Shopping & Opening Hours | Tokyo Shops
Electronic Equipment & Computers | Photographic Equipment
Kimono & Yukata | Katana | Washi | Pottery | Lacquerware
Japanese people love shopping and there are shops in Japan where you can buy almost anything, from large and luxurious department stores to small shops selling a single product. If you go shopping in the big cities you will be spoilt for choice. Prices can be high but there are many great and reasonably priced souvenirs to buy.
Shops are usually open from 10am to 8pm. Department stores close at 6 or 6.30pm. Most shops close for one day, often in the week. Small shops may close on national holidays and most shops will be closed for three or more days over New Year. There are many 24 hour convenience stores in Japan selling toiletries, alcohol, food etc.
If you want to spend some time shopping in Japan then Tokyo will not disappoint. The main shopping areas include:
Akihabara in Tokyo is the area for electronic goods. Known as electric town, you will find many discount shops selling the latest electronic appliances, and gadgets never seen in the UK.
The problem with buying electronic items is that Japan uses a power supply of 100 volts. For Japanese models to work in the UK a transformer will have to be used. However it is possible to buy some export models and some products have a dual-voltage switch.
If you enjoy the latest gadgets then Akihabara will be a dream come true. You will see the latest stereos, mobile phones, PDA's, digital cameras and computer equipment. There are so many shops selling electronic goods that you could easily spend a fortune here.
Computer products can be found all over Akihabara, but you will have to search for English language versions. Three of the biggest computer shops that do stock English products are LAOX, T-Zone and Sofmap.
Most of the major camera brands come from Japan and it is a great place to find cameras and photographic equipment. In Japan you can buy reasonably priced cameras and as with computer products, you will find the latest equipment to tempt you.
There are plenty of new and used camera shops in the Shinjuku and Ginza areas of Tokyo, including Yodobashi Camera in Shinjuku, a huge photography shop.
Traditional Japanese kimono can be bought for about ¥50,000, although prices can be over ¥1 million. Many kimonos are beautifully designed, however this is reflected in the cost.
A good place to look for kimono and yukata is Shimakame (6-5-15 Ginza, Chuo-ku 104). It may be better to hunt for antique kimono or sometimes you find shops selling ex-rental kimono.
Much more practical and affordable are yukata. They are fantastic souvenirs or gifts, and are comfortable and easy to wear. Yukata make great bathrobes and they are much cheaper than kimono with prices starting at around ¥4,000.
Katana are sharp, dangerous weapons that require a permit and police registration. Antique swords with a samurai history go for very high prices. The better swords cost over ¥1 million.
Real samurai swords require a lot of care and attention. It is easy for the swords to corrode, resulting in a loss in value. Imitation swords are unsharpened and can be bought for about ¥10,000 to ¥20,000
Think carefully about buying katana as it takes some effort. Japan Sword (3-8-1 Toranomon, Minato-ku) welcome foreign buyers and deal with the legal process for exporting the sword, but unless you are a collector it is worth remembering that buying a real katana can take a lot of time and money.
Washi is traditional hand made paper, known around the world for it's beauty and quality. Specialist shops sell many wonderfully patterned and coloured sheets of washi and washi products.
Products made from washi that you can buy include lamps, mobiles and wall hangings. They are reasonably priced and make great gifts and souvenirs. Washi is also used for origami (paper folding).
In Tokyo a great place to buy washi and washi products is Yushima No Kobayashi Co. (1-7-14 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku 113)
Japanese pottery is very popular yet it can be expensive to buy. Stoneware is fired at much lower temperatures than porcelain, and the look is different too. Where as porcelain is considered beautiful by perfection, stoneware is not.
Although pottery can be expensive department stores often sell pottery that is both affordable and beautifully produced. Sake bottles and cups make great souvenirs that look fantastic and are fun to display or use
Japanese lacquerware makes a good purchase while in Japan. Items that can be bought include cups, bowls and chopsticks. These traditional, high quality items are very practical or are beautiful when put on display.