Shopping

Feature Image: The keyaki namiki (zelkova tree-lined street) which runs from Harajuku to Omotesando.

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Every major city in Japan will have at least one major shopping district. In Tokyo, there’s Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, and Ginza to name just a few places. In Osaka, there’s Umeda, Dotonbori, Namba. In this post, we will introduce a few areas and stores to shop at.

Department Stores

Marui, Takashimaya, Mitsukoshi-Isetan are just a few department store groups which are nationwide. A variety of high-end stores can be found within department stores. Other reasonable stores, such as UNIQLO and MUJI, can also be found in department stores. The good thing about department stores is that everything is inside, so if it’s hot, cold, or raining, you don’t have to worry about the weather outside; also, there are usually a lot of restaurants on the top floors, so you can take a break from shopping a get some food or coffee.

Electronics

Japan has a reputation for their high-quality electronics: Sony, Panasonic, Nikon, Canon, Nintendo, and many more. If you’re a gamer, into anime or manga, Japanese idols, or looking for any kind of electronics, Akihabara is the place to go. Even if you aren’t looking to buy electronics, it’s cool to go and just walk around Akihabara for a few hours.

Bargain/Reasonable Shopping

Daiso is the place to go to buy all kinds of things for 100 Yen. Some Daiso stores have multiple floors or are huge, so be careful not to rack up a big bill at checkout!

Seria is another place to go to for a bargain on “miscellaneous goods” (zakka in Japanese). Miscellaneous goods would be clocks, pen holders, and other things you would put around your house.

If you need to get clothes because you forgot something or didn’t prepare for the weather, head over to UNIQLO where there prices are reasonable. If you’re more into H&M, there are H&M stores all over Japan.

Snacks

Japan has a lot of great snacks! Make sure you bring a extra suitcase just for snacks also!!!

1. Reasonable Overall Cost

The first thing you would have to do is buy your ticket to Japan. It goes without saying that ticket prices vary depending on which season you want to visit Japan. For example, if you want to enjoy the sakura or autumn foliage, these are the most expensive seasons to visit Japan, so you will have to pay a premium. In recent years, the average price for tickets to Japan for one person is about $1000 roundtrip.

The next thing you need to take into consideration is the currency exchange rate. Luckily, the Japanese Yen has been weaker than the U.S. dollar. If you have already planned a trip to Japan and haven’t exchanged dollars to yen, keep an eye out on the exchange rate!

Topics related to cost of transportation, food and drink, and shopping will be briefly explained below.

2. Best Public Transportation System in the World

Can you believe that train companies apologize for being 1 minute late?! That is how punctual the train system is in Japan. Not to mention busses connect areas which do not have trains, and these busses run close to their scheduled times even in traffic.

For locals in Japan, costs on public transportation is a little expensive compared to other countries in Asia, but as a visitor to Japan, you can purchase a JR Rail Pass which gives you access to almost all Shinkansen (Bullet Trains) and all local JR Lines. Using the JR Rail Pass and other available rail passes will be explained in detail in a future blog post.

3. Awesome Food and Drink

In Hawaii, our food portions are ridiculously big compared to the portions in Japan, BUT the quality of the food Japan is hard to beat. Also, you can eat quality food at a reasonable price if you look in the right places.

Fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, desserts, Japan has it all for you foodies! If you like to drink wine, whiskey, beer, Japanese sake, Japan has great choices for alcoholic beverages.

4. Fusion of Traditional Culture and Modern Culture

From temples, shrines, and castles to skyscrapers and crazy fashion trends, Japan is a mixture of traditional culture and modern culture.

5. Shopping

For those who like high-end brands, there are areas in Japan, such as Ginza in Tokyo, which have streets lined with these stores. If you are on a tight budget but want to get a bunch of omiyage for your family, friends, and colleagues, you can head over to Daiso to buy things priced at only 100 yen!

6. Nature

Japan is surrounded by the ocean, just like Hawaii, and mountains cover about 70% of the land; so, depending on the season you visit Japan, you can have different experiences outdoors.

In future blog posts, we will explain in detail various aspects of traveling in Japan. Stay tuned for more pictures and blog posts in the future! We’re still developing our content, but also check out our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Mahalo!!!

Shopping in Japan

Why Japan Is THE Travel Destination from Hawaii