20 Best Places to Go Shopping in Tokyo

Tokyo's shopping malls and department stores are retail palaces where you can shop, eat, try out the latest electronics, catch a film and see Japan's latest fashion. The most stylish malls are mostly in Harajuku and Shibuya. Malls like With Harajuku and Omotesando Hills appeal to young crowds looking for cutting-edge trends.

Visit Japan's oldest department store, Mitsukoshi, at its flagship branch in Nihonbashi, to hunt for handmade Japanese crafts and regional foods. In upmarket Ginza, it's all about the slick electronics stores and major international designers. Finish your shopping trip at Odaiba, an island in Tokyo Bay that's filled almost entirely with shopping malls.

Designer stores on Omotesando Street include Issey Miyake, Gucci, Michael Kors and Costume National. Don’t miss the flagship store for Rei Kawakubo’s Commes des Garçons brand is extraordinary, with its many small blue glass hubs. The area around Omotesando Street is one of Tokyo’s premier upmarket areas with many top international designer brands calling this neighbourhood home.

Omotesando itself is a gorgeous zelkova tree-lined avenue stretching from the Meiji Shrine entrance to Aoyama Street, where you’ll find the Omotesandō Station. A walk down street will enthrall architecture enthusiasts and fashionistas.

One of the most iconic buildings in Tokyo, the Prada Building was designed by Pritzker prize-winning Swiss architectural team of Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. The green glass façade bulges from a diagonal grid that forms its structural skin, resembling a shiny quilted blanket. Inside the building houses retail floors, lounges and event spaces.

Its chic, white-on-white interior houses the top brand’s full collection of men’s and women’s apparel and accessories. You might even find limited edition items that are largely unavailable in other Prada boutiques.

The exciting Spiral Market is located on the 2nd floor of the Spiral Building, a complex of cultural facilities established by Wacoal aimed at bringing together life and art. It presents simple, high-quality home furnishings based on an ‘eternal design’ principle.

The store has 6 self-explanatory zones: Lounging, eating, healing, working, wearing and wrapping. The market also regularly hosts the ‘Spiral Market Selection’ which displays clay, glass and fabric artifacts made by up-and-coming designers, hand-picked by an esteemed panel of industry professionals.

The bustling Oriental Bazaar is a great place to shop for some unique souvenirs to take home. Located on Omotesando Street close to Harajuku, you’ll find 4 floors of typically Japanese items here, ranging from new and secondhand kimonos, handheld fans, bento boxes, quality antiques to stationary and inexpensive key rings.

Though a little touristy at certain times of year, the bazaar remains very popular among Japanese shoppers. The shop is a walking distance from Omotesando Station and Meiji-Jingumae Station.

Ameyoko street market is Tokyo’s largest open-air bazaar with more than 500 stores. It’s a treasure trove of goods, from fresh seafood and produce to clothes, souvenirs and discount brand-name items. It started out as a black market after World War II, and it's still known for its bargain finds.

If you want to experience the authentic hustle and bustle of everyday life in Tokyo, this is the place to be. Ameyoko is a paradise for foodies, with a wide variety of street food stalls selling everything from fresh sushi and yakitori to fried chicken and ice cream. Many of the vendors only accept cash, so be sure to have some yen on hand.

The subterranean shop of Mandarake Shibuya is overflowing with manga, anime, collectable toys and more. The shop has a cosplay stage and karaoke box in keeping with the overall otaku theme of the store. You never really know what you’re going to find in Mandarake and that’s half of the fun.

The store is neatly organized by category, so you can browse through all the Pokémon, Sailor Moon and Ghibli sections with ease. You might recognize some of the nostalgic toys from your childhood as well as super rare Pokémon plushies. If you want to get your hands on rare finds, stay tuned to the shop’s socials for store events and auctions.

As one of the tallest buildings in the entire city, Tokyo Midtown is easy to spot. Launched as part of a huge redevelopment project, it’s home to 130 upmarket shops, offices, museums and the Ritz Carlton Tokyo Hotel on the top floors.

Most of the shopping is located in the Galleria section, a 4-storey arcade, that offers high-end, spacious shopping. Along with plenty of fashion boutiques from Japan’s most esteemed designers, you’ll find some incredible homeware shops to pick up some standout art pieces for your home.

Tokyo's electronics stores offer everything from cutting-edge technology goods at competitive prices to the latest launched products. Akihabara and Shibuya neighbourhoods are true meccas for electronics, latest technology and gadgets.

One popular electronic store in Akihabara is Yodobashi-Akiba where you can find a large selection of the latest laptops, smartphones, cameras and audio devices. Just a stone throw’s away from Akihabara Station is Yodobashi Camera. It boasts a vast array of cameras, watches and more. They offer tax-free services, so bring your passport. The Bic Camera store in Shibuya consists of 7 floors of discounted cameras, computers and other home appliances.

The Apple Store Ginza was the first Apple store to be opened outside of the US and it's amazing. With 7 floors of Apple’s most innovative technology to explore, you could spend an entire afternoon in here. The Apple Ginza, sells Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch products and accessories and support for tax exemption.

Apple Store Ginza has an inspiring Today at Apple program, personal setup sessions, and they have a theatre which screens tutorials on Apple products. You can Apple Store from Ginza Station in about 10 minutes on foot.

Marui department stores focus on trendy clothing and accessories, with a large selection of local Japanese brands. If you are looking for fashionable and affordable items, you’ll find them at Marui’s. While fashion is a major focus, they also have stores selling cosmetics, housewares and other goods.

If you’re looking for great deals, you’re in luck, because these department stores are known for having sales and promotions throughout the year. They have several locations in the city, including the main building and annex in Shinjuku, the Ueno branch with a good selection of popular Japanese brands and a store in Yurakucho housing a mix of fashion stores and restaurants.

If you're looking for a place to do some shopping, dining, and sightseeing under one roof, head to Roppongi Hills mega-complex. It houses over 200 shops, cafes and restaurants. Most shops that specialize in top Japanese and international brands, fashion, accessories, interior design and household goods.

If you fancy a change of pace from shopping, Roppongi Hills boasts a movie theater complex and the Mori Art Museum. Tokyo City View observation deck is located on the 52nd floor of the Mori Tower. It offers stunning panoramic views of Tokyo, including Tokyo Tower, the Imperial Palace and Skytree.

Carré Moji is a unique establishment in Tokyo dedicated to the art of modern calligraphy. It’s the only gallery and production space in Japan focused exclusively on showcasing and creating calligraphic and sumi works. They boast a collection of over 2,000 all-original pieces, all created by a group of 13 talented calligraphers affiliated with Carré Moji.

Carré Moji has also gained recognition for its collaborations, including creating interior calligraphy art. Unlike most galleries, Carré Moji requires reservations for viewing their collection, so be sure to plan ahead.

Whether you’re travelling with children or a kid at heart yourself, Tokyo’s toy stores are bursting with magic for all ages. Imagine towering shelves overflowing with cuddly robots, anime heroes with gravity-defying hair and enough plushie creatures to fill a kawaii (cute) dream. Tokyo's toy stores are playgrounds for the curious, promising a treasure hunt of endless fun and a sprinkle of childlike wonder for every adventurer.

The huge Yamashiroya store in Ueno boasts a massive selection of toys that caters to all ages and interests. In Shibuya, you’ll find Harajuku Kiddy Land which is the flagship store of the toy brand. The legendary Hakuhinkan store in Ginza is where traditional craftsmanship meets modern whimsy and it’s a must-visit. 

Okura Oriental Art is an adorable little store on the outskirts of Roppongi has a reputation for dealing in antiques that are not just for looking at but can be incorporated into the functions of your everyday living spaces.

From bento sets to ink-stone boxes with built-in abacuses, the items in this store are out of the ordinary, intriguing and have a rich history which store owner Mizue Sasa will be happy to relate. Okura Oriental Art is walking distance from Roppongi-itchome Station.

If you’re a cosplay enthusiasts or looking for a fantasy costume, head to Gee! Store on the 4th floor of the Onodon Main Store near the Akihabara station. This fun store stocks a huge range of costumes, wigs and fancy-dress outfits. Their unique designs are said to truly capture the essence of the characters they have been created for. The items feature your favorite characters from popular series like Naruto, One Piece, Demon Slayer and many others.

Besides cosplay costumes and apparel, you’ll also find original anime and videogame merchandise such as t-shirts, figurines, keyrings, caps and hats.

Nicknamed "Donki" by locals, the Don Quijote store in Shinjuku is known its immense variety of products. This 24/7 store is brimming with items from clothing, travel goods, and skin care to souvenirs and inexpensive gifts. It carries unusual or quirky items you wouldn't find elsewhere, so you might find some unique keepsakes here.

Donki is also a treasure trove of Japanese snacks, candies, drinks and even fresh produce and thus a popular spot to refuel after a few beers in the bars of Shinjuku. Or if you need to stock up on your over-the-counter pain killers after a pub crawl, you’ll find them here, as well as toiletries and travel-sized essentials.

Located at the Sensoji Temple, Kurodaya is a craft store that has been in business since 1856. This quaint shop specialized in beautiful Japanese washi (delicate hand-made paper sheets). Traditional woodblock prints onto paper is one of Japan’s most admired forms of artistry, and the staff at Kurodaya are considered experts.

Historically, washi sheets have featured kabuki actors, landscapes and supernatural phenomena, but today more modern imagery is created using the traditional methods. Kurodaya also stocks a wide range of traditional masks, clay figurines, kites and calligraphy equipment.

Takeshita Street, located in the heart of Harajuku, known for being a trendsetter in Japanese fashion and culture. It boasts many boutiques and small shops that are primming with trendy clothing, shoes, accessories, jewelry, cosplay costumes, character merchandise and J-Pop merch. From kawaii (cute) and decora styles to goth and punk influences, this popular street has basically everything a style conscious shopper could want.

Be sure to try the trendy and often outrageous street food options here. Rainbow cotton candy, giant crepes and creative taiyaki (fish-shaped cakes) are just a few of the delicious treats you can find on this colourful street.

Kappabashi-dori, also known as Kitchen Town, is a street lined with stores specializing in cooking and catering for both professional chefs and home cooks alike. Here you’ll find everything imaginable for your kitchen needs, from knives and pots and pans to dishes, utensils and even commercial-grade ovens and refrigerators.

If you're running a restaurant or are looking for professional-grade equipment, Kappabashi-dori has you covered. You can find display cases, signage, furniture and even specialized tools for specific cuisines. One of the most unique aspects of Kappabashi-dori is the abundance of stores selling incredibly realistic plastic food samples. These "sampuru" are used by restaurants in Japan to display their dishes in window displays.