Tokyo Thrift Shopping Guide 🛍️ Shimokitazawa & Koenji – Vintage Fashion & Hidden Gems

Tokyo Thrift Shopping Guide 🛍️ Shimokitazawa & Koenji – Vintage Fashion & Hidden Gems

Hi guys, welcome back to another video. Today 
we’re exploring two Tokyo neighborhoods known for vintage shops, thrift stores, and unique 
cafes. Shimokitazawa and Koenji. Both are close to Shibuya and Shinjuku. Easy to reach 
by train and loved by locals, students, and anyone into secondhand fashion. In this 
video, we’ll not only show you the shops, cafes, and street life, but also give you a look 
at the prices so you know what to expect. Let’s start with Shimokitazawa. You can get here on the 
Odakyu line from Shinjuku in about 10 minutes or the Keio Inokashira line from Shibuya. The 
station is small and once you step out, you are right in the middle of narrow streets 
full of shops and cafes. Most stores here open late morning and the area gets busier in the 
afternoon and evening. Our first stop is Vintage and Antiques Top of the Hill. This shop feels 
more like a created collection than a random thrift pile. You will find Hawaiian shirts around 
2 to 4,000 yen. Women’s stops from 3 to 6,000 yen. and colorful shirts in the same range. Shorts and pants starting at 4,000 
yen. Denim jackets go for 4 to 6,000. Vests start around 3,000. 
Accessories around 1,600 yen. And hats start from 2,000 yen. And shoes are usually 6 to 10,000 yen. Even sunglasses are vintage starting at 
4,000. They even had tote bags under 800 yen. Prices here cover the full range. So whether you’re after a
small fine or a statement piece, you will spot it here. Then we drop by Chicago,  one of the most famous
vintage chains in Tokyo. This branch is packed with racks of affordable secondhand clothes. We 
saw denim jumpsuits for 2 to 4,000 yen. Flannel shirts as low as 1,000 and denim jackets starting at 4,000. These shirts are anywhere from 3,000 
up to 15 depending on the brand. Sweatshirts run 3 to 5,000 and 
camel pants were about 4,600. And bell bottom pants start around 2,000 yen. They also carry vests, corduroy shirts, and a big
section of used kimonos is starting around 2,000 yen. Accessories and belts is around
2,000 yen and can go up to 13,000. If you’re looking for a variety of fair prices, 
Chicago is a reliable place to shop. Next, we stop at Bulsaras, a small shop all about 
hats. From classic caps to handmade pieces, prices start around 3,000 and go up 
to 10,000 for the unique designs. What’s great is how each hat is 
displayed. You can see the colors, textures, and stitching up close. Even if you 
don’t buy, trying a few on is half the fun. Next, we stepped into Sansato, a three-story 
shop with a cozy, almost giike vibe. The first floor is full of small treasures, 
accessories, postcards, and handmade carvings. It’s fun to pick up little things that 
are creative and different. Upstairs, the second floor is all about clothes and
bags. You will find stylish pieces that feel unique, nothing like what you see in big chain stores. The top
floor is where they make rings and other accessories. The designs are really different, and you
can see the care that goes into each piece. Every floor has its own style and the details
make it a really fun store to check out. Next, we stop at Rugrats. While they do sell some clothes,
this shop is really all about the rugs. You will find colorful handmade rugs in all shapes and sizes, 
perfect for adding a unique touch to your room. Prices start around 3,000 and some
of the larger pieces go higher. Even if you’re not buying, just
browsing the rugs is fun. Definitely a must see if 
you love home decor. Shimokitazawa also has budget options and stickouts
is the best example. Everything here is $800 yen. Shirts, jackets, pants, all one price. That’s about 5 or
6 USD. Because it’s so cheap, the shop gets busy fast. So be ready to squeeze through the crowds. 
If you’re thrifting on a budget, this is the spot. While walking around Shimokitazawa,
we found Youkaen, a small flower shop. It’s a nice break from all the clothes and vintage stores. 
They sell fresh flowers, dry bouquet, and little plants indoors or outdoors. The arrangements 
are really creative. Some are tiny and simple. Others are bright and colorful. It’s a quiet 
little spot in the middle of the busy streets. To end our Shimokitazawa walk, we stepped 
into Honkichi, a secondhand bookstore. It’s full of classic Japanese books, and 
there’s even a small section in English, but many titles are under 1,000 yen, but some rare 
or collectible books can go higher. It’s a quiet, relaxing spot and a nice break from all 
the clothing stores and racks outside. Walking around Shimokitazawa feels like one big 
vintage market. Many shops line the streets with racks outside. Old shops, new shops, each with 
their own style. Even just browsing outside is part of the fun. That’s why Shimokitazawa is
one of the top spots in Tokyo for thrifting. From here, we’ll take the train to Koenji, another 
neighborhood known for thrift shops, but with a different feel. You can get there on 
the JR Chuo line or the Sobu line. From Shinjuku, it’s about 7 minutes. Once you exit the station, 
you will see shopping streets, arcades filled with thrift stores, cafes, and restaurants. Koenji is also known
for music with many live houses and street performers. Our first stop was Hattifnatt, a cafe
that feels straight out of a story book. From the outside, you’ll never guess what is waiting
inside. The walls are covered in hand painted murals. The chairs and tables are tiny, and the
whole place feels like whimsical and cozy. The menu has plenty to try. Pizzas for under 2,000 
yen. Desserts around 700 to 800 yen. Hot drinks are about 500 to 700 yen. And
they come with the cute designs on top. We ordered a matcha latte and a caramel
latte. Not too sweet, which I liked. The only problem is it feels almost heartbreaking
to break the design when you take the first sip. For dessert, we had a kiwi mango cake, and the sourness
of the kiwi with the cream balanced everything perfectly. It’s definitely a highlight of the afternoon. 
The kind of cafe where you slow down, enjoy the details, and recharge before 
diving back into Koenji shops. On the north side of the station, we stopped at 
the Gates, a thrift shop with a really clean layout and a mix of vintage and 
everyday wear. Prices are mid-range, but there’s plenty of different kinds. 
Used t-shirts can go for as low as 500. Pants start around 5,000 and leather jackets from about 10,000 yen. Accessories usually start near 2,000. It’s a solid spot to dig around for 
something casual or a standout piece. And once you are done shopping, the area 
is packed with supermarkets, appliances stores, and restaurants. So, it’s
easy to spend a whole afternoon here. Heads south of the station, you will
find Koenji Pal Shopping Street. It’s a covered arcade line with all
kinds of shops and restaurants. From daily goods to more thrift stores.
It’s one of the busiest parts of Koenji and it connects directly to smaller side streets 
that are packed with even more places to explore. Along the shopping street, we drop by Big Time, 
a vintage shop with clothes and accessories from the 50s to the 70s. It’s full of retro colorful styles. 
Shirts, hats, and flannels are around 5,000. Bags is start from 3,000. Vests from about 4,000. And t-shirts with fun prints, even ones 
like Spongebob, go for about 3,000 yen. Cool looking jackets usually start from 5,000 and leather ones can go up to 10,000 yen. If you are into classic vintage looks, 
this place is worth checking out. For cheap finds, Kuro Neko Marin is this spot. 
Some items go for as low as 150 yen. And that’s basically a dollar. It’s one of the
most affordable thrift shops in Koenji. You will find a little bit of everything here from accessories to 
shirts with fun prints like old school Coca-Cola designs. It’s not a fancy place, but if you like looking through
racks to find something cool, this shop is really fun. Koenji has a strong music culture. We saw people
playing music right in front of the station. This is common here and part of what
gives the area its lively creative feel. In the evenings, many live houses open for
underground bands and performances. Even if you don’t go inside, just standing around the
station area gives you a sense of Koenji’s music scene. Koenji is busier than Shimokitazawa,
but still has a neighborhood feel. It’s a mix of daily shopping streets,
cheap eats, and a deep vintage culture. You can spend hours just
walking around, going in and out of stores, and enjoying
the street atmosphere. So, that was Shimokitazawa and Koenji.
Two of Tokyo’s best neighborhoods for thrift shops, vintage clothes,
and a local atmosphere. Shimokitazawa has cozy alleys
and curated shops. Koenji has busier shopping streets
and cheap finds and live music. Both are easy to reach and worth 
a day trip from Shinjuku or Shibuya. Which one would you like to explore
more Shimokitazawa or Koenji? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for watching and
see you in the next video.

Looking for the best thrift shopping in Tokyo? 🗼 In this video, we take you through Shimokitazawa and Koenji, two neighborhoods famous for vintage clothes, thrift shops, and unique local vibes.

From budget finds as low as ¥150 to rare one-of-a-kind fashion pieces, these areas are a paradise for thrift lovers. We’ll show you vintage clothing shops, second-hand bookstores, cozy cafés, and hidden spots you won’t want to miss.

📍 Shops & Cafés Featured:

👕 Top of the Hill (Vintage & Antiques)
🧥 Rugrat
👖 Chicago
🎩 Bulsaras (Hat Shop)
🎐 Sansato (3-floor shop with Ghibli vibes)
💴 Stick Out (Everything ¥800)
📚 Honkichi (Used Books)
🌸 Youkaen (Flower Shop)
☕ HattifNatt Café
🛍️ The Gate
🏮 Koenji Pal Shopping Street
🕶️ Big Time Koenji
🛒 Kuroneko Marin

💡 Tips: Both Shimokitazawa and Koenji are easily reached by train from Shinjuku and Shibuya. Come in the afternoon, shop around, and stay into the evening for music and food.

👉 Whether you’re planning your first trip to Japan or just love fashion and culture, this guide will help you explore Tokyo like a local.