Tokyo is a true cosmopolitan city and a great choice when it comes down to shopping.
The biggest and absolutely the most glamorous city of Japan, Tokyo is the rightest place to shop till you drop. The city offers countless variety of multistory hi-tech department stores, sprawling networks of huge shopping malls, integrated in numerous entertainment centers, chic and fashionable boutiques selling exclusive outfits, accessories, jewelry and perfumes, all quality branded products by universally acknowledged producers, like headquarters of the Apple Company in Tokyo Opera Theatre Tower.
Akihabara district in Tokyo is the first place you need to go to when looking for the most up-to-date electronic devices like handycams, notebooks, mobile phones, smartphones, i-pods, television sets, DVD and mp3 players, air conditioners, microwave ovens and other household equipment things. Shopping in Akihabara is really worth an experience as it is a stylish shopping district where shoppers can go absolutely dizzy with the lots of goodies displayed in colorful and dazzling showcases.
Another vibrant and fabulous shopping area of Tokyo is Ginza ? the oldest and the most crowded place to shop. Thousands of boutiques and department stores lined up for many kilometers where tourists can shop for souvenirs and memorabilla apart from other posh things money can buy.
In Ginza you can find a huge eight-storeyed building which accommodates the Big Camera specialty shop where you can get absolutely any camera you want ? you can choose from single-lens reflex, large and medium format, and digital cameras, as well as computers, DVD and MP3 players, video cameras, watches, toys, and much more.
Diana footwear store has been long a refuge for ladies from abroad as the shop has a choice of some large sizes in its basement. But still, nothing more than number 8 for women can?t be found here, although the choice of trendy shoes is a real temptation.
Visit also the La Foret Fashion boutique. The place is full of the air of fashion and extravagance, mostly appealing to those under thirty or still in their teens.
Find more on Ginza Street in Tokyo: Gallery Kawano Specialty Shopping, Antiques, Washington Shoes, Hashi and others.
Shibuya shopping locality features a multitude of plasma telemonitors and trendy stores with chic clothes, art & craft goodies, books, video and music DVD disks and lots of other stuff. There is an authentic Apple store in this area.
The only difficulty a tourist can experience while shopping is the language barrier, as the English speaking clerks and shop assistants are scarce. The way out is asking for an English language brochure if you are shopping in a big store. And, if you are buying some sensitive electronic devices, make sure there are no limits for exporting it and its usage standards coincide with those of your country.
For souvenirs and gifts please visit: Hayashi Kimono (Specialty Shopping), Hyakusuke (Arts & Crafts), Isetan (Department Stores), Japan Sword (Arts & Crafts), Japan Traditional Craft Center (Zenkoku Dentoteki Kogeihin Senta) (Arts & Crafts).
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