Top FREE souvenirs you must get from your Japan trip! (Budget Hacks)

 

Today, we'd like to share with our readers how to save money (a.k.a. being a cheapskate like me) when you're traveling to Japan. We get it—you've already spent a ton on flight tickets and booking nice hotels, plus now you have to think about buying all those souvenirs for your relatives and colleagues (which you actually don't want to give…).

No worries, we've got you!🤜 Today, we're here to help you stretch that budget. One thing I appreciate the most about living in Japan is the diversity of their art, and the coolest thing is how the Japanese weave all that artwork into the tiniest little details in their daily life.

1. Stamps

Do you know that most train stations here offer free stamps for people to collect?

You'll easily spot the train stamps (eki stamps) in almost all stations, or you can just ask the staff if you can't see one. Other than that, most museums or tourist spots also offer commemorative stamps that you can collect for free!

2. Stickers

This one's not as easy to access like stamps (requires some luck), but places like cafes, museums, tourist centers, or pop-up events have higher chances of giving them out. If you're an outdoor person, there's also a high chance you'll find them at national park info centers, campsites, or mountain huts.

3. Manhole Cards

This is definitely the top-tier free souvenir you can snag in Japan (most locals don't even know about this!). If you've noticed, sometimes you'll spot these super cute manhole designs when you're walking along the road. And guess what? You can actually collect cards of them for free—like Pokémon cards! Though it takes a bit of effort, they're available pretty much everywhere, mostly at tourist information centers. Sometimes they even release limited-edition designs, so it's totally worth hunting them down.

Check out the manhole map to find spots where you can grab one.

4. Goshuin (Not Quite the Cheapskate Tier)

Last one is a bonus! Though it's not free, every shrine or temple in Japan offers Goshuin. It's a cool token of your visit—each one comes with a unique design, plus on-the-spot handwritten calligraphy that notes the temple or shrine's name and the date you dropped by. It usually costs 300–500 yen but worth the pay.

These are some insider tips straight from the Tabigo Japan team living right here in Japan. 😎 If you want to dive deeper, hop on our tour guide services for your next Japan adventure. At Tabigo Japan, we're more than just a travel company—we believe one of our core missions is helping Malaysian travelers better understand Japanese culture.

Share this with your fellow cheapskate friends and family!