The Best Japanese Stores to Shop in Japan
In preparation for the trip I just took to Japan, I researched some of the best Japanese stores to shop in Japan. But there were so many new places I found once I actually got there. Here I will break down the places I shopped into different categories. Now you will know what to buy on your next trip to Japan.
Note: If you won’t be visiting Japan anytime soon, don’t worry. Many of these items can be purchased outside of Japan.
The Best Japanese stores for Clothing, Shoes and Accessories
Shoes / Accessories
Japan is known for its well-made clothing and shoes. Onitsuka Tiger came up as a top brand for sneakers. I looked through various styles online. Finally, I ended up deciding on the Serrano style. You may have heard of the popular black and yellow Mexico 66 style, made famous by the movie Kill Bill. The shop took such good care of me. They brought the shoes to me and helped me to put them on. (Onitsuka Tiger has international locations; shop online.)
Charles and Keith is actually a Singaporean brand with many stores in Japan. I had been looking for a simple, yet structured bag. I was honestly thinking about buying a Kate Spade bag in Japan. Then I stumbled upon Charles and Keith at a mall in Tokyo’s Harajuku neighborhood. I decided to buy a bag and I’m very happy with my purchase. The brand offers classic styles as well as unique designs. (Charles and Keith has international locations; shop online.)
In the Harajuku neighborhood of Tokyo, there are many booths like the one pictured below. They sell all kinds of accessories. Other small shops in the same area sell cute Kimonos and other accessories for your dog. Many of these booths and shops are located on the popular Takeshita Street.
I had seen a particular Uniqlo bag (below, left) so many places online and I had to pick one up. It’s been nicknamed the banana bag and is the perfect cross between a fanny pack and a casual cross body. I used it while I was traveling a few days ago. It is the perfect travel bag.
Clothing
Uniqlo also sells clothes for the whole family. They are known for their HEATTECH line of clothing that keeps you warm without being bulky.
One of the things that makes shopping at Uniqlo so different is the contact-less cash registers. I kept looking for something to scan my items at the self-checkout. Instead, I was instructed to place my items in a white cashier box. In that box, all my items were calculated. No scanning was required. This is due to RIFD (Radio frequency identification) tags. The box automatically scans your tagged items for you. (Uniqlo has international locations; shop online.)
Honeys is a shop I found in a small mall in Kyoto. They sell average quality casual clothing. Both of the shirts I bought were simple, yet they had details that made them different. One was a blouse that had ruffle sleeves (below, left). The other item I purchased was a t-shirt (below, right) with a French saying on it. There is a slight obsession in Japan and South Korea with France. I don’t know what that’s about.
Note: Tags on clothing items don’t just tell you how to wash them. They include, “Make sure they don’t fade in sunlight”, “UV coated,” “Be careful not to snag”. I’m sure not all clothing come with these tags, but it’s something I’ve never seen before. (Honeys offers international shipping to some countries.)
Coca is yet another clothing store I found in a small mall. They sell very classic, yet casual clothing for men, women and children. The blouse that I bought (below) is what comes to mind when I think of Japanese clothing. It’s simple and feminine, with unique details.
If you are looking for secondhand clothing, Japan has so many thrift stores. 2nd Street is a chain of thrift stores in Japan. This store was recommended to me by a friend. I picked up a skirt (pictured above with the ruffle blouse from Honeys), at the Harajuku location. (2nd Street appears to ship internationally using certain shipping companies.)
Use the location of the 2nd Street Harajuku (Address: 150-0001Shibuya4-26-4 Jingumae) to find many other thrift shops located on the same street.
KINJI Used Clothing is a great shop where you can buy vintage Japanese clothing (see top picture). They have locations in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.
Note: Many times, shoes are not allowed in dressing rooms. The dressing rooms are carpeted, and they expect you to leave your shoes outside.
There is a souvenir shop called Burari Arashiyama that is on the way to the bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto. They have such a wide variety of items. A lot of the handmade items are made by those with disabilities. I picked up a t-shirt. It contains writing in the Arashiyama dialect. It says “Welcome.”
Kyoto is home to many vintage Kimono shops. Most people in Japan wear Western clothes. That means there are so many beautiful vintage Kimonos waiting to be bought. These come in a variety of styles and lengths. I purchased two vintage kimono jackets at Vintage Kimono AN Gion in the Gion neighborhood of Kyoto. To learn more about this shop, check out my Kyoto Hidden Gems post.
The Best Japanese Stores for Home Goods
Daiso is a dollar (100-yen) store chain in Japan. It is one of my favorite stores to visit in Asia. It is not a home goods store, but they sell many home items. The bowls and plates are very high quality. These items are made in Japan. This makes them great gifts to bring home. Remember to pack bubble wrap to avoid breaking them. (Daiso has international locations; shop online.)
Muji is another great store for home goods. They sell items like towels and toiletries. (Muji has international locations; shop online.)
The Best Japanese Stores for Gadgets
Edion (Ed-ion) sells many home appliances and small gadgets. I would compare them to Best Buy in the U.S. I walked around but didn’t buy anything. Make sure you buy items that are compatible with the electricity in your home country.
Daiso is another great place for small gadgets. I purchased two digital writing tablets (below, left). They are similar to the Boogieboard. You can take notes, then erase them with the push of a button. (Daiso has international locations; shop online.)
Dollar (100-yen) stores are all around Japan and they sell great gadgets. Check out Can Do for staple-less staplers (above, right, bottom) or Watts for package sealers (above, right, top).
The Best Japanese Stores for Skincare
Many pharmacies sell skincare. I purchased items from Matsukiyo, Welcia and Live. They all had a good selection with reasonable prices.
For the best skincare selection, try Don Quijote. I picked up the Senka Perfect Whip cleansing foam. Youtuber Euniuni recommended it. Another popular item is the DHC brand lip cream.
There was also a cleansing balm I bought from Don Quijote that was on clearance. They have lots of frequent discounts and promotions.
The Best Japanese Stores for Personal Care
Welcia is a great pharmacy to purchase personal care items. They sell the Kobayashi brand toilet deodorizer drops, which are very similar to the Poo-pourri brand toilet spray. The bottles are very small, come in various scents and last for a long time since you don’t need to use a lot. I had bought a bottle from YesStyle a while back and was glad to find it in Japan.
Dollar (100-yen) stores also have many personal care items. You will be able to find items like hand sanitizer. I purchased a Bioré brand hand sanitizer at Daiso.
I purchased Hello Kitty Band-Aids at the pharmacy Live. They also helped me find anti-bacterial cream. (I injure myself wherever I go.)
The Best Japanese Stores for Snacks, Candy and Liquor (besides 7-Eleven)
Japanese convenience stores are not the only places to buy great snacks. Don Quijote has a large selection of snacks, candy, as well as liquor. The fruit liquor, pictured below, came from Don Quijote.
Grocery stores are also great places to buy candy and snacks. Many of these also sell liquor. Fresco was a grocery store that I purchased a lot of items from. This includes the bottle of Sake pictured (below, left). The matcha/red bean candy (below, far right) also came from a supermarket.
Small specialty shops also sell snacks and candy. I bought yuzu honey cough drops (above, right) from a store called Sugi Bee Garden.
KitKat bars are sold everywhere. The flavors are so unique. I picked up Honey Dew Melon. Don Quijote sells Sake flavored KitKats.
Matsuzakaya is a department store that has a great selection of snacks and candy. The selection they had was endless. They also sell items from other countries besides Japan.
MUJI doesn’t just sell clothing and home items. They also sell great snacks and shelf stable food. (Muji has international locations; shop online.)
The Best Japanese Stores for Souvenirs
All the items that I’ve mentioned so far can be used as souvenirs. I personally think that home items and food items make the best souvenirs. However, if you’re looking for traditional souvenirs such as magnets, stick to tourist areas like Harajuku and Shibuya.
Don Quijote really has everything. They have souvenirs too. Although I prefer shopping at “mom and pop” shops for souvenirs if possible. I recommend the store where I bought the t-shirt in Arashiyama, Burari Arashiyama. (See the photo above in my clothing section.)
The Best Dollar (100-Yen) Stores in Japan
Daiso is a good store for inexpensive items around 100-yen. Can Do is another great choice, and it’s where I picked up the Hello Kitty pouch pictured below. I also picked up a few things at Watts. These expandable packing cubes (below, left) came from Daiso. They have been lifesavers.
I hope I was able to cover a lot and show you the best Japanese stores for whatever you’re looking for. Are there any other items that you need help buying in Japan? Let me know in the comments and I’ll try to help you out.