Matcha from Kyoto, instant ramen you cannot find at home, curry roux, furikake, a bag of drip coffee. 41.7% of foreign visitors bought food and drinks to take home in 2025 — and it is the heaviest part of any souvenir haul. Here is what people buy, what to check before you pack it, and how to get it without carrying bags of groceries across the city.
01What travelers buy
- Matcha and Japanese tea. Matcha and green tea from Kyoto’s Uji and other tea regions — light to carry, and a classic gift.
- Instant ramen and cup noodles. Japan-only flavors and restaurant-brand packs. Many use pork or chicken broth, so check the meat rules below.
- Curry roux. Blocks of Japanese curry roux, such as House Vermont Curry and S&B Golden Curry.
- Seasonings. Furikake rice seasoning, dashi stock packs and yuzu kosho — small, but heavy by the dozen.
- Drip coffee. Single-serve drip-bag coffee from Japanese roasters.
02Check your home country’s rules first
| Country or region | Meat, meat extracts and dairy | Tea |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Most products containing meat, such as soup mixes and bouillon, are not allowed. Declare all food — undeclared items can be fined. | Tea and coffee are allowed. Powders over 350 ml in cabin bags get extra screening on US flights. |
| South Korea | Most meat products are not allowed in luggage; meat and dairy products must be declared. Fines apply if you do not declare. | No specific limit found. |
| Taiwan | Meat products need an animal-health certificate from the exporting country; fines from NT$10,000 up to NT$1 million. | Up to 1 kg of tea leaves. |
| Hong Kong | Fully cooked meat for personal use is generally allowed; raw or frozen meat, eggs and milk are controlled. | No specific limit found. |
| Indonesia | Animal and plant products must be declared (All Indonesia app); items without documents can be confiscated. | No specific limit found. |
| Türkiye | Meat and dairy products cannot be brought in as personal goods. | Up to 1 kg of tea and 1 kg of coffee duty-free. |
Summary as of September 2026, from each country’s customs or quarantine authority. Rules change, so check the official source for your country before you pack. In the US, declaring an item avoids a penalty even when it cannot come in. soracross cannot give customs advice.
03Buying it yourself: where to go
The best range and everyday prices for ramen, curry, seasonings and tea.
Souvenir-sized packs and restaurant-brand ramen, often open late.
Specialist tea shops for higher-grade matcha and gift tins.
Amazon Japan, Rakuten and makers’ official shops sell almost everything — but checkout is in Japanese and delivery needs an address in Japan.
04Where it usually goes wrong
- Weight adds up. Ten packs of ramen, curry roux and a few jars of seasoning can add several kilos to your checked bag.
- Liquids in the cabin. Soy sauce, dressings and pastes over 100 ml cannot go in your cabin bag on international flights — pack them in checked luggage.
- Meat and pork broth. Instant ramen with pork or chicken broth is a common problem item at customs in several countries. Read the label and your country’s rules.
- Fresh food is out. Fresh fruit, wagyu, seafood and alcohol are outside our service — buy those yourself, and check your country’s rules.
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Free quote, usually within 24 hours. Nothing is bought until you say go.
05Shopping yourself vs. with soracross
| Your worry | Doing it yourself | With soracross |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying heavy groceries | Bags of ramen and jars from the supermarket back to the hotel | Delivered to your hotel, timed to your stay |
| Japanese-only online shops | Kana fields and a Japanese address | Send us the link or name — we handle the Japanese checkout |
| Foreign card declined | Your cart is gone at the last step | Pay once by card via Square |
| Sold out in the store | Checking three more supermarkets | We check official online stock — and tell you any reseller markup first |
| Not sure the hotel accepts parcels | You find out only after it ships | We ask your hotel in Japanese before we buy (+¥1,000) |
06The easy way: send your list, pick it up at your hotel
soracross is a personal-shopping service for travelers in Japan. Send us product links (Amazon, Rakuten, makers’ official shops — or just product names) and get one all-in quote: item prices + our fee for sourcing and handling (minimum ¥1,000) + hotel delivery from ¥1,000. We buy new, packaged food from official Japanese shops and deliver it to your hotel during your stay, or to a coin locker in the area you choose. Add front-desk pre-notice (+¥1,000) and we ask your hotel in Japanese before we buy whether it will hold the parcel. Nothing to pay until you approve the quote — then pay once by card via Square.
07See a rough estimate first
Estimate your total
Enter the item's retail price to get a rough total. This is only a guide — we confirm the exact amount in your quote before you pay.
| Item price | — |
| Service fee (10% + ¥1,000) | — |
| Delivery | — |
| Estimated total | — |
Estimate only. Your actual quote depends on the items and is confirmed by us before payment.
If you don't enter a product URL yourself, a +¥1,000 item sourcing fee applies per item.
Want it? Send it.
Free quote, usually within 24 hours. Nothing is bought until you say go.
08FAQ
What Japanese food do tourists buy most?
Can I bring Japanese instant ramen home?
Can I take matcha on the plane?
Can you buy fresh food, wagyu or sake for me?
Is shopping through soracross tax-free?
Can you ship food to my home country?
09Related guides
soracross is an independent purchasing agent and is not affiliated with Amazon, Rakuten or Yodobashi. Your purchase contract for the goods is with the retailer. Details are correct as of each guide's update date.