Tokyo Accommodation
Tokyo Hotels
Tokyo Ryokans
Tokyo Gaijin Houses
Tokyo Budget Accommodation
Tokyo Attractions
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo museums
Tokyo temples
Tokyo events
Tokyo shopping
Tokyo sightseeing
Tokyo Night life
Tokyo Travel Stories
Apparel Stores (Yofuku-ya)
Harajuku
Takeshita-dori
The numerous shops of Takeshita-dori in Harajuku make it the most famous and infamous place to shop for the funky and unique fashions in Tokyo one might associate with Japanese youth. Every style is here, as well as any crazy, special accessories you might want. It's enjoyable to at least take a walk here and experience this road's occasionally congested sea of intriguingly dressed young people. Also check out the cosplayers near here on Sundays, usually around the bridge to the right outside of the Omotesando exit of JR Harajuku station.
Location: Harajuku, just go down the street directly in front of the north exit of Harajuku station. The other side of Takeshita-Dori connects with Meiji Boulevard after about 4 blocks.
Omotesanda and Meiji Boulevard
The shops and factory outlets on these streets are also extremely popular for enhancing your fashionability in Japan. Many top designers and major apparel manufacturers from around the world as well as from around Japan have offices and stores in this area. There are also some used closed stores in this area that might have some good deals.
Location: easy to find by leaving Harajuku station through the Omotesando Exit.
Roppongi
Roppongi Hills
An enormous skyscraper stands in central Roppongi Hills. The 54 story Mori Tower. From the top, is the Tokyo Sky Deck, giving a breathtaking view of Tokyo. The admission fee is ¥ 1400 for adults, ¥ 1000 for university and high school students, and ¥ 500 for junior-high and younger kids.
The first through sixth floor of the Mori tower has numerous shops selling clothes and other goods, and restaurants. Near the tower is the Mori Garden, a large Theatre Complex, Virgin Cinemas. Roppongi Keyazaki street next to the tower is also lined with luxury brands such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton. Roppongi has consistently been known as a popular nightlife district, and in recent years it has also become a popular shopping destination.
Shibuya
Shibuya 109 (Shibuya ichi maru kyu)
Shibuya 109 is a fashion complex with 10 floors of more than 100 boutiques popular with young women. The shops are open from 10 am to 9 pm. There is also a 109 men's in Shibuya with equally fashionable, cool clothing for men, both near the station and on opposite sides of the enormous crosswalk near the Hachiko Exit in Shibuya. Shibuya is a popular place in Tokyo to satisfy shopping and entertainment needs.
Center Gai
Center Gai is a 120 foot pedestrian road packed with numerous fashionable clothing stores, accessories, music stores, electronics, video arcades, purikura, restaurants, various fast foods, and other entertainments. Shibuya is a very fashionable place and Center Gai is famous for originating many of Japanese youth's popular fashions. Location: after leaving Shibuya Station through the Hachiko exit, walk down the road to the left of the Starbucks across the street. Behind the Starbucks is a CD and DVD shop.
Don Qui Xote
Think Japanese Walmart, there are many throughout Japan. Usually a tall building selling food, drinks and snacks on the lower or basement floor, and cool clothes, hats, belts, household furnishings, luggage, toiletries, games, magic tricks, those small sized neck ties all the kids are wearing in Japan, personalized necklaces, hilarious t-shirts, formal wear, fetish costumes, toys, colognes, make up, and just about anything for reasonable prices. Location: after leaving the Shibuya station through the Hachiko Exit, cross the street in the direction of the Starbucks, then walk left, when you see the 109 building, stay on the sidewalk to it's right and keep walking until you find the entrance to Don QuiXote, it's on the end of the street (Bunkamura Street) on the corner.
Machida
Shopping can be rather expensive in the more popular places in Tokyo's Shibuya and Harajuku. A great alternative is Machida, which has a great variety of fashions for young people, used clothing shops, and quality formal, and luxury wear shops. casual wear necklaces from Shibuya's Center Gai (just a chunk of metal in a cool design, like a halberd, a dragon, a cross, or something like that) sell for about 20,000 ¥ and equally attractive necklaces in Machida selling for 800 - 1000 ¥. That's a big difference.
Machida has a 109 (Machida Ichi Maru Kyu) with the first 3 floors dedicated to fashionable women's wear and with a music store and mens wear on the 4th floor. The 5th floor has some restaurants and nail and other salons. There's a 390 yen shop underneath the 109, selling a lot of funny toys, gag gifts, posters, USA liscense plates (for decoration i guess), used clothing and last i checked a lot of unopened original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys.
There is also a Don Quixote and too many other worthwhile shopping options to mention throughout Machida's many malls, department stores, and clothing shops.
Directions: to get to Machida from Shibuya, take the Tokyu Den-Entoshi Line train heading to Chuo Rinkan (preferably express) and get off at Nagatsuta (this will be 290 ¥ and about a half hour ride). Then transfer to the JR Yokohama Line and take a short 7 minute ride to Machida. (150 ¥).
Antique Shops (Kotto-ya)
Akari-ya
Address: 8-1, 4-Chome, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku. This shop is near the Sangubashi Station on the Odakyu Line from Shinjuku
Hours: 11 am - 7 pm
specialties: antique silk screens, bronzes, chests, small handcrafts, and Imari chinaware, and old Kimono.
Art Plaza Magatani
Address: 10-3, 5-chome, Toranomon, Minato-ku. This shop is near the Southern Exit of the Kamiyacho Station on the Hibiya Line, next to a Shinto shrine.
Hours: 10 am - 7 pm
specialties: antique scrolls and lacquerware
Fuso Oriental Arts & Curios
Address: 7-647 Akasaka, Minato-ku Located on the first floor of the Akasaka New Plaza near the Akasaka Station on Chiyoda Line
Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Gallery Samurai
Address: 2-7-18 Kita Aoyama Minato-ku Tokyo Gallery Samurai is on the 4th floor of the building outside Exit 3 of Gaienmae Station. Phone: +81 3 5474-3366
Specialties: Samurai swords, samurai armor, samurai mempo, tsuba, kozuka, inro, gold lacquer boxes, antique japanese scrolls, ukiyo-e, shunga, japanese erotic prints, and paintings
Hours: 11 am - 7 pm
There are of course many more antique shops in and around Tokyo. If possible, the best buys are in small town antique shops away from large cities.
© Copyright 2009 Tokyotravelersguide.com design by Adamitsu Studios