Shopping in Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the best places in the world to go shopping. Tokyo offers everything for the keen shopper ranging from flea markets to high-end department stores. Most of the shopping hotspots in Tokyo are accessible via the Japan Rail (JR) Yamanote Line with a one-day JR train pass for 730 yen (about $9).

The following are the best spots in Tokyo for shopping.

Shinjuku – around Shinjuku station are lots of major discount camera stores and music shops. Shinjuku also has most of the major big department stores on Shinjuku Dori (avenue). One of the best is Takashimaya department store and food hall. Tokyu Hands is an eight level craft store and Uniqlo is a great store for really cheap, high quality, basic clothing.

Harajuku - home to Japanese street fashion. Harajuku Station and Takeshita Dori have many shops that cater to teen fashion and Japanese street fashion. For cheap knick-knacks, souvenirs and bargain gifts check out Daiso in Harajuku, which is one of the famous 100 Yen Shops where nothing costs more than 100 yen ($1.25) plus 5 yen tax. The Daiso in Harajuku is one of the biggest and best in Japan.

Shibuya - has a little bit of everything. Tokyu Hands is a must visit as it is the complete do-it-yourself department store as well as Parco and Shibuya 109 the 10 level fashion emporium.

Akihabara – known as electric city this is where dozens of stores sell everything electronic. You will find dozens of mainly duty free stores selling computers, cameras and TVs. The Yodobashi Akiba megastore houses nine floors of electronics.

Ginza – home to exclusive department stores, galleries and coffee shops. This is where some of the best high-end shopping can be done or like me some great window shopping. At the Ginza intersection is Wako, Japan’s most exclusive department store, and Mitsukoshi, known as the Harrods of Tokyo.

Asakusa - is the place for a traditional Japanese toy and that special Japanese souvenir.

Roppongi – one of the livelier places in Tokyo where the beautiful people hang out in cutting edge restaurants. Check out the mind boggling Roppongi Hills, which opened in 2003, the 1.6ha megaplex has boutiques, a cinema, restaurants, apartments, the Mori Art Museum, a hotel, a major TV studio, an outdoor amphitheatre and parks.

Yoyogi Park – a popular gathering spot for locals and tourists, especially on weekends when it hosts Tokyo’s biggest flea market, with about 800 merchants selling all kinds of great things.

Ueno Station – Ameya Yokocho is a busy market under the Yamanote train line. The atmosphere at this vibrant shopping bazaar is upbeat with vendors trying to out-shout each other while flogging clothes, bags, cosmetics, fresh fish, dried food and spices.

Whatever type of shopping you are looking for you will find it in Tokyo.

This is my submission to the August 2011 J-Festa Food In Japan

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