There’s so much cool stuff to buy in Japan, but Tokyo is huge, and how do you know where’s the best place to shop? Fear not, I’ve got you covered! Here are links to store maps for everything your heart (or your peeps back home) could desire. I’ve grouped specific items into categories: Traditional Crafts, Popcult & Fashion, Toys & Games, Food, and Souvenirs That Will Make Your Friends Die Laughing.
•
TRADITIONAL CRAFTS
Parasols, fans, geta sandals:
•Aoyama-itchome: Japan Traditional Craft Center [MAP]
•Asakusa: Senso-ji temple shopping street [MAP]
Umbrellas
•Akihabara: Aki-Oka Artisan Co-op (design your own custom umbrella) [MAP]
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market (magic umbrellas) [MAP]
Chopsticks, saké cups, teacups, teapots, plates, trays & vases:
•Aoyama-itchome: Japan Traditional Craft Center [MAP]
•Asakusa: Senso-ji temple shopping street [MAP]
•Kappabashi: street shops [MAP]
Really sharp Japanese knives:
•Kappabashi: street shops [MAP]
•Tsukiji: street stalls on the main street outside the fish market [MAP]
Baskets:
•Aoyama-itchome: Japan Traditional Craft Center [MAP]
•Kappabashi: street shops [MAP]
Vintage kimonos & obis:
•Harajuku: Omotesando Blvd outdoor corner stall by Laforet [MAP] • Oriental Bazaar near Kiddyland [MAP]
Tenugui (beautifully patterned hand towels):
•Asakusa: Fujiya shop (beautiful enough to frame) [MAP]
•Harajuku: 2nd floor of the Number Sugar building [map]
Japanese cooking equipment & utensils:
•Kappabashi: street shops [MAP]
•Tsukiji: street stalls on the main street outside the fish market [MAP]
Japanese dolls & New Year’s decorations:
•Aoyama-itchome: Japan Traditional Craft Center [MAP]
•Asakusa-bashi: Kyugetsu sacred doll store [map]
Traditional carp flags (koi nobori, for Boys’ Day):
•Aoyama-itchome: Japan Traditional Craft Center [MAP]
•Asakusa-bashi: Kyugetsu sacred doll store [MAP]
•Ginza: Mitsukoshi [MAP] • Matsuya [MAP]
•Nihonbashi: Mitsukoshi Flagship store [MAP]
•Shinjuku: Takashimaya Times Square [MAP]
Traditional Japanese toys:
•Asakusa: Senso-ji temple shopping street [MAP]
•Harajuku: Kiddyland [MAP]
•Ueno: Yamashiro-ya [MAP]
Calligraphy brushes:
•Aoyama-itchome: Japan Traditional Craft Center [MAP]
•Asakusa-bashi:Small shop next door to Shimojima [map]
Japanese paper (origami and chiyogami):
•Aoyama-itchome: Japan Traditional Craft Center [MAP]
•Asakusa: Paper store near Kaminari-mon gate at Senso-ji temple [MAP]
•Nezu: Isetatsu chiyogami store [MAP]
•Ochanomizu: Origami Center [MAP]
Japanese craft supplies & tools:
•Tokyu Hands stores [MAP] to all locations
•Asakusa-bashi: Shimojima craft, office supply & packaging store [MAP]
•
POPCULT & FASHION
Pokemon Store
•Ikebukuro: Mega-Pokemon Center [MAP]
•Yokohama: Pokemon Center [MAP]
Comic books & fan fiction:
•Akihabara: street shops [MAP] • Mandarake [MAP] • Radio Kaikan Building [MAP]
•Shibuya: Mandarake [MAP]
•Nakano: Nakano Broadway [MAP]
Models & modelmaking supplies:
•Akihabara: street shops [MAP] • Mandarake [MAP] • Radio Kaikan Building [MAP] for dolls & doll parts, figures, robot-style models (shop list here) • Yodobashi Camera [MAP]
•Harajuku: Kiddyland [MAP]
•Ikebukuro: LABI electronics superstore [MAP]
•Nakano: Nakano Broadway [MAP]
•Ueno: Yamashiro-ya [MAP]
Gachapon “gacha-gacha” vending machines
•Akihabara: Radio Kaikan Building [MAP] Yodobashi Camera [MAP]
•Ikebukuro: LABI electronics superstore [MAP]
•Nakano: Nakano Broadway [MAP]
•Shibuya: Loft [MAP]
Cult fashion: Lolita, Gothic Lolita, Punk, Princess Style & more
•Harajuku: Closet Child pristine second-hand Lolita & Goth-Lolita clothing [MAP]
•Shinjuku: Marui Annex department store [MAP]
Japanese fashion:
•Harajuku: Laforet [MAP]
•Shibuya: 109 Building women’s fashion [MAP] • Men’s 109 men’s & host-style fashion [MAP] • Marui OIOI department stores [MAP] to all locations • PARCO boutique department store [MAP]
Modern kimono/yukata style:
•Shinjuku: Marui department store (only the Shinjuku branch) [MAP] • PARCO boutique department store [MAP]
Cosplay costumes, wigs, accessories & make-up:
•Akihabara: street shops [MAP]
•Harajuku: Bodyline on Takeshita street [MAP]
•Nakano: Nakano Broadway [MAP]
TOYS & GAMES
Model kits & character figures:
•Akihabara: street shops [MAP] • Mandarake [MAP] • Radio Kaikan Building [MAP] for dolls & doll parts, figures, robot-style models (shop list here) • Yodobashi Camera [MAP]
•Harajuku: Kiddyland [MAP]
•Ikebukuro: LABI electronics superstore [MAP]
•Nakano: Nakano Broadway [MAP]
•Ueno: Yamashiro-ya [MAP]
Japanese character stuffies and merchandise (Totoro, One Piece, Naruto, etc.):
•Harajuku: Kiddyland [MAP]
•Tokyo Station: First Avenue underground Character Street shops [MAP]
•Ueno: Yamashiro-ya [MAP]
Video games:
•Akihabara: street shops [MAP] • Super Potato vintage gaming store [MAP] • Yodobashi Camera electronics superstore [MAP]
•Harajuku: Kiddyland [MAP]
•Ikebukuro: LABI electronics superstore [MAP]
•Shinjuku: BIC Camera electronics superstore [MAP]
•Ueno: Yamashiro-ya [MAP]
Weird only-in-Japan toys:
•Harajuku: Kiddyland [MAP]
•Ikebukuro: LABI electronics superstore [MAP]
•Shinjuku: BIC Camera electronics superstore [MAP]
•Ueno: Yamashiro-ya [MAP]
Prank gifts:
•Harajuku: Kiddyland [MAP]
•Ueno: Yamashiro-ya [MAP]
•Loft [MAP] to all locations
•Tokyu Hands [MAP] to all locations
•Village Vanguard [MAP] to all locations
•
FOOD
Roasted soybean & nut snacks:
Note: These are my favorite Japanese snacks, made from roasted soybeans or nuts. Flavors include Okinawan brown sugar, coffee, sweet miso,pepper, garlic, curry, green tea & more.I always give these as gifts, and buy some for myself too.
•Hiroo/Azabu-juban area: Mamegen main shop [MAP]
•Ginza: Mamegen boutique shop in the Matsuya food hall [MAP]
Rice crackers:
•Asakusa: Senso-ji temple shopping street [MAP]
•Ginza: Mitsukoshi food hall [MAP] • Matsuya food hall [MAP]
•Nihonbashi: Mitsukoshi flagship store food hall [MAP]
•Shinjuku: Takashimaya Times Square food hall [MAP]
Tea:
•Ginza: Mitsukoshi food hall [MAP] • Matsuya food hall [MAP]
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market [MAP]
•Nihonbashi: Mitsukoshi flagship store food hall [MAP]
•Shinjuku: Takashimaya Times Square food hall [MAP]
Tea ceremony sweets:
•Ginza: Mitsukoshi food hall [MAP] • Matsuya food hall [MAP]
•Nihonbashi: Mitsukoshi flagship store food hall [MAP]
•Shinjuku: Takashimaya Times Square food hall [MAP]
Japanese flavors of Western sweets:
•Ginza: Mitsukoshi food hall [MAP] • Matsuya food hall [MAP]
•Nihonbashi: Mitsukoshi flagship store food hall [MAP]
•Shinjuku: Takashimaya Times Square food hall [MAP]
Only-in-Japan donuts:
•Krispy Kreme [MAP] to all locations
•Mr. Donut [MAP] to all locations
Poisonous dried snake tea mix:
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market • [MAP]
Drinking snacks made from crickets:
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market • [MAP]
•
SOUVENIRS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR FRIENDS DIE LAUGHING
Inexpensive amusing stuff:
•Harajuku: Daiso ¥100 Store on Takeshita Street [MAP]
Super-realistic plastic food models, clocks, refrigerator magnets & keychains:
•Kappabashi: street shops [MAP]
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market [MAP]
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market [MAP]
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market [MAP]
Poisonous dried snake tea mix:
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market [MAP]
Drinking snacks made from crickets:
•Koshinzuka: Koshinzuka Street Market [MAP]
Stores filled with all kinds of great stuff:
Crazy stuff in every department, but especially good for weird gifts, strange beauty treatments & equipment, odd costumes & obscure craft supplies
Tokyu Hands [MAP] to all locations
•
Excellent for all kinds of housewares, beauty supplies & popcult art
Loft [MAP] to all locations
•
Weird & prank gifts
Village Vanguard [MAP] to all locations
•
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, please subscribe!
You’ll get the latest travel hacks, newly discovered destinations, walking tours and more, delivered by email. (And I promise: no ads and no sharing of your information EVER.)
It’s easy: Scroll down to the subscribe button, enter your email, and push the button. You can unsubscribe at any time, of course!
Jonelle Patrick writes about Japan 