In America, souvenirs are meant for the person who has traveled (except for perhaps your family) and with the price of vacations these days that seems pretty fair to me.  However, in Japan souvenirs seem to be mainly for the people around you, family, friends, co-workers and the list goes on.  It’s a nice thought but unfortunately I’ve seen more often than not people ask for souvenirs before even asking about the trip!  Sometimes I wonder if those people even wonder where their acquaintances went!   In Japan, shopping for these souvenirs is made pretty simple with a variety of packaged edibles (most Japanese souvenirs seems to be food) but returning to America I found it quite difficult.  What do I bring back?  A big bag of Cheetos?  They do have boxes of chocolates at the airport with “America” written across the top along with pictures of the American Flag, Mt. Rushmore and eagles.  Really?  This is America?  Saying all this, I’m still relatively a newbie at what is appropriate and who I definitely need to buy for but I must admit, I have become quite the good at receiving!  Living in a guest house allows for many little treats from many different places.  I wonder what’s next?!