Bringing Back and Packing Souvenirs in Dogo Onsen: Precautions for Carry-on and Storage

A quick reference for bringing Dogo souvenirs home by plane. Bottled drinks in containers over 100 ml cannot be taken into the cabin on international flights (the 100 ml limit does not apply to checked baggage, but alcohol is restricted by strength). It covers how to pack ceramics, shelf lives such as 45 days for Poeme and 7 days refrigerated for kamaboko, quarantine, duty-free shops and parcel delivery sizes.

Quick Reference: Carry-on, Check-in, and Parcel Delivery

Souvenir	Carry-on Baggage	Checked Baggage	Parcel Delivery
Bottled beverages / Local sake	International flights: containers of 100 ml or less only (placed in a transparent bag of 1 liter or less)	No 100 ml restriction. Wrap well to prevent breakage and place in center	Takkyubin: 3-side total up to 200 cm, 30 kg; Yu-Pack: up to 170 cm, 25 kg
Ceramics such as Tobe ware / Glass	No 100 ml restriction as they are not liquids	Wrap in clothing or cushioning and place in center	Same as above. Consult with the shop when purchasing regarding packaging
Room-temperature snacks (Poeme, etc.)	No restrictions	No restrictions	Same as above
Perishables requiring refrigeration/freezing (kamaboko, etc.)	Not suitable for long journeys	Not suitable for long journeys	Store mail-order arrives by chilled courier

The 100 ml restriction is a rule when taking items into cabins on international flights departing Japan (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). It does not apply to checked baggage. Alcoholic beverages purchased at duty-free shops after passing security screening can be brought into the cabin. Since items may be confiscated in transit countries, passengers with connecting flights should check with their airlines. On domestic flights, alcoholic beverages with an alcohol content of 24% or less have no quantity limits for either carry-on or checked baggage, those exceeding 24% and up to 70% are limited to 5 liters per person, and those exceeding 70% are not permitted as either. In all cases, items must remain in their retail containers (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism).

Things to Check Before Buying

Along Dogo Shopping Street and its surroundings, citrus juices and jellies, Tobe ware, taruto, Botchan dango, kamaboko, and Imabari towels are sold. Whether you can buy bottled items or items requiring refrigeration depends on whether you return by plane or train, fly domestic or international, and check your baggage.

Bottled Juice and Local Sake

At 10FACTORY Dogo Store, Ehime no Shokutaku 1970, and other shops, you can purchase bottled citrus juices and local sake. Even if the content is 100 ml or less, containers exceeding 100 ml cannot be brought into cabins on international flights. Such bottles should be placed in suitcases and checked. Wrapping bottles in clothing or thick cushioning and placing them in the center of a suitcase protects them against external impacts.

The expiration date of 10FACTORY's Kawachi Bankan juice (200 ml) is 9 months from manufacture, stored at room temperature out of direct sunlight (display on the official online shop).

Packing Tobe Ware and Glass

In Dogo, Tobe ware is sold at Sumiya Tobeyaki Store and glass products at other shops. When buying ceramics or glass, have the shop wrap them in cushioning materials, or fill empty spaces in the box with paper or padding yourself.

Food: Room Temperature vs. Refrigeration Required

Poeme has a shelf life of 45 days from manufacture. Store away from direct sunlight, high temperatures, and high humidity (Poeme official website).
On Tanimoto Kamaboko Store's online shop, kamaboko and chikuwa are labeled as 7 days refrigerated, and jako-katsu as 30 days frozen. Jako-ten is also refrigerated, lasting 7 days for standard packaging and 30 days for vacuum packs. Shipping costs for online orders include chilled delivery fees.
Taruto and Botchan dango have different expiration dates and storage methods depending on the maker. Check the package labeling.

Items requiring refrigeration risk declining in quality if carried around for long periods. Purchasing immediately before departure or shipping by chilled delivery from the store reduces carrying time.

Packing Towels and Room-Temperature Japanese Sweets

Imabari towels (such as Iori Main Store) and individually wrapped room-temperature baked sweets are souvenirs that are easy to take home. Towels stuffed into gaps in a suitcase serve as cushioning to protect fragile items. When buying multiple boxes of sweets, check your airline's baggage weight limits to avoid exceeding the allowance.

International Flight Quarantine, Duty-Free, and Shipping

Meat products require export inspection by the Animal Quarantine Service even when taken out as souvenirs if the destination country requires certification. Check in advance with the destination country's embassy or quarantine authority regarding whether items can be brought in and which certificates are required (Animal Quarantine Service).
Plants and processed goods made from plant materials may require export inspection or may not be permitted for export depending on destination conditions. Major airports have export quarantine counters (Plant Protection Station).
Shops in Dogo Shopping Street that support tax-free shopping include Iori Main Store, Sugi Bee Garden Dogo Onsen Store, and Jugomangoku MASARU (list on Matsuyama Shotengai official website).
When you have a lot of luggage, send it by parcel delivery. Yamato Transport's Takkyubin handles sizes 60 to 200 (total of 3 sides within 200 cm, up to 30 kg), and Yu-Pack handles total of 3 sides up to 170 cm, up to 25 kg.

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Last Verified: October 23, 2026