Kōrakuen & Akihabara
Are you on the lookout for a bipedal humanoid robot? V Stone specialises in DIY robot kits (from around ¥80,000, tax free). It also carries a range of…
Must-see shopping in Japan
Hokkaidō
The shopping centre at the New Furano Prince Hotel is a cute string of log cabins, each specialising in different crafts, connected by boardwalks in the…
Osaka
Perfect for last-minute souvenir shopping is this outlet of Tokyū Hands, with the chain's signature range of must-have gadgets, homewares and stationery…
Odaiba & Tokyo Bay
For fans of the anime franchise Gundam, this huge store has over a thousand different gunpura, Gundam plastic model kits, including limited-edition…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
This branch of anime and manga megastore Mandarake has a smaller selection than sister shops in Akihabara and Nakano but a convenient location near…
Downtown Kyoto
Tanakaya is one of the best places in Kyoto to buy kyō-ningyō (Kyoto dolls). In addition to the full range of kyō-ningyō, the shop sells display stands…
Nagasaki
It's not that the snacks, candy, castella (dense sponge cake), toys and trinkets are so unique – or great, for that matter. It's that this gift shop…
Osaka
At 16,000 sq metres over five storeys, this is Japan's largest men's fashion retailer. Though there are a few domestic names represented here, it's mostly…
Osaka
This huge Umeda branch of the classic Kansai department store anchors Osaka Station's southern side. On the upper floors you'll find branches of Tokyū…
Osaka
This old warehouse has a work space with vintage silkscreen machines that allow local artists to create small batches of T-shirts, posters, notecards,…
Downtown Kyoto
A collection of semi-independent antique shops under one roof, this Teramachi-dōri emporium has oddities, curios and treasures to make those yen burn a…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
Shimo-Kitazawa's best vintage shop, H&A – not H&M – provides all the props and costumes you'd need to re-enact almost any theatrical number, from the…
Osaka
This is the flagship of the long-running Osaka-based department store Takashiyama, which stocks mostly international brands, though the homewares…
Kōbe
This bayside complex has several malls (Umie and Mosaic), with branches of many mainstream shops. While they're otherwise uninspiring, some restaurants…
Hiroshima
Global Lounge (aka Outsider) has a big selection of secondhand English-language books (mostly paperbacks). You can grab a coffee and use the internet (…
Odaiba & Tokyo Bay
This shopping mall is designed to resemble an Italian streetscape, complete with fountains and ceilings that simulate the sky shifting from day to night…
Western Honshū
Follow the earthy aroma of roasting leaves to this specialist tea shop, where a machine in front churns out fresh hōjicha (roasted green tea) to be sold…
Harmonica-yokochō Morning Market
Tokyo
On the third Sunday of the month, vendors line the narrow lanes of Kichijōji's covered market, Harmonica-yokochō, selling handmade crafts, baked goods,…
Kumamoto Prefectural Products Centre
Kumamoto
Operated by the prefecture, this shop offers an array of crafts and foods from across Kumamoto: shōchū (strong distilled alcohol), ceramics, plush toys…
Kanazawa
If a flowering tree made of candy excites you, head to Murakami. At this handsome wagashi (Japanese sweets) shop you'll also find fukusamochi (red-bean…
Osaka
Village Vanguard bills itself as an 'exciting' bookstore, and it stocks fun, nontraditional, pop- and street-inspired mementos of your time in Japan…
Shinjuku & Northwest Tokyo
This mash-up store brings two of Japan's favourite retailers – electronics outfitter Bic Camera and budget clothing chain Uniqlo – under one roof. So you…
Harajuku & Aoyama
The bookstore attached to the Watari-Um, carries a highly covetable selection of stationery items and accessories – sometimes in collaboration with the…
Osaka
This Umeda department store has hip, youthful labels on the first six floors; fast-food restaurants, cafes and a virtual-reality game zone on the upper…
Osaka
This series of stylish shopping centres is linked by brick paths lined with trees; it's a popular place to hang out on weekends. In addition to men's and…
Asakusa & Sumida River
This small monthly artisan and farmer's produce market includes food trucks and live music. The location next to the Asahi Super Dry Hall provides views…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
A department store Shimo Kitazawa–style: this flea market–like space has dozens of vendors selling everything from handmade jewellery to vintage cowboy…
Tokyo
Specialising in foods made from tofu, this shop and restaurant also sells amazake (¥200), the sweet milky fermented (but nonalcoholic) rice drink, after…
Downtown Kyoto
Located in the midst of Kyoto’s banking district, this shopping, dining and entertainment complex is always worth a look. The offerings range from books…
Harajuku & Aoyama
Chicago is crammed with all sorts of vintage clothing, but best of all is the extensive collection of used kimonos and yukata, priced from ¥2000, in the…
Downtown Kyoto
This shop sells noren (curtains that hang in the entry of Japanese restaurants) and a wide variety of other fabric goods, such as placemats, tenugui …
Osaka
This large bookshop has a great selection of English-language books (on the 3rd floor) and English travel guides (2nd floor). It's inside the Dōjima…
Asakusa & Sumida River
Find yourself strangely entranced by that temple smell? Nenjudō sells dozens of varieties of incense, including traditional scents such as sandalwood and…
Kōrakuen & Akihabara
This is a collector's plastic dream – heroic, sexy figurines from all walks of Japanese science fiction. Look for the statues of characters from the anime…
Shibuya & Shimo-Kitazawa
The first five floors of this glass skyscraper are filled with fashion and lifestyle boutiques from international and domestic brands. In the basement…
Tokyo
Showcasing contemporary works mainly by students and faculty of Musashino Art University in Western Tokyo, this spacious basement gallery is one of…
Fukuoka
Occupying five floors of the Media Mall building, this bookshop sells a wide selection, including foreign paperbacks.
Kyūshū
About 20 vendors sell fish and related products in a market-like setting here. There are lots of free samples and interesting demos, such as katsuo-bushi …
Osaka
Named for the terraces and trees worked into the open-air layout, Namba Parks features six floors of fashion, accessories, homewares and more, plus…
Downtown Kyoto
Set over three floors on busy Kawaramachi-dōri, Angers is a concept lifestyle store packed with beautiful homewares, stationery, clothing and gifts with a…
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