It is fair to say that Japan is definitely not one of the cheapest places in the world when it comes to shopping. In fact, it can actually be one of the most expensive depending on what you want buy. With that in mind, shopping on a budget in Japan can be difficult, but if you know a few tricks then it can also turn out to be surprisingly affordable.
Here is our guide to shopping on a budget in Japan...
1) Shop for vintage items
Japan has a strong scene when it comes to vintage clothes which have been used and then sold on. One of the best places to come to shop for vintage pieces is the fashionable Harajuku district in Tokyo where you will find a number of shops that sell trendy clothing items at a discounted price.
2) Look for outlet shopping malls
Japan may not have a huge amount of budget buys but it does have a surprising number of outlet malls. These are usually located in out of the way places on the outskirts of a city but if you make the trip out there you will find a huge range of brand name products at a reduced price. These can include clothes, shoes, and home furnishings, to name but a few. The reason for the discounts is that the items usually come from the previous season’s collections but if you don’t mind this then it is a great way to save money.
3) Shop the sales
There are some great bargains to be had in Japan if you shop at the right time. Throughout the year you will find a number of sales and if you shop in regular stores you can get reductions on a huge collection of items. One of the biggest sales periods in Japan is during Golden Week which happens at the end of April and the beginning of May. Other good times to find sales are at the end of each of the seasons, so the end of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
4) Visit the markets
Japan does not have a huge market culture compared to many other countries in Asia but you will still find local markets dotted around. One of the most famous markets in Japan is Ameyokocho in Tokyo and this actually used to be a well known black market dealing in illicit goods after the Second World War. Now the area has been cleaned up but you can still get a huge range of cheap goods here like clothes, toys, perfume, shoes, and other apparel like watches and jewelry.
5) Try the flea markets
Flea markets are different from the main markets in Japan as they only sell secondhand merchandise whereas the other markets sell brand new items. If you want to get your hands on some bargains however then the flea markets are a great place to look and you will find these scattered all over cities in Japan. Just some of these markets include Ohi Racecourse Flea Market and Mottainai Flea Market, both of which are in the Tokyo area. The flea markets in Japan sell a variety of goods and are not just limited to clothing.
6) Visit ¥100 shops
¥100 shops are famous all over Japan and as the name suggests everything on sale here costs ¥100. These are the equivalent of a dollar store in the United States or a pound shop in the United Kingdom. The quality of these shops is not always the best but you will find a huge range of cheap products on sale here and if you are looking to save some money then these can be a great choice. One of the most famous chains of ¥100 shops is called Daiso and you can find these all over Japan.
7) Try the ¥300 shops
Many people have heard of the ¥100 shops but fewer have heard of their cousins the ¥300 stores. One of the best things about shopping in a ¥300 store is that you will still be able to buy a range of products cheaply but these also tend to be higher quality than the ¥100 shops. With that in mind, if you are looking for things like gifts or souvenirs then these can be the better choice.
8) Head to BOOK OFF
If you want to buy some books in Japan then one good place to look is BOOK OFF. These bookstores sell second hand books as part of a larger recycling movement in Japan and there are over 800 BOOK OFF stores across country. These stores sell a range of books at a discounted price and due to their success they have expanded into other areas such as used clothing stores. One of these that is part of the BOOK OFF group is a vintage clothing shop called Bingo which is located right in the heart of Tokyo in Shibuya.
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