Shopper’s Paradise Tokyo

Japan is a shopper's paradise, offering everything from high-tech gadgetry and electronics to traditional arts and crafts. Large department stores, specialty shops, fashion boutiques, hotel arcades and shopping centres abound. Popular buys include cameras, watches, CD players, hi-fi equipment, silk goods, lacquer ware, Japanese dolls, and woodblock prints. People in Tokyo and basically all of Japan, love to go shopping. Tokyo shopping ranges from the crowded sidewalk and underground markets hawking black-market DVD's and faux designer jeans, to the true designer boutiques in the Roppongi Hills and the Ginza districts. They have some of the best shops in the world. Electronic goods like, computers, laptops, mobile phones, digital cameras, televisions, music systems, CD and DVD players are sold at best possible prices and a visit to Akihabara is a must.  Apart from garments, shoes and accessories, traditional handicraft items depicting Japanese art and culture are also sold out extensively. Exclusive Japanese products like good luck charms, kimonos, karate-wear, Japanese swords, paintings, green tea and special Beanie Babies are also found in abundance in the International Arcade. Shops are open from 10:00 am to 08:00 pm (including Sundays and National Holidays). Some department stores are closed on Wednesdays. Many smaller specialty shops are closed on weekends, national holidays and over traditional Japanese holiday seasons.

 

Shibuya

Shibuya is a major shopping area and a definite place to visit for anyone interest in Japanese fashion. Not only are there many very trendy fashion stores, but you can see many young Japanese people wearing the latest and some just outrageous fashion in the streets. Shibuya 109 shopping centre filled with many very trendy clothing boutiques. It is the department store selling the trends du jour of Shibuya's youth culture, whether it's the mini dresses in blindingly saturated colours for the gyaru set or the bunched-up ankle socks the schoolgirls are so fond of pairing with their tiny skirts. It is very popular among young people, especially teens, and it is famous as the origin of the Kogal subculture. Kogals are known for wearing platform boots, a miniskirt, copious amounts of makeup, hair colouring (usually blond), artificial suntans, and designer accessories. The main branch of the Tokyu Hands department store, specializing in all sorts of home decorations and D.I.Y. gear, can be found toward the end of Center-gai. They sell just about everything. There are other branches in  Shinjuku (inside the Times Square Shopping Centre) and Ikebukero. Book First (Bunkamura-dori) is one of Tokyo's largest bookstores and carries a good range of foreign language magazines, add to a huge array of venues to eat and drink. Music lovers will wish to check out HMV and Tower Records, for a while the largest record store in the world,  on Koen-dori, but expect some sticker shock as Japanese CDs often clock in at ¥3000+; imports are usually cheaper.

 

Roppongi Hills

Tokyo shopping offers the choicest shopping in Japan and with the opening of the Roppongi Hills complex in 2003, Tokyo is now, arguably more posh than Beverly Hills. After 17 years of planning and development, the Roppongi Hills area opened in 2003 and saw 10 million visitors within two months. A city within a city, Roppongi Hills consists of eight themed areas that blend into one another. In addition to hotels, restaurants, movie theatres—and pretty much anything else you could think of—the Roppongi Hills is home to some of the best shopping in Japan. The Hillside section of Roppongi Hills offers four levels of shops that face the Mori Garden. In addition to upscale shopping there are a number of world class restaurants in this area. If the Hillside is known for its shopping and restaurants, the Keyakizaka Dori section of Roppongi Hills is strictly an upper-end shopper's delight. Known as the “Rodeo Drive” of Tokyo, discerning shoppers can chose from Gucci, Armani and Christian La Croix and then take a break on one of the interesting art-themed benches that line the main avenue.

 

Ginza District

Though Roppongi Hills is currently the hottest shopping area in Tokyo, it is by no means the only place to max out your gold card. The Ginza District is centrally located and bejeweled with the neon signage that has become the default image of urban Tokyo. Head to Ginza on Sunday's when the main thoroughfare "the Chuo-Dori" is closed to motor traffic. This weekly Japanese block party offers street music, vendors selling magical puppets, and, above all, great people watching. Off the main thoroughfare you will find numerous art galleries, and, just like the Keyakizaka section of Roppongi Hills, Ginza is home to Louis Vuitton, Dior, Channel and a host of other designer boutiques.

 

Shinjuku

Streams of screaming neon, high pitched shrieking sounds, people everywhere - silent and robotic. There's no room, there's no escape - earthquakes yet skyscrapers, it's hot, it's humid, it's calm, it's still for this is Shinjuku - a business and shopping district in the west of Tokyo and the ultimate, overwhelming experience. A breath taking building at dusk, the Times Square Shopping Centre stands on land that was once occupied by tumble down wooden shacks and drinking places. Finished in 1996, inside you'll find a branch of Tokyu Hands the famous arts and crafts shop, and Kinokunia which sells English books. The two main shopping streets are Shinjuku Dori Avenue and Yasukuni Dori Avenue. Don't forget all the little streets in between. Studio Alta, with its giant TV screen, is directly opposite My City. As a popular rendezvous point, the entrance is often so crowded that meeting the person you're supposed to be meeting is really no option at all.

 

Kiddy Land Harajuku

Kiddy land is one of the most famous shops in Japan, but it is not just for kids. When Hollywood celebrities come to Japan they always visit this shop. They have a wide selection of cool gadgets and accessories. Six floors of appealing products for your children to fall in love with and which you may still be paying for next year. In fact, you yourself may be seduced by plastic-bobbled barrettes, Pokémon paraphernalia or nostalgia-inducers such as Hello Kitty or Ultraman and an entire Snoopy floor. Claustrophobes should avoid the store at weekends when it teems with teens.

 

Omotesando

Omotesando is broad, tree-lined avenue leading downhill from the southern end of the JR Harajuku station. This is the other side to Harajuku Fashion and its challenge to Shibuya and Ginza. Not only is the street full of cafes and international brand clothing boutiques, but now features the very up market Omotesando Hills. If Paris or Milan is the center of the world of fashion design, then Omotesando is the center of world fashion consumption.

 

Oriental Bazaar

Although not necessarily the most original Japanese souvenir shop, Oriental Bazaar will satisfy all the gift buying needs for your friends and family back home. Complete with plastic samurai swords and cotton yukatas or kimonos, fans, pottery - all at reasonable prices. Open until 7 pm and closed on Thursdays. Located about halfway between Omotesando and Harajuku station on Omotesando Dori (street).

 

Takashimaya Depachika

You can't leave Tokyo without checking out a depachika, the lavish department store food basements selling gorgeously presented wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) and bento (packaged meals) , as well as gourmet delicacies ranging from spicy kimchi (fermented vegetables) to the season's just-harvested green tea. You'll probably get lost inside, but you won't mind – and you certainly won't go away hungry.

 

 

100 Yen Shops

Dotted around train stations and in some shopping areas you can find 100 yen shops. They are similar to $1 shops found in some other countries. In 100 yen shops, you can find chopsticks, tableware, fans, kites, origami paper, calligraphy sets, "Hello Kitty" and much, much more! A great place for buying cheap souvenirs.

 

Kokeshi Dolls

Kokeshi, the most typical doll of northern Japan, have been made by woodturners at hot springs throughout the region for almost 200 years. Dogwood and maple are the woods commonly used. Just cylinders with round heads attached, the dolls are usually painted in floral designs and basic colors, with non-toxic vegetable dyes. There are 10 basic styles of kokeshi, but the variations are limitless. First made as toys for girls, the dolls have become popular collectibles with adults.