Shopping In Japan
Dubbed a shopper's paradise, Japan offers you everything from traditional items to hi-tech gadgets, to choose from. Globe trotters in Japan dedicate a major portion of their time indulging in splurging. You can shop around in the specialty shops, hotel arcades, shopping centers, department stores, fashion boutiques and even in the flea market, while you are in Japan.
Electronic gadgets are must buy items, during a visit to Japan. An impressive line up of varieties/brands/products awaits you in the stores in Japan. While buying electronic goods ensure that the products can be used without any complications and hassles in your country. Discount stores like Bic Camera, Sofmap, Yamada Denki, Yodobashi Camera, etc offer lowest prices and a wide selection for electronic goods in Japan.
You can bag a few exquisite casuals from Tokyo and Osaka that spell comfort and fashion. If you are patient enough to find dresses that suit your size among the Japanese-sized ones, you are in for a fashion coup. Ginza is the hub of boutiques and fashion wear in Japan and the district has retail stores of leading brands in the fashion industry.
You can grab silks, art and craft items, ceramic ware, lacquer ware, wood block print items, Kakeshi dolls, curios, watches, cigarettes, medicines, film, batteries, alcohol, cosmetics, good luck charms, pearls and handcrafted bamboo goods while shopping in Japan.
Drop in at the flea markets held in different parts of Japan. You can own old antiques, souvenirs, tableware, cloths, furniture, etc from this market. Even if you are not buying stuff, the experience can be memorable. Famous flea markets are Aoyama Oval Plaza Aozora Kotto ichi, Togo no-Mori Nomi-no-ichi, Kyoto Toji Garakuta-ichi and Kobo ichi.
Ginza, Shinjuku, Akihabara district and Shibuya are the ideal destinations for the tourists to just indulge in shopping in Japan throughout the day. Apart from technical gizmos, you can buy children's toys, elegant kimonos, mingei, screens, dolls, Kyoto silks, fans, religious artifacts, paper lanterns, etc. Tax-free stores allow you to take home a worthy bargain without much of haggling.
The shops and stores in Japan are open even during the weekends and national holidays. These shops/stores close on a specific day every week. Small specialty stores close during weekends, seasonal and national holidays. The shops remain open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. everyday. Japan also has convenience stores that are open 24-hrs a day like 7-eleven, Family Mart, etc.
All credit and debit cards are accepted in the shopping facilities in Japan making shopping in the country, a hassle-free experience. You can also carry money with you, since it is safer to do so in the country owing to the low crime rates. Duty free shops in Japan sell goods for incredible prices much to the delight of the compulsive shoppers. If you visit Japan in the months of January, July, August and December, you are in for a surprise retail therapy in the form of discount sales. You can return home with bulky bags during these months from Japan.