Japan and Korea gift ideas

[Anonymous]

We are traveling and meeting family who live there. What are good gifts? For the elderly probably vitamins and supplements are most appreciated along with cash. What about women in their late 20s to late 30s? Would a Stanley cup (30 or 40 oz?) or a Lululemon bag (what size) be good? Any other ideas? I’m trying to think of cute and somewhat trendy things that they might know but not be able to buy as easily or cheaply there. I don’t know their clothing sizes.

[Anonymous]

What's your budget?
Yes old people like vitamins and cash. Also some nice whisky like Johnnie Walker blue.

Women would like high end cosmetics or cream like retinols, strivectin, etc. If you have a larger budget you can get a designer bag or more affordable wallet on chain from LV or YSL. I wouldn't get them a stanley or lululemon bag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are traveling and meeting family who live there. What are good gifts? For the elderly probably vitamins and supplements are most appreciated along with cash. What about women in their late 20s to late 30s? Would a Stanley cup (30 or 40 oz?) or a Lululemon bag (what size) be good? Any other ideas? I’m trying to think of cute and somewhat trendy things that they might know but not be able to buy as easily or cheaply there. I don’t know their clothing sizes.

Omg no

You cannot be Asian if this is your thinking

1. Shopping in Asia and Korea is way better

2. American sizing is screwy for Asian bodies

[Anonymous]

I have been to Korea 3x this year. They have everything there but still like a lot of popular brands. For young women my relatives really liked the Aesop hand lotions. My relatives also all liked the Chanel and Dior hand lotions to carry in their handbags. A lot of the American vitamins can be purchased at Costco in Korea but the older folks will still like them. I typically treat my older relatives to a nice dinner especially since beef costs a bit more in Asian countries like Korea and Japan.

[Anonymous]

If you have family there, you or DH should be more knowledgeable about their culture. Lululemon is not famous there so it’ll just be some yoga outfit if that’s what you want to gift them. Stanley cups are objectively gigantic - no one will use it. Maybe some unique local food that isn’t available there? In general though, quality of products are better there so nothing will have a wow factor or appreciated (if that’s what you’re expecting).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's your budget?
Yes old people like vitamins and cash. Also some nice whisky like Johnnie Walker blue.

Women would like high end cosmetics or cream like retinols, strivectin, etc. If you have a larger budget you can get a designer bag or more affordable wallet on chain from LV or YSL. I wouldn't get them a stanley or lululemon bag.

Korean and Japanese skincare is better, so I don’t really think I could buy those.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We are traveling and meeting family who live there. What are good gifts? For the elderly probably vitamins and supplements are most appreciated along with cash. What about women in their late 20s to late 30s? Would a Stanley cup (30 or 40 oz?) or a Lululemon bag (what size) be good? Any other ideas? I’m trying to think of cute and somewhat trendy things that they might know but not be able to buy as easily or cheaply there. I don’t know their clothing sizes.

Omg no

You cannot be Asian if this is your thinking

1. Shopping in Asia and Korea is way better

2. American sizing is screwy for Asian bodies

m
Did you even read the post you quoted?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have family there, you or DH should be more knowledgeable about their culture. Lululemon is not famous there so it’ll just be some yoga outfit if that’s what you want to gift them. Stanley cups are objectively gigantic - no one will use it. Maybe some unique local food that isn’t available there? In general though, quality of products are better there so nothing will have a wow factor or appreciated (if that’s what you’re expecting).

I honestly can’t think of anything amazing that we have. But gift giving is expected and polite in the culture, so I have to give something. I don’t want to give cash because anything less than like $1000 would be insulting and I don’t really want to give $1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been to Korea 3x this year. They have everything there but still like a lot of popular brands. For young women my relatives really liked the Aesop hand lotions. My relatives also all liked the Chanel and Dior hand lotions to carry in their handbags. A lot of the American vitamins can be purchased at Costco in Korea but the older folks will still like them. I typically treat my older relatives to a nice dinner especially since beef costs a bit more in Asian countries like Korea and Japan.

What are some popular brands and items for the younger (mid 20s to late 30s) set? I think a couple of them also have young kids around 4-7 years old, but I know Korean clothes are better and cheaper… and I’m not sure of sizing for the kids either.

[Anonymous]

Lululemon is not at all popular there. They don’t really wear yoga clothing in public so the brand didn’t take off and nobody recognizes the bags. Stanley cups also are not popular there—they’re not as into the water bottle culture and Stanley’s are considered too big and clunky to be feminine or fit into their aesthetic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lululemon is not at all popular there. They don’t really wear yoga clothing in public so the brand didn’t take off and nobody recognizes the bags. Stanley cups also are not popular there—they’re not as into the water bottle culture and Stanley’s are considered too big and clunky to be feminine or fit into their aesthetic.

I was thinking 30oz Stanley would be a good size. The 40oz is ridiculous. I feeel like I’ve seen Korean young women on social media with large Starbucks type bottles and cups though.

[Anonymous]

Stanley cups are only for white women sorry

[Anonymous]

I recall a friend taking nuts to Korea, assuming no nut allergy; beef jerky; multivitamin. I think American snack items would be good.

I heard someone taking hand lotion from Bath & Body works; maybe perfume, but that could be a really personal choice.

[Anonymous]

Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears are the only things I think they would like

[Anonymous]

Here’s a list I see on Quora that makes sense to me.

Dried fruits and nuts. Blue Diamond almonds (esp. Wasabi Soy flavor) are always appreciated, and hulled pistachios are pure gold.
Sweet potato chips
Burt’s Bees anything. They’re not that much pricier here, the issue being a limited line available as opposed to in the States.
Almond butter, chunky fruit preserves, all kinds of quality stuff in a jar.
Herbal tea of all sorts
Goat milk facial soaps (Zum Bar etc.)
Bath & Body Works hand soaps and lotions
Refrigerator magnet/bag clips, and random kitchenware (Joie stuff makes great gifts)
Gourmet vinegar-based hot sauces, like Gringo Bandito and others…Koreans like pizza with some added kick.
OTC drugstore goods: chewable supplements, antacid, liquid cold medicine like DayQuil
LEGO. Most Korean kids love LEGO, and sets are especially expensive w/limited release over here. Hard to go wrong with LEGO.