🛍️ Shopping in Tokyo: The Girlies’ Pilgrimage 🇯🇵
POV: You came to Tokyo with one suitcase and you’re leaving with emotional damage… and three more bags. Welcome to Visiting with Vicky, where The Queerdos do the homework and you have all the fun. If there’s one thing Tokyo will do; it’s make your luggage limits your biggest enemy. This city is a shopping playground. From thrift racks that feel like time machines to stationery aisles that will spiritually cleanse you, Tokyo has a way of turning even the most disciplined traveler into a chaotic, bag-laden fashion warrior.
🧥 Vintage: Where the Queerdos Thrive
Tokyo’s vintage scene is religion. Start in Shimokitazawa, the unofficial capital of thrift-core dreams. Every side street hides another curated gem. Stop by New York Joe Exchange, a former bathhouse turned thrift wonderland, for everything from Y2K denim to one-of-a-kind designer pieces. Then head to Koenji, where vintage is less “Instagram curated” and more “treasure hunt with a side of nostalgia.” Check out Jumble Store, the racks are endless and the prices? Suspiciously good. And of course — Harajuku. Loud, experimental, iconic. For a hit of pure fashion dopamine, wander into Chicago Harajuku and let chaos guide your hand.
💡 Pro tip: Some vintage shops only take cash and open late, so plan accordingly. The full itinerary (coming soon!) breaks down which days and times are best for each neighborhood.
✍️ Stationery That’ll Make You Believe in Main Character Energy
The Japanese do stationery like the French do pastries. With exquisite care, painstaking precision, and delightfully unnecessary levels of beauty and craftsmanship. Itoya in Ginza is the ultimate stationery mothership, a veritable temple dedicated to all things paper and pen. Spanning twelve incredible floors, it boasts an endless array of pens, notebooks, and calligraphy tools that will instantly make you reconsider every Target stationery purchase you’ve ever made in your life.
🍶 For the Homebodies and Kitchenware Lovers
If you absolutely love a good tablescape moment, then Kappabashi Street near Asakusa will completely ruin your self-control in the best way possible. This vibrant street is where Tokyo’s restaurant owners flock to shop for everything from beautiful plates and sharp knives to those iconic, life-like fake food displays that look almost good enough to eat. Make sure to pause and browse Nakata Shōten, a true ceramic heaven filled with delicately crafted ramen bowls, minimalist mugs that perfectly blend form and function, and handmade chopstick rests that seem like little souvenirs for your soul, adding a touch of magic to your dining table.
💡 Pro tip: Many shops here will ship internationally if you ask (in Japanese or English). We’ll share the easiest ones to order from in the full guide when it drops.
🎁 Don Quijote: Chaos, Neon, and Everything You Don’t Need but Suddenly Do
You simply can’t talk about Tokyo shopping without giving a shoutout to Don Quijote, lovingly nicknamed Donki by locals and visitors alike. This place is a wild, colorful sensory overload packed with everything from quirky snacks and funky skincare products to cosplay wigs and all sorts of items that’ll leave you wondering, “Why does this exist?” (And don’t even get me started on how it squeezes into your already overflowing luggage.) The crown jewel is definitely the Shibuya Mega Don Quijote; the ultimate pilgrimage spot for shopaholics. It’s open 24/7, with every inch stacked floor to ceiling with irresistible temptations.
💡 Bonus tip: Their tax-free counter is hidden on an upper floor. Keep your passport handy and your willpower nonexistent.
🧳 The Aftermath
Tokyo shopping is basically a fun personality test, and trust me, you’ll fail beautifully every single time. Whether you’re hauling vintage denim treasures, delicate porcelain bowls, or an absurdly excessive collection of 300 colorful pens, you’ll walk away with a little more of your true self shining through (and, let’s be honest, slightly more broke than when you arrived).
💌 Coming Soon: The Full Queerdo’s Guide to Tokyo Shopping
We’re spilling all the insider details soon — from where to shop and when to go, to how to ship your emotional-support ceramics home. Join our mailing list or follow us on TikTok for early access when it drops. 👀
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