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I discovered the wonders of second-hand stores in Tokyo purely by accident. I was planning my last-minute hiking trip to Kamikochi (also known as the “Japanese Alps”) and realized I didn’t have any appropriate hiking wear. I was torn between shopping it up vs. going without when I realized I could try looking at second-hand stores in Tokyo!
Op shopping or thrift shopping is not what normally comes to mind when you think of planning a vacation to Tokyo, Japan. Especially for a budget traveler here – you want to save money, instead of finding places to spend it. I can safely say that after visiting Japan 3 times in the last few years, I am so disappointed that I didn’t go thrift shopping here sooner!
If you’re looking for places to go thrift shopping in Tokyo, there are bucket loads of options, especially in Harajuku and Shibuya. You could spend DAYS browsing second-hand stores!
To save you time, I’ve put together a guide (including a map with locations!) to the best second-hand stores in Tokyo, and which ones you should hit up depending on your budget and style!
Psst: are you planning your Tokyo trip? Make sure you check out my Ultimate 2-day Tokyo itinerary and my guide to the best Instagrammable spots in Tokyo!
1. Best second-hand store in Tokyo for variety: Kinji, Harajuku
Kinji is my favorite thrift shop in Tokyo. Filled with racks and racks of second-hand clothes for both men and women, there is so much to choose from. My favorite part of shopping here is that the merchandise is separated by cost on racks, so you can shop according to your budget. There is also a very large accessories table and sunglasses selection (when I was there, these were new sunglasses, rather than second-hand ones).
Make sure you bring some cash when shopping here – when I visited, they had a 3,000 JPY (~ 27 USD) minimum spend if you wanted to pay with your credit/debit card.
Opening hours: 11 am – 8 pm daily
Location: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 4 Chome−31−10, YMスクエア原宿
2. Best second-hand store for designer lovers: R A G T A G, Shibuya
If you’re on a tight budget, you probably will want to give Ragtag a miss. However, if you love designer brands (think Marc Jacobs, Elizabeth and James, Chloe) this is the place to shop. The store has three floors, with the women’s section on the top floor and the men’s section on the basement level.
While the prices are expensive, if you love designer wear you can save a bucket load here!
Opening hours: 12 – 9 pm daily
Location: Japan, 〒150-0041 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Jinnan, 1 Chome−17−7
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3. Best second-hand store for budget shoppers: BINGO Used Clothing, Shibuya
Similar to Kinji, BINGO is definitely for budget shoppers.
The Shibuya store has an extensive range of second-hand backpacks, bags and watches, and a large selection of clothing for both men and women. They also sell some designer handbags, however, I didn’t have a chance to check these out and am not sure how they compare with specialty second-hand designer handbag stores in Tokyo.
Opening hours: 11 am – 9 pm daily
Location: Japan, 〒150-0042 東京都渋谷区Udagawachō, 32, 宇田川町３２−１３
4. For curated vintage: CHICAGO, Harajuku
CHICAGO is packed with vintage clothing. Most of the clothing is of a higher quality than what you’ll find at other thrift shops in Tokyo like Kinji or BINGO, but the costs are higher to make up for this.
There’s a great jeans selection and if you’re after a second-hand Kimono or Yukata, this is the place to get one! They even have instruction sheets you can take home outlining how to put one on.
Opening hours: 11 am – 8 pm daily
Location: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingūmae, 4 Chome−26
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5. Another Curated Vintage option: Flamingo, Harajuku
Flamingo is similar to CHICAGO in that the items are a bit more costly and of a higher quality than Kinji or BINGO. While Flamingo didn’t fall within my budget (I was more of BINGO/ Kinji fan!) it’s worth checking out if you’re in the area.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12 – 9 pm, Sat-Sun 11 am – 9 pm
Location: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tōkyō-to, Shibuya-ku, Jingūmae, 6 Chome−6−7−10 ネスト原宿Ⅶ
6. G2? Harajuku
G2? Is two floors of thrift shopping fun. If you’re after women’s clothing, you’ll want to check out the 2nd floor. Most of the merchandise is carefully selected, so the prices are higher than what you’ll find at Kinji or BINGO. This does mean however that the clothing is generally of a higher quality.
The accessories section isn’t quite as big as some of the other stores, but there is a really cool American Vintage section in the back of the 2nd floor that is worth checking out!
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12 – 8 pm, Sat-Sun 11 am – 8 pm
Location: Japan, 〒150-0001 Tokyo, Shibuya, Jingumae, 3 Chome−22−7, 神宮前ビル
Where to stay in Tokyo
If you’re in the midst of planning your vacation to Tokyo, I’ve put together a guide on places to stay, based on budget and travel style.
Check ’em out below:
For backpackers: Space Hostel Tokyo
If you’re on a budget, it can be hard to find wallet-friendly accommodation in Tokyo. The Space Hostel is super budget friendly. They have mixed dorms and also female only dorms. The dorms here have a minimalist vibe, and the shared lounge has beautiful wooden furniture.
Amenities:
- All rooms have air conditioning + heating
- Shared bathrooms + toilets
- Shared kitchen
- Towels and sheets available for a fee
- Free luggage storage at check-in and check-out
Location: The Space Hostel Tokyo is located in the neighborhood of Taito, which is right next to Asakusa (Sensoji temple is only a 15-minute walk away!) While you won’t be in central Tokyo, you’re only a 3-minute walk to the Iriya Subway Station (on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line), making the rest of Tokyo easily accessible!
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For solo travelers who want a hint of luxury: The Millennials Shibuya
This hotel has the coolest capsules I’ve ever seen in Japan. The capsules are super spacious, and the bed adjusts up and down (so you can lie flat or at an angle). They have female only capsules or a mixed option. You can even pay a little extra for a projector (think of the Netflix-ing you can do from your phone!)
Amenities:
- Complimentary bread, pastries, coffee, and green tea are served each morning
- All rooms have air conditioning + heating
- Shared bathrooms + toilets, with free toiletries
- Shared kitchen
- Towels and linen included
Location: Located in Shibuya, The Millennials Shibuya is a great option for solo travelers. Shibuya is my favorite neighborhood in Tokyo, and when you stay here you’ll have access to SO many affordable food options! If you’re short on time and only have a few days, this is a great place to base yourself.
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For budget-travelers: Sakura Hotel Jimbocho
Sakura Hotel is for you if…
- You’re traveling with a friend or your partner, but you don’t want to share a dorm room
- You’re a solo traveler, but you prefer your own space; or
- You want to share a dorm room anyway ?
Sakura hotel has very budget friendly private rooms (with shared bathrooms) and dorm rooms (separated by gender).
Amenities:
- Rate includes daily continental breakfast
- All rooms have air conditioning + heating
- Free luggage storage
- Coin operated washer and dryer
- Shared bathrooms + toilets
- Linen included (private rooms include Yukata robes, face towel, and slippers) note: towels are not included!
Location: This hotel is only a 2-minute walk from Jimbocho Subway Station, making it super easy to access any part of Tokyo.
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For Mid-range travelers: B:CONTE Asakusa
This modern hotel is a great option if you want to stay somewhere nice without breaking your budget. The rooms are clean, spacious and have all the modern amenities you could need.
Amenities:
- Free bicycles to use during your stay
- All rooms have air conditioning + heating
- All rooms have a kitchen (including microwave, kettle, and kitchenware)
Location: B: CONTE Asakusa is located in the neighborhood of Asakusa. Here you’ll be a 5-minute walk from Asakusa Subway Station and Tawaramachi Subway Station.
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If you’re short on time and are stuck on which thrift shops in Tokyo to visit, I’ve summarized them according to budgets below:
- If you want a bargain or you’re on a tight budget, definitely visit Kinji or BINGO
- If you’re not on a tight budget but you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars, I’d recommend CHICAGO, Flamingo or G2?
- If you’re after designer clothing, definitely visit R A G T A G!
And if you need help finding the shops, use the map below:
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So there you have it – my guide to the thrift shops of Shibuya and Harajuku! Given the closeness of these areas (they’re right next to each other) you could probably visit all these stores in one day but slip on your comfiest shoes.
Be careful though, because you will be required to remove your shoes whenever you try on clothes in the changing room!
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Don’t forget to pick up a guidebook: This is a great Tokyo guidebook and this is my favorite Japan guidebook! Want more Tokyo tips? Check out my 2-day Tokyo itinerary and my guide to Instagrammable spots in Tokyo!
Want more Japan planning advice? Check out my posts here, or if you want some help packing I’ve got the ultimate packing guide here
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Very helpful! Thanks for writing this and sharing this information!