Osaka
One of the best record stores in the city, Time Bomb stocks an excellent collection of vinyl and CDs from '60s pop and '70s punk to alternative, soul and…
Must-see shopping in Kansai
Osaka
This long arcade sells just about anything related to the preparation, consumption and selling of Osaka's principal passion: food. There's everything from…
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Osaka
Tower Knives has a fantastic selection of kitchen knives – both carbon steel and stainless steel; some are hand-forged by Osaka artisans. The English…
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Osaka
Hankyū, which first opened in 1929, pioneered the now ubiquitous concept of the train-station department store. One of Japan's largest department stores, …
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Nara
Nara's famed 300-year-old linen producer now creates beautiful bags, pouches and scarves out of natural materials, subtly adorned with traditional motifs…
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Osaka
Nominally a DIY and homewares chain, Tokyū Hands is Japan's favourite place to browse for items you probably didn't need but will end up loving. It's…
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Osaka
This third-generation-run sake store has narrow wooden stairs leading to a basement cellar where you can sample small glasses of sake (¥220 each), while…
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Osaka
East of Midō-suji, Shinsaibashi is one of Japan's great shopping zones, most notably in this eight-block-long covered arcade that's crammed with domestic…
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Osaka
This is the largest bookstore in Osaka, the result of two established chains joining forces. There's a big range of English-language books (on the 6th…
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Nara
This sixth-generation fan maker sells Nara-style uchiwa, paddle-style fans whose washi (Japanese handmade paper) covering has been intricately carved with…
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Osaka
Flake is Osaka's most in-the-know music shop, selling new and used, Japanese and imported, CDs and vinyl. The owner speaks some English; ask him for his…
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Osaka
Graf is a sleek furniture and design studio close to the National Museum of Art. Pick up some lovely homewares by Japanese and international designers; it…
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Osaka
This cult-fave Osaka bookstore prides itself on not stocking any bestsellers. Instead, it's stocked with small-press finds, art books, indie comics and…
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Osaka
Lose hours browsing four floors of retro Japanese toys (Astroboy!), collectible figurines, manga (Japanese comics), DVDs, art and counterculture books,…
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Osaka
This small record store in the Maru Building packs in a great selection of vinyl and has a friendly and knowledgeable owner.
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Nara
Good-quality tea towels, homewares and totes with cute Nara motifs (lots of deer) from a centuries-old local linen producer.
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Kii Peninsula
Tanabe is Japan's top producer of ume (Japanese apricot), and this shop sells dozens of varieties of umeboshi (pickled ume) and umeshu (ume wine). Ask the…
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Osaka
Perfect for last-minute souvenir shopping is this outlet of Tokyū Hands, with the chain's signature range of must-have gadgets, homewares and stationery…
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Osaka
At 16,000 sq metres over five storeys, this is Japan's largest men's fashion retailer. Though there are a few domestic names represented here, it's mostly…
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Osaka
This huge Umeda branch of the classic Kansai department store anchors Osaka Station's southern side. On the upper floors you'll find branches of Tokyū…
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Osaka
This old warehouse has a work space with vintage silkscreen machines that allow local artists to create small batches of T-shirts, posters, notecards,…
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Osaka
This is the flagship of the long-running Osaka-based department store Takashiyama, which stocks mostly international brands, though the homewares…
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Kōbe
This bayside complex has several malls (Umie and Mosaic), with branches of many mainstream shops. While they're otherwise uninspiring, some restaurants…
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Osaka
Village Vanguard bills itself as an 'exciting' bookstore, and it stocks fun, nontraditional, pop- and street-inspired mementos of your time in Japan…
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Osaka
This Umeda department store has hip, youthful labels on the first six floors; fast-food restaurants, cafes and a virtual-reality game zone on the upper…
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Osaka
This series of stylish shopping centres is linked by brick paths lined with trees; it's a popular place to hang out on weekends. In addition to men's and…
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Osaka
This large bookshop has a great selection of English-language books (on the 3rd floor) and English travel guides (2nd floor). It's inside the Dōjima…
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Osaka
Named for the terraces and trees worked into the open-air layout, Namba Parks features six floors of fashion, accessories, homewares and more, plus…
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Osaka
In the hip Minami-Horie district, this street is lined with fashionable streetwear boutiques. There's more on the side streets (along with plenty of cafes…
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Osaka
This vast store sells everything related to cameras, electronics and computers at competitive prices. It's a good spot to pick up a travel SIM card, too.
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Osaka
Six floors of tech, gadgets and gizmos, plus fashion and restaurant floors. You can pick up prepaid travel SIM cards here, too.
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Osaka
If you need a new backpack or any other kind of outdoor gear, head to this excellent shop in the Grand Front complex.
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Osaka
A big selection of stylish Japanese and international brands, on the northern side of JR Osaka Station.
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Osaka
Daimaru's Shinsaibashi flagship store is this neo-Gothic building from 1922. It's under reconstruction through 2019, but the newer north and south wings…
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Osaka
An eight-storey mall with dozens of fashion and lifestyle shops, a huge Kinji used-clothes shop, mid-priced restaurants and a retro video/pinball arcade.
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Kōbe
Large department store at the western edge of Kyū-Kyoryuchi (the former foreigners' settlement).
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Osaka
Inside Hankyū Umeda Station, this shop stocks a decent selection of foreign books and magazines.
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