There are plenty of things you can buy in Japan that make great souvenirs. But some of my favorite things to recommend are not really souvenirs at all.
They’re just exceptionally useful Japanese products.
And this Montbell umbrella is one of them.
If I lived in New York City, where you walk everywhere, take the subway and never really know when you might get caught in the rain, this is exactly the kind of thing I’d keep in my bag every day.
The reason is simple: it weighs just 5.6 oz (159 g).
That’s less than an iPhone.
I’ve used plenty of folding umbrellas over the years, but I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had one this light.
Montbell Is a Japanese Outdoor Brand
If you’re not familiar with Montbell, it’s a Japanese outdoor brand founded in Osaka.
The company makes everything from hiking clothing and down jackets to backpacks, camping equipment and some surprisingly good everyday accessories.
In Japan, Montbell isn’t really a niche outdoor brand. You’ll see its stores around the country, and while many of its products are designed for hiking and the outdoors, plenty of people use them in everyday life simply because they’re lightweight, practical and well designed.
That practical approach is exactly what makes its umbrellas so good.
There’s nothing particularly flashy about this one. Mine is navy, folds into a simple little case and takes up very little space.
But pick it up and you immediately understand why I like it.
It Weighs Just 5.6 oz
The umbrella weighs 5.6 oz (159 g) and folds down to about 9.8 inches (25 cm).
Inside its storage sleeve, it’s around 10.6 inches (27 cm) long.
When open, it has a diameter of approximately 37.4 inches (95 cm), so despite how little it weighs, it still feels like a proper umbrella rather than one of those tiny emergency umbrellas that barely covers your shoulders.
The canopy is made from 20-denier polyester, while the ribs use carbon-fiber-reinforced resin.
But the specifications matter less than what that means in real life:
You barely notice that you’re carrying it.
You’ve Probably Noticed All the Parasols in Tokyo
If you’re visiting Japan in summer, you’ve probably already noticed something: a lot of people are walking around with umbrellas even when it isn’t raining.
They’re using them for the sun.
Parasols are completely normal in Japan, and with Tokyo summers getting intensely hot and sunny, they’re part of everyday life for many people.
What I particularly like about this umbrella is that you don’t need to carry separate umbrellas for rain and sun. It can be used for both.
So if rain is forecast, you’re covered. And on a brutally sunny afternoon in Tokyo, you can use the same umbrella for shade.
Even if you’ve never considered using a parasol at home, after a few days walking around Tokyo in summer, you may start to understand why we do it.
Why I’d Recommend It for NYC
This is the kind of product that makes particular sense if you live in NYC.
You walk a lot. You take the subway. And whatever you leave home with in the morning, you’re probably going to be carrying for most of the day.
A normal folding umbrella isn’t particularly heavy on its own, but add it to your phone, water bottle, wallet, charger and everything else in your bag and it all adds up.
At just 5.6 oz, this one is light enough that I wouldn’t think twice about leaving it in my bag every day.
For NYC, I’d primarily buy it as a rain umbrella. But summers are getting hotter there too, and if you ever decide you want some shade while walking across the city, you already have a parasol sitting in your bag.
And that’s really the point.
The best umbrella for unexpected rain — or sun — is the one you actually have with you.
A Very Practical Thing to Buy in Japan
I love beautiful Japanese stationery, ceramics and traditional souvenirs as much as anyone.
But if you’re visiting Japan and want to bring home something you’ll genuinely use, I’d also look at the things people here buy for ordinary life.
Montbell is a good place to start. (The KINTO water bottle I use every day is another one.)
This umbrella isn’t something you’ll put on a shelf and remember your trip to Tokyo by.
You’ll throw it into your bag, forget it’s there, and then be very happy you bought it the next time it starts raining in NYC.
And maybe, after a summer trip to Japan, you’ll start using it when the sun comes out too.
Sometimes that’s the best kind of souvenir.