Tokyo is a shopper’s paradise with everything from high-tech electronics to beautiful quality art and crafts.

About bargaining in Japan

Also people can usually haggle store owners in most Asian countries, Tokyo is the exception to the rule. Don’t attempt to bargain when purchasing products in Tokyo, especially in big department stores. Also it is allowed to negotiation when you shop at the flea markets.

Tokyo flea markets

If you wish to find good deals in your travels, try the Tokyo flea markets in the week-end. You can enjoy finding just about anything there, from make-up products to various kitchen products. Don’t just walk past them! They are the cheapest products in Tokyo.

You adore very fast shopping? Try the Japanese roadside vending machines. They are very frequently located in Tokyo. You can always buy many types of delicious edibles and even some digital devices from them.
Try the biggest flea market in Tokyo held once a month and boosting 600 shops altogether!

Shinjuku Shopping

Shinjuku flea market areas include the Shinjuku Nomura Building (held twice a month) and at Shinjuku Central Park open daily (irregularly).

Shinjuku (JR Shinjyuku station)

There are discount camera stores and many department stores located here. Also, check out the underground shopping area at the Shinjuku station.

Also try those shopping areas in Shinjuku:

• Isetan department store
• Takashimaya Times Square - This is a large shopping complex with theaters, video arcades and more.
• Kinokuniya bookstore
• Yodobashi Camera - One of the largest discount camera shops in the country. Located right in front of the Shinjuku station.

Honest vendors

Unlike much of the other countries in Asia where people who are selling products attempt to take advantage of unknowing foreign customers, stores are very practice honesty and fairness. Though there may exist some exceptional cases, they are merely a small proportion of merchants. The costs of products are almost always fair and are a reflection of right cost of the item. As a result, you shouldn’t have to be suspicious and constantly compare the values of products. It always just unecessarily wastes your time and interest.

Typically the outcome is that you just discover the original cost or maybe even worse, you are not able to buy an identical product at another location.

If you discover some object that you really would like to have, don’t leave it be. Don’t suspect that all souvenir merchants provide the same things and you might purchase it elsewhere. Many localized regions and merchants offer one-of-a-kind items that you are not able to see at another location.
Finding your way in Tokyo
You should plan out your shopping excursions sensibly before arrival early on if you are in a large area, such as Tokyo. Seeing the addresses is incredibly exasperating there and moving from one particular place to another is amazingly draining and pricy. As a result, use your map intelligently and decide on all your ideal personal attractions early on. Be mindful of the time of opening and closing of the destinations too. Depending on the area, typical shopping hours are oftentimes from about 10 am to 8pm. Most popular stores locations may open every the weekend but mainly don’t do business on celebrated holidays.

Tokyo Shopping areas

Recommended shopping areas include Shinjuku, the Ginza and Shibuya, while the district of Akihabara is famous for its amazing range of electronic gadgets of all kinds.
Cash or credit

In Tokyo, most people more often use national currency as a means of paying merchants. Some upper-scale department stores may allow credit payments but in the majority of stores the vendors won’t know what should be done if you give them a credit card. When carrying cash with you, always remember to be weary of pickpockets in Tokyo.

Tokyo gifts

Tourists often purchase electronic gadgets, watches and crafts when they go to Tokyo. There are great varieties of the cutest products to be bought, such as kimonos, lacquer ware, paper lanterns, silks, quality pearls, fine ceramics, antic wood block prints or Japanese dolls. If you are in search of some easy gifts, universal goods are very suitable to satisfy your desire. Your comrades will be surprisingly content if you bring them Japanese chopsticks, foreign candy, containers, hand crafted bamboo ware, etc. Those thoughtful gifts are not only easy to get but also very cute and, more essentially, very much Japanese.

‘100′ yens shops are a great place to buy cheap souvenirs and are similar to US$1 shops found in other countries.

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