Recommended prizes that will be appreciated at after-parties and banquets
You often see bingo or games at wedding after-parties and company banquets, right?
Everyone’s happy to get prizes, and they really liven things up.
But if you’re the organizer, you have to think about the prizes too.
You’ll probably find yourself wondering, “What were the prizes when I participated…?”
When that happens, take a look at this list and use it to prepare for your banquet or event.
From luxury items to everyday necessities—things you might not buy for yourself but would be happy to receive—we’ve gathered a selection of great prize ideas!
Recommended prizes that are sure to be a hit at after-parties and banquets (1–10)
Trending home appliances and game consoles
For parties and events where lots of kids gather, game-related prizes might be the biggest hit! If the prizes are ever-popular items like the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 5, the kids might flock over and forget about the party itself.
For adults, go with trending home electronics: a bagless cyclonic vacuum, a neckband speaker that’s easy to hear even from a distance, or a smartphone-controlled machine that automatically feeds your pet.
Put together a lineup that sparks curiosity.
These ideas are great for large community events, too!
meal voucher
Isn’t it safe to say no one would be unhappy to receive a meal voucher? Even people who don’t usually eat out can fully enjoy dining out when they have one.
Another great thing about it as a prize is that it doesn’t take up space—it’s light and easy to carry.
You can indulge by yourself, or enjoy a lavish meal with friends or family.
It could even make for a small, memorable experience.
It’s probably the kind of prize that very few people would dislike receiving.
Bluetooth speakers and wireless earphones
These days, Bluetooth speakers and wireless earphones have become affordable and widespread.
There are far more options than before—cute designs, colorful styles, you name it.
Prices range from very cheap to quite expensive, but even reasonably priced models now offer pretty good sound quality, so many people buy more than one for different rooms like the living room and bedroom.
They’re also great for outdoor use.
Both earphones and speakers are handy items to have.
meat
If you announce, “First prize is meat!!,” I think everyone will go “Whoaa!!” like a rocket launch success scene in a Hollywood movie.
It could be fun to get cheeky and make all the prizes different cuts of meat.
Sixth prize: fat trimmings, fifth: pork belly… second: sirloin, first: chateaubriand.
Having branded beef like Matsusaka or Kobe would really hype things up! If, given the times, providing actual meat is a bit much, you could prepare invitations to a high-end steakhouse or dining vouchers instead.
Please liven up the event with the crowd-pleaser that is meat.
Even better if it’s a party with lots of young people!
bath goods
Bath additives are one of those things you don’t casually buy for yourself, but you’re absolutely delighted to receive.
Bath salts that let you “tour” famous hot spring regions across Japan or aromatherapy blends with relaxing effects are foolproof prizes that appeal to all ages and genders.
Everyone takes baths, so “bath goods” are prizes anyone will enjoy.
For women, luxurious organic towels from Hipopotamus would likely be a hit.
High-end shampoos, branded razors, richly moisturizing soaps, and more—picking out prizes like these is sure to be fun, too.
retort food
Doesn’t retort curry always taste like nostalgia, no matter when you eat it? In my case, my parents were often busy and would tell me, “Heat up the curry and eat,” so it really brings back memories.
The official name for retort foods is “retort pouch foods,” and it’s written as retort pouch foods in English as well.
These days, not only curry but also items like hamburger steak and teriyaki chicken line the retort food section at convenience stores.
Since they have a long shelf life and are handy as pantry staples, I think retort foods make prizes that anyone would be happy to receive.
There are even ultra-premium retort items like beef curry, so they’d be perfect as a first-prize reward!
snack in a large bag
Those big bags of snacks you see as prizes in UFO catchers always look like you can win them, but somehow you can’t, right? I wonder if there’s a trick to getting them.
The jumbo bags of snacks everyone grew up with—like Umaibo or Tamanegi San Tarō—are also sold at suburban wholesale stores.
Huge snack bags are guaranteed to be a hit! A tip to hype things up is to hide the contents of the prize in a paper bag or something so you can’t see what’s inside.
The gap between “Wow, I won a big fancy prize!” and “Surprise, it’s snacks!” when they open it will get laughs.
Since carrying it home might be a hassle, they’re perfect as prizes for nearby parties or after-parties.
Cultivation kit
Besides growing flowers in pots, I think many people also enjoy creating a “balcony garden” by lining up planters on their balconies.
Green onions are especially easy—you can keep growing them endlessly as long as you have the roots left over after using store-bought scallions.
Growing kits are great even for people who don’t usually care for plants.
Even without a balcony, a small sunny spot is all you need! Summer vegetables like tomatoes and bell peppers are resistant to pests and are beginner-friendly.
And it’s not just vegetables—tulips and lilies are perfect for hydroponics.
They could be a fun, quirky prize option too!
Premium ice cream voucher
When we were kids, wasn’t “Garigarikun” the only ice cream we’d buy with our own money? Every now and then, an uncle who came to visit would treat us to Häagen-Dazs, and to my child self it tasted so fancy—or maybe it didn’t—but I just remember being incredibly happy.
If the prize is a “voucher for premium ice cream,” everyone gets excited! Besides premium brands like Häagen-Dazs, Lady Borden, and Mario Gelateria, Godiva’s ice cream—famous for its chocolate—also feels luxurious and is highly recommended! Be sure to have these ready for after-parties with lots of women; the organizer is sure to become popular!
Luxury fruit
I’ve heard that some souvenir shops in Wakayama sell individual umeboshi for 500 yen—500 yen each! That’s way out of my league… Luxury items have a way of lifting people’s spirits; even if you don’t end up winning them, just seeing them as prizes makes you happy.
The premium Shine Muscat grapes and premium Miyazaki mangoes you often see in department stores go for around 5,000 yen apiece, and the quintessential high-end fruit, the muskmelon, can cost tens of thousands of yen per melon.
These luxury fruits, which are far too pricey for me to buy for myself, would surely delight anyone as a prize.
The increasingly talked-about imported luxury fruit, Rainier cherries, might also catch people’s attention.