Packing Travel Info & Reviews

5 of the Most Unusual Places I Buy Souvenirs

In this post I will show you the five most unusual places I buy souvenirs. These are not your usual places. We’re not going to the museum gift shop or the airport duty-free shop. This post will show you why I believe the best souvenirs are the ones that continue to remind you of your destination long after you’ve returned home.

Pharmacies

Skincare
Pharmacies are the perfect place to purchase skincare items. Get a taste of what the locals use. I did a little research about what to buy in Japan and this product kept coming up in so many videos. The Senka Perfect Whip Cleansing Foam is a facial cleanser. I’ve used it for the past year and my face has not been this clear in years.

The DHC Lip Cream is another great product. I was surprised at how well it worked. Plus, I’ve noticed that all the lip balms I’ve tried in Asia have long caps. So, it’s much harder to drop or lose them.

Band-Aids & Random Items
I don’t anticipate needing Band-Aids when I travel, but I’m very accident prone. Cutting my foot on a chair at least meant I found the cutest Hello Kitty Band-Aids in Japan.

The pharmacist recommended an antiseptic cream called Otsuka Oronine H Ointment to go with the Band-Aids. It has been sold in Japan since 1952. The cream has been the perfect addition to my bathroom cabinet at home.  I was actually looking for alcohol wipes to sanitize my cut. But that’s not something that is popular in Japan.

best-japanese-stores

There was a Poo-pourri-type spray (the kind you spray in the toilet before you go) I bought from an Asian website years ago. It ended up being from a Japanese brand. I decided to pick up a few of these as well.

You never know what you’ll find. Discover helpful products you never knew existed. There is a reason the pharmacy is one of the top unusual places I buy souvenirs.

Grocery Stores

Snack Foods
Snack foods found in grocery stores are a great souvenir. They give you a taste of your destination once you have returned home. Share a taste of that place with your friends and family. The image below shows a confection I purchased in Costa Rica. It was like a type of fudge.

My favorite snack foods to bring home are those that will not melt in high temperatures. This includes items that do not contain chocolate. I also avoid buying things that will get crushed. They need to be packaged well to make it home in good shape.

Candy
So many countries have candy that is not available unless you are in the country. Everything is not imported everywhere. These are the items to buy.  Seek out unique candy you have never seen before. The photo below is of candy and tea from Costa Rica.

I don’t recommend bringing back chocolate, but if I see a unique Kit Kat bar flavor for example, I might make an exception.

Tea and coffee
Are you a tea drinker? Do you have friends who are addicted to coffee? Pick up tea or coffee from your travel destination.

shopping-in-jacó

This is especially true if you are going to a place known for its coffee. Costa Rica is one of those places, so I had to pick up a few bags of coffee for friends.

Shoe Stores

Purchasing shoes tax-free is a great way to save money. Present your passport at many shoe stores to have the tax waived. The exchange rate in Japan at the time I went saved me around 40% off of what I would have paid for my sneakers in the US. 

Even if the shoe store you visit doesn’t offer tax-free shopping, it’s okay. You still have the opportunity to purchase shoes that are unique and not found near where you live. The shoes below were purchased in Costa Rica.

shopping-in-jacó

Thrift Shops

I’m new to thrift shopping and was hesitant at first. Depending on where I go, I’ve found some nice items.  Most people don’t think about thrifting in a foreign country. That’s why it makes my list of unusual places I buy souvenirs.

best-japanese-stores-2nd-street

Keep in mind the place that you are visiting. In Asia it will be hard to find US sized clothing. I’m generally a small in US sizes, and I had a hard time finding thrifted items that fit me in Japan (thankfully this skirt fit).

Bookstores

Books are a great souvenir for you or your friend who loves to read. Find copies of books that are rare or limited edition and not found other places. You can also find books in the native language that are unique to that country.

unusual-places-i-buy-souvenirs

I enjoy looking through foreign magazines. So, I make it a habit to purchase a magazine in every country that I visit.  I love looking at them once I’ve returned home to see another side of the place I just left. And for that reason, bookstores make my list of unusual places I buy souvenirs.

Can you think of anywhere else you can buy souvenirs that might seem unusual? Let me know in the comments.

1 Comment

  1. Nice post, Kelcy…

    I don’t travel as much, but I agree pharmacy’s are a good place to find local unusual items…and also thrift shops carry local items that you wouldn’t see in the average shops.
    Looking forward to see what you find on your next adventure.

Leave a Reply