While Japan is known for its electronics goods, there's no reason to stop your shopping there
Japan has a lot of choice when it comes to shopping. From giant, multi-floor electronics and household goods mega stores to 100 yen discount shops, you will find almost anything you are looking for as you make your way through the cities and shop 'til you drop.
Household appliances and electronics megastores
From TVs, video game consoles and PCs to refrigerators, washing machines and even toys and jigsaw puzzles, you can find some great bargains at these multi-floor establishments. Check out Yodobashi Camera, Bic Camera and Yamada Denki, found nationwide. Many offer price matching, or various other perks to help make searching for the best deal worth your time. While in Tokyo, visit Akihabara , or while in Osaka stop by Nippombashi, the two most famous electronic town areas in Japan.
Everyday goods
Across the nation, there are many stores offering up things to spice up your daily life. Look out for these as you shop around. Loft offers up colorful, quality everyday items at locations across the country. MUJI is well known for its simple designs and muted colors that will fit in well in any home. And for something unique, take a look at Plaza, with their popular Barbapapa goods.
Big discounts
Selling everything you can think of, these big discount shops are found across Japan. One that you should definitely visit is Don Quijote. Known for their penguin mascot and range of products, this is the place to go for a late-night shopping fix as most of the stores are open until late with stores such as Shinjuku and Roppongi open 24 hours a day. Another shop to check out is Takeya, which opened in Okachi-machi in 1947. It features eight different buildings, each with its own focus and many bilingual salespeople to help you find just what you're looking for.
100 Yen Shops
100 yen shops are ubiquitous across Japan. Chains with the largest number of shops include Daiso, Seriya, Watts and Can-do, which sell any and everything you might need, whether it's socks or a cold drink. If you're having a hard time finding something to bring back as a souvenir, stop by one of these and load up on snacks and unique Japanese items for the low cost of 100 yen (plus tax) per item.
Drugstores
Not limited to only medicine, these stores are a great place to pick up cosmetics and toiletries. If you forgot to pack something, these should be your first stop. Kokumin, SunDrug, and Matsumoto Kiyoshi are the largest chains found in Japan. In major cities, some target women and therefore offer numerous samples of cosmetics so you can try before you buy. Matsumoto Kiyoshi even offers many exclusively branded cosmetics and medicines.
* The information on this page may be subject to change due to COVID-19.