It is not a well-known fact that shopping in Japan can be a very rewarding thing. People before the internationalization of anime didn’t even know about the craze for shopping here. To tell you the reality, every station space in Japan is a mini market. Apart from that, Japan is home to big shopping areas and malls for bulk shopping, as well as small market spaces for niche shopping. We’ve made a list of shopping places in the country which will come in handy on your Japan trip. Take a look!
14 Best Places For Shopping In Japan
After extensive research, we’ve compiled a list of the best 14 places for shopping in Japan. We hope that this guide makes your experience of shopping in this country a memorable experience that you’ll remember for a long time to come:
1. Ginza, Tokyo
Ginza is a luxury shopping area in the heart of the capital city of Tokyo. It is known to be one of the premium and the best shopping places in Japan. The area has almost all the luxury shopping brands. During the 1980s, the land in Ginza was the most expensive in the world. Though the rise in prices has slowed, it still remains one of the most expensive areas in Tokyo. You are very likely to rub shoulders with celebs.
Location: Ginza, Tokyo
Timings: Varies from 10:00 – 21:00
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2. Umeda, Osaka
Umeda is the biggest shopping area in Osaka and is the only place that is at par with the large shopping areas of Tokyo. Umeda is the area around the large Osaka Station City complex. The area includes 4 large departmental stores and numerous shops. It is one of the best and premier places for shopping in Japan. We suggest you to visit this place to shop for clothes.
Location: Umeda, Osaka
Timings: Varies from 10:00 – 21:00
3. Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku is known as the busiest neighborhood in Japan, with a passenger flow of 3.64 million passengers. This place hosts the largest shopping area in Japan after the famous Ginza luxury shopping area in Tokyo. Home to large departmental stores, malls, and markets, this shopping area has an abundance of electronic stores. Any guide highlighting the tips for shopping in Japan would recommend you to buy your electronics from here because of the highly subsidized and competitive rates that are on offer here.
Location: Shinjuku, Tokyo
Timings: Varies from 11:00 – 21:00
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4. Minato Mirai, Yokohama
Minato Mirai is a futuristic looking shopping area in the heart of the port at Yokohama. The place is one of the prime shopping areas in the city of Yokohama and includes some really large malls where you can shop for all kinds of stuff, from any of your favorite brands to local stuff. Some of the well-known shopping malls in the area are the Landmark Plaza, Queen’s Plaza and the World Porters.
Location: Minato Mirai 21, Yokohama
Timings: Varies from 10:00 to 21:00
5. Grand Front, Osaka
Just like its name, Grand Front is a grand 44,000 m shopping mall in Osaka. It has been recently opened in the city. Popularly known as one of the biggest malls in Japan, it is unlike any other shopping place. It is also one of the best places for clothes shopping in Japan as it is predominantly devoted to apparel. This huge mall is divided into three main divisions, primarily known as Umekita Plaza, South Building and North Building. It involves over 266 special shops, Intercontinental Osaka Hotel and numerous office spaces. The restaurants in this space open from 11 AM onwards.
Location: 4-1 Ofukacho, Kita Ward, Osaka, 530-0011, Japan
Timings: 10:00 – 21:00
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6. Hakata, Fukuoka
Hakata is the downtown area in the city of Fukuoka, which is solely dedicated to shopping complexes and malls. The area has numerous shopping options, which also include the shopping complex known as Canal City. Canal City boasts of being the biggest shopping complex in the world. The area also includes the famous JR Hakata City Mall. You can shop for all your favorite brands here.
Location: Hakata, Fukuoka
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7. Yokohama Station Area, Yokohama
Yokohama Station Area lies in the city of Yokohama. The place has a variety of shopping complexes and malls for all kinds of shopping, from electronics and groceries to furniture and more. Some of the most popular departmental stores in the area include Sogo, Lumine, Marui and Takashimaya, among others. Yokahome Station Area is famous among the residents of Yokohama and you can see a swarm of people getting out of the station and heading to this shopping hub to fulfill their shopping needs.
Location: Yokohama Station Area, Yokohama
Timings: Varies from 10:00 – 21:00
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8. Shibuya, Tokyo
Shibuya has historically been a youth-oriented shopping area which used to cater to the under the 20s population of the city. Recently, numerous departmental stores and malls have opened up in order to cater to a wide spectrum of the population and not just limit the scope of shopping in the area. The area includes all kinds of shopping areas from big shopping complexes and shopping malls to markets and small shops. Due to its diverse range, Shibuya is one of the preferred places for shopping in Tokyo, Japan.
Location: Shibuya, Tokyo
Timings: Varies from 10:00 – 21:00
9. Akihabara, Tokyo
Akihabara was formerly a black market that came into being during World War II in the capital city of Imperial Japan. The area quickly changed its image with the economic miracle in Japan and quickly rose to become the largest electronics market in the world in the 1980s. In recent years, the place has been facing stiff competition from the neighboring shopping areas like Shinjuku and Shibuya and the area has again relied on its revitalizing ability to transform into an area specializing in Otaku Stuff and maid cafes. These days, the area is more popular for robot parts.
Location: Akihabara, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0006
Timings: Varies from 9:00 – 21:00
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10. Kyoto Station Area
Known to be among the largest public buildings in Asia, the Kyoto Station area houses a number of departmental stores, malls and shops. Of these stores and shops, three major departmental stores lie in the premises of the Kyoto station. While the Kyoto Station branch of the Isetan Departmental Store is above the ground, the two other departmental stores remain underground. The shopping hub is frequented by a huge crowd daily. It is one of the most popular places for shopping in Japan.
Location: Higashishiokoji Kamadonocho, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, Japan
Timings: Varies from 8:30 to 20:00
11. Den Den Town, Osaka
Den Den town is a shopping area in the city of Osaka which is famous for its affordably priced electronics items. Just like the Akibahara area of Tokyo, this area also faced competition from the bigger neighboring shopping areas and has since expanded into Otaku related products such as manga comics. Historically, Osaka has been a town comprising of shoppers and merchants and the people who come here to shop know how to bargain really well. This is the reason why the major things on display here often have competitive prices.
Location: 4 Chome-12 Nipponbashi, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, 556-0005, Japan
Timings: 10:00 to 19:00
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12. Motomachi, Yokohama
Motomachi Shopping area in the city of Yokohama is more of a European style shopping area of Japan. Stretching across 5 blocks, this shopping area predominantly consists of small luxury shops and boutiques and also numerous European Cafes and restaurants. Popular among those who like the elegant shopping style of Europe, this a premium shopping area as per reviews.
Location: Motomachi, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 231-0861
13. Nakamise Street, Tokyo
Nakamise Street in Tokyo has been a market site for travelers for about 300 years, with many shops being operated by the same family for generations. Nakamise Street is the street leading up to the famous and old Sensoji temple which is the oldest and most visited temple in all of Japan. The market on Nakamise Street predominantly has souvenirs, lucky items, craft items, masks, packaged snacks, among other things.
Location: 1 Chome-20 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Timings: 10:00 – 17:00
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14. Odaiba, Tokyo
Odaiba is located on an artificial island which is built in the middle of Tokyo Bay. Popular with both families as well as young couples, the famous shopping complexes in this area include Venus City, Divercity Tokyo Plaza, Aquacity and Decks Tokyo Beach. All these shopping hubs cater to every age group. Go ahead and buy souvenirs from here.
Location: Odaiba, Tokyo
Tips For Shopping In Japan
When shopping in Japan, you must take care of a few things. Some of the tips have been listed below for your convenience.
- You might be surprised to know but sizes may differ in Japan from your own country. So, try everything, whether clothes or shoes, before buying anything from shops in this country.
- For cheap shopping in Japan, look for 100 Yen shops which offer souvenirs along with household goods and groceries under 100 yen only.
- Japan is not a place to bargain and you have to pay the price written on the tag. So, avoid price negotiation at local shops.
- If you are confused about something then do not hesitate to ask for help from the staff. The staff in the shopping malls in Japan are always ready to help.
- If you are heading out to shop for shoes then do not forget to take a pair of socks with you because trying shoes barefoot is not considered polite in the country.
- Take extra care while shopping for accessories like bags, shoes, and wallets. Things at display are not scattered everywhere and are put to their exact places. So, ask for assistance if you want to try out something.
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Honestly speaking, a vacation to Japan is a great choice to indulge in some retail therapy. All the places here are very well organized and have a good vibe about them, no matter which age group and genre of shopping they cater to. This makes shopping in the country really convenient for the newcomers and the first time shoppers. So, do not forget to include these places on your Japan shopping list.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Shopping In Japan
What should I buy in Japan?
Wagashi Candies, Japanese Cosmetics, Sensu Folding Fans, Japanese Knives, Kendama Toys, Unique Japanese Instruments, Hanko, Matcha, Kimonos, and Sake are some of the top things that you should buy in Japan. Where should I shop in Japan?
Ginza, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Akihabara, Shibuya & Harajuku are some of the places that offer the best shopping in Japan experience. What is Ginza known for?
Ginza is one of the most reputed shopping markets in Japan. This place is known for featuring some of Japan’s top attractions. Ginza also features several department stores, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants, night clubs, and cafes. Which part of Tokyo is best to stay?
Shinjuku and Ginza are two of the best areas to stay in Tokyo. What is the weather like in Japan all year round?
Japan experiences four distinct seasons. It has a temperate type of climate with an average annual temperature of 26.3 °C. The annual rainfall recorded here is 1848 mm. What clothes do they wear in Japan in July?
In July, people in Japan generally wear Thin, airy shirts, jeans, cotton or hemp shorts, long airy pants. What should I avoid in Japan?
When touring to Japan, here is the list of things you should keep in mind. 1. Chopstick Etiquette 2. Maintain a Proper Queue 3. Remove your Shoes Outside 4. Never Leave a Tip 5. Blowing Noise in Public 6. Loud Phone Conversation in Public 7. Eating While Walking 8. Riding Public Transit Where can I buy cheap clothes in Japan?
Below is a list of places where you can buy cheap clothes in Japan. 1. Flea Market, Tokyo 2. Pre-Loved Clothes Shops, Tokyo 3. Takeshita Dori, Harajuku 4. Yokohama Station Area, Yokohama 5. Den Den Town, Osaka
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