Today, I will be explaining how to enjoy autumn shopping in Japan.
In late November, when the colors of late autumn paint the streets of Tokyo, the year-end bustle is overflowing and souvenir-hunting season is in full swing. For foreign tourists looking for a cross-cultural experience, we will guide you on a shopping trip to find functional and unique products that blend into everyday life in Japan at surprisingly low prices. Why not go a little further from the standard tourist route and go on an adventure to discover your own special “treasure”?
Shopping in Tokyo
The theme of this trip is “find functional treasures that you can use every day while walking around the streets of Tokyo on your own two feet”. The target is you, the curious traveler who is interested in practical and unique products that are unique to Japan. The recommended areas are Asakusa/Kappabashi Tool Street, Ueno Ameyoko, Akihabara Electric Town, and department stores and drugstores in Shinjuku and Shibuya, as well as chain stores that offer high-quality products at low prices. Each of these places has its own charm and discoveries.
Asakusa Kappabashi Tool Street
First, in Asakusa Kappabashi Tool Street, elaborate food samples are especially popular. Realistic samples of Japanese food such as sushi and tempura will make a unique souvenir for foreign tourists. We also recommend professional cooking utensils and tableware that evokes Japanese tradition. In particular, knives that show off Japanese craftsmanship and Nanbu ironware frying pans are very popular among cooking lovers.
Ueno Ameyoko
Next, Ueno Ameyoko is a lively shopping street crowded with all kinds of products, from food to clothing and miscellaneous goods. Food items such as fresh seafood and dried fruits are especially popular. One of the best parts of Ameyoko is enjoying eating while walking around. In addition, surprisingly cheap clothing and imported goods are also attractive, and you can enjoy shopping like a treasure hunt. The trick to finding a bargain is to enjoy communicating with the store clerks. You may find an unexpected discount.
Akihabara Electric Town
In Akihabara Electric Town, not only the latest home appliances but also unique gadgets and anime-related products are popular. In particular, high-performance earphones and camera-related products made in Japan are popular among foreign tourists. There is also a wide selection of hobby products such as figures and plastic models, so even if you are not an anime or game fan, you can enjoy just looking at them. There is also a wide selection of convenient and creative products that are useful in everyday life, and you can expect to encounter maniacal and unique products that you cannot find anywhere else.
Department stores in Shinjuku and Shibuya
department stores in Shinjuku and ShibuyaIf you are looking for a sophisticated shopping experience, we recommend department stores in Shinjuku and Shibuya. High-quality Japanese stationery is highly regarded around the world for its functionality and design, making it ideal as a souvenir. In particular, multi-function pens and erasable ballpoint pens are popular products that combine practicality and uniqueness. In addition, Japanese and Western sweets sold in department store basements are beautiful to look at and would be appreciated as gifts.
Drugstores
Next, we will introduce some popular stores in Tokyo where you can easily purchase daily necessities.Drugstores carry a wide range of products, not only pharmaceuticals but also high-quality cosmetics, daily necessities, and food. Japanese-made sheet masks are particularly popular. With a wide variety and high moisturizing effect, many tourists buy them in bulk. Facial cleansers, sunscreens, and even health foods are also popular, and the high quality of Japanese products is appealing.
Don Quijote
Don Quijote, known as the hall of amazingly low prices, sells all kinds of products, from home appliances to clothing, food, and souvenirs, at amazing prices. Particularly popular are travel goods such as compression bags and portable toilets. You can find the perfect product for you from the wide selection of products. Japanese sweets and unique miscellaneous goods are also popular, making it a great place to look for souvenirs. The store is overflowing with products, and the charm of Don Quijote is that you can enjoy shopping like you’re on a treasure hunt.
100-yen shops
And what we would like to pay particular attention to on this trip are the various chain stores that offer high-quality products at low prices. Daiso, Seria, and Can Do, the representative 100-yen shops, offer a wide variety of products with amazing cost performance, from household goods to stationery and kitchen supplies. Recently, due to the rise in prices, the number of products that cost more than 100 yen has increased, but the products are still worth more than their price. Particularly popular are highly designed tableware and convenient storage goods.
3COINS
In addition, don’t miss “3COINS,” which offers products in the 300 yen price range. They have a wide selection of simple yet stylish and practical items, such as household goods, interior goods, and accessories, and are especially popular with young women. At the affordable price of 300 yen, these products combine design and functionality, making them a great souvenir. Their mobile batteries and storage boxes are especially popular.
Standard Products
Standard Products is a brand that offers daily necessities with simple and sophisticated designs. In response to the need to upgrade daily necessities to better ones, they sell products that are particular about usability and materials at affordable prices. Recommended for those looking for standard products that can be used for a long time. In particular, towels and tableware from Imabari are popular, and they have a wide selection of simple yet high-quality products.
By making good use of these low-priced chain stores, you will be able to get items that will make your stay in Japan more comfortable at a good price.
Summary
Checking out Christmas and New Year’s goods is also recommended as a fun thing to do in the second half of November. Unique New Year’s decorations, goods, and New Year’s gift bags are unique souvenirs that allow you to feel the Japanese culture. It is also a good idea to combine beautiful autumn leaves with shopping. After exploring famous autumn foliage spots such as Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen, you can enjoy shopping at nearby shopping streets and stores for a day where you can fully enjoy autumn in Japan.
Tokyo is full of low-priced, functional products that attract visitors. Why not visit not only the standard tourist spots, but also local shopping streets and distinctive chain stores to find your own favorites? Enjoy a memorable shopping experience and encounter attractive products unique to Japan in Tokyo in late November.
