Looking for unique Mother’s Day gifts?
This curated list features 15 thoughtful gift ideas that blend traditional Japanese charm with modern appeal—from Japanese incense and handcrafted pottery to wagashi sweets, elegant furoshiki wrapping cloths, and even Kyoto-made folding fans. Whether your mom loves home goods, culture, or treats, you’ll find the perfect Mother’s Day gift with a Japanese touch.
Table of Contents
If you’re interested in Japanese Mother’s Day or other seasonal customs, please see below.
Mother's Day Gift Idea 1. Elegant Japanese Scents
From matchstick-style incense to traditional aromas crafted by skilled artisans, these fragrance gifts offer a calming, elegant way to share Japan’s unique culture and craftsmanship.
1. Japanese incense gift set
How about giving the gift of Japanese fragrance? hibi is a matchstick-style incense created by Kobe Match Co., a company founded in 1929. Since it lights like a match, there’s no need for a lighter or burner—just strike and enjoy. Each stick burns out naturally in about 10 minutes, making it safe and simple to use. This gift box includes three distinctly Japanese scents: hinoki (Japanese cypress), sandalwood, and yuzu.
2. Japanese aroma gift set
If your mom loves aromatherapy, how about a uniquely Japanese scent? This handcrafted set uses hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood sourced from Tosa in Kochi and Hida in Gifu. It’s made with care by a former shrine carpenter and a former seal engraver, bringing traditional craftsmanship into each piece. Hinoki is known for its calming and revitalizing properties—often said to recreate the soothing effect of a forest bath.
3. Traditional Japanese Incense Set (Senko)
If you’re looking for a more traditional Japanese incense, this set is a lovely choice. It includes an incense holder and three types of handmade incense. The scents are a gentle blend of the familiar and the uniquely Japanese: soothing lavender, floral geranium, and the nostalgic fragrance of kinmokusei (fragrant olive), a beloved autumn scent in Japan. All the incense sticks are carefully handcrafted for a calming, authentic experience.
Mother's Day Gift Idea2: Beautiful Japanese Crafts
Explore beautiful handmade ceramics and pottery from Japan’s iconic regions, offering timeless elegance and functionality, perfect for adding a touch of Japan to everyday life.
1. Furoshiki Wrapping Cloth
A furoshiki is a traditional square cloth used for wrapping and carrying items. With a history dating back to the Muromachi period, it’s both beautiful and practical. Today, people use furoshiki not only for gift wrapping, but also as eco-friendly bags. This particular furoshiki is a large 100cm size with water-repellent coating. It’s versatile—perfect as a tablecloth, a bag accent, a light rain cover, or even as a picnic mat during outdoor outings.
2. Edokiriko Wine Glasses
Edo Kiriko is one of Japan’s most iconic traditional crafts. You may have seen its intricate patterns before—this glass-cutting technique began in 1834, incorporating European methods to create what we now recognize as Edo Kiriko. In 1985, it was officially designated a traditional craft of Tokyo. These wine glasses, crafted by the skilled artisans of Taiuburo Glass Studio, combine traditional craftsmanship with modern elegance. When light hits the glass, the patterns cast beautiful reflections on the table—turning an ordinary moment into something special.
3. Tsugaru Vidro Glasses
Tsugaru Vidro is a traditional glass craft from Aomori Prefecture, known for its jewel-like colors and sparkling beauty. These vibrant glasses are handmade at Hokuyo Glass, a glass studio with a long history in Aomori, founded in 1949. Each piece is crafted by skilled artisans, giving the glass a warm, handmade feel. This gift set beautifully expresses the changing seasons of Japan—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—through its unique colors and designs.
4. Mashiko Ware Mug
Mashiko-yaki is a traditional style of pottery from Tochigi Prefecture, known for its rustic charm and sturdy form. This particular mug features a soft white base with the characteristic thickness and gentle curves typical of Mashiko ware, giving it a warm, comforting feel. The matte glaze adds a modern touch to its simple design, making it perfect for enjoying coffee or tea in daily life.
5. Kutani Ware Small Plates
Kutani-yaki is a traditional Japanese porcelain from Ishikawa Prefecture, especially known for its bold colors and intricate hand-painted designs. Internationally recognized as “Japan Kutani,” it has gained a strong reputation around the world. This gift set includes five vividly decorated small plates, each featuring a unique and colorful pattern. These mamezara (palm-sized plates) are great for everyday use or as decorative pieces that bring a touch of traditional Japanese beauty into the home.
Mother's Day Gift Idea3: Tasty and Delightful Treats
From traditional sweets like wagashi to premium green teas, these treats provide a flavorful way to experience Japan’s rich culinary culture.
1. Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) gift box
Kyoto-Style Jelly
These beautiful wagashi jellies are handcrafted one by one by skilled artisans in Kyoto. Made to represent seasonal flowers and landscapes of Japan, they are not just sweets but edible art. Using domestically sourced red bean paste and agar, they have a slightly firmer texture than typical jellies. They pair wonderfully with unsweetened coffee, Japanese green tea, or black tea. Shelf life is approximately 90 days unopened—just be sure to store them in a cool, dry place away from heat and humidity.
Wasanbon – Traditional Japanese Dry Sweets
Wasanbon is a refined traditional Japanese sugar sweet made using specially carved wooden molds featuring seasonal motifs like flowers. Artisans press the delicate sugar mixture into these molds to create intricate shapes, then gently release them to form elegant dry confections. The flavor is mildly sweet—less intense than brown sugar, with a clean and smooth finish. Once offered to the shogunate during the Edo period, wasanbon carries a sense of history and elegance. This gift set features sweets shaped like beautiful flowers, presented in a charming floral-patterned box.
2. Premium Japanese Green Tea in Tea Bag
April to May is the prime season for fresh Japanese green tea. One of the most renowned varieties is Yame-cha, a traditional tea from Fukuoka Prefecture. The Yame region’s cool climate and frequent mist create the ideal environment for cultivating high-quality tea leaves. This gift set includes three types of tea—sencha, gyokuro, and genmaicha—all in easy-to-use tea bags, making it a perfect introduction for those new to Japanese tea.
3. Premium Japanese Green Tea in Tea Bottle
This gift box features premium loose-leaf green tea from Arahataen, a tea farm in Makinohara, Shizuoka—the leading tea-producing region in Japan. Since 1948, Arahataen has been dedicated to crafting high-quality tea, with a strong focus on healthy soil cultivation. Grown in nutrient-rich fields with a view of Mt. Fuji, their tea is known for its rich flavor and excellent quality. The tea comes in a charming maneki-neko (lucky cat) box. In Japanese culture, a cat raising its right paw is said to bring wealth and happiness, while the left paw welcomes good people. This makes it a delightful and meaningful gift for Mother’s Day.
Mother's Day Gift Idea4 : Lifestyle with a Japanese Twist
From elegant wagasa umbrellas to luxurious towels, these practical yet stylish gifts combine beauty and functionality, bringing the essence of Japan to daily life.
1. Japanese Folding Fan (Sensu)
How about a traditional Japanese folding fan as a Mother’s Day gift? This fan is crafted by Inokuchi Shōjudō, a long-established maker based in Kyoto. Every piece is handmade by skilled artisans and entirely produced in Japan. Unlike mass-produced fans often found on online marketplaces, these Kyoto fans are certified with a regional collective trademark issued by the Kyoto Folding Fan and Uchiwa Association. This guarantees that the paper, bamboo ribs, and finishing process are all domestically produced. Featuring hand-painted cherry blossoms on washi paper and a bamboo frame, this elegant sensu fits easily into a small bag and brings a soft breeze—perfect for the summer season.
2. Imabari Towels
Imabari towels are one of Japan’s most renowned towel brands, known for their exceptional softness, absorbency, and durability. Made in Ehime Prefecture, these towels undergo strict quality testing to earn the official Imabari certification. This elegant gift set includes two face towels in red and white—the traditional colors of celebration in Japan. They are adorned with a shippō (seven treasures) pattern, a symbol of harmony and good fortune, making them a thoughtful and auspicious gift for Mother’s Day.
3. Wagasa (Traditional Japanese Umbrella)
This beautifully crafted wagasa from Kaba-jirushi Honpo carries over 80 years of history. Featuring traditional Japanese patterns and colors, each umbrella reflects the elegance of classic Japanese design. The handle is made from cold-season bamboo, and the fabric contains cotton, offering a warm, handcrafted feel. More than just decorative, the umbrella has a coated inner lining that provides over 99% UV protection, excellent heat shielding, and water repellency—making it ideal for both sunny and rainy days.
We hope these gift ideas help you find the perfect way to show your appreciation this year. Wishing you a warm and memorable Mother’s Day.
If you’re interested in Japanese Mother’s Day or other seasonal customs, please see below.
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*Please note that there may be changes in availability or pricing. The prices listed above are as of May 6th, 2025. For further details, please check Amazon.co.jp.
