Thrift Japan › Tokyo
Tokyo has more second-hand shops than anywhere else in Japan. Nakano Broadway, a short train ride from Shinjuku, is packed with collectors' shops including several Mandarake branches. Akihabara is the place for used electronics, games and anime goods, while Shimokitazawa and Koenji are known for vintage and second-hand clothing.
We found 119 chain stores within 15 km of central Tokyo. They're listed below by chain, nearest to the centre first. You can also see them on the map.
| Chain | What it sells | Stores |
|---|---|---|
| BOOKOFF | Books, manga, CDs, DVDs and video games | 57 |
| HARD OFF | Used electronics: audio equipment, cameras and lenses, musical instruments, computers and game consoles | 8 |
| OFF HOUSE | Clothing, bags, furniture, homeware, kitchenware, sports gear and brand goods | 1 |
| HOBBY OFF | Toys, figures, model kits, trading cards and retro games | 8 |
| MODE OFF | Clothing, shoes and fashion accessories | 7 |
| 2nd STREET | Clothing, shoes, bags and designer brands, with homeware and furniture at larger stores | 17 |
| Treasure Factory | A general mix of clothing, brand goods, furniture, homeware, electronics and sports gear | 5 |
| Surugaya | Video games, anime goods, figures, manga, CDs and DVDs | 8 |
| Mandarake | Collectable manga, anime goods, figures, vintage toys, cel art and cosplay | 5 |
| KOMEHYO | Luxury brand bags, watches, jewellery and clothing, checked for authenticity by staff | 3 |
Store details come from OpenStreetMap and may be out of date. Check the store's own website or Google Maps before making a special trip.
Books, manga, CDs, DVDs and video games. The larger BOOKOFF SUPER BAZAAR stores also sell clothing, toys, homeware and electronics. The cheapest shelves, often priced at a few hundred yen, are worth a look for manga and CDs.
Used electronics: audio equipment, cameras and lenses, musical instruments, computers and game consoles. 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.
Clothing, bags, furniture, homeware, kitchenware, sports gear and brand goods. Good for Japanese ceramics and kitchenware, which are easy to pack.
Toys, figures, model kits, trading cards and retro games. Many HOBBY OFF shops share a building with a HARD OFF or OFF HOUSE, so you can visit several at once.
Clothing, shoes and fashion accessories. Japanese clothing sizes run smaller than US and European sizes, so try things on.
Clothing, shoes, bags and designer brands, with homeware and furniture at larger stores. Branches in big cities often have a good choice of Japanese streetwear and designer labels.
A general mix of clothing, brand goods, furniture, homeware, electronics and sports gear. Stores vary a lot in size, so the larger ones are usually worth the trip.
Video games, anime goods, figures, manga, CDs and DVDs. Popular with retro game collectors. Prices for rare games can be high, but common titles are cheap.
Collectable manga, anime goods, figures, vintage toys, cel art and cosplay. More of a collector's shop than a bargain shop. Each branch has its own specialities.
Luxury brand bags, watches, jewellery and clothing, checked for authenticity by staff. Prices are higher than other second-hand shops, but so is the quality and certainty.