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This question is based on the comment thread I've read from
[ELL](https://ell.stackexchange.com/questions/84339/id-like-to-know-the-
difference-between-a-memory-and-a-keepsake).

Based on the clarification under Peter's answer, I was wondering if 'omiyage'
can never be used for something bought for one's self?

I searched Google and it provided links where there are indications that there
is an '[omiyage culture](http://www.fluentu.com/japanese/blog/omiyage/)', and
it clearly states that an omiyage is some kind of a 'gift'.

In English, 'giving' a gift / **souvenir** to one's self to serve as a
remembrance is okay (e.g., I bought this souvenir to remind me of my trip to
Paris), but is the word 'omiyage' suitable for the same usage/sense?
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translation
お土産 - May this be used for oneself?
While it is definitely traditional to buy お土産 for others, buying them for
oneself is also a thing. Consider the two following phrases.

> 自分へのお土産
>
> 自分用のお土産

Searching the former one gives a hit from instagram
[#自分へのお土産](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/%E8%87%AA%E5%88%86%E3%81%B8%E3%81%AE%E3%81%8A%E5%9C%9F%E7%94%A3/)
with a few thousand posts.
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お土産 is basically a gift that you give other people such as your family,
relatives, friends, colleagues, boss, teacher and people whom you owe
something as a souvenir of your trip. You can also take 手土産 which literally
means ‘hand-carry’ (inexpensive) gift to your acquaintance or neighbors when
you make a casual visit or in case of moving house - for the greeting to new
neighbours, simple items such as handtowel, canned green tea, and 浅草海苔 (dried
seaweed) are used as 手土産.

Of course, you can buy お土産 such as cake, food, beverage, and handicrafts for
your own use or consumption at local shops and 土産店 - souvenir shops as a token
of your trip. Nobody blames anyone for doing that. But when we say お土産, it
usually means a gift to others.
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