The best places for shopping in Tokyo

Shibuya, for youthful fashion shopping

The most popular shopping district in Tokyo is Shibuya. Shibuya is known as a trendy and youthful shopping area and it is easily one of the most recognizable and vibrant places in Tokyo as it’s filled with tall buildings, big screens and neon lights. Strolling around in the evening in Shibuya makes you feel like you ended up in a steampunk movie set in Japan.

For the best shopping experience its best to go north from station Shibuya. Here you will find the famous Shibuya crossing, the busiest intersection in the world, with the famous Aikita statue. From here you can enter the Center Gai street, where big brands, restaurants, arcades and nightlife all come together. This is often considered the birthplace of the radical fashion trends in Japan, so there are an abundance of alternative fashion to be found here. And if you prefer to stay indoors you can check out the eye catching department stores such as the 183 meters tall Shibuya Hikarie and the 109 department store.

If you walk further north or take the metro to Harajuku station then you will find the Harajuku district on your east side. As you arrive the first thing you will see to the south east is Omotesandō street, which is often called the Tokyo’s Champs-Élysées. This name is a reference to the famous street in France, as you will find several architectural highlights in here which house big brand luxury fashion stores, such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada. But for regular shoppers there are also more accessible retailers such as Zara and H&M.

For teenage fashion and youth culture you will want to check out Takeshita Street, which lies parallel north of Omotesandō street, where you will find fashion for different Japanese subcultures, from kawaii candy colored dresses to tight black jackets. This area is considered the teen Mecca of Tokyo, which also reflects in the food offering in the area, as you can get some delicious sweet and often fruit and whipped cream filled crêpes here in between your shopping sessions as well.

Within Shibuya you will also find Yoyogi Park and the matching Meiji Shrine, which you can also visit if you want to combine your shopping trip with a moment of relaxation.

Ginza, the largest department stores in Tokyo

For your luxury shopping needs you have to go to Ginza. This area is known for its large department stores that draw people to Tokyo and high end fashion brands. The sophisticated shopper will also find there are also plenty of art galleries to be found in Ginza. It is especially appealing to go shopping in Ginza on the weekends, as the streets are closed off for cars then, giving it a serene vibe perfect for going on a shopping spree.

Ginza can be found south of Tokyo central station. But the best way to reach it is by taking the metro to Station Ginza, which has exits towards the heart of the Ginza shopping district. The main street in Ginza is called Chuo Dori, which means central avenue. It is here and in the intersecting streets that you find the upscale department stores and shopping malls of Tokyo.

The Ginza 4-chome intersection intersection of Chuo-dori is considered the beating heart of Ginza, with the landmark Wako and Mitsukoshi department stores. If you go into the side streets you will come across stores like Abercrombie & Fitch, Uniqlo, the most famous fashion brand in Japan, and Chanel. In front of the Uniqlo building you will find the largest shopping complex of the district, called Ginza Six. Here you will find 241 upscale stores, with everything such as Japanese restaurants, flagship fashion stores and cosmetics and of course a stunning rooftop garden that you can’t miss.

When it is time to fill your tummy then we recommend settling down in a Ginza restaurant for some nice yakitori, which is a typically Japanese skewered chicken, making your day complete.

Shinjuku, with countless shops for everyone

Shinjuku is known as a energetic, colorful and hip neighborhood of Tokyo and certainly one of the better places to go shopping in Tokyo as it’s filled with countless of shops, bars and restaurants and a large nightlife area. At night the whole area lights up like a casino, which is a pretty fun experience.

Shinjuku is known for its tall buildings and abundance of department stores, with a wider range of options for all budgets than the more high fashion Ginza district. This also makes it a great place to look go souvenir shopping for friends and family back at home. You will also find a decent amount of 100 yen shops and budget shops, such as the Don Quijote Shinjuku Store, with fun little takeaway items.

But you can also just go luxury fashion shopping for yourself. In the department stores of Shinjuku delicious food and designer fashion shopping often go hand in hand. For high fashion brands you can visit places giant department stores like Takashimaya Times Square, Odakyu and Isetan Shinjuku. Of course local favorite stores such as Uniqlo are also well represented in Shinjuku.

Shinjuku is one of the best places to go shopping in Tokyo. But Shinjuku also has some great hidden spots for the keen traveler. If you are in the area you could for example check out the observation deck of the Tokyo Metropolitan building, where you can enjoy a beautiful 360-degrees panoramic view over Tokyo for free.

You can reach Shinjuku by taking the metro to Shinjuku Station, which is by far the busiest railway station in the world as more than three and half million people visit that station daily. Leave it on the north east side, and you will find yourself entering the world of Shinjuku, where the characteristic little Japanese bars, fashion stores and department stores will greet you with colorful signs.

Akihabara, the gaming and anime stores

Akihabara is a niche shopping area, known for its J-pop, anime manga and Otaku culture. It’s basically heaven for people who come to Tokyo for their guilty pleasure of enjoying Japanese teen media. Besides that, Akihabara is also perfect when you are shopping for games, consoles and electronics. And it’s often considered a bastion for arcade gaming. In the evening Akihabara also shines bright with a sea of light, telling you that you have arrived at the right place.

You can reach Akihabara by going to Akihabara station. The main street, also known as Chuo Dori, is on the west side of the station. Chuo Dori and its side streets are where the magic happens. You will find large multi-floored anime department stores here such as Animate and Kotobukiya, which are amazing for fans of this niche.

In this district you will also find plenty of stores with cool gadgets and electronics. Directly next to Akihabara station for example, on the north east side, you will find a 9 floor electronic and gadget store called Yodobashi Akiba, which you will find all the toys and gadgets you will ever need.

For rare items you can also find second hand anime stores, such as the Mandarake Complex, which is pretty much the biggest manga store in the world, with rare magazines, figures and pretty much anything else you will not find elsewhere.

And once you are done with shopping you can always sit down at one of the arcades or maid cafes and enjoy some typically Japanese downtime. Even if you aren’t into the niche Japanese teen culture we at Meet The Cities think a visit to Akihabara is well worth a visit for the visual experience.