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Tokyo has shops to suit every taste and budget, from swanky department stores to ragbag flea markets . The city is a prime hunting ground for the latest electronic gadgets, and also for certain types of electrical equipment and cameras. CDs may be slightly less expensive than at home, and the selection of world music, jazz and techno in particular takes some beating. Foreign-language books and magazines are less well represented and very pricey, though Tokyo is the place to stock up before heading off to other regions. Though perhaps not quite up to Kyoto standards, there are some wonderful crafts shops and the regular flea markets might turn up unusual souvenirs, while the city's fashion boutiques carry the latest in post-millennial chic. Ginza , the preserve of a more conservative elegance, is still regarded as the capital's traditional shopping centre, though Shinjuku is staging a strong challenge, with its shiny new malls offering everything under one roof. Young and funky, Shibuya and Harajuku are probably the most enjoyable places to shop: even if you don't want to buy, the passing fashion parade doesn't get much better. The haute couture boutiques of nearby Omotesando and Aoyama provide a more rarefied shopping experience, while, of the northern districts, only Asakusa figures highly for its crafts shops, while Ikebukuro is best known for its plethora of discount stores. Tokyo also has a number of wholesale districts that can be fun to poke around. The most famous are Tsukiji fish market , Kappabashi "Kitchenware Town" , the bookshops of Jimbocho and Akihabara 's electrical emporia . North of Asakusabashi Station, Edo-dori and its backstreets specialize in traditional Japanese dolls, while further north again the area called Kuramae is "Toy Town", where shops sell fireworks, fancy goods and decorations as well as toys of every description. Between Ueno's mainline station and the Shuto Expressway, slick-haired guys in leathers stalk the rows of sleek machines in "Motorbike Town ". |
Tokyo Department Stores. The most obvious place to start shopping is in one of Tokyo's massive department stores : they're convenient, usually have English-speaking staff and are more likely to accept foreign-registered credit cards or offer duty-free prices.
Tokyo Clothes And Fashion Stores. Cruising Tokyo's boutiques and fashion stores , toting a couple of designer-label carrier bags, is such a part of Tokyo life that it's hard not to get caught up in the general enthusiasm. Once you've cut your teeth on the department stores above, it's time to hit the streets.
Tokyo Arts, Crafts And Souvenirs. While most department stores have a fair selection of arts and crafts , it's more enjoyable to rummage around Tokyo's specialist shops. Asakusa offers the largest concentration of traditional crafts among all its touristy souvenirs, as well as the most attractive environment.
Tokyo Antique And Flea Markets. There's at least one flea market in Tokyo every weekend, though you'll need to arrive early for any bargains. Among the regular markets, weather permitting, stalls at Hanazono-jinja spring into life every Sunday, while Togo-jinja hosts a market on the first and fourth Sundays of the month.
Tokyo Books And Music. Tokyo's best selection of foreign-language books and magazines is to be found in Shinjuku's new, seven-storey Kinokuniya bookstore behind Takeshimaya Times Square, though Tower Records, in Shibuya with branches in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, has cheaper prices for imported journals and newspapers.
Tokyo Cameras And Electronic Equipment. Shinjuku is Tokyo's prime centre for cameras . Yodobashi Camera in Nishi-Shinjuku usually offers decent reductions and stocks the broadest range, and claims to be the world's largest camera shop (with a smaller branch in Ueno), while Sakuraya also gets plenty of recommendations.