Kyoto Don Quijote Shopping Guide 2026: Must-Buy Japan Souvenirs

Kyoto Shopping List / Don Quijote Shopping Haul & Review

By_2jay

1. Family Mart "Choo Sung-hoon" Socks

2. Dove Body Scrub (Kinmokusei / Fragrant Olive Scent)

3. O-Lens One-Day Color Contacts

4. Jennie's Peach Butt Soap

5. Lululun Sheet Masks (Hydra EX)

6. Quality 1st Retinol Eye Patches

7. Senka Perfect Whip White Clay Cleansing Foam

8. Starbucks Matcha Latte

9. Breath Care Refills

10. Vaseline Lip Balm & Heating Patches

11. Pokemon Bath Bombs

Although shopping wasn't the main goal of my Kyoto trip,

you can't visit Japan without doing a little shopping!

Here is my honest review of everything I bought.

1. Family Mart "Choo Sung-hoon" Socks (429 yen including tax)

They are super soft, but the ankle/calf part is quite long,

so if you're on the shorter side,

they might make your legs look a bit shorter if styled wrong (just my personal observation as someone who is 5'3"/160cm lol).

Probably not worth stocking up on in bulk!

Don Quijote Kyoto Shijo Kawaramachi

By_2jay

Mon–Sun 10:00 AM – 1:00 AM

You can't talk about Japan without mentioning Don Quijote,

so here is my review of the must-buy items I picked up there.

This Kyoto Don Quijote branch is actually on the smaller side.

Floor Guide

2. *** Dove Body Scrub - Kinmokusei/Fragrant Olive Scent (Japan Exclusive) (Tax-free price: 1,580 yen)

Personally, I'm obsessed with perfumes, body lotions, and anything that smells amazing,

and since this is a Japan-exclusive scent...

well, who can resist the word "limited edition"?

This was my absolute number one must-buy at Don Quijote.

I use body scrubs regularly,

so I've tried a ton of different brands.

First off, this Dove scrub is incredibly gentle and non-irritating.

Usually, with other scrubs that have harsh particles, I don't rub them in—

I just apply them, let them melt, and rinse them off.

But this one is so gentle on the skin that

I've been using it 2 to 3 times a week.

And of course, the fragrant olive scent is absolutely heavenly!

I would definitely buy this again, so I highly recommend it!

I had to dig around a bit to find it tucked away in a corner of Don Quijote haha.

3. *** O-Lens One-Day Color Contacts - Milky Choco (Tax-free price: 1,600 yen, box of 10)

I actually usually wear the "Purspur Choco" shade,

but my prescription was sold out... ㅠㅠ

So I picked up "Milky Choco" instead, which was the closest alternative in my power.

So I went ahead and bought that.

[ How to Buy Contact Lenses ]

When you go to the lens section, they are organized by type with little cards placed next to them.

Just take the card of the lens you want to the register on that floor,

tell them your prescription strength, and they will fetch it for you.

If you want to pay for them together with your other shopping items,

just let the staff know, and they will place the lenses in a locked security box so you can pay at the main registers.

You do have to fill out a simple form with your name, address, and contact info.

When I was in Tokyo before, they even asked for the name of my eye clinic,

but they didn't require that here. (By the way, if they do ask, you can just write down any local clinic name!)

4. ** Jennie's Peach Butt Soap - Pelican Peach Hip Care Soap (Tax-free: 599 yen / 598 yen)

Famously known as "Jennie's Peach Soap," this is the Pelican Peach Hip Care Soap.

There are two versions, and word has it that the one Jennie actually showed is the plastic-wrapped one on top.

They seem like the exact same product, but

the plastic-wrapped one is 599 yen tax-free, while the boxed one underneath is 598 yen tax-free.

Just a 1 yen difference lol—I have no idea what the actual difference is!

First of all, the peach scent is incredibly strong!

It completely fills my bathroom with a delicious peach aroma.

Since it's a scrub soap, it has tiny exfoliating particles embedded in it.

You can definitely use it as an all-over body scrub.

Personally, I use it for my whole body,

and I love how gentle and smooth it feels without being too harsh.

It would make a fantastic souvenir or gift for friends!

5. * Lululun Sheet Masks (Tax-free price: 800 yen)

6. * Quality 1st Retinol Eye Patches (Tax-free price: 800 yen)

These are sheet mask packs containing 7 sheets.

I have extremely dry skin,

and since buying this, using it while drying my hair has been absolutely perfect.

It's been so good!

Personally, I really dislike face masks that leave a sticky residue or sit on top of the skin—

I prefer products that absorb completely.

LuLuLun fully absorbs after 15 to 20 minutes,

leaving absolutely zero sticky residue behind, which was amazing.

It's perfect to use while blow-drying your hair right before applying makeup.

If you prefer highly concentrated, heavy-duty sheet masks, you might find this a bit too light.

The Quality First Eye Patches

are great for targeting just the under-eye area,

making them perfect for light, daily use.

They weren't irritating at all and worked really well.

7. ***Senka Perfect Whip White Clay Cleansing Foam (Tax-free 548 yen)

I used to buy this online through international shipping,

so it was an absolute must-have on my Don Quijote list.

If you struggle with blackheads, I highly recommend this.

It doesn't give dramatic, instant results,

but using it as a second-step cleanser after a cleansing oil

works wonders for clearing nose sebum.

Despite my dry skin, it doesn't leave my face feeling tight at all,

so I use it every single day.

8. **Starbucks Matcha Latte (Tax-free 699 yen)

This product frequently popped up on shopping recommendation lists, so I was curious.

Since I love matcha lattes, I decided to give it a try.

If you get the water ratio just right, it's delicious! haha

It's not overly sweet—just the perfect amount of sweetness—

and there's no chalky aftertaste, making it great for gifting.

9. *** Breath Care Refill Strong Mint (Original case tax-free 498 yen, 2-pack refill 598 yen)

This is a product I've been using consistently,

and since they had refills in stock

and they're much cheaper, I bought the refills.

You just swallow them with water.

It comes in two separate packs of 50 pills,

so if you already have the original case, I highly recommend getting the refills.

10. *Vaseline Lip Therapy (Tax-free 398 yen), Megrhythm Steam Thermo Patch (Tax-free 799 yen)

I use the Vaseline Lip Therapy every night before bed,

and since it was cheaper here than at Olive Young, I bought it.

As for the heat patches, my back was aching from walking so much in Japan,

and wearing these made a massive difference.

They're also perfect for winter,

so after buying them on my last Tokyo trip, they've become a repurchase item.

11. Pokemon Bath Bomb (Tax-free 450 yen, 300 yen)

If you have nieces or nephews, I absolutely recommend these (especially for nephews)!

This will definitely secure your status as their favorite aunt or uncle for a while... haha

It's a bath bomb for bath time,

and a tiny random toy pops out from the bubbles!

They loved the mystery of seeing which toy they'd get, almost like a capsule machine!

They went crazy for it! haha

Don Quijote is cheaper than the Pokemon Center,

so make sure to buy them at Don Quijote.

(The Pokemon Center is... just way too expensive... T_T)

LIFE Supermarket (Located on 1F of Richmond Hotel Kyoto Shijo)

by_2jay

The hotel where we stayed for two nights in Kyoto!

One of its biggest perks is having LIFE Supermarket right on the first floor.

They start clearance sales after 8:00 PM,

making it perfect for late-night snack shopping (though we failed due to lack of energy, timing, and being too full).

They have so many fruits, desserts, and savory snacks.

Sushi, oden, onigiri... our plan was to buy them all and feast,

but we were just too full...

We ended up just getting a can of beer each and some cheese beef jerky,

and that cheese jerky was delicious! haha

And some very modest shopping...

Since I love coffee, I grabbed some Blendy drip coffee bags,

and since I love wasabi, I wanted to buy a specific brand—but since it wasn't there,

I just went with a standard one. haha

It's almost embarrassing to even call this 'shopping'! haha

Since the supermarket on the 1st floor of Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo

is open until midnight,

it's a great spot to buy your late-night snacks.

It's cheaper compared to convenience stores,

so I highly recommend going during the clearance sale after 8:00 PM! haha

The location is fantastic with so many shopping spots within walking distance.

If you're looking for accommodation in central Kyoto,

I highly recommend the Richmond Hotel Premier Kyoto Shijo!

[Kyoto] Richmond Hotel Kyoto Shijo / Kyoto Hotel Recommendation / Superb Location Kyoto Hotel Recommendation

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