Tokyo Thrift: 10 Best Places for Japan Vintage Shopping

When you visit Japan, you won’t be able to resist one of its high-octane sports—shopping! From convenience stores and shopping streets to Daiso boutiques and Don Quijote buildings, the retail culture in the Land of the Rising Sun is beyond well and alive. 

It’s no secret that vintage shopping is a thing in Japan. After all, the country is known for its stylish denizens. So if you’re a fashion-conscious traveler flying to Japan soon, buy extra luggage because you’ll be coming home with lots of clothes and shoes. 

But which are the best places for Japan vintage shopping? Read on to learn more.

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Top 10 Places for Japan Vintage Shopping

Where are the best Japan vintage stores? Are there vintage watch stores in Tokyo? Check out this list: 

📍 Ragtag Harajuku 

Photo: @ragtag_global (Instagram)

• Address: Hulic Jingumae, 1F and 2F, 5-17-9 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
• How to get there: Take a JR Yamanote Line train bound for Harajuku Station. From there, take a 10-minute walk toward the store. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

People in the colorful neighborhood of Harajuku live and breathe fashion. So it’s not news that it’s home to Japan vintage shops selling stylish pieces. 

Ragtag^[1] is one of the most popular secondhand shops in Harajuku. It has two floors of clothes, shoes, and accessories for casual, street, and luxury styles. 

On the first floor of the shop, you’ll find the women’s section, with brands like Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Celine, Jil Sander, and Mame Kurogouchi. The second floor, on the other hand, is dedicated to menswear, with brands from Engineered Garments, Supreme, Stussy, Patagonia, Maison Margiela, Balenciaga, Prada, and more. 

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📍 Atlantis Vintage Tokyo 

• Address: 4-25-3 Kōenji Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo
• How to get there: Take a JR Chuo Line train bound for Koenji Station. From there, take a three-minute walk toward your destination. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Where to shop in Tokyo if you’re looking for secondhand high-end bags? Head to Suginami and locate Atlantis Vintage Tokyo. 

For over two decades, Atlantis Vintage Tokyo has been curating luxury handbags from brands such as Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and Balenciaga. You’ll also find goods from Bottega Veneta, Berluti, and Celine. 

Jewelry collectors will love this shop, as it carries pieces from brands like Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Bulgari. 

Read more: 21 Japan Travel Tips: Tax-Free Shopping, Spots to Visit, and More

📍 AMORE

Photo: @amore_tokyo (Instagram)

• Address: 1F, 5-1-15 Jingumae, Shibuya, Tokyo
• How to get there: Take a Tokyo Metro train (Chiyoda Line, Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line) bound for Omote-sando Station. From there, take a five-minute walk toward your destination. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

Wondering where else to go vintage shopping in Tokyo?

Shibuya is popular not just for its iconic pedestrian crossing but also for its zillions of shops, including AMORE. This Japan secondhand store has a massive inventory of fashion items, such as handbags, clutches, tote bags, loafers, mules, pumps, boots, tops, blazers, jackets, and pants. Popular brands include Chanel, Hermes, Dior, Loewe, Goyard, and more. 

Amore is also one of the top vintage watch stores in Tokyo. Here, you’ll find timepieces from enduring brands like Cartier, Rolex, Bulgari, and Audemars Piguet.

Currently, AMORE has four branches in Shibuya. You can find one of them in Omotesando, which is a major luxury shopping destination in Tokyo. 

📍 Vintage Paris Aoyama

Photo: Vintage Paris website

• Address: 7-10-3 Minami Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
• How to get there: Take a Tokyo Metro train (Chiyoda Line, Ginza Line, Hanzomon Line) bound for Omote-sando Station. From there, take a 15-minute walk toward your destination. You may also ride a taxi to get there. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Vintage Paris is one of the leading stores of secondhand luxury items in Paris. Its Tokyo branch stays true to the mission by carrying brands like Gucci, Celine, Hermes, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, Goyard, Givenchy, and Dior. 

Vintage Paris’ catalog includes handbags, sling bags, luggage, tops, and accessories. If you’re looking for items from the early 2000s (or even earlier), this store is worthy of a visit. Collectors may find the pieces that aren’t sold anywhere else. 

📍 Kinji Kyoto 

• Address: 583-2 Nakanochō, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
• How to get there: If you’re coming from Osaka, take a Hankyu Kyoto Line train bound for Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (end of the line). From there, take a five-minute walk toward your destination. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

On the relatively affordable side of things, there’s Kinji Used Clothing. If you’re visiting Kyoto from Osaka, drop by this shop. After all, it’s close to the last station of the Hankyu Kyoto Line, which takes people to Kyoto from Osaka. 

Kinji Used Clothing houses a variety of fashion items, from Western brand tees and Japanese streetwear to denim pants and bags. Its modern and youth-oriented collection is very eclectic—you’ll have fun mixing and matching pieces! Some brands you may find at this shop include Adidas, Ralph Lauren, Levi’s, Vans, and Manhattan Portage, just to name a few. 

If you happen to be in Tokyo, Kinji Used Clothing has an outlet in the fashionable neighborhood of Harajuku. 

Read more: In the Land of the Rising Sun: Japan Visa Requirements for Filipinos

📍 DECOUVERTE KYOTO 

• Address: Iida-ya Building 1F, 609 Teiyasu-maeno-cho, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture
• How to get there: If you’re coming from Osaka, take a Hankyu Kyoto Line train bound for Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station (end of the line). From there, take a one-minute walk toward your destination. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Located in one of Kyoto’s busiest spots, DECOUVERTE KYOTO is a vintage shop that primarily caters to women. It’s conveniently located close to Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station, so you can easily visit it if you’re coming from Osaka. 

DECOUVERTE KYOTO curates vintage items like leather handbags, tote bags, scarves, and jewelry. Among the brands it carries include Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Chanel, and Hermes, just to name a few.  

If you’re a Birkin hunter, you might as well try your luck at this shop, as it carries some of those coveted bags from time to time. You can also visit other DECOUVERTE boutiques in Saitama, Tokyo (Chiyoda, Shinjuku, and Minato), and Yokohama. 

📍 ALLU Shinsaibashi 

Photo: ALLU website

• Address: 2-1-19 Shinsaibashisuji, Chuo-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
• How to get there: Take a Midosuji Line train bound for Shinsaibashi Station. From there, take a five-minute walk toward your destination. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Osaka may be Japan’s kitchen, but with districts like Shinsaibashi, it also proves to be a shopping paradise. The said district is one of the best places to go vintage shopping in Osaka. While here, make ALLU^[2] your first stop. 

ALLU Shinsaibashi is not your typical vintage store. Once inside, you’ll feel like you entered a contemporary museum or the walk-in closet of a rich celebrity. 

The store’s first floor is dedicated to ladies’ items, such as bags and clothing. The second floor, meanwhile, is a section for men’s pieces like footwear and leather accessories. 

ALLU Shinsaibashi has a large inventory of brands, including Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Arc’teryx, Acne Studios, Issey Miyaki, Christian Louboutin, Commes des Garcons, Goyard, and more. The range is so wide—you might even find discontinued pieces here. 

If you’re thinking about where to buy vintage watches in Japan, head to this shop. You’ll find premium timepieces from Rolex, Cartier, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet. 

📍 about a pond 

• Address: 1-5-17 Kitahorie, Nishi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture 
• How to get there: Take an Osaka Metro Yotsubashi Line train bound for Yotsubashi Station. From there, take a two-minute walk to the store. 
• Opening hours: 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. 

about a pond is another Japan thrift shop for fashionistas looking for lavish pieces for less. It’s especially for those who want to score items from unconventional brands like Acne Studios, Maison Margiela, and Stella McCartney. 

If you’re fascinated with Japanese craftsmanship, you’re in luck—about a pond carries homegrown brands, such as sacai, Yoko Chan, Fumika Uchida, and Mame Kurogouchi. 

about a pond’s catalog includes shirts, bags, shoes, accessories, and even kids’ clothing, 

Related: Retail Therapy in Thailand: 10 Places to Go Shopping in Bangkok

📍 willow

• Address: 1-14-19 Utsubo Honmachi, Nishi-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
• How to get there: Take a train bound for Honmachi Station on the following lines: Midosuji, Chuo, and Yotsubashi. From the station, take a three-minute walk towards your destination. 
• Opening hours: 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Opened in 2022, willow is a fairly new spot for vintage shopping in Osaka. The boutique offers hip pieces that mirror contemporary aesthetics and appeal to fashion-forward youths. 

willow’s inventory includes dresses, t-shirts, handbags, shoulder bags, wallets, scarves, shoes, and other accessories. Its range of brands is also impressive. It carries Balenciaga, Balmain, Burberry, Celine, Coach, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Ferragamo, Jil Sander, Lanvin, and more.  

📍 Rag Machine 

• Address: 2-4-24 Verdomire Imaizumi 101, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
• How to get there: Take a train on Fukuoka City Subway’s Nanakuma Line bound for Yakuin-odori Station. From there, take a seven-minute walk towards your destination. 
• Opening hours: 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Fukuoka is a favorite destination among travelers who want to get away from the rush of Tokyo and Osaka. If you love Fukuoka’s peace and quiet but miss the vintage shopping scene of bigger cities, come to Rag Machine.^[3] 

This thrift store in Japan primarily caters to men, but you can still find an ample selection for women. Rag Machine curates vintage t-shirts, shirts, pants, shorts, jackets, and more. Pieces here are relatively affordable, with some reaching up to ¥10,000 or around ₱3,700 as of this writing. 

Some of the brands Rag Machine carries include Adidas, L.L. Bean, Stussy, New Balance, Ralph Lauren, and Levi’s. 

Related: From Souvenirs to Sneakers: 10 Places to Go Shopping in Hong Kong 

Tips for Japan Vintage Shopping

Make the most of your shopping trip with these handy tips: 

• Use a credit card - While Japan is known as a cash-based society, a lot of retail establishments including vintage shops accept credit cards. Use your card’s installment feature to get your hands on rare and big-ticket items. 
• Consider smaller shops  - Vintage shopping is a big business in Japan, which explains the presence of secondhand store chains like Ragtag, Kindal, and ALLU. However, it’s possible to find smaller vintage boutiques in areas like Harajuku and Shimokitazawa. 
• Manage your expectations - Vintage shops are not like regular retail boutiques in terms of inventory. They don’t carry all sizes, so be prepared in case the item you like may not fit you. In the same vein, you may not find the item you’re looking for. On the flip side, you may find something else that’s unique and exciting. 
• Mind the season - Just like regular boutiques, vintage shops follow the season. If you visit during winter, expect to find coats, windbreakers, and other layering pieces in the store. 
• Shop with someone knowledgeable - Tag along someone who can tell you if you’re getting a good deal. This is especially necessary when buying big-ticket pieces like leather handbags and watches. 
• Bring your passport - Some vintage shops in Japan have tax-free counters. Make sure you bring your passport to enjoy tax deductions. 

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Final Thoughts 

Japan’s consumerism is obvious in its countless malls, shopping streets, and convenience stores. If you’re in the country to shop, visiting a vintage boutique is definitely a unique experience. You get to score high-end items for less and even find discontinued pieces. 

Just make sure you have enough budget for your Japan vintage shopping! You may find yourself putting more items into your basket than intended. 

Sources: 

• ^[1] Ragtag Website
• ^[2] ALLU Website
• ^[3] Rag Machine Instagram Page