Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9
Shopping
I have never seen people shop as
much as the Japanese do. Judging from the
crowds that surge through Tokyo's depart-
ment stores every day, I'm convinced it's the
country's number-one pastime. Women,
men, couples, and even whole families go
on shopping expeditions in their free time,
making Sunday the most crowded shop-
ping day of the week—though with today's
economic climate, many of them may be
just window-shopping.
1 THE SHOPPING SCENE
BEST BUYS Tokyo is the country's showcase for everything from the latest in camera,
computer, or music equipment to original woodblock prints and designer fashions. Tra-
ditional Japanese crafts and souvenirs that make good buys include toys (both traditional
and the latest in technical wizardry), kites, Japanese dolls, carp banners, swords, lacquer-
ware, bamboo baskets, ikebana (flower arranging) accessories, ceramics, pottery, iron
teakettles, chopsticks, fans, masks, knives, scissors, sake, incense, and silk and cotton
kimono. And you don't have to spend a fortune: You can pick up handmade Japanese
paper (washi) products, such as umbrellas, lanterns, boxes, stationery, and other souve-
nirs, for a fraction of what they would cost in import shops in the United States. In
Harajuku, it's possible to buy a fully lined dress of the latest fashion craze for ¥8,000 or
less, and I can't even count the number of pairs of fun, casual shoes I've bought in Tokyo
for a mere ¥4,000. Used camera equipment can be picked up for a song, reproductions
of famous woodblock prints make great inexpensive gifts, and many items—from pearls
to electronic video and audio equipment—can be bought tax-free (see “Taxes,” below).
Japan is famous for its electronics, but if you're buying new you can probably find
these products just as cheaply, or even more cheaply, in the United States. If you think
you want to shop for electronic products while you're in Tokyo, it pays to do some com-
parison shopping before you leave home so that you can spot a deal when you see one.
On the other hand, one of the joys of shopping for electronics in Japan is discovering
new, advanced models; you might decide you want that new Sony HD camcorder simply
because it's the coolest thing you've ever seen, no matter what the price.
GREAT SHOPPING AREAS Another enjoyable aspect of shopping in Tokyo is that
specific areas are often devoted to certain goods, sold wholesale but also available to the
individual shopper. Kappabashi-dougugai Dori (station: Tawaramachi), for example, is
where you'll find shops specializing in kitchenware, while Kanda (station: Jimbocho) is
known for its bookstores. Akihabara (station: Akihabara) is packed with stores selling
the latest in electronics, as well as anime-related items. Ginza (station: Ginza) is the chic
address for high-end international designer brands as well as art galleries. Aoyama (sta-
tion: Omotesando) boasts the city's largest concentration of Japanese designer-clothing
stores and an ever-increasing number of international names, while nearby Harajuku
(stations: Harajuku, Meiji-Jingu-mae, or Omotesando) and Shibuya (station: Shibuya)
are the places to go for youthful, fun, and inexpensive fashions.
 
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