100 ¥ = 61.95 Rub
1 $ = 91.56 Rub
Tottori License #3-92
Japan is a land of contrasts, where centuries-old traditions of service meet cutting-edge retail formats. You can spend your morning in an elegant department store enjoying a tea ceremony, then dive into a chaotic discount store for exclusive snacks in the evening. Here's a detailed guide to five must-visit shopping destinations for any budget.
Takashimaya – Japanese Luxury and Tradition Embodied
Founded in 1831 as a secondhand kimono shop, Takashimaya has evolved into one of Japan's most prestigious department stores. This isn't just a place to shop—it's a cultural experience where every detail has been perfected.
Locations: Flagship store in Nihonbashi (Tokyo), an impressive branch in Shinjuku, major stores in Osaka and Kyoto.
What to Buy:
Basement floors (depachika) — a gastronomic paradise:
• Traditional wagashi (Japanese sweets) from legendary confectioners like Toraya—their anko bean paste is made using recipes from the 16th century
• Premium seasonal fruit: square watermelons, Yubari King melons for 20,000+ yen (they're grown like precious gems)
• Ultra-fresh seafood and sashimi, sliced right in front of you
• French patisseries: macarons from Pierre Hermé, éclairs from Japanese pastry chefs
• Ready-made bento boxes—true art in a box, perfect for a park picnic
Fashion floors:
• European luxury brands with exclusive collections for the Japanese market
• Premium Japanese brands: Kyoto kimono (from 300,000 yen for genuine silk), modern interpretations of traditional clothing
• Accessories department with Hermès scarves, Italian leather gloves
• Jewelry: from Mikimoto (inventors of cultured pearls) to Cartier
Home goods and gifts:
• Handmade ceramics from Arita and Seto—tea sets, vases, plates
• Kitchen knives from Sakai—the same ones sushi masters use (from 30,000 yen)
• Traditional lacquerware (urushi)—jewelry boxes, chopsticks
• Textiles: towels from Imabari (incredibly soft), furoshiki (traditional wrapping cloths)
Top Shopping Recommendations:
1. Furoshiki and scarves (2,000-5,000 yen) — beautiful and practical souvenirs, they'll teach you wrapping techniques
2. Matcha green tea set with whisk (5,000-15,000 yen) — quality incomparable to tourist shops
3. Handmade ceramic rice bowl (3,000-10,000 yen) — each one is unique
4. Wagashi in beautiful packaging (2,000-5,000 yen per set) — perfect gift, keeps for several days
5. Premium Japanese cosmetics: Clé de Peau Beauté, SUQQU (often have exclusive sets)
The Hook: Impeccable service—staff in white gloves bow as you enter and exit, wrapping purchases in multiple layers of paper and ribbons, turning each item into a gift. Food courts on upper floors (usually 10th-12th floors) offer everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to traditional tonkatsu and tempura. In summer, the rooftop transforms into beer gardens with city views.
Insider Tip: Come to the depachika an hour before closing (usually 7-8 PM)—many fresh food items go on sale for 30-50% off. Ask about tax refund processing (minimum 5,000 yen purchase) — you'll save 8-10%.
Price Category: Premium/Luxury (average spend from 10,000 yen)
Don Quijote (Donki) – Chaos, Fun, and Amazing Finds
If Takashimaya is a symphony, Don Quijote is punk rock shopping. This discount chain with a yellow penguin mascot operates 24/7 and sells absolutely everything—from maid costumes to fresh fruit. The stores are like mazes with merchandise stacked to the ceiling, while loudspeakers blast promo announcements to the signature "Miracle Shopping" jingle.
Locations: Everywhere! In Tokyo, the most famous are the 8-story giant in Roppongi, huge store in Shinjuku, and the Akihabara branch.
What to Buy:
Cosmetics and skincare:
• Sheet masks from all brands: from budget Lululun (100 yen) to premium Mediheal
• Popular Japanese products: Hada Labo, Melano CC, Biore UV (cheaper than drugstores)
• Crazy beauty gadgets: face rollers, massagers, double eyelid makers
• Men's grooming: styling gels, hair loss treatments
Snacks and food:
• Kit Kat in every flavor: matcha, sakura, wasabi, sake, pudding, purple sweet potato (great for gifts)
• Pocky in varieties you won't find outside Japan
• Premium instant ramen—surprisingly delicious
• Japanese alcoholic beverages: sake, plum wine (umeshu), Suntory whisky at reasonable prices
• Seasonal snacks (fall—chestnuts and sweet potato, spring—sakura)
Souvenirs and oddities:
• T-shirts with hilarious English phrases
• Anime figures, manga, posters
• Traditional souvenirs: fans, chopsticks, little maneki-neko (lucky cats)
• Electronics: headphones, power banks, adapters
• Suitcases and travel bags—in case you bought too much
Top Shopping Recommendations:
1. Assorted Kit Kat flavors box (1,500-3,000 yen) — collectible souvenir, beautifully packaged
2. Lululun sheet masks (large pack of 32 ~1,500 yen) — amazing gift for friends
3. Premium instant ramen (200-400 yen per pack) — try the seafood or truffle versions
4. Japanese face towels (500-1,000 yen) — incredibly soft, long-lasting
5. Panasonic eye massager (~5,000 yen at Don Quijote vs. 8,000 at regular stores)
6. Foldable travel slippers (300-800 yen) — brilliant Japanese practicality
7. Toothbrushes and toothpaste — Japanese quality, crazy prices
The Hook: The store's open at night! After midnight, the atmosphere gets especially surreal. Tax-free is processed on-site (minimum 5,000 yen), but be prepared for checkout lines. Some branches have cafes and restaurants on upper floors. The Roppongi Don Quijote is a tourist pilgrimage site—they even have Russian-speaking staff.
Insider Tip: Download the Don Quijote app—it has coupons and special offers. Look for items with yellow price tags—those are super discounts. Don't hesitate to ask for help—staff often speak English.
Price Category: Budget (you can buy tons of stuff for 5,000 yen)
BookOff – Treasure Hunting in the World of Secondhand
BookOff started as a used bookstore but evolved into a secondhand empire where you can find absolutely everything—from vintage Levi's to first edition Dragon Ball manga. Japanese people are obsessed with cleanliness and order, so even used items look almost new.
Locations: All over Japan, especially large stores: BookOff Super Bazaar in Shinjuku (8 floors!), Shibuya, numerous smaller shops in every neighborhood.
What to Buy:
Books and manga:
• Japanese manga: complete series for pennies (from 100 yen per volume)
• Art books and illustrated editions—often rare finds
• Fashion magazines: Vogue Japan, Ginza, Popeye—vintage issues
• Books in English (separate section)—decent selection of classics
• Guidebooks and Japanese language textbooks
Clothing and shoes:
• Japanese designer brands: Comme des Garçons, Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake for 20-40% of original price
• Vintage denim: Japanese Levi's, Edwin, Kapital
• Streetwear: Bape, Supreme, Neighborhood (you have to hunt, but finds happen)
• Kimono and yukata: from everyday wear (3,000-5,000 yen) to vintage silk (20,000+ yen)
• Premium brand shoes in excellent condition
Electronics and gadgets:
• Retro games: Nintendo Famicom, Super Famicom, Game Boy (functionality checked)
• PlayStation and Nintendo Switch games—Japanese versions, often cheaper
• Cameras: working film cameras from Canon, Nikon
• Audio equipment: headphones, portable players
Luxury section (in large stores):
• Designer bags: Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada with certificate of authenticity
• Watches: Rolex, Seiko, Citizen—vintage and contemporary
• Jewelry and accessories
Music:
• CDs: J-pop, J-rock, jazz, classical (from 100 yen)
• Vinyl records—Japanese pressings are known for quality
• DVDs and Blu-rays: Japanese films, anime, concerts
Top Shopping Recommendations:
1. Vintage kimono or yukata (3,000-15,000 yen) — wearable and beautiful, check for stains
2. Japanese denim (Edwin, Kapital, vintage Levi's Japan, 3,000-10,000 yen) — construction quality is superb
3. Manga set of popular series (500-3,000 yen for complete series) — even if you can't read Japanese, editions are beautiful
4. Designer t-shirt or sweater (2,000-8,000 yen) — often find Comme des Garçons pieces
5. Retro games (500-3,000 yen) — Game Boy Color/Advance with Japanese games
6. Vintage fashion magazines (200-500 yen) — great insight into Japanese fashion of the 80s-90s
7. Japanese ceramics and tableware (500-3,000 yen) — vintage cups, teapots
8. Designer bag in good condition (15,000-100,000+ yen) — all authenticated
The Hook: Color-coded price tag system—each color corresponds to when the item arrived. Once a month they have sales on specific colors with up to 50% off. At Super Bazaar you can spend all day—there's even a cafe. BookOff accepts items for resale—free up your suitcase and get some yen back.
Insider Tip: Best finds are in shops in less popular neighborhoods and suburbs—less competition from hunters. Come on weekday mornings when they're putting out new stock. Check condition carefully—sometimes there are minor defects. In the vintage clothing section, look for "A" or "S" tags—that's the best condition.
Price Category: Budget-Mid (you can dress yourself for 10,000 yen, or spend 100,000 on vintage Comme des Garçons)
Tokyu Hands – Creative Paradise for Perfectionists
Tokyu Hands isn't just a store, it's a research laboratory of Japanese ingenuity. Here you can find solutions to any life problem you didn't even know existed. From the perfect pencil sharpener to a compact umbrella that fits in your pocket—every product is designed down to the smallest detail.
Locations: Flagship store in Shibuya (8 floors of pure delight), major branches in Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Osaka, Kyoto.
What to Buy:
Stationery (a true Japanese passion):
• Pens: from Uni-ball Signo at 150 yen to gold fountain pens at 50,000 yen
• Notebooks and journals: minimalist design, highest quality paper (Midori, Maruman)
• Sticky notes in all shapes and sizes: from classic Post-its to character-shaped ones
• Washi tape (decorative tape)—hundreds of designs for scrapbooking and decor
• Organizers and planners—the Japanese are masters of storage systems
• Erasers, sharpeners, correction pens—yes, it's worth coming here for these
Hobby and craft supplies:
• Origami sets: from simple paper to gold foil
• Calligraphy materials: brushes, ink, paper for shodo
• Craft supplies: beads, threads, fabrics, tools
• Modeling kits: from simple to professional
• Scrapbooking and card-making materials
Gadgets and home solutions:
• Organizers for everything: from socks to charging cables
• Compact transforming furniture—specially designed for small Japanese apartments
• Bathroom items: from massage brushes to relaxation aromatics
• Kitchen gadgets: knives for all vegetable types, bento molds, unusual graters
• Smart storage solutions: vacuum bags, pull-out systems
Cosmetics and skincare (a separate heavenly floor):
• Niche Japanese brands you won't find in regular stores
• Organic products: natural soaps, essential oils
• Aroma diffusers and candles from Japanese makers
• Bath products: salts, bombs with Japanese scents (yuzu, hinoki)
• Premium men's grooming
Travel goods:
• Compact backpacks and bags with thoughtful compartments
• Travel organizers for cosmetics and clothes
• Compression bags to save space
• Anatomically shaped travel pillows
• Water bottles with smart lids
DIY and repair:
• Home tools: from mini-screwdrivers to professional sets
• Paints, brushes, repair materials
• Glues for all occasions—the Japanese know their adhesives
• Materials for personalizing items
Top Shopping Recommendations:
1. Uni-ball or Pilot gel pen set (800-2,000 yen) — writes like butter, never leaks
2. Midori MD notebook (1,500-3,000 yen) — premium quality paper for writing
3. Washi tape set (500-2,000 yen) — beautiful patterns, great lightweight souvenir
4. Compact folding umbrella (2,000-5,000 yen) — Japanese quality, will survive any wind
5. Travel organizer (1,500-4,000 yen) — will change your travel life
6. Calligraphy set (3,000-10,000 yen) — includes brushes, ink, paper, instructions
7. Japanese kitchen knife (3,000-15,000 yen) — not Sakai level, but excellent quality
8. Japanese incense sticks (800-3,000 yen) — hinoki cedar, sandalwood scents
9. Compact makeup bag with compartments (2,000-5,000 yen) — designed down to the last detail
10. Origami kit (500-2,000 yen) — beautiful paper, instructions in English
The Hook: Staff are true experts—they'll demonstrate any product and explain how to use it. Every floor has zones for testing products. Regular workshops are held (schedule on website)—you can learn calligraphy, jewelry making, origami. On the roof of the Shibuya flagship—a gardening section with live plants and terrariums.
Insider Tip: Allocate at least 2-3 hours for your visit—it's easy to get lost here. Grab an English floor map at the information desk. Many products have demo versions—don't hesitate to test. If you can't find something—ask, they often have English explanations on staff smartphones.
Price Category: Mid-range (average spend 3,000-10,000 yen, but you can go higher)
