Shopping in Tokyo

In Japan, shopping has been elevated to an art form. High-end Tokyo department stores stoked with luxury goods sit next to world-famous brand boutiques, while discount clothing shops and used electronics retailers all vie for your hard-earned yen. One thing's for sure: you won't leave the city empty- handed.

Department stores

Japan's major department stores supply everything a shopper could hope for, from clothing, accessories and jewelry to daily necessaries including furniture and food - all under one roof. Ginza and Shinjuku are the best-known areas for department stores in Tokyo.

Drug Stores

Drug stores in Japan are retail stores to sell pharmaceuticals relating to health and beauty as well as daily necessities and also have a pharmacy that accepts prescriptions. Drug stores are popular for consumers who look for a bargain to buy supplements, energy drinks and many everyday items in bulk at a discounted price.

¥100 shops

Tokyo is not all about high-end boutiques and luxurious department stores. Shops that offer all items for ¥100 have exploded in popularity. ¥100 shop is an ideal place for tourists to pick up inexpensive souvenirs like chopsticks and rice bowls. There are ¥300 shops and ¥99 shops as well.

Convenience stores

There are numerous convenience stores throughout Tokyo, which are open around the clock and sell not only food and magazines but also daily necessities such as underwear and toiletries. These stores are open all-year-round and are very useful for travelers.

Second-hand stores/Resale shops

In addition to flea markets held in the parks across Toyo and antique fairs, there are a wide varieties of second-hand stores in Tokyo to sell and purchase used goods, including discount coupon and ticket shops, resale shops for all sorts of items such as household appliances, second-hand shops for IT products and second-hand bookstores from the traditional ones in the Jimbocho used book district to chain stores.

Specialty shops

If you want to hunt for bargains or pursue your particular interest, a specialty shop might be the place to visit. In addition to the Electric Town in Akihabara, which is well-known for electric appliances and anime, there are many interesting specialty shops in Tokyo including Kappabashi Dogu (tools) Street for kitchen implements, the Motorcycle District in Ueno, the Asakusabashi Wholesaler's District dealing in dolls and beads, the Jewelry Town in Okachimachi, the specialty shop streets for musical instruments in Kanda-Surugadai, the Textile Town in Nippori, the Sporting Goods District in Kanadaogawa-machi Town, the Record Shop District in Nishi Shinjuku and the Clothing Wholesalers' District in Bakuro-cho Town.

Restaurants/Fast food

Dining is available from around 500 yen at the chain restaurants for hamburger, ramen noodles, udon/soba noodles, beef bowl, kaiten-zushi, gyoza (Chinese-style dumplings), donburi-mono (a dish in a deep bowl with rice) or at the food courts in shopping malls. There are also many all-you-can-eat restaurants of shabu-shabu, yakiniku (BBQ), etc., offering an opportunity to enjoy dining at a reasonable price.

Packed lunch shops/Delicatessen

You can buy a packed lunch at around 500 yen at convenience stores or department stores. A variety of packed lunch and gourmet food of major brand shops are also available at the food-selling area of a department store (also known as "depa-chika", literally meaning basement floor of a department store) in Tokyo. As many supermarkets start to sell perishable food discounted at 30 to 50 percent in the evening, it is advisable that you go shopping just before the closing time.

Izakaya/Bar

At izakaya, a Japanese-style casual tavern, you can enjoy mainly Japanese cuisine at around 3,000 yen, such as the Japanese-style party (called "enkai" in Japanese) food and home-style simple cooking. Popular beverages at izakaya are beer, shochu (Japanese spirits) and Japanese sake. Typical menu at Japanese bars such as yakitori, sashimi and oden are served at many stand-up bars and the bars under railway arch/highway in around Shinbashi, Kanda and Yurakucho.