A Guide to the Malls and Department Stores of Japan
Types of Malls
Japan is an incredible destination for shopaholics, and it has a wide variety of shopping centers to enjoy. Japan’s major cities are full of large department stores and malls that can contain over 10 floors of shopping. Some of the biggest department stores of Japan are Takashiyama, Isetan, and Odakyu. A very common mall chain is AEON Malls, and you will see these all over Japan, especially in the suburbs. A very popular mall in Tokyo is Diver City, located in Odaiba. It is home to multiple stores and attractions for both tourists and locals alike. You will see all kinds of shopping centers across Japan, and in Tokyo in particular, the variety is immense.
The Best Places to Shop
Tokyo is home to many districts and wards famous for their shopping. For luxury goods and high fashion, Ginza is your place. Ginza is home to large malls such as Ginza Six, where you can find many small fashion brands selling their latest creations. Shibuya is home to the BF109, a famous department store focused on women’s fashion. Do you love second-hand shopping? Shimo-kitazawa is the perfect place for you, with its seemingly endless selection of second-hand fashion stores. Harajuku is another famous hub for shopping, with anywhere from second-hand clothing to flagship stores of major brands including Samsung and Fender Guitars. Speaking of musical instruments, Ochanomizu is Japan’s capital of music instrument stores. Here you can find some of the rarest and highest quality guitars and instruments known to humanity. Akihabara is the geek heaven, with its anime and computer shops as far as the eye can see. For those looking for a slice of Korea, Shin-okubo is located right next to Shinjuku and has tons of Korean markets, restaurants, and stores to choose from. This is just Tokyo, and you already have tons of options. Cities like Osaka are famous for their Umeda and Dotonbori districts, with restaurants and department stores a-plenty. For those of you who are not living in the city and are in the quieter suburbs, keep your eyes peeled for AEON Malls, these are large malls that offer midrange prices on excellent goods, and there are tons and tons of stores to choose from.
Price Categories
The malls of Japan occupy a variety of price tiers, so no matter your budget, there is something for you. As we mentioned, Ginza is Japan’s capital of luxury shopping, so this isn’t the place for you if you are on a tight budget. Shimo-kitazawa, on the other hand, is a great place to shop if you want quality fashion on a smaller budget. Most of your department stores like Isetan and Takashiyama also occupy a more-luxury price tier, but you can also find some more affordable stuff if you look for it. Tokyo is full of these massive stores, and you can find anything you can dream of if you go out and look for it.
Why are Malls in Japan so Great?
In-person shopping is still very, very popular in Japan compared to many other western countries where online shopping dominates. Due to this, many international brands have a large presence in Japan and will also show off their newest products to “test” the market here in Japan to see what people want and what people don’t want. This is especially true for fashion, where you will find a variety of styles and avant-garde collections because designers are always testing the waters for their newest creations. Department stores here are massive, often comprising anywhere from 7 to more than 14 floors! Each floor contains a variety of stores, and many of these stores are limited-time “pop-up” shops where a limited number of goods are available for only a few months at a time. Japan also has many other companies selling their goods here that you cannot find elsewhere.
Japan is an international leader in shopping, and if you love shopping, then it is a must-see destination.
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