Thrift Japan › The chains
Second-hand shopping in Japan is dominated by a handful of big chains. Their stores are clean, well organised and priced clearly, and most items are checked before they go on sale. Knowing what each chain specialises in saves a lot of wasted trips.
BOOKOFF, HARD OFF, OFF HOUSE, HOBBY OFF, MODE OFF and GARAGE OFF all belong to the same family of "OFF" brands, though BOOKOFF is a separate company from the rest. The others on this page are independent chains.
Sells: Books, manga, CDs, DVDs and video games. The larger BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR stores also sell clothing, toys, homeware and electronics.
Tip: The cheapest shelves, often priced at a few hundred yen, are worth a look for manga and CDs.
586 stores on our map, including 57 in Tokyo, 14 in Sapporo, 11 in Osaka, 10 in Yokohama.
Sells: Used electronics: audio equipment, cameras and lenses, musical instruments, computers and game consoles.
Tip: The ジャンク (junk) section is sold as-is and untested, with no returns. Bargains are possible, but expect some items not to work.
319 stores on our map, including 8 in Tokyo, 6 in Sapporo, 4 in Sendai, 3 in Osaka.
Sells: Clothing, bags, furniture, homeware, kitchenware, sports gear and brand goods.
Tip: Good for Japanese ceramics and kitchenware, which are easy to pack.
181 stores on our map, including 5 in Sapporo, 2 in Osaka, 1 in Tokyo, 1 in Sendai.
Sells: Toys, figures, model kits, trading cards and retro games.
Tip: Many HOBBY OFF shops share a building with a HARD OFF or OFF HOUSE, so you can visit several at once.
73 stores on our map, including 8 in Tokyo, 2 in Sapporo, 1 in Sendai.
Sells: Clothing, shoes and fashion accessories.
Tip: Japanese clothing sizes run smaller than US and European sizes, so try things on.
17 stores on our map, including 7 in Tokyo.
Sells: Car and motorbike parts, tyres, wheels and accessories.
Tip: Mostly of interest to car and bike enthusiasts. Check whether parts fit your vehicle before buying.
6 stores on our map.
Sells: Clothing, shoes, bags and designer brands, with homeware and furniture at larger stores.
Tip: Branches in big cities often have a good choice of Japanese streetwear and designer labels.
450 stores on our map, including 28 in Osaka, 20 in Sapporo, 17 in Tokyo, 10 in Sendai.
Sells: A general mix of clothing, brand goods, furniture, homeware, electronics and sports gear.
Tip: Stores vary a lot in size, so the larger ones are usually worth the trip.
51 stores on our map, including 5 in Tokyo, 2 in Yokohama, 1 in Osaka.
Sells: Video games, anime goods, figures, manga, CDs and DVDs.
Tip: Popular with retro game collectors. Prices for rare games can be high, but common titles are cheap.
57 stores on our map, including 8 in Tokyo, 5 in Osaka, 4 in Kobe, 2 in Nagoya.
Sells: Collectable manga, anime goods, figures, vintage toys, cel art and cosplay.
Tip: More of a collector's shop than a bargain shop. Each branch has its own specialities.
14 stores on our map, including 5 in Tokyo, 2 in Osaka, 1 in Kyoto, 1 in Nagoya.
Sells: Luxury brand bags, watches, jewellery and clothing, checked for authenticity by staff.
Tip: Prices are higher than other second-hand shops, but so is the quality and certainty.
10 stores on our map, including 3 in Tokyo, 2 in Nagoya, 1 in Osaka, 1 in Yokohama.
Store numbers come from OpenStreetMap and don't include every branch. The chains' own websites have complete store lists.