The best fashion and gift stores Tokyo

Timetable

Shopping centers are open every day of the year, generally from 10am to 9pm. Stores have a variable closing day. If you're traveling over the New Year period, be sure to check online that the stores you want to visit are open, especially on New Year's Day.

Budget & Tips

Stores where everything is ¥100, such as Daiso or Can Do, are very common, and some are well-stocked with souvenirs and small Japanese items. You can also find 100% Japanese products, as at Daiso in Harajuku. Tokyo is full of second-hand stores selling crockery, clothes and electronics, such as the whole "OFF" chain, BookOFF, HardOFF, ModeOFF and so on. Neighborhoods such as Shimo-Kitazawa, Kōenji and Harajuku are also renowned for their vintage stores. Last but not least, flea markets are a great place to find unique items.

It's possible to get tax-exempt treatment for products purchased at major retailers.

Sales

Sales start in January and July, but stores have discount periods throughout the year. During sales, you'll sometimes see fukubukuro. These are bags whose contents you can't see, but the value of all the products inside is greater than the price of the bag.

What's very local

In fitting rooms, shoes must be removed in front of the door. The sales assistant holds a sort of paper bag over the face, to avoid sweat and make-up marks on the new clothes. Haggling is not a common practice. Shopping malls have breastfeeding rooms, which are sometimes veritable salons. They feature bottle-temperature water, sofas, and sometimes play areas and tables.

Tourist traps

Watch out for counterfeit goods in the shopping alleys of Ueno and other popular districts.