Mother’s Day in Tokyo: Special Experience and Gift Ideas

Go the extra mile for that special woman in your life.

There shouldn’t be only one day in the year to celebrate 母の日 (hahanohi; “Mother’s Day”), but since we have a designated date anyway, it’s worth making that day a tad more special than usual. A typical Mother’s Day celebration in Japan extends to presenting carnations and sweets. If you want to go the extra mile to celebrate your mother, mother-in-law, or any other mother figure in your life, we’ve put together the best experience and gift ideas for Mother’s Day in Tokyo 2024—which falls on Sunday, May 12 this year.

Let Her Enjoy a Day of Full Pampering at Elana Jane

© Photo by Elana Jane

© Photo by Elana Jane

© Photo by Elana Jane

Celebrate this Mother’s Day by treating them (and yourself, too, if you wish) to a relaxing facial or beauty pamper. Organic beauty salon Elana Jade is offering three exclusive offers for the holiday. Choose from an Anti-Age Facial Special (¥16,000); Lash Extension Special (¥9,000); and a Magnetic Nail Design Special (¥6,900). Other Elana Jade services include organic waxing and spray tanning, as well as nails, eyelash extensions, and eyebrow and eyelash tinting. Why not go for a full body overhaul? Go on, your mom deserves it.

• When: Now through Fri, May 31, 2024, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Mon-Wed); 10 a.m.-9 p.m. (Tue & Thu); 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (Sat & Sun).
• Where: 3-6-2 Azabujuban, Minato City, Tokyo
• How much: ¥6,900-¥16,000. Book online here.

Take Her On A Special Afternoon Tea Date at ANA InterContinental Tokyo

© Photo by ANA InterContinental Tokyo

Tell mom you love her by taking her to enjoy an afternoon tea set in Tokyo. Indulge mom this Mother’s Day with this lavish strawberry set at ANA InterContinental Tokyo. It features 12 items bursting with fresh strawberries and various other berries, and a choice of 15 beverages, featuring Ronnefeldt and Japanese tea. The five savory options are perfectly complemented with a touch of strawberry sweetness too. Immerse yourself in a blissful moment with mom while devouring this beautiful berry tea set.

• When: Daily, until June 30, 2024 from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Where: ANA InterContinental Tokyo 3F, 1-12-33 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo
• How much: ¥7,500 per person. Book here.

Enjoy Painting and Wine Together at ArtBar

© Photo by ArtBar

This one is for the two of you. Together. There’s no need to be an experienced painter (or a wine drinker), just let your creativity flow (under, of course, the guidance of experienced and bilingual instructors). There are various special Mother’s Day painting sessions at each ArtBar location in Tokyo. All materials are provided, too, so drop by (after booking here). If you’re going with your little one, there is also a special Mother’s Day parent and child class earlier in the day at their Daikanyama studio.

• When: Sun, May 12, 2024, times vary (see schedule).
• Where: ArtBar Daikanyama, Artbar Cat Street Harajuku, Artbar Yokohama Motomachi
• How much: Varies by session (see schedule).

Experience the Aloha Spirit Together at The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama

Although taking Mom to Hawaii for the weekend sounds fabulous, it’s not the most feasible option. So, here’s the next best thing! The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama blends Hawaiian and Japanese luxury through cultural motifs and a sea theme in its exterior and interior designs. Book a “Hawaiian Room” for you and mom and enjoy a welcome lei, a Hawaiian drink, a stuffed dolphin toy and a mini perfume oil from Malie Organics each. Add “The Spa” to your booking to access a gym, a heated indoor pool and a traditional Japanese bathing area. The Spa’s treatment salon offers various facial, scrub and massage courses. Treat mom to the Yokohama Lomi Lomi—a traditional Hawaiian-style healing treatment that uses rhythmic strokes along the body to relieve muscle tension.

© Photo by Elana Jane

As well as lavish Japanese and Italian dining options, you can also enjoy a view of Yokohama’s bay area in the Lounge and Bar while enjoying seasonal afternoon tea sets, Hawaiian-style thin pancakes and various floral cocktails. Spend the first day relaxing with mom in the hotel resort and then head out the next day together refreshed to explore the beautiful port city of Yokohama.

• Where: 1-1-3 Minatomirai, Nishi Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa
• How much: Rooms from ¥21,390〜 (Hawaiian Rooms from ¥77,184〜) Book online here. The Spa: ¥3,300 per person; Yokohama Lomi Lomi Body Treatment: ¥36,685.

Bonus: Take Her to a Sky High Tea Ceremony in Tokyo Tower

This special tea ceremony held in Tokyo Tower is only available twice a month on Saturday mornings, which is technically the day before Mother’s Day. However, we could argue, that every day should be Mother’s Day. So why not take mom out on Saturday too? Enjoy a quiet morning together with matcha and sweets while overlooking the city from the observation deck of Tokyo Tower.

When: Sat, May 11, 2024 from 8:15 a.m.〜 or 9 a.m.〜
Where: Tokyo Tower, 4-2-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo
How much: ¥3,300 per person. Book online here.

Mother’s Day in Tokyo Gift Ideas for 2024

1. Fiorentina Pastry Boutique’s Mother’s Day Flower Cakes

© Photo by Grand Hyatt Tokyo

Stop by the Grand Hyatt Tokyo’s pastry boutique Fiorentina and grab one of the exclusively crafted Mother’s Day flower cakes. From the mesmerizing mango spiral of Fiorire to the Grand Premium Flower Cake’s delightful dome of flowers, these breathtaking cakes are a wonderful tribute to mothers everywhere.

• When: Until Sun, May 12, 2024 from 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m. (Pre-order by May 9, 2024, 10 a.m.)
• Where: The Grand Hyatt Tokyo 1F, 6-10-3 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• How much: Fiorire: ¥10,800 (12cm); Grand Premium Flower Cake: Piece: ¥2,200 (7.5cm) or Whole: ¥6,200 (12cm) Order in advance here.

2. Nicolai Bergmann’s Mother’s Day Collection 2024

© Photo by Nicolai Bergmann

Flowers on Mother’s Day are a must, right? Choose from a variety of colors and sizes from this spring’s special Mother’s Day collection by the world-renowned floral artist Nicolai Bergmann. These perfectly arranged flowers in various-sized gift boxes are the perfect way to gift mom a small floral garden. Special gift sets which include a floral box with Athletia hand cream, a handkerchief or Kusmi Tea are also available. Buy at Nicolai Bergmann’s flagship shop in Aoyama, their other stores or online.

Open: 10 a.m.–7 p.m. (Nicolai Bergmann Aoyama Flagship Store)
Where: 5-7-2 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
How much: From ¥5,060〜 (Products vary, see here.)

3. FOPE Ginza’s Iconic Flex’it Jewelry

© Photo by FOPE

Spoil mom (or yourself) on Mother’s Day this year with FOPE’s innovative Flex’it technology jewelry—found in their bracelets, rings, necklaces or earrings. Flex’it items have stretchable flexibility that allows each jewelry piece to be put on and removed easily. FOPE Ginza, which opened its first Japan-based flagship store in June 2023, will also give away free original cold drinks in stores until May 12, 2024. So, why not take mom to Ginza and let her pick something out for herself while you enjoy a refreshing cold drink together?

• Open: Mon-Sat from 11 a.m.–7:30 p.m.; Sun & Holidays from 10 a.m.–6:30 p.m. (Free original cold drinks are only available until Sun, May 12, 2024.)
• Where: 2-4-5 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo
• How much: Flex’it jewelry: From ¥149,600〜 (Products vary, see here.) Original cold drinks are free if you add their store as a friend on LINE (more info here).

4. Refa S Carat Face Roller

© Photo by Refa S Carat

Here’s a gift idea for the beauty-conscious mom. This multiangular roller promises to tighten and rejuvenate the skin. Not only does it work as a drainage roller that replicates the gentle kneading of a professional esthetician, but there is also a solar panel embedded in the handle that converts light into a very mild and soothing microcurrent which promotes wound healing, reducing inflammation, boosting circulation and improving muscle function. You can buy this Refa S Carat Face Roller at the Refa Boutique in Omotesando, in department stores around Tokyo or online.

• Open: 11 a.m.–11 p.m. (Refa Boutique Omotesando)
• Where: Omotesando Hills B2F, 4−12−10 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo
• How much: ¥15,950

5. Parfum Satori’s Yoru no Ume (Night Plum)

© Photo by Parfum Satori

Have mom smelling florally this Mother’s Day with this perfume by Japanese perfumer Osawa Satori. Yoru no Ume or Night Plum is inspired by one of the many classic waka (Japanese poems) about plum blossoms in the ancient text, the Manyoshu (a collection of Japanese waka poems). While its top notes of clove and apricot and middle notes of red plum, rose and lily-of-the-valley ring in as a sweet floral, the bottom notes of sandalwood, musk, balsam fir and cinnamon impart a clean woodsy scent at the end. Buy it in-store at the Parfum Satori Atelier in Roppongi or online. If you like the idea of gifting mom a Japanese scent, check out our other top choices for Japanese plum blossom perfumes.

• Open: Mon-Fri from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (reservation required); Sat & Sun 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (no reservation required)
• Where: Ours 2F, 3−6−8 Roppongi, Minato City, Tokyo
• How much: ¥15,840 (50mL)

We hope you have a wonderful Mother’s Day in Tokyo, however you choose to spend it!