Best Other Shopping Spot List

Founded in early in the Edo Period in 1615, this store, which has been run by the same family for 14 generations and over 400 years, is said to be the oldest cotton product store in Japan. There, you can always find a variety of tenugui (hand-towels) with over 200 designs, such as reprinted early Showa period designs and new designs by the current 14th owner, Ihee Hosotsuji. The second floor is a free-admission machiya tenugui gallery where tenugui made from the Meiji period to the early Showa period are on display.

Among other clothing stores, Sugamo Maruji became very popular for its red underwear and it is always busy with people looking to get their hands on the famous garment. The 4th branch store of the world's first red underwear shop has an outstanding signboard indicating ”Japan's best red underwear” in the front so it can't be missed. The red color is considered to symbolize vitality and happiness. Thus people buy it for a gift for seniors as well as for their own daily use. Aside from underwear, a lot of red colored items, such as shirts, belly-warmers, and socks, are available as well. Sugamo's famous red clothing makes a great unique souvenir for friends and family, senior or not!

Within this store with its quaint, relaxing Kyoto atmosphere, are more than 1000 kinds of items for sale, including general goods made of chirimen (crepe), accessories, and unique vegetable-shaped items. They are reasonably priced; for example, you can pick up a pair of earrings from 540 JPY, a hairpin from 300 JPY, and a furoshiki (Japanese cloth wrapper) from 1,300 JPY -- perfect as souvenirs.

Covering an area of 2,970 square meters, this large bookstore has a million books on its shelves, including Japanese books and foreign books, as well as stationery goods and 10,000 DVDs. The store provides 12 information retrieval machines called KINO Navi, so you can easily find the book you're looking for. Kinokuniya is easy to reach, being right underneath Hankyu Umeda Station.

Gekkoso is an art supply store with a retro atmosphere located along the Hanatsubaki Street in Ginza 8-chome. It was established in 1917. A lot of foreign people come here, too. There are about 90 kinds of cute picture post cards with paintings and poems of modern artists in the basement floor. You write an address and your message on the card and then post it in Gekkoso in-store post. Afterward, the store will have it mailed. You can also use Gekkoso's original watercolor paints to write your post card. Why not send your message with your memory of Ginza from Gekkosho to an important person in your country?

Located in Keyaki-zaka, a bookstore called TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI carries not only Japanese books and magazines, but also many art books and magazines from across the world. There is also a Starbucks inside, so you can relax on a sofa and choose an art book to peruse. CDs and DVDs are available on the 2nd floor. The great thing about this store is that it is open until 4:00 a.m.