From chic travel mugs to ultrasonic aroma diffusers to the best kitchen helpers, here are my handpicked gifts for mothers and mother figures to thank them for all they do for us!
Mother’s Day is approaching quickly, and if you’re looking for the best Mother’s Day gifts to show your mom how much you appreciate her, there are many great options to choose from. If your mom is a fan of Japanese cuisine, you can’t go wrong gifting her a Japanese kitchen tool or cookbook, but I also have some gift ideas for moms who aren’t big on cooking.
I picked gifts that I personally own and love and that any mom would love to have. Here are 21 of the best Mother’s Day gifts for any type of parent, from the avid chef to the mom who’s always on the go. No matter what you choose for your mother, I hope you find something that’s going to make her feel loved and appreciated on this special holiday!
The Best Mother’s Day Gifts
1. For the Mom Who Loves Authentic Japanese Cuisine: Ginpo Kikka Blue Donabe
A Japanese clay pot, or donabe, is a must-have for anyone who cooks authentic Japanese dishes at home. Popular nabe dishes like Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki are typically cooked in this earthenware vessel, but a donabe can also be used for making soups, stews, and braised dishes, as well as cooking rice. I personally have the Ginpo Kikka Blue Donabe for use on coil-top electric stoves. The No. 9 size is large enough to cook four servings at a time, and it doesn’t require any seasoning before use, making it a beginner-friendly choice!
2. For the Hot Pot Enthusiast: Zojirushi Gourmet d’Expert Electric Skillet
If your mom is always cooking dishes like Mizore Nabe and Miso Nikomi Udon during the winter, she needs one of the best electric hot pots. The Zojirushi Gourmet d’Expert Electric Skillet is my favorite option, as it’s highly durable and big enough to serve several people at once. You’re able to adjust the temperature to suit the dish, and I’ve used this appliance to make everything from grilled meat, okonomiyaki, and even steamed dumplings.
3. For the Mom on the Go: Fellow 12 oz Carter Move Travel Mug
I make coffee every single day, and the Fellow Carter Travel Mug is one of my favorite ways to take coffee to go, making it the perfect gift for moms who are always off and running. The minimalist design comes in a rainbow of pretty colors, and it can hold up to 12 ounces of coffee or tea. The double-wall vacuum-insulated stainless steel can keep beverages hot for up to 12 hours or cold for 24 hours, and there’s even a snap-in splash guard that helps prevent accidental spills while driving.
4. For the Mom Who Tunes In: Apple AirPods Pro
For tech-savvy parents, you can’t go wrong with a pair of the popular Apple AirPods Pro. These highly rated wireless Bluetooth earbuds can be used anywhere—at work, around the house, or even while working out—thanks to their comfortable shape and long-lasting battery life. I love mine! They offer up to six hours of playtime per charge and come with four interchangeable ear tips for a customized fit. They even have advanced noise cancellation, allowing your mom to tune out ambient noises when she needs to focus while she’s cooking or running errands.
5. For the Tea Drinker: Fellow Stagg EKG Gooseneck Kettle
Whether your mom prefers Japanese Green Tea, Royal Milk Tea, or another hot beverage, the Fellow Stagg EKG is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day. Not only is this electric gooseneck kettle a stylish addition to the kitchen, but it offers temperature control in one-degree increments. This allows you to adjust the water temperature for proper extraction of specific types of tea, ensuring the drink is flavorful and not bitter. The kettle can boil around 1 liter of water at a time, and its thin gooseneck spout gives you more precise control over the flow of water.
6. For the Mom Who’s Always Making Rice: Zojirushi Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker & Warmer
The Zojirushi Pressure Induction Heating Rice Cooker is my choice for the best Japanese rice cooker, and it’s a worthwhile buy if your mom loves having uruchimai with her meals. This cooking gadget uses pressurized cooking to make sticky and plump rice, and it cooks quickly without sacrificing quality. It has settings for sushi rice, brown rice, and more, and it’s highly durable—I’ve owned mine for more than 10 years and it’s still going strong.
7. For the Busy Chef: Kyocera Ceramic Grater
The Kyocera Grater is one of my favorite ginger graters, and it makes a great gift for anyone who loves cooking but is short on time. I typically use it to grate ginger, but it’s also useful for garlic, onions, daikon, and even hard cheese! It has a silicone ring around the base that keeps the grater in place on the counter, and it can be put in the dishwasher for quick and easy cleanup. If she cooks with ginger a lot, it will make her life so much easier!
8. For the Shokupan Lover: Tiger Crown 2396 Bread Mold
If your mother loves Japanese milk bread, also called shokupan, she’s going to need a special loaf pan to make it at home. My favorite Japanese loaf pans are made in Japan and harder to ship, but I’ve found some readily available alternatives, including the Tiger Crown Bread Mold. The 1.5 kin loaf pan makes a large rectangular loaf, and it includes a sliding cover that will create a flat top for authentic shokupan.
9. For the Mom Who Loves Aromatherapy: MUJI Ultrasonic Aroma Diffuser
Your mom will be able to relax at the end of a long day with the help of this ultrasonic aroma diffuser from Japan. All she has to do is fill it with water and a few drops of her favorite essential oil (I like lavender for a relaxing scent), and it will release a gentle mist that fills the room with scent. The minimalist design also doubles as a light with more than 12 brightness settings.
10. For the Ramen Enthusiast: Hime Japanese Ramen Noodles
For those who love making Japanese ramen, there’s no better gift than a few packs of authentic noodles straight from Japan. Ramen noodles, also called soba, are made of wheat flour, salt, water, and kansui, and while many are wavy, this particular brand offers straight noodles that are perfect for recipes like Miso Ramen or Shoyu Ramen. It’s an unconventional gift that she will definitely use!
11. For the Cold Brew Drinker: Hario Brewing Coffee Bottle
I love cold brew coffee, which is rich, well-balanced, and smooth compared to many other preparation methods. If your mom is a cold brew drinker too, the Hario Brewing Bottle makes it easy to create delicious caffeine-rich coffee at home. All you have to do is load coffee grounds into the inner strainer and fill up the bottle with water, then put it in the fridge to steep overnight. It can hold up to five cups at a time, and its narrow spout makes it easy to pour.
12. For the Mom Who’s Learning to Make Japanese Food: Just One Cookbook Essential Japanese Recipes
My first cookbook, Just One Cookbook Essential Japanese Recipes, makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who wants to learn how to make authentic Japanese cuisine. It includes a total of 33 recipes, including classics like chawanmushi, gyudon, and tamagoyaki, as well as my recipes for basics like steamed rice and dashi soup stock. Or, if she already has the cookbook, you can gift her Volume 2, which has 90 more of my most popular recipes!
13. For Tamagoyaki Lovers: Iwachu Iron Tamagoyaki Omelette Pan
Anyone who loves having tamagoyaki for breakfast needs a special omelet pan in their kitchen. The sweetened Japanese omelet is formed by cooking thin layers of seasoned egg and rolling them up into a log shape. This cast iron pan, which is from a well-known Nambu ironware brand in Japan, is perfect for cooking tamagoyaki, as its heavy metal construction retains heat well. The rectangular shape results in uniform rolls that are perfect for breakfast, bento box lunches, or as a topping for sushi.
14. For Japanese Pickle Lovers: JapanBargain Japanese Pickle Press
Known as tsukemono, Japanese pickles are often served as a side dish with meals, and they can be made from all sorts of vegetables, including cucumbers, radishes, turnips, carrots, and more. If your mom is a fan of tsukemono, this Japanese Pickle Press will let her make all her favorite pickle recipes at home. It has a 3-liter capacity, and when you twist the knob on top, the lid presses down on the vegetables, making sure everything is fully saturated in the brine for maximum flavor.
15. For the Avid Baker: Libbey Selene 2-Piece Cake Stand
If your mom is always whipping up Japanese desserts like Castella Cake or Chocolate Chiffon Cake, this glass cake stand is the perfect way to serve her confections. The two-piece design includes a footed glass stand and a matching dome that will protect the cake until it’s ready to enjoy. It can hold cakes up to 10.5 inches across, and it’s great for displaying other desserts and baked goods, as well.
16. For Matcha Drinkers: Naoki Matcha Superior Ceremonial Blend
Naoki is one of my favorite brands of matcha, and a container of green tea powder would be a perfect gift for anyone who enjoys the popular drink. This particular brand is a high-quality ceremonial-grade matcha, and it has a balanced, mellow flavor that’s ideal for both beginners and experienced matcha drinkers. I use it in Matcha Tea and Matcha Lattes, but it can also be incorporated into a wide range of other matcha recipes if she wants to bake with it!
17. For the Serious Home Chef: John Boos Walnut Wood Cutting Board
Every home chef needs a good cutting board, and this walnut one from John Boos is the perfect option for your mother’s kitchen. The heavy-duty board is 1.5 inches thick, and it comes in three different sizes: 18, 20, and 24 inches long. The black walnut wood is incredibly durable and can stand up to vigorous chopping, and there are convenient recessed handles on each side that let you move it around more easily.
18. For Candle Collectors: Diptyque Baies Candle
If your mother loves lighting new candles, the Diptyque Baies Candle is one of my go-to options—and it makes a great gift. This luxurious candle has notes of blackcurrant leaves and Bulgarian rose, making it smell like a fragrant garden on a summer day. The candle is made in France, and its 6.5-ounce form generally burns for around 60 hours, giving your mother plenty of time to enjoy the sweet scent.
19. For the Mom Who Takes a Lunch to Work: monbento Bento Box
With the monbento Bento Box, your mom will be able to take all her favorite Japanese foods to work with her. The lunch box has two tiers that are held together with an elastic band, and it comes with a food cup insert to help portion out food. The individual compartments can be microwaved, in case she wants to heat up her meal, and they’re also dishwasher safe for easy maintenance.
20. For Dessert Lovers: Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker
I like making Matcha Ice Cream or Soy Sauce Caramel Ice Cream as a delicious Japanese-inspired dessert, and if your mom has a sweet tooth, she’ll love whipping up her own ice cream flavors with this ice cream maker. The at-home ice cream maker uses a frozen bowl to churn ice cream, gelato, and sorbet, and it can make up to 1.5 quarts at a time. It’s simple and fast to use, making homemade ice cream in as little as 20 minutes, so she can always get her sweet fix.
21. For the Vegetarian Chef: Kansha: Celebrating Japan’s Vegan and Vegetarian Traditions
If your mom is a vegetarian, I recommend Kansha: Celebrating Japan’s Vegan and Vegetarian Traditions as a great Japanese cookbook. It contains 100 vegan recipes, including classics like shōjin ryōri and more modern dishes like eggplant sushi. In addition to delicious recipes, the cookbook also explains cutting techniques, cooking methods, and Japanese cooking equipment that will help chefs improve flavors and eliminate waste in the kitchen.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
