Metropolis magazine, which I think is the best English-language magazine in Japan, did a special about vintage clothing and shopping for used clothes in Tokyo. Vintage shopping in Tokyo is really easy because I have found so many great, surprisingly really cheap vintage stores all over the place.
The Metropolis article recommended Screaming Mimi's near Daikanyama station, Star Verry in Shimokitazawa, and two others I haven't visited called Mink and KMP. Screaming Mimi's Tokyo is the sister store to Screaming Mimi's on Lafayette Street in New York. I have visited the NYC and the Tokyo one, and think both stores are full of great things but they're both a bit overpriced. Their clothes are also both a bit "safe" and not really exciting or unique. But if you like vintage designer clothing, they're a nice store in both cities. Star Verry is really cool and there are at keast 20 vintage clothing stores a few steps away from Shimokitazawa Eki. I know I keep talking about that Shimokitazawa, but it really is so rad.
My favorite vintage store in Tokyo so far is called Kinji. It's in Harajuku across from La Foret (the best mall you will ever see in your life... there's a Jan Svankmajer museum exhibition going on right now in that mall. See what I mean?) I like Kinji because it's huge, has tons of selection, and is extremely cheap. I got such a great skirt there for 345 yen (3 dollars) and I got the shirt I wore to tea in Yokohama at Kinji, too. Kinji is awesome and super easy to find since it's right under The Gap store in Harajuku. Above it, there's a vintage chain store called Hanjiros and that's fun to explore because it's massive, but I haven't found anything there quite yet.
Just to give you a tip: in Tokyo, vintage stores are almost always called "used clothing shops" so if you ask about vintage stores, most people won't know the word vintage. So if you want to know, ask for "used" shops.
Where are your favorite clothing stores in Tokyo? Please recommend anything to me.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
For Vintage Clothing in Tokyo, visit Harajuku and Shimokitazawa
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14 Comments:
Kinji is also my favorite! I love their dresses and buy something everytime I go in there!
Often pop upstairs to Hanjiro and drool over their chandeliers! Hanjiro is also excellent for recycled remakes!
When I first came to Japan I thought the 'op shops' were so expensive. That is because I was going to the wrong ones!
Does anyone know where to buy used mens suits in japan?
Thank you! I will be visiting Tokyo next month and will definitely hunt down Kinji. :)
Thank you for some very handy and good tips! I live some way away from Tokyo and have only been there two times, but next time I'll make sure I'll go to Harajuku. Is Shimokitazawa far from Harajuku?
HI
I came up on your blog randomly, in search of finding stores in japan that carry vintage and vintage inspired clothing from the 50's. Would you know of any or direct me in the right direction!?
cheers
nikki
do you know any wholesale japan stores??
Hi there,
Thank you sooo much for this blog! I followed your advice and went to Shimokitazawa and found so many amazing vintage skirts and tops in Star Verry and then the most gorgeous hats in Twitter.. thank you! :)
Hi! could you please tell me what store is the one you have pictures from on your post about vintage stores? That's exactly the store i'm looking for with my friend, being exactly now in Japan... I visited Tokyo four years ago, and my ABSOLUTELY FAVOURITE vintage store, that looked just like the one in your photo, doesn't exist anymore!
I'd really appreciate help!
Lotta
Hi!
I'm looking for a vintage store in harajuku that I think you've got the photo in your posting from. It was there still, next to La Fore in 2005, but not anymore now when I returned to Tokyo! Could you help me?????
Hey Lotta,
The store in the picture is Star Verry in Shimokitazawa. That's not Harajuku. You have to take the Keio Inokashira line to get there. You can take that line from Shibuya station.Shimokita is a great idea and I totally recommend it for vintage shopping.
I also know the place neat La Foret that you wanted to know about. It's hands-down the best and cheapest and maybe even biggest vintage store in Tokyo. It's called Kinji and I'll tell you how to get there...
-You know La Forest, right? Directly across the street from La Foret is The Gap. The building right next door to the gap has Kinji in the basement. Walk past the gap and you'll see signs for a mexican restaurant. Take the escalator downstairs and across from the mexican place is Kinji. Have fun!!
Also, eat a taco at the mexican place. They're not spicy but they're really good.
xox
Hey Julie,
Thanks to you I've found some killer deals at Kinji. Love the tips. Next stop will be Shimokitazawa! Linked your article on my blog. Hope you don't mind. :)
Julio (i think) in Sunshine City in Ikebukuro! It's in the centre of the mall, not an actual shop, right outside the department store. I'll be checking out the places you recommended soon. (:
Thanks for the post, i'll check out the ones you mentioned next week! =)
xx
Makes me want to jump on a plane and fly to Tokyo! Thanks for the info!
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