07/09/2026
LET’S TALK... OP-SHOPPING IN JAPAN 🇯🇵🛍️
If you love a good op-shop rummage, PUT THIS ON YOUR JAPAN LIST.
It’s become one of our favourite things to do whenever we're here - and Japanese second-hand shopping is a whole different game.
The stores are clean. They're organised. There's designer stuff, vintage stuff, $5 stuff and the perfect dopamine thrill of finding the really quirky stuff!
And even as a plus-size woman who rarely finds clothes that fit me, I LOVE IT.
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♻️ FIRST THINGS FIRST: THEY'RE NOT REALLY "OP SHOPS"
They're more like second-hand or reuse stores, and many of them feel much more like regular retail stores than the op shops we're used to at home.
Everything is beautifully organised and SO clean. Even the shoes often look almost new.
Some stores are enormous and you can easily lose an hour or two wandering around.
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👗 WHAT CAN YOU FIND?
Pretty much anything.
Clothes, shoes, handbags, jewellery, sportswear, vintage pieces, Disney, character stuff, designer bags and a LOT of American college and sports gear.
Then there are the completely random finds.
Last year I found a rabbit-shaped handbag. This year smiley Nikes, and I'm still looking!
The treasure hunt is half the fun.
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👚 WHAT ABOUT PLUS SIZES?
This is the catch.
If you're plus-size like me, don't go expecting to find a whole new wardrobe.
Japanese sizing generally runs smaller and I don't find loads of clothing that fits me.
But I still LOVE looking.
I head straight for oversized sweatshirts, jackets and men's sections - and bags, shoes and accessories.
Although if you've got big feet like me, shoes can also be slim pickings.
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🔎 THE STORES I LOOK FOR
2nd STREET is probably the easiest place to start. There are stores all over Japan and they sell clothing, shoes, bags, accessories and designer pieces. Some are little neighbourhood stores and others are HUGE.
I literally just open Google Maps and search "2nd Street near me."
KINJI is another favourite, particularly if you like vintage, American sweatshirts, Disney and quirky stuff. We went to the Harajuku store and I could happily rummage there forever.
BOOKOFF / BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR is great for books, games, toys and collectibles, but the bigger stores can have clothing, shoes, bags and designer goods too.
HARD OFF are worth searching as well. HARD OFF leans more towards electronics, games and hobby stuff.
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👜 AND YES... THERE'S LOTS OF DESIGNER
This still blows my mind.
Gucci. Chanel. Louis Vuitton. Prada. YSL. Coach. Michael Kors.
You'll see designer pieces everywhere from shelves of bags to glass cabinets filled with the $$$$ stuff.
Last year I even found YSL shoes for my sister for around $13.
THIRTEEN DOLLARS. Thankfully she has teeny feet!
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💰 ARE THE PRICES GOOD?
This really varies.
You can absolutely find bargains - we've bought $5 jeans, cheap sweatshirts, Converse, bags and all sorts of bits over the years.
But don't assume everything second-hand is cheap.
Vintage pieces, popular brands and designer goods can still be expensive, and some stores are definitely more curated vintage boutique than bargain op shop.
My favourite finds are usually the random things nobody else seems to want. 😂
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🛂 DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT
Some second-hand stores offer tax-free shopping to eligible international visitors.
For example, 2nd STREET currently offers tax-free shopping at participating stores when eligible purchases at the same store on the same day total at least ¥5,000 before tax, and you'll need your passport. BOOKOFF also offers tax-free shopping at participating stores with conditions, so check at the store.
Basically: if you're shopping in Japan, chuck your passport in your bag.
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❤️ WHY WE LOVE IT
It's actually one of those rare things we all enjoy doing.
Everyone is hunting for something different, there's no pressure to buy anything, and you never really know what you're going to find.
Plus it gets us wandering into neighbourhoods and shopping centres we'd probably never visit otherwise.
And THAT is usually where we find some of our favourite bits of Japan.
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📌 MY BIGGEST TIP?
Don't plan your whole day around finding one particular item.
Just search "2nd Street", "KINJI", "BOOKOFF", or "HARD OFF" in Google Maps wherever you happen to be and go for a rummage.
Some will be amazing. Some will be tiny. Some you'll walk out of in five minutes.
And some you'll emerge from two hours later wondering how you're going to get all those buys home. 😂 (Speaking from experience!).
SAVE THIS ONE if you're heading to Japan! 🇯🇵
And tell me - what would YOU be hunting for? Designer bag? Vintage Disney? Sneakers? Or the weirdest thing you could possibly find? 😂
