Image credit: Wally GobetzNo doubt, Tokyo is an international mecca for fashion. But it is more on the affluent side. And that is the way it is in Tokyo, one of the most expensive cities in the world. Do cheap clothes have any room to survive in this fashion paradise? The answer is yes, if you look hard enough.
Enjoy your bargain-hunting time at the recommended budget shopping places below.
See also: 5 Best Places to Shop for New & Pre-owned Luxury Branded Goods in Tokyo
Image credit: shuzo serikawa Flea markets are part of the shopping culture in Tokyo. They are there to avoid waste, to offer used stuff at cheap prices, and to hold all the surprises. If you have enough time in Tokyo to attach yourself deeper to this shade of Tokyo shopping, it is quite sure that you will receive well-deserved rewards.
OHI RACECOURSE FLEA MARKET
Ohi Reaecourse Flea market or Tokyo City Flea Market plays host to around 600 vendors each time. True to its image as the most popular flea market in Tokyo, this shopping spot has a vast range of products on sale. From used fashion items to household stuff. Things worth buying there are clothes and antiques.
What are on offer: Used clothes, shoes, accessories, watches and, miscellaneous goods, furniture, knickknacks and food
Pricing: Starting from 100 Yen ($0.89)
When: 09:00 – 15:00 Saturday & Sunday
Where: 2-1-2 Katsushima, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo
Nearest station: Ōi Keibajō-mae Station (Tokyo Monorail)
MOTTAINAI FLEA MARKET
Mottainai reserves most of its space for clothing. If you are on the way to hunt for cheap clothes in Tokyo, this market is one of the must-visits.
Waste avoiding is a concept that this market is after, so thing happen in both directions a flea market can do to complete it: You can come to buy pre-love clothes from others or come to give away your loved dresses for some money.
What are on offer: Used clothes, books, DVDs, CDs
Note: The locations and schedule of the market are changed quite often. You can check here for details.
Image credit: Richard GilesIf you don’t mind wearing pre-loved clothes, just like many Japanese people don’t, then secondhand fashion shops across the city are the places to look for the best bargains. Here are the shops to check out:
CLOSET CHILD
Closet Child is quite a big name in selling used alternative fashion in Tokyo with branches in Harajuku, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro. You will find at their shops brands like Moi-Meme-Moitie, Algonquins, h.NAOTO, Glad News, Putumayo, and Innocent World. On-sale fashion items include dresses, skirts, blouses, cardigans, handbags, hats, shoes, and accessories. It is recommended for those who love punk lolita style.
BINGO
Bingo is the sweet home of many favorite labels that come from Japan and overseas. Expect to find used fashion items of all kinds for all seasons: Dresses, skirts, long-sleeve shirts, T-shirts, jeans, vests, sweaters, parkas, suede safari vests and so on. The best bargains of Bingo are hung on sale racks dotted all over the shop.
DON DON DOWN ON WEDNESDAY
Don Don Down on Wednesday is another good address to buy cheap clothes in Tokyo. As its name would suggest, Wednesday is when their prices drop as low as 100 Yen ($0.89) for an item. Their stores are also very accessible as they are scattered around the city.
Image credit: Xi LiuTakeshita Dori (Takeshita Street) is the soul of teenage culture in Harajuku. This 400-meter long pedestrian street abounds with small individual fashion and souvenir shops. It is a must for those who are young and young at heart. Prices are reasonable, compared with the majority of shops and malls’ around Tokyo. It is also a place to enjoy the popular Harajuku’s crepes.
What are on offer: New and used clothes, cosmetics, souvenirs, stationeries, knick knacks, and food
Where: 1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
When: 11:00 – 20:00
Nearest station: Harajuku Station
