Gift Shop Finds at the Tokyo National Museum of Science and Nature

The souvenirs at this science museum's gift shop were too cute and adorable to leave behind. Of course, I couldn't buy everything because I would run out of money for the day. It took me a while to circle around the shop and choose what I wanted to get. 

Here are some of the kawaii stuff I found at the souvenir store of the Tokyo National Museum of Science and Nature.

1. Collectible tins with gaufrette biscuits

I couldn't resist but get a tin for myself. There were three different designs: a T-Rex, Hachiko and the City of Tokyo. After minutes of reflection, I chose this T-rex design because it would always remind me of the museum's dinosaur exhibits. 

The gaufrettes inside were also very delicious. Gaufrettes (I had to search this term up while making up my mind about which collectible tin to get) are crispy wafers sandwiched together with sweet filling. The gaufrettes I tried had strawberry and vanilla filling. 

We have a similar type of wafers back in the Philippines, but they are square-shaped and stacked on top of each other with sweet chocolate filling. The gaufrettes inside these collectible tins were round and very thin. 

One tin was 420 Yen (~4 USD) . A set of all three designs was about 1300 Yen (~13 USD). 

2. Dinosaur Ruler

What better way to educate kids about the different types of dinosaurs than to incorporate their names and illustrations in school supplies? I got one for myself and one for my high school sister. 

My sister would be able to use this, but I don't think I will be able to use mine as much. Still, I keep the ruler inside my pen case as a souvenir of my museum trip. Now that I think about, it can also be used as a bookmark!

Each ruler was 110 Yen (~1 USD).

3. Museum Guide to the Japan exhibit

I am always a stickler for buying book guides from every museum or exhibit I visit. In a way, it helps me retain and remember everything I've learned on that day. It's akin to musical lovers buying the official program of their favorite show when it comes to town. 

There were two museum guides, namely: the Global Exhibit, and the Japanese Exhibit. Since I only visited the latter, I decided to buy its English guide for 700 Yen (~7 USD). For those who want to read the book in Mandarin or Japanese, they can purchase Chinese and Japanese versions of this book. 

This museum guide encompasses everything i've learned from the Japanese exhibit. It also tackles some exhibits I was not able to interact with. 

Here's a look-see at one of the pages inside the booklet. 

4. Dinosaur seaweed shapers for bento boxes

Your bento box lunch will be the center of attention with these adorable seaweed shapers. I wasn't able to see what was inside the individual boxes, but I am guessing that these shapers "punch" into the seaweed to create the designs. 

You can even incorporate these dinosaur seaweed shapes into onigiri and rice balls. 

It is 540 Yen (~6 USD) per dinosaur design. I didn't get it, but I found it super cute and kawaii. 

5. Illustrated study guides for med students

In full color and detailed illustrations, these study guides would win the hearts of med students. Some of these study guides feature the skeletal system, muscular system and the diferent glands of the brain. 

I wanted to get one for my English speaking friend who was studying med in the Philippines, but the descriptions were in Japanese. I wasn't able to find an English version though. Still, it's pretty cool that the museum has these kinds of helpful and educational materials for Japanese students. 

Each illustrated guide is 1400 Yen (~14 USD). 

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