đź«ź

đź”»JAPANđź”»

map: 🔻we went to Japan 2026 map: ✔️ went to Japan 2018

things to buy:

🦷 Apagard Premio is a toothpaste that claims to remineralize enamel. (Premio has the highest concentration of nano-mHAP, the remineralizing stuff. I also like the “non-foam” type for when I want to brush my teeth but have makeup or sunscreen on) you can get it in the US, but its cheaper in Japan, and available almost everywhere there
đź’® You can find Osmo stamp making machines in some Tokyu Hands locations, some Sanrio Gift Gate locations and few other spots https://osmo-park.jp/pc/
We went to these 3 locations: Sanrio Gift Gate Ginza Shimaya Hands Shinjuku 👛Pouches!!! Im a freak for pouches and the pencil / organization pouches at HANDS or LOFT are the best 👓 Glasses: JINS and Zoff are the big, cheap guys and you’ll see one in every neighborhood and a lot of department stores. I tried frames at both but ended up going to Zoff - the eye test was so fun and kind of like a video game
^I got transitions and have a light prescription and these were less than $100 USD 💳 If you go to BIC camera, they will have a discount in addition to the tax refund — its likely scannable at the counter too but helpful to have the coupon: https://www.taxfreeshops.jp/en/tieup/2 🛍️ At the end of you trip stock up at MUJI since we don’t have them in California anymore and there’s a lot of Japan stuff they dont see in the US: pens, incense, lip balm, travel toiletries, t-shirts etc etc etc

TOKYO

favorite neighborhoods
  • Shimokitazawa (where I stayed both trips): tons and tons of vintage shops, everything opens late (even by tokyo standards)
  • Harajuku / Omotesando: lots of big Japanese brands and designers have stores here (my favorites: Kiddy Land, Beams Boy, Tamburins, Snow Peak, Gramicci) Harajuku has the crazy youth-y stores but its easy to wander into Omotesando where the higher-end design stores are.
  • Jimbocho: used bookstore neighborhood, very quiet with lots of cozy cafes and the best curry
  • Shinjuku: lesbian bars (Gold Finger and agit)
  • Koenji: more dense thrifting
  • Kichijoji: Inokashira Park is very nice to walk around, sublo 36 is my favorite stationery shop ever, huge LOFT location
  • Nakano: Nakano Broadway mall has soooooo many antiques, collectibles and gashapon
  • Ginza: not my favorite vibe but this is where you will find the MUJI flagship and other hotspots. great food in the basements of all department stores, but sometimes it’s hard to find a spot to actually eat.

top 10 shops

  1. 36 Sublo (Kichioji) | stationery
  2. Little Trip to Heaven (Shimokitazawa) | whimsical clothing vintage + new
  3. Bozeman Outdoors (Shimokitazawa) | hiking + camping store
  4. Tokyo Retro a.m.a.store (Shimokitazawa) | retro homewares
  5. Laforet Harajuku Mall | small Japanese designers/brands
  6. magnif (Jimbocho) | vintage magazines
  7. RIRI MARKET (Shimokitazawa) | stickers
  8. Nakano Broadway | nerdy collectibles
  9. beams Boy Harajuku | womyns’ clothes
  10. TokiiRo (Omotesando) | colorful stationery et al
honorable mentions: LOFT and HANDS (any location), Montbell, MUJI, Village Vanguard

tips

  • Use the 7-Eleven ATMs and always “charge in JPY” for the best conversion rates 🏧
    • I only used the ATM once and only took ~$400 USD out
    • MOST places did take card and lots of place accepted tap-to-pay, but sometimes they weren’t super familiar with it
  • add Suica card to Apple Wallet and you just tap to take any public transit
    • make sure to enable automatic tap (Express Mode) so you can pass through gates without unlocking your device >> Apple Wallet app>Suica>tap the "More" button (three dots)>Card Details> Express Transit turned on
  • Cluster days geographically to avoid burnout (use Google Maps to see whats around)
  • Bathrooms dont have paper towels so some people said carry your own hand towel and there’s really cute wash cloths for sale all over Japan, but I mostly wiped my hands on my pants tbh
  • Dump leftover coins at self-checkout at MUJI / Uniqlo / GU / Daiso — vending/capsule/claw machines don't take 1ÂĄ or 5ÂĄ, so they pile up otherwise
  • Pack lighter than you think / leave room to shop (also helpful since hotel rooms are small and you’ll feel cramped when suitcase explosion happens)
  • I used the Apple translate app a lot to translate menus, signs, etc
  • Vending machines: you can pay with Suica sometimes! BLUE means cold and RED means warm - nice for chilly days 🍵
    • BTW this red can? It’s not coffee, it’s SOUP. I spat it out. don’t be fooled!
  • If you see the blue soft serve - get it! That’s the vanilla flavor usually and its so good
hope this helps!
ps here’s some pics from all the cameras I used on our trip