Tokyo's 10 Best Thrift Stores and Vintage Shopping

Be sure to book ahead for the best tours of Tokyo and make the most out of your trip.

This Harajuku outlet boasts a reputation for being one of the best in the business. Though perhaps not the most curated or trend-driven, what Kinji does best is to provide volume at cheap prices. It’s the classic mega-vintage store where everyone is guaranteed to find a special piece, no matter your style, sex or size. Thanks to its location down the road from Shibuya’s fashion capital Takeshita Dori and Aoyama’s shopping strip, Kinji gets access to a cross-section of cast-offs from the quirky and the fashion-forward, all in one convenient location.

One of Harajuku’s most iconic names on the vintage scene, Chicago is the Americana-themed thrift store wonderland taking over Shibuya’s streets. With a knack for sourcing some of the best pre-loved stock in the world, the stores have found booming success in fashion-forward Tokyo. There are actually three Chicago stores in Harajuku alone, and Chicago also has locations in Tokyo’s other vintage hotspots Shimokitazawa and Kichijoji, and another one down in Kyoto. Thanks to the meticulous layout of the store and huge collection of classic vintage-style apparel – think rockabilly dresses and well-cut leather jackets – it’s easy to find just what you’re looking for. However, what it does best is denim – carefully organised by colour, size, style and cut, the range found in the Chicago outlets is one of the best in the world, and definitely one of the best Tokyo thrift stores.

Search for “best vintage Japan” and one name you’ll see repeatedly is Flamingo. Similar to Chicago, this American-inspired vintage outlet is a key player in the US-inspired thrift store scene, and definitely a great follow-up to a visit to Chicago. With a focus on old-school style ranging from the 1950s right up to today, Flamingo keeps its prices reasonable and its selections diverse. If you’re strolling down the streets of Shimokitazawa you can’t miss the mural-size neon flamingo beckoning you inside for .

Boy is an icon on the Tokyo fashion scene. Semi-hidden, and adjacent to the heart of Shibuya, the store is easy to miss. Thankfully, with the Boy stencils adorning the brickwork outside, those with a keen eye will be able to spot it. What this store does best is collecting some of the best Japanese labels and music-related merch from years gone by. Whether you’re looking for classic old-school sneakers, legitimate vintage band tees or a one-off piece by a Japanese fashion legend, chances are you’ll find it here at Boy.

Designer brands on a budget is what Ragtag does, and it does it so well it’s become one of the most popular clothing stores in Tokyo. If you’re hunting that special piece, you can’t miss this Harajuku stop. With floors divided into designer names and fashion subcultures, it’s easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. And don’t worry if you’re not in the Harajuku area, because they also have 15 locations across Japan, including stores in Tokyo’s other fashion hubs Shibuya, Shinjuku, Shimokitazawa, Ginza and Kichijoji.

Another place to go bargain hunting in Tokyo is Stick Out. Stick Out is for the shopper sticking to a very strict budget. Be warned, the sheer amount of what’s on offer means that it can feel like a bit of a tornado has hit this vintage wonderland. But hunting through everything to find that special piece can sometimes be half the fun! Stick Out’s main draw is the fact that everything is priced at 700 yen (£5), no matter what it is – jackets, T-shirts, shoes – so it’s more about quantity than quality. However, that’s not to say there aren’t some proper gems hidden throughout the store. If you’re after the thrill of the hunt, this is the place for you.

From the company that brought you Book Off, Japan’s massive second-hand book outlet, comes thrift store haven Mode Off. There is a chain of Off stores, including Hard Off for hardware, Off-House/Home-Off for home appliances, Hobby Off for collectibles and Garage Off for larger appliances. Unlike some of the other vintage stores in Shimokitazawa, Mode Off isn’t about trend-driven vintage icons, but simply cheap clothing, so cheap that items cost less than a block of Meiji chocolate. That said, there are also brand-name sections that are worth checking out if you are after something a little fancier.

The narrow graffiti- and sticker-covered entrance gives a hint of what’s to come in this stripped-back Harajuku basement. Walk downstairs to discover DOG, a legendary vintage clothing store that has been celebrating the weird and wild side of Tokyo fashion since 2000. Think leather biker jackets artfully adorned with skulls and studs, colourful Doc Martens-style boots and plenty of faux fur, buckles, belts and harnesses. Keep an eye out for the mannequin standing guard outside the entrance – her cyberpunk-meets-Mad Max outfit changes regularly.

Found beneath a pretty blue-and-white striped awning on a corner in Kōenji, Kissmet specialises in effortlessly cool high-end “archive” pieces. Look out for relaxed sweaters by Maison Margiela, trench coats by Issey Miyake and the perfect pair of slouchy slacks by Yves Saint Laurent. The prices here aren’t exactly cheap, but it’s still better than buying these top-end designers new. Sister store LAUGH by Kissmet is also nearby and specialises in second-hand men’s streetwear.

If you’re on the hunt for quality American and European brands with a Japanese twist, you can’t go past TORO Vintage Clothing. A five-minute walk from Harajuku station, this tiny timber-walled gem is on the third floor of an otherwise unremarkable building and has been around for close to three decades. Check out its DECORATE by Baccum range, in which vintage knits have been updated with weird, sometimes subversive, embroidery – think flies, headless Barbie dolls, cigarettes and even tubes of pet toothpaste. TORO’s nearby sister store, OTOE, is also worth checking out.

Additional reporting by Mandi Keighran.