Top 10 Shopping center in Tokyo
November 22, 2007
1. Daiso -100 Yen Shop
Location : (Found across Japan)
100 Yen shops have been around since the dawn of time in Japan and are commonly found in some shopping areas. The shop provides a huge range of products from gardening, stationery, kitchen, clothing, electronics, tools, all for 105 Yen a piece (100 Yen plus 5 percent consumption tax). Despite the cheap prices, the quality of the products is acceptable. Cheap one-price stores are popular in Japan and now spreading to Thailand and other Asian countries.
2. Shibuya 109 Building
Location : 2-29-1 Dogenzaka Shibuya-ku
Telephone : 03-3477-5111
Shibuya is the coolest area in a maze of small alley for shopping in Tokyo. Hundreds of trendy stores, variety hip clothing boutiques and accessories are widely found. The place is always packed with crazy shoppers, most of them are teens dressing in platform boots, a miniskirt, copious amounts of makeup and hair coloring in different styles. Also they wear cosplay (costume play) resembling cartoon anime characters and punk musicians. Shibuya 109 building is very popular and is the center point for young people, catering Japanese teenagers’ unique taste.
3. Takeshita-dori
Location : Jingu-mae 1-chome, Shibuya-ku Tokyo
Located conveniently opposite Harajuku Station, Takeshita-dori allures a crowd of young fashionable people especially young Tokyoite. A number of cutting-edge boutiques are lavishly lined along Takeshita-dori, which gets the place cluttered with local and tourists particularly those who visit Tokyo on a school trip. This is the place for small idol goods and trendy clothes and designer accessories.
4. Omotesando
Omotesando is considered one of the top three most popular areas of town in Tokyo and known as the upscale shopping area providing big-name brand outlets. Not only international brand clothing boutiques range from Louis Vuitton, Chanel to Gucci that featured in Omotesando, but also excellent café, restaurants and toy store Kiddyland are presented. Omotesando is tree-lined avenue and the place of world fashion consumption.
5. Ginza
Ginza is the most exclusive and expensive shopping area in Japan. The famous downtown of Japan, which is located in Chou-Ku, appears neon signs that color the dull atmosphere at night. There are numerous spacious department stores, Wako and Miatsukoshi are two of the most famous along with Superb restaurants and gorgeous photo galleries. Ginza is Japanese’s symbol of elegance.
6. Oriental Bazaar
Location : 5-9-13 Jingumae Tokyo, 13 150-0001
Telephone : +81 (0)3 3400 3933
Oriental Bazaar is one of the most famous Japanese souvenir shops which is really famous among tourists in search of typical Japanese souvenirs. The four-storey place, which appears to be a traditional Japanese temple building, is notably one of the best places to buy affordable and beautiful, second-hand original kimonos. The bazaar satisfies your needs on buying gifts and souvenirs back home.
7. LaForet Harajuku
Location : 1-11-6 JingumaeShibuya-kuTokyo
Telephone : 03-3475-0411
LaForet Harajuku is a cutting-edge shopping complex with the LaForet Museum located on the top floor. The seven-floor shopping complex features a number of fashion boutiques which is a local landmark and shops, while the museum has hosted a wide range of events offering visitors opportunities to enjoy art and entertainment. The teen fashion mega store is known for its big summer bargain sales in July.
8. Kinokuniya
Location : 3-17-7 shinjuku - shinjuku-ku - tokyo 160-0022
Telephone : +81 3 33540131
Kinokuniya is one Tokyo’s largest bookshops near the Time Square Shopping center south exit of Shinjuku Station. The immense bookstore devotes its majority area for English books, however, it’s a comprehensive bookshop with magazines, books on Japan, dictionaries and textbooks for students of Japanese, and novels. Come Indulge yourself in the world of edutainment.
9. Isetan
Location : 3-14-1 Shinjuku Tokyo, 13 160-0022
Telephone : +81 (0)3 3352 1111
Considered the oldest and largest department store in Tokyo, Isetan features many stores of contemporary and fashionable clothing boutique while a great kimono section along with all the traditional accessories are also provided. Isetan also stocks a special range of women’s clothing (Clover Shop) and men’s wear (Supermale) in slightly larger sizes for those not quite petite enough for the standard Japanese range. Many branches were launched in many Asian countries.
10. Kiddy Land
Location : 6-1-9 Jingumae Tokyo, 13 150-0001
Telephone : +81 (0)3 3409 3431
From Hello Kitty, Barbie, Disney to Spider man are all featured in Kiddy Land, the paradise of all kids, but do not be embarrassed to enter the store if you are no longer a kid, you can’t resist the temptation from Kiddy Land. The six-floor toy store is one of the most famous in Tokyo where a wonderful range of toys can be excessively found, leaving the fantastic shop far from a snorefest.