. walmart. and grabbed our long list and a big rubbermaid bin. and filled it up. crazy style. with beer, coffee and a lot of nuts.
I remember when I lived there and took my first holiday back to Canada, I spent $500 on omiyage - for friends and students!
Posted by: Mom | January 27, 2009 at 04:21 PM
You may not have been in Hawaii long enough to pick up on this but...omiyage is a big deal there too. If you go visit another island, it's kinda expected that you bring something back for family and friends.
Posted by: *karen | January 27, 2009 at 04:44 PM
Thank goodness for Wal-Mart with a long list. I struggle with this. I always want to bring stuff back for people, but i'm always on a budget and hate to add to the clutter. So I never seem to bring anything back. Bad friend that I am.
Posted by: Christina | January 27, 2009 at 06:47 PM
is it also expected when you visit friends in Japan and you are from another country? we are returning to Japan in July for a few weeks- to see friends and such- but I didn't think omiyage would be necessary?
Posted by: Barbara | January 27, 2009 at 07:07 PM
Whoa,
that must be tough on the wallet (no wonder you sometimes wish $ grew on trees...I do too BTW :)
...but I can understand how you would want to respect the cultural traditions.
I never knew about omiyage!
Posted by: ermie | January 27, 2009 at 07:40 PM
wow .. that's so interesting! and very nice of you to 'play by the hometown rules'. that alone would stress me out my entire vacation!
Posted by: simplesong | suann | January 27, 2009 at 07:51 PM
strange. I don't think I would like that either. I usually see a few things that make me think of close friends or family when I am on vacation, and in those cases, I will buy them, because I am thinking of them. But I'm not a fan of obligation. :)
Posted by: Tracy | January 28, 2009 at 07:33 AM
Here in Spain we don't practice omiyage, but if you're going to stay at somebody's home, you usually bring something to the hosts.
I don't like either to do things because I have to. But I think you're wise respecting the japanese rules.
Posted by: Mariana | January 28, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Here in Spain we don't practice omiyage, but if you're going to stay at somebody's home, you usually bring something to the hosts.
I don't like either to do things because I have to. But I think you're wise respecting the japanese rules.
Posted by: Mariana | January 28, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Same culture where I grew up and it drives me crazy. I can't afford it and I twisted it a bit. Now we have people over for dinner, I bake, craft in order for them to get their omiyage.
Posted by: Ursa | January 28, 2009 at 11:14 AM
Huh. That is so interesting. I think I would have a hard time with that too. It is nice that you bought good, useful items instead a lot of junk.
Posted by: emily | February 03, 2009 at 11:31 AM