Everything You Need To Know About Second Hand Shopping in Tokyo

Japan is arguably the best place in the world to be a consumer. Whatever item you need in your life or wardrobe– you’re destined to find it in this country. Socks for your chair and table legs to prevent floor scratches? You got it. A McDonald’s clothing range at one of the country’s premium department stores? Why not?

It’s easy to shop up a storm in Tokyo’s chain stores and boutiques, but at some point during your wide-eyed wonder in the fashion consumerist mecca, you might become increasingly uneasy about how much brand new clothing you’re buying.

The alternative is Japan’s large second hand clothing market. On my recent two-week holiday in Tokyo, I realised that there were gems aplenty in the city’s numerous vintage and second hand clothing stores. With seemingly such a high turnover in fashion trends, I found many items that were both on-trend and almost brand new for half the retail price.

Here are a couple of helpful pointers before embarking on your shopping trip of a lifetime.

Image via Google Street View

Look out for “Used Clothing” signs
There are very few op shops or charity clothing stores around. Instead, there are “recycle” stores that sell second-hand clothing.  They will often display signs reading “Used Clothing”.

Depending on their size, these stores will sell a mish-mash of modern men’s and women’s clothing that range from sportswear, to lifestyle, and fashion categories.

“Vintage” stores usually contain the real stuff– original pieces (generally from the USA) that date back to anywhere between the ‘40s to the ‘70s. Vintage stores are at the pricier end of the scale and contain collector pieces.

Tax
Most tags in Japan don’t include tax in the price. That’s just part and parcel of shopping here, so be ready to add an extra 10% on top of the listed price at the counter.

 Image via Flickr

Sizing
The other difficult part of shopping in Japan is the sizing. Most clothes hover between the AUS 6-12 mark but you can find larger sizing out there, especially if you’re in a store with second hand goods that have been imported from elsewhere.

Changeroom etiquette
It’s expected that you take off your shoes before you step into change rooms here so do yourself a favour and wear shoes you can easily slip on and off. Retail assistants will also hand you a disposable cloth/bag to wear on your head while changing to prevent make-up stains. Don’t be alarmed when you see yourself in the mirror.

Drumroll please… Here are the best places to shop for second hand clothing.

CENTRAL TOKYO

Image via Flickr

Designer name bargains at RagTag, Harajuku
If you’re looking to score designer name bargains then look no further. RagTag is a chain of stores across Japan that buys and sells second hand designer clothing for men and women. There are several branches across Tokyo, including in Shinjuku, and Ginza but my favourite is the Harajuku store, which spans three floors. You can find quality pieces from big names like Chanel, Marni, Yohji Yamamoto and Comme des Garcons here, often for a fraction of the price.

Address: 6-14-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku Tokyo

Image via Flickr

Dig and you shall find at Kinji, Shibuya
This huge space in the middle of Tokyo accommodates racks upon racks of affordable second-hand clothing. This is the place to score shirts for ¥700 ($8.50 AUD), with most items here falling below $50 AUD. Kinji covers just about everything, from pants, to dresses, skirts, jackets, shoes and bags.

Address: 4-31-10 B1F, Jingumae, Harajuku (YM) Square, Harajuku, Shibuya-ku

Image via Flickr

Keep it cheap and cheerful at WEGO, Takeshita-dori Harajuku
WEGO is a popular youth chain store in Japan that sells used AND new clothing. WEGO’s new items are always super trendy and budget friendly (most pieces are below $50 AUD). Plus each store has its own selection of vintage stock, which means every store is worth a visit. The vintage here is always reasonably priced and despite being from another decade, is usually in line with current season trends.

6-5-3 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Plus various locations around Tokyo and Japan.

Image via Flickr

SHIMOKITAZAWA
A neighbourhood of second hand stores.

There are almost too many vintage and second hand stores in this buzzing neighbourhood to list. Shimokitazawa is perhaps best likened to Fitzroy and Collingwood in Melbourne. After you’re done shopping, you’ll find heaps of independent cafes, bars and live music venues to keep you occupied. I recommended dedicating a good day poke around each second hand store properly. The offering ranges from Americana to cheap and trendy, to upmarket vintage, and used military goods.

Image via Flickr

KOENJI
Second hand stores for as far as the eye can see.

This hippie little neighbourhood is a few stops west of Shinjuku. Koenji is home to a strip of independent used clothing stores that stretches on forever. I’m not kidding when I say that, so please bring a bottle of water and stay hydrated. While there are general used-clothing stores here that have something of everything for guys and girls, there are also several smaller recycle stores that have their own unique curation of goods.

Some stores might focus on Americana, while another on 80’s prints, or another on pastels and cutesy accessories. There is so much to rummage through here; you’re bound to score something. You’ll also find a dozen odd restaurants that do vegetarian/vegan food, as well as Indian and Nepalese cuisine here.

Image by Oska Krawczyk

KOENJI BONUS ROUND
The spectacle of reworked vintage at the Kita-Kore building

While you’re in Koenji, be sure to stop by the famed Kita-Kore building. This is where stylists for Lady Gaga have shopped, during the singer’s more costume-y phases.  With that in mind, get set for some truly inventive, over-the-top clothes housed in an equally eccentric ramshackle building. There are several independent designers here making original pieces and reworking vintage clothing into outlandish items. Very fun.

Opening hours can be irregular but head in at least after 1pm on a weekday to be safe.

3-4-13 Koenji-Kita, Suginami-ku Tokyo

Now that you’re armed with this knowledge, get cracking on booking a discount flight to Japan and make sure to bring an empty suitcase.