Prince Hotel BlogsTokyo is a shopaholic’s dream, with several fantastic areas, dedicated to shopping for all kinds of items. From the latest in fashion to cutting edge technology, amazing food, unique gifts and much more, you’ll find everything you could dream of in Tokyo’s diverse stores and markets.
Read on to find out some of the best places to shop during a visit to Tokyo.
If you’re into all things quirky and novel, then Harajuku is the place to go to. Harajuku is one of the most well known areas of Tokyo, and has become a global name after being featured in a variety of pop culture references, including pop songs, TV shows and more. Harajuku is often characterised as the top spot in the city to see Tokyo’s most cutting edge takes on style, with fashion-forward young people testing out the most innovative looks on its streets.
With such a strong reputation for innovation, it’s natural that Harajuku is home to some of the most original and inventive brands and stores in the city. You’ll find small, independent stores, vintage clothing shops and fun, novelty items and accessories in small market stalls, as well as more upmarket, high fashion brands. If you’re staying in Tokyo luxury accommodation, be prepared for an onslaught of colour and sound here, as the streets of Harajuku are packed with colourful storefronts, billboards and neon signs, as well as poppy, electro music pouring out into the crowded streets. While a shopping trip around Harajuku is undoubtedly a fun experience, you may want to unwind a little in your Tokyo luxury accommodationafterwards, to recover.
Parallel to the busy and buzzing Takeshita Street of Harajuku, you’ll find the serene, premium stretch of shopping, on Omtesando Street. In sharp contrast to the colourful and noisy shops dedicated to quirky youth fashion, the glitzy boutiques and world-class brands in Omotesando will be a welcome reprieve for anyone with a taste for luxury, and is the perfect complement to a stay in Tokyo luxury accommodation.
You’ll find plenty of high quality stores to tempt you in, featuring both Japanese brands and other international labels you may have heard of already. With their distinctively Japanese aesthetic, it’s a treat just to enjoy a bit of window shopping here, but if you’re looking to treat yourself to something special, this is the perfect place to find it. Check out the great department stores and stand alone boutiques to find a great range of designer men’s, women’s and children’s clothing, as well as plenty of stylish accessories, items for the home.
As well as some fantastic style brands, Omotensando also boasts a variety of excellent coffee shops. If you find yourself in need of a break during your shopping spree, head to one of the beautiful cafes in the area, to enjoy a delicious pastry and freshly brewed cup.
If you’re on the hunt for top of the range brands in every kind of item under the sun, then Ginza is the perfect one stop destination. Easy to get to from your Tokyo luxury accommodation, Ginza is packed with high-end department boutiques and stores, and you’ll be able to find most internationally well-known brands in this neighbourhood. The perfect place for anyone who loves sophisticated and modern takes on luxury, there is plenty to discover in this busy shopping area.
Look out for Ginza Six, one of the biggest shopping complexes in the area, and home to over 240 stores inside. You’ll also find several other department stores, that encompass a variety of niches within, including fashion, home style, kitchen items, technology and more. One of the most impressive buildings to look out for is Ginza Place, home to some of Japan’s most famous technology brands, including Sony and others, while the building itself is worth pausing for.
Ginza is most well known as a shopping spot for premium brands, but you’ll also find several mid-range high street labels here too. While many coffee shops and eateries in the area tend to be more expensive than elsewhere in Tokyo, they do serve up an exceptional and memorable experience, and the area is worth exploring at least once.
As well as Tokyo’s luxury accommodation, you will most likely know that Tokyo is renowned across the globe for its cutting edge technology, and the busy shopping area of Ikebukuro is the perfect place to indulge in all things electronic.
As soon as you emerge from the busy steps of Ikebukuro Station, you’ll find yourself greeted by the iconic image of Tokyo, with vast electronic billboards featuring eye-catching animated characters, bright signs and the many sounds of games and electronic gadgets ringing around you.
One of the most popular places to visit in Ikebukuro is Sunshine City, a mini city in itself which encompasses a huge variety of entertainment and shopping spaces, within the enormous 240 metre tower. As well as plenty of great shops, you’ll even find an aquarium and planetarium in here, in case you need a break from shopping.
If you’re on the hunt for some great electronic purchases, head to Bic Camera, one of Japan’s most popular discount electronic retailers, where you’ll be able to snap up some great deals. It’s also worth visiting Yamada Denki, another great retailer dedicated to a variety of electronic items.
Ikebukuro has much more than electronics, however. Anime fans won’t want to miss out on a visit to Animate, the enormous speciality shop dedicated to anime, comics and characters, and with nine floors to explore, you’re bound to find something to take away. And if you need a little escape, head to one of the charming animal cafes in the neighbourhood, where you can play and interact with cats, dogs and other lovely creatures, while you enjoy a relaxing drink and unwind in a unique, and playful way.
Tokyo is a shopaholic’s dream, with several fantastic areas, dedicated to shopping for all kinds of items. From the latest in fashion to cutting edge technology, amazing food, unique gifts and much more, you’ll find everything you could dream of in Tokyo’s diverse stores and markets. Read on to find out some of the best […]