Japan is famous for its wealth of arts and crafts , many dating back thousands of years, and handed down from generation to generation . Though the best are phenomenally expensive, there are plenty at more manageable prices which make wonderful souvenirs . Most department stores have a reasonable crafts section, but it's far more enjoyable to trawl Japan's specialist shops, even if you do pay a little extra for the pleasure. Kyoto is renowned for its traditional crafts, and even in Tokyo you'll find a number of artisans still plying their trade, while most regions have a vibrant local crafts industry turning out products for the tourists.

Tokyo and Kyoto are also well-known for their regular flea markets , usually held at shrines and temples . You need to get there early for the best deals, but you might come across some gorgeous secondhand kimono, satin-smooth lacquerware or rustic pottery among a good deal of tat. Keep an eye out, too, for unusual items in the discount stores, which can yield amazing gizmos for next to nothing.

Japan's most famous craft is its ceramics ( tojiki ). Of several distinct regional styles, Imari-ware (from Arita in Kyushu) is best known for its colourful, ornate designs, while the iron-brown unglazed Bizen-ware (from near Okayama) and Mashiko's simple folk-pottery are satisfyingly rustic. Other famous names include Satsuma-yaki (from Kagoshima), Kasama-yaki (from Ibaraki) and Kyoto's Kyo-yaki. Any decent department store will stock a full range of styles, or you can visit local showrooms. Traditional tea bowls, sake sets and vases make popular souvenirs.

Originally devised as a means of making everyday utensils more durable, lacquerware ( shikki ) has developed over the centuries into a unique artform. Items such as trays, tables, boxes, chopsticks and bowls are typically covered with reddish-brown or black lacquer and either left plain or decorated with paintings, carvings, sprinkled with eggshell or given a dusting of gold or silver leaf. Though top-quality lacquer can be hideously expensive, you'll find a whole range of lesser pieces at more reasonable prices. Lacquer needs a humid atmosphere, especially the cheaper pieces made on a base of low-quality wood which cracks in dry conditions; inexpensive plastic bases won't be affected.

Some of Japan's most beautiful traditional products stem from folkcrafts ( mingei ), ranging from elegant, inexpensive bamboo-ware to wood-carvings, toys, masks, kites and a whole host of delightful dolls ( ningyo ). Peg-shaped kokeshi dolls from northern Honshu are among the most appealing, with their bright colours and sweet, simple faces. But look out also for the rotund, round-eyed daruma dolls, made of papier-mâché, and fine, clay Hakata-ningyo dolls from Kyushu.

Traditional Japanese paper ( washi ), made from mulberry or other natural fibres, is fashioned into any number of tempting souvenirs. You can buy purses, boxes, fans, oiled umbrellas, lightshades and toys all made from paper, as well as wonderful stationery. Indeed, some washi is so beautifully patterned and textured that a few sheets alone make a great gift.

Original woodblock prints , ukiyo-e , by world-famous artists such as Utamaro, Hokusai and Hiroshige, have long been collectors' items fetching thousands of pounds. However, you can buy copies of these "pictures of the floating world", often depicting Mount Fuji, willowy geisha or lusty heroes of the Kabuki stage, at tourist shops for more modest sums. Alternatively, some art shops specialize in originals, both modern and antique.

Kimono , the traditional Japanese dress, are still worn for special occasions and every department store has a corner devoted to ready-made or tailored kimono. However, it's far more economical to look for secondhand or antique versions at tourist shops or in the kimono sales held by department stores, usually in spring and autumn. Sumptuous wedding kimono make striking wall hangings, as do obi , the broad, silk sash worn with a kimono. A cheaper, more practical alternative is the light, cotton kimono, yukata , which are popular as dressing gowns; you'll find them in all department stores. To complete the outfit, you could pick up a pair of zori , traditional straw sandals , or their wooden counterpart, geta .

Other attractive textiles include noren , a split curtain hanging in the entrance to a restaurant or bar; cotton tenugui (small hand towels), decorated with cute designs; and the large, square, versatile wrapping cloth, furoshiki .

Whilst the chunky, iron kettles, a speciality of Morioka in northern Honshu, are rather unwieldy mementos, the area also produces delicate furin , or wind chimes , in a variety of designs. Damascene is also more portable, though a bit fussy for some tastes. This metal inlay-work, with gold and silver threads on black steel, was originally used to fix the family crest on sword hilts and helmets, though nowadays you can buy all sorts of jewellery and trinket boxes decorated with birds, flowers and other intricate designs. Pearls , however, are undoubtedly Japan's most famous jewellery item, ever since Mikimoto Kokichi first succeeded in growing cultured pearls in Toba in 1893. Toba is still the centre of production, though you'll find specialist shops in all major cities selling pearls at fairly competitive prices.

Finally, there are a host of edible souvenirs . Items that might tempt you include rice-crackers ( sembei ), vacuum-packed bags of pickles ( tsukemono ), and Japanese sweets ( okashi ), such as the eye-catching wagashi . Made of sweet, red-bean paste in various colours and designs, wagashi are the traditional accompaniment to the tea ceremony. Tea itself ( ocha ) comes in a variety of grades, often in attractive canisters, while sake is another inexpensive gift option, and occasionally comes in interesting-shaped bottles.