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Tōgō-Jinja Fine Arts Market
Rummage through this trove of authentic antique wares and kimono, and odds and ends of various vintages.
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Tokyo Midtown
Home to a bevy of museums, design centres and accommodation, recently opened Tokyo Midtown may not be as architecturally grandiose as rival Roppongi Hills, but it has a number of interesting shops like Idea Digital Code (03 5413 3668; Galleria, 3rd floor), which sells very funky appliances, and designer goods retailer Style Meets People (03 5413 3705; Galleria, 3rd floor).
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Tōkyū Hands
This is Tokyo's favourite DIY store, with hardware and materials for home projects. What defines it is the sheer diversity of eccentric goodies: clocks that tick backwards, hand-blown glass pens and vibrating reflexology slippers. This is eight floors of oddball, functional stuff you never realised you needed. If you hit one store during your stay, let this be it. There's another huge store in Shinjuku's Takashimaya Times Square.
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Tolman Collection
For collectors keen on picking up some contemporary art, this well-established, estimable gallery represents a strong stable of printmakers both Japanese and foreign. Though the artists here exhibit a fairly broad range of styles ranging from abstract to representative, all of the work has a distinctly Japanese feel.
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Tora No Ana
Keep your eyes up and look for the cute illustrated tiger-girl on the top of this building, which has seven floors of manga and anime. Tora no Ana has other branches in Shinjuku and Ikebukuro.
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Tower Records
Yep, it's a chain, but this Tower is Tokyo's largest music store (and that's saying something). Despite its size, this place gets packed. Tower also carries a large selection of English-language books and an extensive array of magazines and newspapers from around the world. Magazines here are considerably cheaper than elsewhere around town.
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Tsukumo Robotto Ōkoku
Fancy a bipedal humanoid robot? Or would a talking Hello Kitty do the trick? This shop is at the forefront of the home robot revolution, also selling DIY robot kits.
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Tsumori Chisato
After working under Issey Miyake, designer Tsumori Chisato launched her own line in 1990 with the blessing of her mentor. Now she designs fun, well-tailored clothing that falls gracefully along the lines of the body while retaining a whimsical aesthetic, using beading, embroidery and eye-catching appliqué.
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Tsutsumu Factory
It's the wrapping-paper centre of the packaging-excess capital: Tsutsumu, which translates into 'wrapping', carries hundreds of kinds of gorgeous washi as well as other kinds of paper, numerous greeting cards, and boxes.
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Undercover
Former punk band frontman Jun Takahashi's take on youth-minded streetwear is still crazy after all this time. His Undercover Lab, designed by architect Astrid Klein, is just up from Yohji Yamamoto.
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Uniqlo - Chūō-ku
Like Muji and the Gap, Uniqlo has made a name for itself by sticking to the basics. Offering inexpensive clothing with simple lines, this chain has opened over 80 stores in Tokyo. A convenient place to pop in for an extra set of cheap jeans or plain shirts.
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Uniqlo - Shibuya
Like Muji, Uniqlo has made a name for itself by sticking to the basics. Offering inexpensive, quality clothing with clean, simple style, this chain has taken Tokyo by typhoon. You'll find the original outpost in Omote-sandō, and you'll stumble over dozens more all over town. Sizes run small.
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Venus Fort - Kōtō-ku
Venus Fort embodies a Japanese vision of a young woman's shopping paradise, in a building that mimics 17th-century Rome where the ceilings simulate the sky turning from day to night. With around 170 boutiques and restaurants all aimed at young women, this kitschy shopping centre also boasts the distinction of having Japan's biggest lavatory (64 stalls).
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Venus Fort - Minato-ku
Shopping officially became recreation when Venus Fort declared itself a retail theme park just for women. The faux Italian Villa and the staged sunrise and sunset every few hours add to the idea. Among the hundreds of shops, Gaultier has opened an outlet here, as has Donna Karan.
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Yamaya
Yamaya's shelves are stuffed primarily with European wines, though there's also a representative selection of American and Australian grape as well. Most branches are discount retailers and offer some imported packaged foods in addition to wines and liquors.
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Yebisu Garden Place
This large mall has loads of upper-end shops and a basement full of good restaurants. Most of the wares here are the usual department store fare - high-quality, glitzy and somewhat characterless. But the lovely alfresco courtyard and the openness of the space are a welcome departure from crowded shopping districts.
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Yodobashi Camera - Chiyoda-ku
This megalith of a discount store is located on the east side of Akihabara Station, with a whopping nine floors of cameras, computer equipment and enough electronics for the most hardcore geek.
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Yodobashi Camera - Shinjuku
Yodobashi is Tokyo's largest and most highly regarded camera emporium, but also carries loads of computers and other electronics. Its prices are very competitive and tourists are waived Japanese consumption tax if a valid passport is shown.
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Yohji Yamamoto
Wander down Omote-sandō to check out Yohji Yamamoto's bold, timeless designs. Though there's no sign on it, his flagship store is recognisable by its distinctive bronze façade, which you'll want to get past for a look at the experimental interior.
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Yoshitoku
Once known as doll-maker to the emperor, Yoshitoku has been crafting and distributing dolls since 1711. The 1st floor is filled with miniatures that depict kabuki actors, geisha and sumō wrestlers in minute detail and exquisite dress. Figures are designed with the serious collector in mind.
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