Must-see shopping in Kansai

  • Time Bomb Records

    Osaka

    One of the best record stores in the city, Time Bomb stocks an excellent collection of vinyl and CDs from '60s pop and '70s punk to alternative, soul and…

  • Dōguya-suji Arcade

    Osaka

    This long arcade sells just about anything related to the preparation, consumption and selling of Osaka's principal passion: food. There's everything from…

  • Tower Knives

    Osaka

    Tower Knives has a fantastic selection of kitchen knives – both carbon steel and stainless steel; some are hand-forged by Osaka artisans. The English…

  • Hankyū Umeda Department Store

    Osaka

    Hankyū, which first opened in 1929, pioneered the now ubiquitous concept of the train-station department store. One of Japan's largest department stores, …

  • Yu Nakagawa Honten

    Nara

    Nara's famed 300-year-old linen producer now creates beautiful bags, pouches and scarves out of natural materials, subtly adorned with traditional motifs…

  • Tokyū Hands

    Osaka

    Nominally a DIY and homewares chain, Tokyū Hands is Japan's favourite place to browse for items you probably didn't need but will end up loving. It's…

  • Shimada-Shōten

    Osaka

    This third-generation-run sake store has narrow wooden stairs leading to a basement cellar where you can sample small glasses of sake (¥220 each), while…

  • Shinsaibashi-suji Shōtengai

    Osaka

    East of Midō-suji, Shinsaibashi is one of Japan's great shopping zones, most notably in this eight-block-long covered arcade that's crammed with domestic…

  • Maruzen & Junkudō Umeda

    Osaka

    This is the largest bookstore in Osaka, the result of two established chains joining forces. There's a big range of English-language books (on the 6th…

  • Ikeda Gankōdō

    Nara

    This sixth-generation fan maker sells Nara-style uchiwa, paddle-style fans whose washi (Japanese handmade paper) covering has been intricately carved with…

  • Flake Records

    Osaka

    Flake is Osaka's most in-the-know music shop, selling new and used, Japanese and imported, CDs and vinyl. The owner speaks some English; ask him for his…

  • Graf Studio

    Osaka

    Graf is a sleek furniture and design studio close to the National Museum of Art. Pick up some lovely homewares by Japanese and international designers; it…

  • Standard Books

    Osaka

    This cult-fave Osaka bookstore prides itself on not stocking any bestsellers. Instead, it's stocked with small-press finds, art books, indie comics and…

  • Mandarake Shinsaibashi

    Osaka

    Lose hours browsing four floors of retro Japanese toys (Astroboy!), collectible figurines, manga (Japanese comics), DVDs, art and counterculture books,…

  • King Kong Records

    Osaka

    This small record store in the Maru Building packs in a great selection of vinyl and has a friendly and knowledgeable owner.

  • Nipponichi

    Nara

    Good-quality tea towels, homewares and totes with cute Nara motifs (lots of deer) from a centuries-old local linen producer.

  • Umeshu de Kanpai

    Kii Peninsula

    Tanabe is Japan's top producer of ume (Japanese apricot), and this shop sells dozens of varieties of umeboshi (pickled ume) and umeshu (ume wine). Ask the…

  • Tokyū Hands

    Osaka

    Perfect for last-minute souvenir shopping is this outlet of Tokyū Hands, with the chain's signature range of must-have gadgets, homewares and stationery…

  • Hankyū Men's

    Osaka

    At 16,000 sq metres over five storeys, this is Japan's largest men's fashion retailer. Though there are a few domestic names represented here, it's mostly…

  • Daimaru Umeda

    Osaka

    This huge Umeda branch of the classic Kansai department store anchors Osaka Station's southern side. On the upper floors you'll find branches of Tokyū…

  • Retro Insatsu Jam

    Osaka

    This old warehouse has a work space with vintage silkscreen machines that allow local artists to create small batches of T-shirts, posters, notecards,…

  • Osaka Takashimaya

    Osaka

    This is the flagship of the long-running Osaka-based department store Takashiyama, which stocks mostly international brands, though the homewares…

  • Kōbe Harbor Land

    Kōbe

    This bayside complex has several malls (Umie and Mosaic), with branches of many mainstream shops. While they're otherwise uninspiring, some restaurants…

  • Village Vanguard

    Osaka

    Village Vanguard bills itself as an 'exciting' bookstore, and it stocks fun, nontraditional, pop- and street-inspired mementos of your time in Japan…

  • Hep Five

    Osaka

    This Umeda department store has hip, youthful labels on the first six floors; fast-food restaurants, cafes and a virtual-reality game zone on the upper…

  • NU Chayamachi

    Osaka

    This series of stylish shopping centres is linked by brick paths lined with trees; it's a popular place to hang out on weekends. In addition to men's and…

  • Junkudō

    Osaka

    This large bookshop has a great selection of English-language books (on the 3rd floor) and English travel guides (2nd floor). It's inside the Dōjima…

  • Namba Parks

    Osaka

    Named for the terraces and trees worked into the open-air layout, Namba Parks features six floors of fashion, accessories, homewares and more, plus…

  • Orange Street

    Osaka

    In the hip Minami-Horie district, this street is lined with fashionable streetwear boutiques. There's more on the side streets (along with plenty of cafes…

  • Bic Camera

    Osaka

    This vast store sells everything related to cameras, electronics and computers at competitive prices. It's a good spot to pick up a travel SIM card, too.

  • Yodobashi Umeda

    Osaka

    Six floors of tech, gadgets and gizmos, plus fashion and restaurant floors. You can pick up prepaid travel SIM cards here, too.

  • Kōjitsu-sansō

    Osaka

    If you need a new backpack or any other kind of outdoor gear, head to this excellent shop in the Grand Front complex.

  • Lucua

    Osaka

    A big selection of stylish Japanese and international brands, on the northern side of JR Osaka Station.

  • Daimaru Shinsaibashi

    Osaka

    Daimaru's Shinsaibashi flagship store is this neo-Gothic building from 1922. It's under reconstruction through 2019, but the newer north and south wings…

  • Shinsaibashi Big Step

    Osaka

    An eight-storey mall with dozens of fashion and lifestyle shops, a huge Kinji used-clothes shop, mid-priced restaurants and a retro video/pinball arcade.

  • Daimaru Department Store

    Kōbe

    Large department store at the western edge of Kyū-Kyoryuchi‎ (the former foreigners' settlement).

  • Kinokuniya

    Osaka

    Inside Hankyū Umeda Station, this shop stocks a decent selection of foreign books and magazines.