At a glance
- Ginza is good for comparing department stores, stationery, design, and luxury brands. Check where the tax-free counter is, what items are excluded, the refund conditions, and when you can collect your purchases.
- Shibuya has plenty of youth fashion and multi-purpose complexes, but the station is busy and under construction. Check the brand’s official store list for locations and building details, and contact the store about stock.
- In Shinjuku, you can compare several department stores, electronics stores, and home-goods shops in one area. Group stores by what you need and keep them on the same side so you don’t have to cross between the west and east sides.
- For electronics and character goods in Akihabara, check voltage, language, warranty, authenticity, and condition if used. Check whether products can be used overseas and whether batteries, liquids, and food can be brought across the border.
Day by day
Suggested itinerary
See each day's route, highlights, background and stay together in one place.
Make a shopping list and budget, choose an area → check official stock, hours, and tax-free details
Visit no more than three stores in one area → compare prices, warranties, and condition → take a break
Check receipts, tax-free items, and warranties → store your luggage → take well-lit streets to your accommodation
Places and meals
Compare department stores, stationery shops, and design stores within Ginza.
Google MapsCompare fashion stores within Shibuya.
Google MapsCompare department stores, electronics stores, and household goods within Shinjuku.
Google MapsCompare electronics and merchandise stores within Akihabara.
Google MapsHow to fit it in
Divide your shopping list into fashion, home goods, electronics, and character goods, then spend half a day in just one area with the items you most want. If something is out of stock, don’t immediately go to another area; check official store stock and consider delivery or a route for the next day.
Reality check
Ginza, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Akihabara are separate areas, so getting between them requires a train ride. As your shopping bags get bigger, transfers and stairs become more of a hassle. Prioritize the area on the same train line as your hotel, and check the official delivery and storage terms for large purchases.
Allow 4–6 hours for up to three stores, comparison shopping, tax-free purchases, and a meal. Electronics consultations, checking used items, and tax-free counters can each take another 30–60 minutes.
Calculate your purchase limit, exchange rate and fees, warranty, shipping and baggage costs, and customs on your return home together. For tax-free shopping, check your eligibility and each store’s eligible items and minimum purchase amount. Before paying, present the required documents, such as your original passport, at the tax-free counter and confirm that store’s processing order and cutoff time that day. Don’t assume you can get the tax-free processing after a regular payment, and don’t subtract the estimated tax-free savings from your budget until you have confirmed the applicable conditions. Check the final amount due and any nonrefundable conditions rather than relying on the advertised discount rate.
Don’t keep high-value items, your passport, and receipts all in one bag. Be wary of unofficial solicitors, counterfeit goods, and requests to open packages. Follow the sealing requirements for tax-free purchases and customs rules for your return home.
If plans change
Ask staff about official branches or restocking, and don’t rush to buy an expensive item from an unofficial reseller. Move on to the next item on your list.
Stop adding stores and check official delivery, lockers, or storage at your accommodation. Don’t try to combine sightseeing and a last train with large bags.
Small tip
Don’t buy things you don’t need just to reach the minimum tax-free purchase amount. What matters is the total cost after exchange rates, card fees, prices in your home country, warranties, and luggage costs—not the tax savings alone.
Final check before departure
- Set a shopping list and budget for each category, and choose one area
- Check voltage, warranties, authenticity, tax-free shopping, and import rules for your return home
- Save plans for checking official stock, opening hours, delivery, and keeping receipts
Store locations, stock, tax-free rules, and prices can change quickly. Check the store’s official website and the customs rules for Japan and your home country on the day you shop. Check pickup reservations, opening hours, and nighttime safety. If an item is out of stock or the store is crowded, switch to official delivery or buying it the next day.
Information checked: 2026-07-29