In Japan, vintage goods refer to products that are no longer being made and are difficult to find even at official stores, which have naturally grown rare and valuable. For fashion-obsessed Tokyoites, nothing beats the pleasure of finding such a one-of-a-kind item. Tokyo sets the standard for much of Japan and is a natural convergence point for vintage shops seeking to flaunt their carefully assorted collections.

Even within Tokyo, Omotesando and Aoyama are practically synonymous with top-notch fashion. Both these neighborhoods are also home to AMORE Vintage, which boasts a stellar lineup of vintage items.

Their range includes rare, difficult-to-find bags, apparel, accessories, and shoes from brands like Hermès, GUCCI, Louis Vuitton, CELINE, Ferragamo, YSL, and Dior. The Omotesando store, in particular, specializes in only top-quality CHANEL items, which are scarce even on the international market, making it an essential stop for any collector. Even if you don’t purchase anything, popping in to see their remarkable offerings is worthwhile.

There are English-speaking staff working in the stores, and tax-free shopping is available, making AMORE Vintage a prime choice for international visitors to Japan.

AMORE Gentleman Omotesando is a vintage shop in Omotesando specializing in menswear. They are the sister store of AMORE Vintage, and present an unrivaled stock of menswear, which is a surprising rarity in Tokyo’s vintage scene.

AMORE Gentleman’s valuable lineup includes over 1,000 carefully-selected goods from popular brands like CHANEL, Louis Vuitton, Hermès, as well as ROLEX, which are again uncommon at Tokyo vintage stores. It’s a one-stop shop for men seeking a truly special item that will stand the test of time.

English and Chinese-speaking staff are available, as is tax-free shopping.

DECOUVERTE is a shop selling old-but-gold authentic vintage gems from all over Japan and the world. It is run by the BAYCREW'S Group, the business behind many popular Japanese apparel brands, who have expanded into the vintage scene.

The name “Découverte” means “finding a once-in-a-lifetime treasure,” and their painstakingly curated assortment allows you to feel the essence and history of the brand much more deeply than regular vintage stores. They have outlets in convenient areas like Yurakucho, Shinjuku, and Aoyama, making it a great spot to check out while sightseeing.

The Aoyama store flaunts a particularly large stock of numerous top-class brands, like CHANEL, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, GUCCI, CELINE, LOEWE, Ferragamo, FENDI, and Tiffany & Co. Tax-free shopping and all major international credit cards are accepted, so you’ll have no trouble coming from overseas.

OTTO VINTAGE, located in Shibuya, is known for selling items that look fresh and fashionable no matter the era. Their items come from both Japan and overseas and are all chosen for their scarcity, condition, and trendiness.

This includes watches, bags, purses, shoes, accessories, and more from well-known staples like CHANEL, Hermès, Louis Vuitton, PRADA, and Yves Saint Laurent. If you’re puzzled at how to incorporate vintage wares into modern fashion, there’s no better reference than OTTO VINTAGE.

Staff can communicate in English, Chinese, and Thai, and tax-free shopping is available.

BEST VINTAGE is a vintage watch specialist store with outlets in Shinjuku and Osaka run by BEST ISHIDA, one of Japan’s largest watch merchants. BEST VINTAGE Shinjuku is located in the basement of ISHIDA Shinjuku, which has an entire six floors dedicated to watches and clocks, making it one of the biggest of its kind in Japan.

They have around 2,000 watches between the two stores, including those from the ever-popular ROLEX that are no longer on sale. Each is a precious gem, and no two are the same. All are of impeccable quality, and are only put on sale after passing a set of rigorous checks to confirm authenticity. Their after-care services are also plentiful, letting you shop with peace of mind.

There are staff who can communicate in English and Chinese, and all major credit cards are accepted, along with e-money like Alipay and WeChat Payment.

Stepping into Omotesando’s VINTAGE QOO TOKYO is like hopping back in time. Decorated by antique ornaments, lighting, and furniture, the enthralling retro atmosphere puts a fun spin on vintage shopping, and their impressive lineup of around 3,000 items of all kinds guarantees plenty of potential. From the moment you walk in, the 3-meter-plus chandelier proves you’ve come to the right place.

The shelves house a collection based around CHANEL, augmented by other in-vogue brands like Hermès, Louis Vuitton, GUCCI, and Dior. You’ll also find luxury watches from ROLEX, Cartier, and Chopard, along with old-school branded clothes, all of exceptional quality.

Staff that can speak English, Chinese, and Korean are regularly on shift, and tax-free shopping and watch adjustment services are available. They also run an online shop with international shipping, so you can continue browsing even after leaving Japan.

Vini vini sells high-quality vintage goods for adults sourced from overseas. Each product is painstakingly examined by design, size, and condition, yielding a diverse lineup, letting you feel the fashions of various decades.

The store owner, who has over 30 years of experience in the field, evaluates each individual piece himself through his trained eye. The hidden-nook store has a mature, sophisticated feel worthy of the high-class Daikanyama neighborhood. Its lineup is centered around clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories spanning the 50s-90s from Hermès, CHANEL, GUCCI, CELINE, Tiffany, and more.

Plus, the sister store VINIVINI LUXE, which is practically right next door, has newer items from the 70s all the way to the 2000s, along with Japanese jewelry, all selected for their future vintage potential.

Hedy is located in Daikanyama, a trendy neighborhood that stands out even in a fashionable city like Tokyo for its highly-polished reputation. Hedy’s stock is entirely vintage, but they aim to curate a lineup that matches the trends of the day with a timeless sophistication. Their classy layout has each item displayed separately and neatly, making it feel worlds apart from regular second-hand shops. They also keep some of their products in the back, so it’s worth talking to the staff to see if they can bring out something that fulfills your wishes.

Everything sold at Hedy has a superb condition ranked “B” and above. They deal with around 25-30 top-class brands, including CHANEL, Louis Vuitton, and CELINE.

All items can be purchased tax-free, and English-speaking staff are on duty, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. They also have a website with free shipping aimed at international customers (accessible also from mainland China), so even if you don’t pick up anything while in Japan, you can send them a message and buy it later instead (however, layaways are not permitted).

Upperupper is a store that brims with the energy of Tokyo street culture. Their lineup runs from youth-orientated fashion all the way to goods geared toward older generations. It’s located in Ueno, near the popular tourist destinations of Akihabara and Asakusa, making it easy to pop in while sightseeing. All products are vintage and are carefully sourced from overseas by the store’s owner and manager themselves, yielding a high-quality and diverse product range.

With attention poured into both the condition of items and the way they’re displayed, vintage rookies can shop with peace of mind. Plus, they have many large-sized clothes from overseas brands, making it ideal for those that find Japanese clothing a tight fit. Available brands include Ralph Lauren, Levi’s, Carhartt, Disney, Nike, Adidas, Champion, Starter, Mitchell & Ness, as well as gear from the big four American sports of NBA, MLB, NFL, and NHL.

The store also has a cozy, welcoming atmosphere, and you’ll be bound to try and fit one more visit into your itinerary. The owner has lived overseas, and many of the staff can speak English, making for a wholly enjoyable shopping experience.

CARA is a vintage select shop inside Shibuya Parco, a shopping center in Shibuya. It occupies a corner of the second-hand clothing store VCM MARKET BOOTH and presents a collection of one-of-a-kind luxury stylish items from around the globe sold at affordable prices. An appraiser has certified all products as genuine, so you can rest easy knowing you’re getting the real deal.

You’ll find a bunch of bags from CELINE, PRADA, and Dior, accessories from Tiffany and Dior, as well as many different purses, plus plenty more. The rings from Tiffany have all been professionally cleaned, and look practically brand new! For those hesitant about shopping vintage, this is a good substitute.

Tax-free shopping is available, staff can communicate in basic English, and a Chinese-speaking staff member is available on Saturday afternoons (may be unavailable depending on the time.) They are planning to open a new store in Harajuku in September 2023, as well as one in Osaka sometime in autumn, so you can expect even more from them in the future.

Impossible to reproduce and often difficult to find, vintage goods have a special quality that makes shopping for them a euphoric experience. Japan is currently going through a vintage craze, and the value of old things are being given a fresh look. So, next time you’re in Tokyo, put a little time aside to tour some vintage stores and snag a new addition to your wardrobe.

*The information in this article is current as of June 2023. Please check official websites for the latest information.