Surprises to liven up drinking parties. Gift ideas for someone special.
From company welcome and farewell parties to friends’ birthdays and gatherings with loved ones, drinking parties are often held on such occasions.
Some of you may be looking for ways to liven up the event or plan a surprise that will wow the guest of honor.
In this article, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of surprise ideas you can use at drinking parties.
We’ll introduce ideas that work in a wide range of settings, such as izakayas, karaoke rooms, and party venues.
Use these ideas—whether it’s sending a heartfelt message or sharing a good laugh with everyone—to make your gathering even more fun.
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Surprises to Spice Up a Drinking Party: Gift Ideas for Someone Special (11–20)
Surprise trip
If you’re dining with a loved one or family, gifting a trip as a surprise present will surely make a big impact.
After handing over a bouquet and offering your congratulations, teasing them with, “There’s one more present…” before revealing it can be very effective.
Whether it’s Hawaii your partner has been wanting to visit or a hot spring getaway the whole family loves, it’s bound to become an unforgettable trip—just like the birthday party itself.
You could even keep the destination a secret and have everyone meet at Tokyo Station or Haneda Airport for an extra thrill!
Message Card
Why not liven up your party with message cards? Handcrafted cards made with care truly touch the recipient’s heart.
Try drawing illustrations with colorful pens or adding playful moving elements.
Shaping the card like a cake or a gift box is perfect for celebrations.
Write your congratulations or thanks, and you’ve got a special one-of-a-kind piece.
If you include the guest of honor’s favorite colors or items, they’ll love it even more.
A unique card born from your free ideas will make giving it just as fun as receiving it.
Handmade album
When it comes to surprising a friend or partner, a handmade photo album is perfect.
Choose your favorite photos and arrange them on the pages to bring shared moments back to life.
Add heartfelt messages to create a piece full of originality.
You can customize a store-bought album, of course, but it’s also fun to make one from scratch using construction paper or a sketchbook.
When adding accents like colored paper, masking tape, or stickers, try to reflect the recipient’s tastes and personality.
If you present it at a drinking party or gathering, your warm feelings are sure to come across.
manzai (a traditional Japanese stand-up comedy duo performance)
If you do a manzai comedy routine to liven up a drinking party, you can bring heartwarming laughter to gatherings with friends or coworkers.
Polish the back-and-forth between the boke and the tsukkomi, and prepare material everyone can relate to.
With practice, you’ll be able to ease nerves and create fresh surprises.
If you keep it cheerful and make it enjoyable for everyone, it’s sure to leave a lasting impression on the party.
As a beloved staple of banquet entertainment, manzai is like a magical performance that can make memorable moments even more special.
Go ahead and give it a try.
Candy backpack
How to make an eye-catching backpack entirely out of bagged snacks, a trend that started in Korea.
It’s perfect as a surprise gift for a friend.
Most of the snacks cost around a hundred yen and are universally loved, so they’re sure to be a hit.
Choosing cute washi tape to stick everything together is also a key point.
gift box
Here’s how to make the surprise gift box that’s trending on social media.
All you need are colored construction paper, scissors, glue, and a few basics.
Decorate the inside of the box with cute stickers and photos of memories with your friend, and stick them in place.
Put your friend’s best-shot photo in the center.
When the box is opened, it’s an adorable gift that’s sure to surprise!
Surprises to liven up a drinking party. Gift ideas for someone special (21–30)
Operation Candy House
A gingerbread house kit that’s also sold as an educational candy.
You don’t often get a gingerbread house as a gift, do you? A regular-sized one is delightful enough, but how about making an enormous gingerbread house? When it’s time to eat, let’s share it with everyone.