Shopping in Asia
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Huáliān
Handy supermarket located underneath Nanmen Sq.
reviewed
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Huáqiáng Běi
On the western edge of Luóhú district is Huáqiáng Běi (华强北), a living, breathing eBay for those on the hunt for electronics. The area abounds with blocks of buildings crammed with tiny booths selling the latest tech gadgets and computer components at rock-bottom prices. Take exit A at Huáqiánglù station.
reviewed
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International Books, Travel & More
For secondhand books.
reviewed
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Jia Dan's Papercut Shop
With prices starting at around Y17, Jia Dan sells some exquisite red and black traditional paper cuts; she also runs Chinese-language classes in paper-cutting.
reviewed
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Jímòlù Market
A four-floor shop-till-you-drop bargain bonanza. Pearls, purses, clothing, shoes, backpacks, jade – don't forget to haggle.
reviewed
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Jinbocho Secondhand Bookstores
Definitely worth a visit if only to witness the incredible feats of hoarding, Jinbocho's fascinating neighbourhood of over 170 secondhand booksellers stretches far across Yasukuni-dōri. Amid the clutter you'll find everything from antique guidebooks of the Yoshiwara pleasure district to obscure sheet music from your favourite symphony. Start with Isseido Books to pick up a copy of the neighbourhood booksellers' map, then wander down the main drag and up into the backstreets north of Yasukuni-dōri for more. Keep an eye out for Ohya-Shobo, purveyor of rare books and ukiyo-e prints.
reviewed
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Kad-Nan
This open-air market is Nan's answer to Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market. Here you'll find shops selling local knick-knacks, art, clothing, restaurants (including one selling Greek food), coffee shops and bars. The market is technically open from 10am, but evening, when most shops and restaurants are open and live music gives the place a fairlike atmosphere, is the best time to visit.
reviewed
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A
Kanazawa Kutani Museum
On a corner in the Nagamachi samurai district in a wonderful old house with a garden, this is a lovely place if a bit of a misnomer; it's really a shop selling mostly high-end ceramic ware with a small museum of historic Kutani ware in the old storehouse and a cafe.
reviewed
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B
Kinokuniya
Inside Hankyū Umeda Station, this shop has a decent selection of foreign books and magazines.
reviewed
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C
Kodak
Burns CDs for Y20. Most hostels will also do the same.
reviewed
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D
Kodak Express
Opposite Metropolitan Plaza, just north of Zourong Lu.
reviewed
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E
Komachi
Handmade on site at this small shop are souvenir craft items, such as dolls, trinkets and accessories, using material from old kimonos. Look for the sign with the words 'I make an accessory with an old kimono'.
reviewed
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F
Kou Cuisine
Give the gift of exquisite little containers of jams made with Balinese fruit or containers of sea salt made along Bali's shores. Afterwards, clean up with their soap.
reviewed
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Kyoto Sanjō Takematsu
Just a few doors from Kagoshin, it's almost a carbon copy.
reviewed
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G
Lhasa Villages Handicrafts
A wander through the Tibetan old town leads to this excellent shop established to bolster local handicrafts in the face of rising Nepali and Chinese imports. Quality and prices are top end, and you can watch local craftspeople at work in the courtyard. The shop (formerly known as Dropenling) is a little tricky to find, but as you get nearer you'll see signs pointing the way. Ask about the two-hour walking tours of old-town craft workshops.
reviewed
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H
Lines Lab
Two Lisbon-trained designers opened this boutique in the Old Ladies’ House art space and created edgy Macau-inspired clothes and bags for it.
reviewed
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I
Little Shop
Offers good-quality souvenirs including hand-carved wooden objects, tasteful sarongs and bags and shell-inlaid bowls. All prices are fixed.
reviewed
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Liulichang Xijie
Běijīng's premier antique street, not far west of Dashilar, is worth delving along for its quaint, albeit dressed-up, age-old village atmosphere and (largely fake) antiques. Alongside ersatz Qing monochrome bowls and Cultural Revolution kitsch, you can also rummage through old Chinese books, paintings, brushes, ink and paper. Prepare yourself for pushy sales staff and stratospheric prices. If you want a chop (carved seal) made, you can do it here. At the western end of Liulichang Xijie, a collection of ramshackle stalls flog bric-a-brac, Buddhist statuary, Cultural Revolution pamphlets and posters, fake Tang-dynasty sāncǎi (three-colour porcelain), shoes for bound…
reviewed
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Lǎo Chóngqìng Huàfāng
Funky impressions of old Chóngqìng that make great souvenirs of the city. You can pay thousands for some of the original paintings here, but small prints start at Y10. It's on the main strip in Cíqìkǒu Ancient Town.
reviewed
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J
Macau Creations
Excellent Macau-themed clothes, stationery and memorabilia designed by 30 artists living in the city, including Russian Konstantin Bessmertny and Macanese Carlos Marreiros.
reviewed
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K
Mandarake
The Fukuoka branch of Mandarake is Kyūshū's largest manga store with several storeys of games, comic books and DVDs.
reviewed
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L
Maruzen
On busy Hirokōji-dōri. Has English-language titles.
reviewed
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M
Maruzen & Junkudō Shoten Umeda Branch
While this place wasn't open when we were researching this guide, it should be open by the time you read this. It is slated to be the largest bookshop in the city.
reviewed
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N
MBK Center
This unbelievably immense shopping mall is quickly becoming one of Bangkok’s top attractions. Swedish and other languages can be heard as much as Thai, and on any given weekend half of Bangkok can be found here combing through an inexhaustible range of small stalls and shops. You can buy everything you need here: mobile phones, accessories, shoes, name brands, wallets, handbags and T-shirts. The mall’s 6th-floor food court is one of the city’s most expansive.
And although you’re not going to find many bargains, MBK is also one of the more convenient one-stop shopping destinations for photo equipment. Foto File, on the ground floor, has a good selection of used gear;…
reviewed
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Minsā Kōgeikan
Also worth a look is the Minsā Kōgeikan, which is a weaving workshop and showroom with exhibits on Yaeyama-shotō textiles. The building is located between the city centre and the airport, and can be reached via the airport bus (tell the driver you want to stop here).
reviewed