Many local goodies appeal to the expat population of Japan -- kimono, sake and next-generation electronic goods to name a few. The area of fine arts, however, can be daunting, with most paintings and even photographs by established contemporary artists priced from the millions to the many millions of yen.
There are inexpensive Japanese art calendars and posters available at art shops and from online operations both here and overseas, and these do fine as tack-to-the wall decoration. But the more serious would-be collector might want to consider buying fine-art prints -- limited-edition works on paper that are made either by an artist or under their close supervision.
Whether produced using lithography, woodblocks or any other related process, the appeal of prints over posters is the superior quality of their color, resolution and paper. And, the advantage of prints over uniques is, of course, price.