When I Just Want Water: KINTO Water Bottle
I own a Hydro Flask too, and I love it. But sometimes I don’t need an insulated bottle. I just want to carry water.
That’s when I use this.
KINTO’s 500ml Water Bottle is almost ridiculously simple. It weighs just 2.6 oz (75 g), it’s compact, and there’s really not much to it — which is exactly why I like it.
It holds 500ml (about 17 fl oz), so it’s big enough for everyday use without feeling like another heavy thing in your bag.
The opening is also just the right size — wide enough that washing the inside doesn’t feel like a chore, but not so wide that it’s awkward to drink from.
And there are hardly any parts. Just the bottle, the lid and a silicone ring. That’s it.
No straw, no complicated drinking spout, and no tiny pieces that are annoying to clean.
It’s also dishwasher safe.
That simplicity is probably what I like most about it. I use it when I just want to carry water, and when I get home, cleaning it takes almost no effort.
KINTO Is a Japanese Brand
KINTO was founded in Hikone, Shiga Prefecture in 1972, originally as a tableware wholesaler.
The company later began developing its own products and today makes tableware, drinkware and interior items with a focus on simple design and everyday usability.
KINTO has expanded internationally, including into the U.S. and Europe, so you may already know the brand.
But this Water Bottle is exactly the kind of ordinary Japanese product I think is worth looking for while you’re here.
It isn’t revolutionary. It’s just really well designed for something you use every day.
Why I Use This Instead of My Hydro Flask
There are obviously times when I want my Hydro Flask — especially if I want to keep something cold for hours.
But if I’m literally just carrying water?
I don’t always need an insulated stainless-steel bottle.
At only 2.6 oz, the KINTO is so light that I barely notice it in my bag. And because the design is so simple, filling it, drinking from it and washing it are all easy.
Sometimes simple is better.
Buy It Before Your Trip
This is actually something I’d order from Amazon Japan and have delivered to my hotel.
You can start using it while you’re in Tokyo instead of buying disposable bottles of water every day, and then take it home with you.
It’s lightweight, useful and takes up almost no space in your luggage. (I’d say the same about the Montbell folding umbrella I carry.)
For me, that’s a much better thing to bring home from Japan than another random souvenir.
You can also browse KINTO water bottles on Amazon if you’d rather order once you’re back home.
(This is an affiliate link — Tokyo Undone may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.)