Hello everyone,

I will be traveling with wife to Japan in a few weeks, and a coworker I have worked with a few times in the past has offered to show us around Tokyo. I was hoping that he and his wife would be able to meet us for dinner one night, but he came back to me with a lot more plans. He wanted to take us to Hakone on a day trip and then on the next day offered to show us around the city.

I want to get them a gift to thank them for their time and willingness to play tour guide with us, and I want to be sure I get it right. I know he and his wife are big wine drinkers, would this be an appropriate gift? Is there anything else which would be more appropriate? I know there is a large gift giving culture in Japan and want to be sure I don't mess something up somehow.

Thanks so much!

I'm no expert, but with everything I have been reading, I'm sure someone will confirm, wine would be totally fine. I would bring them something from your point of orgin(just double check with customs on how much you can bring). Also, foods(ie sweets and such) would be good. One of the big things about giving gifts is that fact that they love gift wrapping, it's an art to them. So what ever you decide to give, just make sure it's wrapped very well.

I've talked with several people about this subject. While I can't comment on giving wine specifically, what I've been told tends to go with what the previous poster said.

The Japanese especially love gifts from the giver's home, such as something representative of the city or area you live in. It needn't be expensive. It should be wrapped well. Chocolate or other gourmet "treats" are well-liked also.

dcman2

I just checked the Japanese customs regulations and "pharmaceuticals and cosmetics" seem to be only items listed that may be limited in how much you can bring into the country.

Are you sure? I suspect that alcohol is limited or you must pay duty on it.

Wine would be a nice gift. It's expensive in Japan and there aren't a lot of wine stores with good selections.

Single malt scotch is also a good business gift, assuming that your business associates drink. However, if the wife/family will help to entertain you, I would opt for the wine. If you know that there are kids, a token gift from home would be a nice touch, perhaps a small stuffed animal from a local species/zoo if the kids are small. Luxury food like fancy chocolates can be an easy choice too.

You can ask your hotel concierge for guidance, especially about wrapping. To be safe, I would avoid flowers or anything associated with numbers, as you wouldn't want to give an unlucky number of funeral flowers.

Things have changed. It is not as expensive as the US in several instances and there are awealth of places with amazing selections. Life is good for us winos here now.

Import of wine in quantities designed for personal consumption ( term not very well defined but generally taken to mean to be up to several cases) is taxed at 200yen/liter (after the first 3 bottles of 750ml which are duty free) at the airport. One the easiest and cheapest taxation systems I have encountered. I bring wine in several times a year and it is so convenient. The customs folks are actually very pleasant here.

Alcohol is unlimited - you can bring in as much as you want. Of course you have to pay a small duty per bottle past the third bottle, but it's only a few hundred yen at most and shouldn't stop anyone from bringing in alcohol as a souvenir or gift.

And I agree, a local wine (or at least one from your country or region) is an excellent gift; otherwise chocolates or luxury food items like smoked salmon....

Thank you everyone for the responses. I will do some digging to see if I can figure out any specific varieties that he likes. They have no children so I will focus on wine, and perhaps some Chocolates as well from a brand local to Chicago.

Thank you again, you have been extremely helpful!

Chocolates are a pretty safe gift so maybe a box of Fannie May as a local offering together with a couple of nice bottles of wine from the U.S.

Thanks. I was thinking of grabbing almost exactly that, a box of Frango chocolates and couple of nice bottles of wine.

Thanks again!

As the OP is in ORD, I would recommend a box of Vosges Truffles. Also I would recommend a good American whiskey instead of wine for the Japanese.