Are you a person who has a passion for fashion? If so, shopping in Tokyo is going to be an experience that you never knew you needed. Japan is filled with amazing shopping malls, streets filled with retail stores of all types, and so much more.

Those who want to “shop till they drop” are going to need to know which districts and stores are the real must-sees. We got you covered.

Best Shopping In Tokyo

If you want to see where all the most popular shopping destinations are, look no further than the right district. Each shopping district in Tokyo has its own specialties and “scene.” We’re going to get into each of the biggest ones, and why tourists flock there.

If you get hungry during your shopping spree, keep these best sushi restaurants in Tokyo in mind.

Shibuya – The Pulse Of Youth Trends

If you are under the age of 25, then your best bet is to go to Shibuya. This is the unofficial-official pulse point of youth fashion. There are several major shopping malls to choose from, including 109 Shopping Mall. 109 is a 10-story mall that has petite boutiques that showcase mainstream Japanese fashion.

If you’re curious about other malls in the area, you can also go to Shibuya Hikarie or Shibuya Parko. Both malls offer flagship stores of popular brands. No matter what you choose, you can expect the best of the best.

Harajuku – Counterculture Fashions And Art

Harajuku became a world-famous shopping district since Gwen Stefani started pushing the Harajuku girls in pop. Even today, Harajuku is the epicenter of anything edgy, counterculture, or club-adjacent in Japan.

If you are looking for shops selling Elegant Gothic Lolita clothing, it’s Harajuku time. If you want upscale looks from more conservative yet clearly Japanese stores like CONOMI, come on by. Going to Harajuku is a great way to go window shopping and people-watching.

Harajuku is also home to Cat Street, one of the best streets for designers like Levi’s. This particular street is also excellent for people who want to grab some seriously tasty ramen.

Looking for some golden thrifting opportunities? If you want to get a vintage Chanel bag, then you can snag one close to the Omotesando Street Station at AMORE Vintage.

Marunouchi – The “Bougie” Option

Considering that Tokyo Station is the most common line of transportation for all people involved in Tokyo shopping sprees, it’s good to know that Marunouchi makes it easy to get your shopping on. Along with easy access to transportation, you can also book rooms in this district.

Marunouchi is a hotspot for people who love shopping at name brand stores. If you’re looking for flagship stores from brands like Cadeau and North Face, chances are that you need to go to this street. It’s a great place for designer brands.

The Maranouchi Business District is generally a great place to book a hotel. Palace Hotel, for example, is a five-star hotel that features a spa, a pool, and seven different restaurants.

Sugamo – The Harajuku of the Elderly

Sugamo is a little bit strange. The entire district isn’t really known for shopping. Rather, it’s known for being a bit more quiet than Harajuku and a lot more affordable. This “district” is actually a single shopping street that people love to stroll through.

At the top of tourists’ lists is Koganji Temple, which is said to have curative powers. Jizo-dori, the street known for being the old ladies’ Harajuku district, features flat, grippy stones. So, if you have mobility problems, both the stores and the streets will work to your favor.

Ginza – Big City Shopping, Upscale Goods

Most shopping districts in Japan are going to have a decent level of glamour to them. There are tons of designer stores, one-of-a-kind fashion boutiques, and awesome restaurants to choose from in almost every one. However, it’s hard to ignore the call of Ginza.

Along with being one of the most densely-populated parts of Tokyo, Ginza is famous for being ultra-glamorous. Ginza Station’s only about three minutes from Marunouchi, so you can always make a day of shopping here.

Ginza is a particularly good place to go if you fancy a trip through large department stores filled with Japanese brands and goods. Wako and Ginza Maitsukoshi are two that you absolutely should visit, if only because they are so wonderfully Japanese.

If you want to see art that goes beyond traditional crafts, check out the arts in the area. Shiseido Gallery is a walking distance from the major shopping mall known as Ginza Place.

Shinjuku – The Largest Shopping District

Shinjuku is tied with Ginza and Harajuku when it comes to its rank as the best shopping areas in Tokyo. The reason why Shinjuku is popular is its size. It’s an absolutely sprawling district with both underground markets, affordable street stands, and major department stores.

Between South’s trendy fashion boutiques, the West’s department store centers, and mouthwatering restaurants at Golden Gai, you’re bound to have a good time here.

Akihabara – Otaku Central

If you’re like the vast majority of anime fans, then you probably have been curious about the best place to shop for Otaku gifts. That place is Akihabara, right near Akihabara Station. This shopping district is famous for having all things electronic and all things Otaku.

Anime, maid cafes, and arcades are everywhere here. There’s even a venue that was formerly known as “Club Sega” that housed one of the largest arcades in the area. While that has been rebranded as GiGo, the truth is that this area still smacks of the more otaku-oriented part of Japanese culture.

Fans of any manga or anime series imaginable will want to go here to find limited-edition merchandise of their favorite characters. Oh, and if you need obscure technology? It’s sold here at very competitive prices.

Roppongi – Upscale Shops in the Heart of the City

With its close ties to the ultra-luxe Roppongi Hills skyscraper complex, it’s not surprising to hear that people come here to hobnob with the richest folks in Tokyo. Most visitors choose to spend time looking out at the observation deck on the top floor of the skyscraper, but don’t be fooled. Shopping is big here.

Instgram-worthy at every corner, Roppongi is just as much about enjoying a veritable treasure trove of high fashion items as it is about snapping photos. Even if your budget can’t handle the pressure of Roppongi, window shopping is amazing her.

Part of Roppongi’s appeal is the fact that it’s also home to Tokyo Midtown. Needless to say, you can spend the day shopping, and spend the night doing the bar crawl of your dreams.

Kuramae – Handmade Items

In a lot of ways, Kuramae is the “Brooklyn” of Tokyo. Once not too long ago, Kuramae was a large warehouse district that was mostly industrial. Today, those warehouses have been refashioned into a large marketplace filled with artisan goods.

Traditional Japanese crafts and modern art can sit side by side. The entire layout of this district is filled with smaller boutiques featuring items made by hand. You can easily spend hours here, just learning more about classic Japanese trades.

Daikanyama – Basically A Cozy Bookstore Cafe World

Books are another hot ticket item in the world of Tokyo shopping. If you like books and a Bohemian vibe, then Daikanyama is a good choice for you. This district is a short walk from Shinjuku, and it comes complete with its own train station.

Daikanyama has a lot of great cafes, but you might find the real pull is Daikanyama T-Site. That’s one of the largest bookstores in Tokyo.

Nihonbashi – Traditional Arts Hotspot

Finally, there’s another shopping district that became famous for having a bunch of shops with historic treats: Nihonbashi. At one point, this district was the trading capital of Japan. (More specifically, it was famously popular during the Edo Period.)

If you are a fan of artwork and souvenirs that have a historic lean to them, then Nihonbashi is a great place to visit. They have tons of smaller shops with histories that date back hundreds of years. For the reference, the oldest store that still runs continuously here was started in the 1590s.

Traditional? Oh, you better believe it. It’s a historian’s dream!

Which Is The Best Shopping District For You

There are two types of shoppers: those who want to meander through various districts and those who are on a mission. If you have a specific goal in mind, don’t worry. We have the best tips for you here:

Best Tokyo Shopping Districts For Youth Culture

• Harajuku is the most popular for counterculture fashions, while Shinjuku is more mainstream. Shinjuku will be the place where most high schoolers and college students want to hang out. We suggest picking up a backpack from anello Tokyo, or getting a close look at the LINE Friends flagship store. (LINE is one of the biggest social media platforms in Japan.)
• If you want trendy malls, go to Harajuku’s La Foret or 109 Shinjuku. This is the easiest way to spend time shopping with the cool kids.

Best Tokyo Districts For Luxury And Designer Brands

• Roppongi, Ginza, and Marunouchi are all considered to be excellent for luxury fashion. These are the districts that have shops totally dedicated to selling designer gear. Most of them also have at least one trendy flagship store from a brand you know.
• Men should look at The WOODEN DOLL Takeshita Street Store in Harajuku. This men’s store has larger sizes that tend to fit foreigners well. Fans of shops in Ginza might want to check out the Muji Global Flagship Store here.
• Meanwhile, Ginza 6 is the go-to shopping mall for women who want to wow others with their designer duds. Kitteh Marunouchi is the best pick for people who want to find designer stores like United Arrow alongside traditional Japanese crafts.
• If you are not sure whether you want to go for large department stores or smaller shops, walking through Shinjuku will help you find the shop of your dreams. Shinjuku has a fair number of upscale boutiques as well as shops with lower prices.

Best Tokyo Shopping Districts For Electronics And Otaku Goods

• Akihabara is the number one place to go to for electronics and fandom gear. The most popular large department store in the Akihabara district is Yodobashi Camera. Yodobashi Camera is one of the largest discount stores for technology, home theater, and camera supplies in Japan. A close runner-up would be the iconic store known as Radio Kaikan.
• A second option is to go to Daikanyama. Daikanyama’s main book stores have plenty of manga, Japanese cookbooks, and other J-culture items to enjoy.
• Otaku visitors might want to check out Don Quijote. This is a massive department store that acts as an affordably-priced general store. It’s also home to a performance venue were you might be able to see a pop band perform.
• While you’re here, make a point of visiting a maid cafe. Yes, all those small boutiques are popular, but the truth is that you’d miss out if you didn’t hit up the cafes here. It’s an amazing experience that gives you a literal taste of otaku culture in Japan!

Best Shopping Districts In Tokyo For Handmade Goods

• Kuramae is the best place to go for shops selling handmade art. Most of the shops in and around Kuramae will feature uniquely Japanese arts and crafts. Whether you want homemade dyes, kokeshi dolls, or something totally different, you’ll find it here.
• Daikanyama has great books, vintage stores, and boutiques featuring art. If you’re the type of person who loves books, then you’ll enjoy Daikanyama’s book culture. Throughout this district, you can find both shops and artists that can give you a great dose of artisan style.
• For highly historic experiences, check out some of the smaller shops in Nihonbashi. You can snap up a traditional Japanese folding fan from Ibasen or grab a set of Japanese knives in Ubukeya.

7 Tips For Shopping In Tokyo

Shopping in Tokyo is fun, but you can easily spend yourself into a hole. These tips can help you figure out how to make the most of yoru shopping endeavors.

Set aside money for this

You can easily end up overspending at a shop in Tokyo. Shopping in Japan is not cheap. The more money you set aside (and save up for), the better off you will be. We suggest bringing at least $200 for a day of shopping here.

Since cash is still the most preferred currency in Japan, it’s best to carry cash. Thankfully, Tokyo travelers are not known for being pickpockets. Your cash will be safe.

Please bring your passport!

Some stores won’t accept credit cards or checks without a passport, but there’s a bigger reason to love this tip. Showing your passport to stores means you get an 8 to 10 percent shopping tax exemption. That’s some serious savings.

Choose a bigger size than what you’re used to

Japanese shoppers are a lot smaller than a typical Western visitor. Because most of the stores in the area are geared toward Japanese people, sizes will be much smaller than you’d find here. A size 6 in America is closer to a size 10 in Japan.

If you are not sure what size you are in Japan, trying things on is a must. You might also want to find out your measurements before you go, or just stick to something one to two sizes up. It helps a lot!

Keep your phone out

You might have to calculate the price of your goods or use Google Translate to navigate a shop. It can be hard to figure out where to go. Using a translation app will make things a lot easier and also prevent you from using the wrong product while you’re out.

Don’t haggle unless you’re at a marketplace

In many parts of the world, going to a shop means that you would need to haggle and barter. Even in a major store, you might try to get a couple of dollars knocked off the price. In Japan, this is not a smart move.

Japanese stores have set prices, not negotiable prices. Haggling is seen as demanding or as a way of insinuating that the products aren’t good. If you try to haggle over the price, it will be seen as a very rude waste of time. You might even be asked to leave.

It’s worth pointing out that some shops do not allow foreigners in them

Unfortunately, some shops are not amenable to foreigners as a result of either language barriers or past visitor behavior. While this is more common among restaurants and ramen shops, it can happen with stores as well.

This is one of those moments where you may feel hurt, and that’s valid. However, trying to insist your way into a restaurant, shop, or spa is just not a good look. In fact, it could cause serious problems for you.

If you’re told the shop is closed, leave and find somewhere else. You can also help your fellow tourists by leaving notes online regarding your denied entry.

Consider breaking up your shop trip into multiple days

Different districts will have different shopping experiences. If you want to shop for both electronics and handmade gifts, split your time between two districts.

Not only will you get a much better selection of stores for your shopping spree, but you’ll also get better prices for the specific items you want. Besides, the Instagram opportunities in these districts are endless.