shopping

Shopping in Tokyo is a fun thing to do. You can easily find Japanese traditional items and the latest goods in Tokyo. The cost of living in Tokyo can be expensive, but there are many places you can shop inexpensively. Stop by a 100yen shop near you. Daiso is a popular 100 shop chain.

Shopping hours in Japan is usually from 10 or 11 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. Most stores are open weekends and holidays except some specialty stores. In Japan, you need to pay 5% consumption tax in addition to the price. Japanese department stores are fun places to shop. They carry many kinds of traditional Japanese goods as well as the latest fashions. Check out the store sales, which are usually held in July, August, December, and January. Food floors in department stores are called "depachika" and are filled with world gourmet food and Japanese regional specialties. Also visiting flea markets in Tokyo might be fun.

http://gojapan.about.com/cs/tokyoshopping/a/shoppingintokyo.htm