You can find just about anything else you need at thrift stores in Japan: clothes, games, furniture, and kitchen supplies.When you’re traveling or starting a new life here, you might think: “Wouldn’t it be great to find some unique treasures while in Japan — without breaking the bank” While we all love the souvenir stands, sometimes we want to find items that don’t scream “tourist!” or ones we can use in our day-to-day lives. Plus, souvenir stands can be pricey as well as limited in their selections. Well, Japanese thrift shops have you covered! It’s a great way to save money while finding items used in everyday Japan!
But… how do you thrift shop while in Japan? What is it like? What stores are the best for finding cool stuff at a low price? Read on to save yourself to save your money!At the same time, grab your wallet and go see what awaits you in Japan’s second-hand stores!
Jump To:
- The Basics
- Top Thrift Stores in Japan
- Thrifting Tips
- Conclusion
The Basics of Thrifting in Japan
Prices of Items and Thrift Stores in Japan
Going into Japanese thrift stores is like stepping into every shopper’s dream! As with many second-hand stores, prices are incredibly low. You can find books for less than 100 yen, fabulous clothes at a fraction of their retail price, and affordable sports equipment – whatever you need, it’s going to be cheaper at a thrift store! That said, if you are looking for luxury items, they are still going to be expensive; but, they will still be cheaper than buying them new!
Note: Japanese second-hand clothing store is called furugiya (古着屋). It literally means “used clothing store”
Quality of Thrift Items in Japan
You don’t have to sacrifice quality for the price here! Items in Japanese stores tend to be almost brand-new, to the point that some can’t tell the difference between the new and used items! You’ll almost never find any rips, stains, or other blemishes on what you buy; this is because many thrift stores have strict policies when it comes to what they will accept. You can shop easier knowing that whatever you find is clean, well-taken care of, and surprise-free!
You’ll find a lot of luxury items here too; just like everyone else, Japanese citizens like to have name-brand goods! But, you don’t have to worry about picking up fakes, as Japan has strict laws in place to prevent the counterfeiting of different brands. So, when you pick up an item, you know you’ve found the real deal!
Selections of Thrift Items in Japan
Well, this all sounds good so far. But what exactly is there to buy? As alluded to before, you can buy just about anything you need at a second-hand shop. What the store offers depends on the store (of course), but in a basic shop, you can find clothes, toys, games, electronics, housewares, kitchen goods, sports equipment… you get the idea. Some stores (as we’ll see in a little bit) are specialized towards one type of item, such as just clothes, books, or electronics. Some stores tend to have certain types of clothes, such as streetwear, vintage looks, or even traditional dress!
You can also find a variety of sizes at thrift shops; this is a relief for any foreigner in Japan who is outside of the average Japanese size! (Of course, you should always try something on before you buy it, as Japanese sizes are different from Western ones!) If you don’t find what you need in-store, many thrift shops have online shopping as well.
Layout
When you go to a second-hand store in Japan, a lot of them are set up in similar ways. Items will generally be grouped together by overall category (clothes, games, books) and then broken down further (Adidas, video games, manga). You can always look at the signs if you get lost! If you’re at a bigger store with multiple levels, different categories will be on different floors – making each level a new area to explore!
If you’ve shopped a bit too much while in Japan, most second-hand stores also buy items from customers directly in-store! This will be at a special counter labeled 買取 (kaitori), meaning “buy-back” or “reselling”. Remember that what you sell has to be in great condition, so don’t feel disheartened if some of your items get rejected. If you don’t feel like going to the store to sell your goods, some places accept the sending of packages or scheduling pick-ups too!
Top Vintage and Thrift Stores in Japan
The Hard-Off Group
If you had to pick just one thrift store chain to shop at, the Hard Off Group would be the one! While you can browse everything all at once at a Hard-Off store, you can go to any of its different branches for more specialized shopping – such as Book-Off (books), Mode-Off (fashion), Hobby-Off (collectibles) and others. Book-Off in particular is a great place to buy books and manga; they even have rows upon rows of items for just 100 yen! This is a popular chain, so you can find them just about anywhere you go!
Treasure Factory
Another popular thrift store branch in Japan is Treasure Factory —or TreFac for short! They too have many locations where you can buy just about anything as well as numerous specific stores TreFac Sports (sports equipment), TreFac Market (furniture), and more!
However, Treasure Factory does have a bit more variety when it comes to clothes; you can browse TreFac Style (general clothes), UseLet (bargain hunting [10 items for 5000 yen!]), or Brand Collect (luxury brands). Brand Collect is well-known for its selections of streetwear fashion, such as Supreme and Off-White. Overall, they are a great place to go to treasure hunt for unique items you can’t find anywhere else! (See what we did there?)
2nd Street
While similar to other thrift shops, 2nd Street is well-known for having a great selection of vintage items and outdoor equipment. They are also popular all over Japan, so there’s most likely going to be one in your city! That said, unless you’re in a more populated area, their clothes might not be the most trendy; 2nd Street is great for basic items, but probably not specific brands or looks.
Also, make sure to check out their website before you go – you wouldn’t want to miss any of their many sales and promotions!
Next51
If you happen to be in Osaka, Next51 should be on your shopping bucket list! A small chain found only in this city, both of its stores offer a unique selection of items not found anywhere else! In the Mikunigaoka Station location, one floor sells jewelry, vintage accessories, coins, diamonds, perfumes, and stamps while the second floor sells records, various antiques (clothes, lamps, electronics), and DJ equipment! At the Furugiya store, you can find vintage luxury items, sunglasses, 90’s street fashion, and even vintage American brands such as Levi’s! This is the place to go if you’re looking for something older and classy!
Kinji
Another huge chain, Kinji is a great place to look for vintage and luxury outerwear9! Their stores are located in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, and, if you’re in Toyko, you can even find a branch about three minutes away from the Harajuku Station!8 They are particularly popular with women with a more “tomboy” sense of style, as they have a more gender-neutral selection than other places8. That said, you can also find plenty of high-end dresses, pants, shirts – whatever type of luxury item you like! It has a particularly great selection of shoes (especially sneakers) and bags.3
JAM
If the other chains are like mature adults, then JAM is like the cool, hip teen! JAM is known for keeping up with current styles for both men and women. They have plenty of sportswear, Doc Martins, old band tees, and whatever else you need to curate your own sense of style! They also have a lot of foreign goods (particularly from the US) and vintage items; definitely check their stores out if you are open to finding anything from anywhere!
Three Star
Different from the other stores discussed so far is Three Star. Three Star (found in both Kyoto and Osaka) actually focuses on American styles of clothes; if you are looking for something in larger sizes or gender-neutral patterns, Three Star is the place to go! They also feature items that have been “remade,” or old items combined to make something new – environmentally conscious and fashionable!
Harajuku Chicago
While this is the store you would think sells American-style clothes (not Three Star), Harajuku Chicago in Tokyo and Kyoto is actually famous for having sections devoted to traditional Japanese clothing, such as kimonos and yukatas! While you can find modern takes on these items at many retailers, finding authentic, traditional kimonos can be a bit harder – especially on a budget! While this store also sells name brands and other newer luxury items, the real charm of Harajuku Chicago is its older items.
Little Trip to Heaven
Want your clothes to be a bit more retro?Little Trip to Heaven has you covered! This small chain (four stores in Tokyo, Kyoto, and f*ckuoka) specializes in clothes that could have come straight out of the 60s and 70s. Many items are imported directly from the US and Europe, so your selection here is much different than anywhere else in Japan! It also has more of a boutique feel, which can be a nice change of pace from the bigger stores found on this list.
Thrifting Tips
You can find thrift stores in most neighborhoods in Tokyo, but if you’re looking for a thrift haven, head to Shimokitazawa. Just a few stops away from Shibuya, Shimokitaza is known for its streets full of vintage shops, thrift stores, and indie fashion outlets. It’s a laidback neighborhood, with cute cafes that make the perfect pit stop after a day of thrifting in Tokyo!
Check out: Exploring Tokyo on a Student Budget
Most clothing thrift stores in Japan do have dressing rooms, but it’s very limited. Always be conscientious of others; don’t take too long in the dressing rooms and put things back where they belong! Don’t forget to take your shoes off when entering the dressing rooms!
Many places have their best items in-store, not online; sometimes, just the pricier and more upscale things are listed online instead. It’s always a good idea to check out a store’s website ahead of time so you know your options!
Conclusion
It’s hard not to spend your entire budget (and more) when shopping in Japan. From the souvenir stands to the luxury stores, everything you see can make for the perfect gift or reminder of your visit. But, if you’re looking for ways to save money and get more out of your yen, going thrifting is a great option! You can find everything you could possibly need: clothes, luxury items, books, household goods – you name it, and there’s a store that has it!
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What is a "thrift store" in Japan?
In Japan, a “thrift store” is called a “furugiya”, which sells pre-owned clothes and other goods at a lower price than regular stores. “Kottouya” means antique store.
What kind of items can I find at a Japanese thrift store?
Japanese thrift stores offer a wide variety of items, including clothes, accessories, books, electronics, and furniture. You can also find luxury items such as designer bags and watches at discounted prices.
What are some well-know. second hand shops and thrift stores in Japan?
Thrift stores can be found all over Japan, from big cities like Tokyo and Osaka to smaller towns. Some popular chains include Hard-Off, Book Off, Treasure Factory, and Second Street.
Where should I go thrifting in Tokyo?
Shimokitazawa is known to be the best thrifting spot in Tokyo. The area has a lot of vintage shops and thrift stores that both include well-known chains and independent stores.
