One unavoidable part of any trip to Japan is omiyage - literally, something from the local area, but in practice a small gift that you bring when you visit someone or bring back if you've been away on holidays.
Japan is still big on packaging, and food items to be given as gifts are often individually wrapped in paper or foil and then placed in formed trays inside boxes. The overall effect is beautiful, but you're left with almost as much wrapping as food in the end.
But there's always reuse! This colourful little box, which originally contained hiyoko cakes, which are sold at Tokyo Station, is great for holding smaller items like phone straps and earrings when I don't have room to put everything out on display. (If you look closely at the photo in the article linked above, you can just see the little yellow sign on the far right which says ひよこ - hiyoko!)
Inside, there are nine moulded compartments, which are reasonably deep but with smooth sides so it's easy to slide things out and they don't get damaged.
I have a few others like this, but this one is one of my favourites. ^_^
What about you? If you have any great, unusual or crafty storage ideas, please let me know!
