Page 140 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Tokyo

138  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS
SHOPPING IN TOKYO

Tokyo is often described as the “warehouse Hills; high-tech convenience stores and
of the world,” and it is possible to procure high-end fashion towns such as Harajuku
anything under the sun here, from and Ginza; and Akihabara, an almost exotic
handcrafted boxwood combs to robot pets. electronic market. The world’s highest
The constant innovation and commercial concentration of vending machines per
ingenuity that characterize the city have capita is also visible at every turn. And,
resulted in a rash of mini shopping cities compared with other global cities, the prices
such as Tokyo Midtown and Omotesando are not as outrageous as presumed.

Prices and Sales Tax
The Japanese yen continues to
be seen as a stable currency.
Cash is by far the easiest
method to pay for most goods.
International credit cards are
still unpop ular in smaller shops.
VISA, Amer ican Express, Diners
Club, and MasterCard are the
most widely accepted.
In department stores and
boutiques, and in inner-city
areas, prices are usually marked
in Arabic numerals. In local shops
and restaurants, and in areas
where non-Japanese are few Youth entertainment area in Shibuya
and far between, prices may be
written only in kanji characters. tax-exemption counters with high-teens shoppers on small
All items and services are English-speaking staff. The budgets. Jimbocho (see p46) is
subject to a consumption tax counters will issue a customs Tokyo’s oldest book center.
of eight percent. The price document, which they will Shibuya (see pp68–9) with its
displayed should by law include attach to your passport for depart ment stores and fashion
the tax, although in practice this presentation when you depart. buildings, is one of the city’s
may not be the case. Large electronic stores in most diverse shopping zones.
Akihabara (see p47), such as Shinjuku, to the west side of
Yodobashi Camera and Laox the station, is all electronics and
Tax-Free Shopping
provide this service. software; the east side has
Tokyo’s tax-free shops offer a department stores and multi-
good range of domestic and Shopping Zones purpose shopping complexes.
imported brand items without
the five percent sales tax Tokyo has many shopping Department Stores
add ed elsewhere. The best zones identified by the popular
authorized outlets are the goods they display. Akihabara Many stores are owned by
Tokyo International Arcade, (see p47) is the world’s largest railroad companies, so that
near the Imperial Hotel (see and most up- to-date electronic passengers coming off from
p112) and Laox (see p47) for and camera center. Aoyama/ their platforms are fed through
electronic goods. Omotesando (see p67 & p70) is passages bulging with
In some shops, particularly known for its high fashion in the advertising and display goods.
department stores (depato), you city. Visit Asakusa for traditional Apart from selling a vast variety
may have to pay the full price Japanese souvenirs, foods, toys, of top-range items, department
for an item, then obtain a refund and pop culture trinkets. stores, like convenience stores,
and customs docu ment from a Daikanyama Address Dixsept also sell tickets for concerts and
tax-exemption counter. This (see pp142–3) has several reput- exhibitions. Roofs are often set
document is retained by ed boutiques, catering to the aside as children’s attraction
customs when you leave Tokyo. young and trend conscious. parks, mini-golf ranges, and
Most major depart ment stores High-end department stores beer gardens. One early
offer tax exemption, but usually and art galleries make their innovator was Mitsukoshi,
on goods over the value of home in Ginza (see pp40–41). perhaps Tokyo’s most famous
¥10,000. One advantage of Harajuku (see p67), a fun street- store. The great flagship stores
shopping at department oriented clothing, accessories, such as Takashimaya and
stores is that they usually have and cuddly toy district, caters to Isetan follow a similar layout,

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