Tokyo Shopping Tips by Wild_Orchid

Name of Shop: High-End Fashions and Department Stores

You can experience Japanese consumer culture at the happening swanky commercial and shopping district of Ginza.

Big name designers such as Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Max Mara, Gucci, Cartier and new-comers Zara sit alongside Japan's famous Mikimoto and Japanese department stores such as Mitsukoshi (this branch dated back to the Meiji era!), Core, Matsuya, Seibu and Matsuzakaya.

A really large Shiseido store and the famous Sony showroom (at the Sotobori-dori St and Harumi-Dori intersection) are also some of the must-see sights when in Ginza.

Nearby the Ginza 4-chome intsersection, there are many large clocks at the outside of certain department stores. At every hour, you may want to wait outside to watch the big clocks chime. The figurines and clockworks are quite beautiful and the sound of bells, lovely to your ears.

The famous Tsukiji Fish Market is also in Ginza. I didn't get a chance to visit, but if you want to go there to observe the world famous fish auctions, you would need to get there in the early mornings, before 7 am. The Market opens at 5am.

What To Buy: The Japanese ladies penchant for tidy, well-cut dresses (a 'la 1950's style) in sweet green, pink and lilac pastels could be found at all department stores. The clothing & accessories are extremely good quality and well-tailored, but naturally, with a healthy price-tag as well. For example, the Zara stores in Malaysia & Singapore are certainly cheaper than those in Ginza, although merchandise was similar.

Price of make-up & skin-care was about the same as in Singapore and Malaysia. You can have a free make-over while watching the people go by. I certainly enjoyed trying out the testers at Mitsokoshi to put a little more colour onto my face after my overnight flight!.

What To Pay: Max out on your credit card, but only if you have someone else who will pick up the tab later!

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Theme: Department Store
Directions: %On the Ginza line exit at Ginza Substation. Start your walk at the famous Ginza 4-chome intersection of Chuo-dori St and Harumi-Dori St.

Website stated below is in Japanese, English and Korean%s*
Website: http://www.chuo-kanko.or.jp

Name of Shop: Venus Fort, Palette Town

If you visit the Odaiba / Tokyo Bay area, do drop in to Palette Town, which has a pseudo Italian Renaissance shopping mall, called Venus Fort. It is also home to a large Game Station that will be a hit with young boys called Joypolis (or something like that...).

As its name implies, this mall is dedicated to fashion for women, and also some teen fashions. The lower floor contains a large sporting apparel outlet (quite reasonable prices and they really do have a good variety of merchandise), a large toy shop and a nice home furnishing outlet. There are also many food outlets here, where you could enjoy pizza, spaghetti and cheesecake & cafe latte, pretty much as you might in Italy! There are also sushi, tempura and ramen outlets here.

What To Buy: I bought a couple of Mogu Dogs at the home furnishing store called In the Room. Made of a special silky soft material, they were a big hit with my kids. I paid Yen3,675 for each (USD34). Comes in Brown, Black and White.


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Theme: Department Store
Address: Palette Town, Odaiba Area
Website: http://55vf.jp (in japanese mainly)

Name of Shop: *Shopping Area > Ameya Yokocho (AMEYOKO)


For shopping of a different type (i.e. traditional and not in a typical shopping mall), take the train to Ameyoko area. This street market lies between the JR UENO station and Okachimachi JR station. You can start your walk from one station, walk through the whole market & catch a return train from the other station/.

At stalls you will find an interesting display fresh seafood - white & brown cuttlefish, white scallops still on their shells, small and large prawns, slabs of fresh tuna and salmon (thinking of sashimi yet?), orangey pink crab claws which are extraordinarily long (check my pics). You will also find many stalls which sell dried cuttlefish, seaweed (local and Korean), salt dried anchovies, varieties of cuttlefish snacks and more.

If seafood is not your thing, you might enjoy having a look at the fruit stalls selling varieties of fresh local and imported fruits. In the lanes close by, there are stalls selling military style pants & tunics for adults, second hand Rolex watches & other jewellery, children's clothing. If all this shopping tires you out, you can rest your feet by dropping by at the nearby sushi and ramen noodle shops for a little bite. For sushi, look for the sign which says "138 Yen" - this means that all sushi coming off the conveyor belt are at a fixed price of 138 Yen. I managed to polish off 6 plates in one seating. :-)

Nearby here, there are a number of large department stores as well.

What To Buy:
seaweed & dried seafood snacks is always a popular choice as souvenirs for your friends back home.
They have deals, such as buy 5, get 1 free, etc.
You can usually have a taste before you buy.


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Theme: Food and Drink
Address: 4 Ueno, Taito-ku
Directions: JR / Tokyo Metro UENO, OKACHIMACHI
Website: http://www.ameyoko.net/

Name of Shop: Japanese Style

The Nakamise market (see pics) is a covered street (about 200 meters long) with stalls along each side. It is part of the Asakusa Kannon Temple (also called Sensoji Temple) complex. When you exit at Asakusa Train station, look for a gate with a huge lantern and you will know that you are at the outer temple gate known as Kaminarimon (Thunder Gate). Walk through, and just within this gate is the Nakamise market.

Walk along the covered area and browse at the many stalls. At the other end you will come across the main temple gate which leads into the temple courtyard.

I found Nakamise to be a quaint and unique shopping experience. Why not grab a souvenior for the folks back home?

What To Buy: Various local snacks (e.g. Japanese pastries, rice cakes) are available. You’ll also be able to buy Yukatas for adults and children, wooden Japanese dolls & colourful folding fans, as well as key-chains and toys.

I was tempted to buy a Yukata for my daughters but finally bought a little gold coloured battery operated "Good Luck" cat figurine instead. Upon reaching home, I found it was Made in China, but what the heck, it was cute & it only cost 700 yen (came with the battery as well).

What To Pay: Snacks : 550-1050 yen

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Theme: Local Craft
Directions: Located in the Asakusa district and is adjacent to Sensoji (Kannon) temple.

Name of Shop: Toyota Megaweb Showroom, Palette Town

As you are already in one of the most expensive cities in the world, why not max out on your credit card at the Toyota Megaweb Showroom. I'm told that the cost of the car is not in itself particularly expensive, such as the two-door beauty that I am pictured with. However, it seems that the running costs (parking space, petrol, maintenance) all do add up to cost a bomb.

Most Tokyo dwellers rely on the efficient JR trains, monorail or simply cycle to work (I noticed many men and women in business suits and dresses and high-heels out on their bicycles and a few on motorbikes).

What To Buy: The car of the future - energy saving, electric car that is environmentally friendly, (and those that can drive you from point to point, without a driver!) - is already here in Tokyo. Check it out at the Toyota Megaweb Showroom at Palette Town, Odaiba. You can even book to do a short test drive.

What To Pay: Millions of Yen

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Theme: Other
Address: Palette Town, Odaiba Area