Seasons

Shopping

 

Shopping is one of the great pleasures of a trip to Japan.  It is not only the tourists who delight in the range of shops, but the Japanese themselves are avid shoppers. A clever shopper will find items to suit every budget. Japan has it all, from surprisingly inexpensive souvenirs to the latest in electronic wizardry, from traditional craft stalls to gigantic shopping malls and dazzling department stores.  The call of irasshaimase welcomes shoppers into both the cheapest and the most expensive shopping outlets.

 

 

SHOPPING HOURS

General business hours are from 9am to 5pm. Banks are open weekdays from 9am to 3pm.  Post Offices are open weekdays 9am to 5pm and generally closed Saturdays and Sundays. Supermarkets and department stores are open 10am to 7pm or 8pm. Most are closed one day per week, with the closing day varying from store to store. Family run businesses and stalls are usually open daily, including Saturdays and Sundays. Convenience stores are open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day and sell a variety of essential items. Automatic vending machines are widespread throughout Japan, offering hot and cold drinks, snacks, food etc.

 

SALES

Most department stores have two major sales a year, a summer sale in July and a winter sale in December or January. Department stores also have a bargain floor with regular sales. Usually this is located on one of the top floors and may feature "theme" sales. The sales change weekly and may feature stalls from other regions of Japan, seasonal sales and festival sales. The big gift-giving seasons in Japan are chugen in July and seibo in December. Stores set up special departments and put gift packs on sale.  Popular items include wine, whisky, sweets and packaged food. These can also make delightful souvenir gifts.

 

CASH, CREDIT CARDS & CHEQUES

Traveller's cheques and credit cards are accepted in large cities and most large hotels, restaurants and department stores. Most banks have a special foreign exchange section where foreign cash and traveller's cheques can be exchanged for yen. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and JTB Card are the most widely accepted credit cards. However, rural areas, small hotels and inns, youth hostels, local restaurants and shops usually only accept cash. Cash is by far the easiest method of payment in Japan. In most shops and restaurants a small tray is offered for payment.  Money is placed in the tray and the change is returned without hand-to-hand contact. The unit of currency in Japan is the yen. Notes are ¥10,000, ¥5,000, and ¥1,000 yen. Most recently a ¥2,000 yen note has been introduced. Coins are ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1. Japan has a 5% consumption tax which is often not included in the displayed price. The tax is added automatically when goods are paid for at the point of sale.

 

GIFT WRAPPING

Japanese culture has been described as a wrapping culture. Women are beautifully wrapped in a kimono and then tied with an obi sash, sushi is rolled and wrapped in seaweed, special gifts such as lunchboxes and hand luggage may be wrapped and tied in a special wrapping cloth called a furoshiki. Most department stores and shops will gift wrap presents as a free service. At the time of purchase simply tell the sales assistant that the item is to be a present. The best gifts and souvenirs are obviously those items that are uniquely Japanese.

 

CERAMICS

Many regions in Japan specialise in ceramics and pottery. There is a large variety in style, size and price. Large craft shops and department stores can also arrange to have your purchases packaged and shipped home. Tea ceremony was introduced to Japan in the 16th century. As demand for cups and utensils increased distinctive styles in pottery developed in various regions throughout Japan. Well known pottery regions include Arita on the island of  Kyushu, which produces Imari porcelain.  This features red enamel decorated porcelain with distinct patterns of flowers and birds. Also on the island of Kyushu is Satsuma ceramic ware. This is a cream coloured variety of pottery  which is overglazed with enamels and gilding. Mashiko, north of Tokyo in Tochigi Prefecture, which features simple designed pottery with dark glazes and Kasama in Ibaraki Prefecture, which features a unique glaze made from ash and ground rocks.

 

DOLLS

Dolls hold a special appeal in Japan. Many types are available, ranging from small, inexpensive paper dolls to those which have been handmade by famous doll makers and have become collector items. Kokeshi dolls are long, cylindrical, wooden dolls with no arms or legs. They originated in Northern Japan and are now made in distinctive painted forms in various parts of the country. Each shape being the specialty of the area. Some are made in one piece, whilst others have a ball-shaped detachable head. Hakata dolls are made in the southern island of Kyushu, in Hakata City. These are clay dolls depicting traditional Japanese figures, such as geisha or samurai.

 

PAPER CRAFT

There are many souvenir and folk craft shops in Japan selling traditional paper crafts such as origami paper and handmade paper decorations, mobiles, calligraphy items and paper fans. Origami is the traditional Japanese art of folding paper into various shapes - birds, animals, flowers and many other things - without using scissors or paste. Square, coloured pieces of paper are used and these can be bought in a multitude of colours, thickness and price. Traditional handmade Japanese paper is called washi and is often embedded with petals, leaves or coloured flecks for texture. A folding fan is called a sensu. It is made of paper on a bamboo frame with a picture or artistic calligraphy on it. A flat paper fan is called an uchiwa and is used in summer and during festivals. Fans make a perfect souvenir gift as they are used not only for fanning oneself in summer, but also are given as a symbol of friendship, respect or future happiness. The method of writing with a Japanese brush and ink is called shodo. It is regarded as an art form as well as a means of writing. Special calligraphy paper, inkstone, brushes and ink can be purchased separately or as a boxed calligraphy set.

 

WOODBLOCK PRINTS

Woodblock prints developed in Japan from the 17th through to the 19th centuries. The subjects include pictures of women , the world of pleasure quarters and landscapes. The greatest artists include Ando Hiroshige for his 53 views of the Tokaido Highway, Katsushika Hokusai for his views of Mt Fuji, Kitagawa Utamaro for beautiful Japanese women and Toshusai Sharaku for Kabuki actors. Antique and original prints are sold in speciality shops, with inexpensive reproductions widely available. Woodblock prints, known as ukiyo-e, make unique Japanese mementoes.

 

WOOD AND BAMBOO

A large range of wood and bamboo items are available in Japan. Lacquerware is known as nurimono or shikki. Lacquerware trays, bowls and boxes have been produced since the 16th century and can be expensive but make excellent souvenirs. Famous ones include Wajima lacquerware of Ishikawa Prefecture, Shunkei lacquerware from Hida and Aizu lacquerware from Fukushima Prefecture. Aizu lacquerware is characterised by a method of undercoating with a substance made from persimmons and then sprinkled with gold dust. Kamakura style lacquerware is produced around the town of Kamakura in Kanagawa Prefecture. Rough designs are carved on hard wood which is then finished with many layers of lacquer in black and vermilion. Bamboo instruments used for tea ceremony and traditional umbrellas made from bamboo and paper make popular and unusual souvenirs.

 

LUCKY CHARMS

Japanese lucky charms are often sold at temple and shrine stalls. These are enormously popular in Japan and there is a large range from which to choose. Good luck charms may vary depending upon region, temple, shrine and even season. Maneki-neko is an ornamental cat usually made of porcelain, clay or wood. It is in a beckoning pose with its left paw raised to its left ear. It is used as a charm to draw in customers to shops and restaurants. The daruma is a red, paper maché doll representing the Buddhidharma who sits cross-legged in silent meditation. It is a symbol of good luck in business and used also for special wishes. Upon purchase one eye is coloured black and a wish is made. When the wish comes true the remaining eye is coloured. This doll has a weighted bottom so that it always returns to an upright position when it is tipped over. People wish on this doll in the hope that they too can rise again an eighth time even if they fall down seven. An o-mamori is a small good luck charm that is made of paper or cloth. It is blessed by Shinto priests to invite good luck and ward off evil spirits. They can be purchased for many different purposes, such as safety from traffic accidents, good health, school examinations, childbirth etc.

 

CLOISONNE METALWORK

Cloisonne ware is known as shippoyaki and is the art of enamelling objects on a metal base of copper or silver. Shippo literally means "seven stones" ie. gold, silver, coral, agate, emerald, crystal and pearl. Vases, plates and other decorative items are made to have a gem-like surface of various colours by this enamelling art form.

 

KIMONO AND YUKATA

The kimono is Japan's traditional costume with wide sleeves, worn usually with a broad sash, called an obi. The kimono worn by women is designed with beautiful patterns and in many colours, while that for men is usually in dark, plain colours. The kimono was established as normal wear in the 12th century, however, today they are usually only worn on special occasions such as weddings or graduations. They are usually made of silk and can be extremely expensive if purchased in department stores or specialised stores. Secondhand or antique silk kimono vary greatly in quality and price. Bargains can often be found at local flea markets and antique markets. Cotton yukata are a more affordable alternative. These are informal, light kimono which are worn in summer and are available in many attractive colours and patterns. It is used for summer festivals, general relaxation, as sleep wear and after bathing.

 

PEARLS

Japan remains one of the best places in the world to purchase quality pearls. The first really good cultured pearls were produced by Kokichi Mikimoto in 1893. Since then, the name Mikimoto has become associated with the highest quality in pearls. Always ensure you purchase expensive pearls from a reputable dealer, specialty store or department store.