When it comes to clothes, food, electronics, anime merchandise, arts and crafts, and other goods, Tokyo is a haven of shopping districts that offer these products and more. On your next trip to this bustling Japanese metropolis, make sure to include the following shopping areas in your itinerary to get authentic Japanese souvenirs for your family and friends back home:
Harajuku
Harajuku’s narrow streets are lined with a wide selection of shops, boutiques, cafés and stalls that are frequently crowded with locals and tourists wanting to explore and become acquainted with the latest and newest Japanese fashion culture. It is made up of two main shopping streets, Omotesando (which caters to those who are into the expensive and upscale brands) and Takeshita Dori (which is less pricey and attracts more teenagers and young adults).
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Ginza
Recognised as the premier upscale shopping destination in Tokyo, Ginza is home to several boutiques, department stores and shops that offer high-end designer brands, including popular local and international brand names of clothing, shoe, cosmetics and electronics.
Shinjuku
The Shinjuku area is known for being a hectic and bustling part of Tokyo. Apart from having the world’s busiest train station (Shinjuku Station), it is also where you can find many flagship stores and headquarters of famous companies, both Japanese and foreign. Within its vicinity, you can find an abundance of boutiques, stores, shops and arcades that offer a wide selection of goods.
Shibuya
A vibrant and active district of Tokyo, both during the day and at night, Shibuya is also a shopping destination with numerous clothing stores that sell trendy, high-end brands and chic youth fashion options.
Akihabara
From cameras, phones and laptops to games, manga and anime, Akihabara is the perfect shopping spot for people who are into electronics and otaku culture. You will be mesmerised by the plentiful displays of all sorts of gadgets offered at Yodobashi Camera, Sofmap and Yamada Denki, as well as the collectibles and action figures sold at the numerous stores that line the main and side streets.
Asakusa
The historic district of Asakusa has three shopping streets where you can get various kinds of locally made products and specialties. Just walking distance from the area’s primary tourist attraction, the Sensoji Temple, these shopping spots offer foods, furniture, kitchen utensils and other merchandise that you can take home as souvenirs.
