Neighbouring Tokyo Station, the Good Design Store opened in 2017 showcasing winning products from the Good Design Awards (given to items that “enrich life and society”). Rather than a typical shop setup, it’s closer to a museum in its arrangement and curation, with a selection of one-off items on display that you’re unlikely to come across elsewhere in the city.

Spanning an entire city block within Tokyo’s prestigious Ginza district – known for its high-end shopping and eye-popping retail prices – this chic complex brings previously unseen brands to the streets of Tokyo. Alongside its shops, GINZA SIX wows visitors with free art installations from the likes of Yayoi Kusama and TeamLab, and also houses a Noh theatre. GINZA SIX’s design – the creative work of Yoshio Taniguchi, designer of the Museum of Modern Art in NYC – features Kyoto-style shopping alleys and a restorative roof garden.

Omotesando Hills is an iconic shopping plaza along boutique-lined Omotesando Street near Harajuku. Alongside international brands, it’s an ideal place to hunt out local designers like Yohji Yamamoto and Jun Hashimoto. The building, designed by Tadao Ando, appears to have just one long, endlessly flowing floor which wraps itself around the inside of this six-storey architectural marvel.

In the backstreets beyond the flashiness of Omotesando Doori sits Cat Street, home to an array of fashionable boutiques, cafés and pop-up stores. Right in the centre of Harajuku, this street has none of the well-known “kawaii” (cute) shops of nearby Takeshita Doori, choosing instead to serve Tokyo’s trendier crowd. Head on to Design Festa Gallery (entry is free) where young, unknown artists are showcased to the public, or grab cut-price designer bargains at Cat Street’s RAGTAG store. Branching off this street are quiet alleyways, down which shoppers with extra time will find some real gems.

Tokyu Hands has several outposts dotted around the capital (including Shinjuku and Marunouchi) with its flagship store in Shibuya, just a seven-minute stroll from the Hachiko Exit of the station. A one-stop shop for everything you might hope to find in Japan – think stylish stationary, inventive homewares and quirky lifestyle goods – Tokyu Hands will quickly become a must-visit every time you return to the city.

Don Quijote has over 160 stores across Japan and a countless number within the sprawl of Tokyo. The MEGA Don Quijote, which opened in Shibuya in 2017, comprises floor after floor of bizarre goods, from sumo face masks, fancy dress and electronics through to Kit Kat flavours beyond your wildest imagination. This is a great place to stock up on cosmetics and snacks, which are often a steal here compared with the city’s regular beauty shops.

A stationary and art supply mecca, Itoya comprises of 12 floors of adorable washi tapes, handmade gift cards, notebooks, pens and all the tools lettering artists and crafts folk need to stock up on something a little different. Even for those just window shopping, there is a “postcard writing” area where you can sit down, borrow a pen and write to those back home. The shop is located just minutes from GINZA SIX department store.

The Asakusa neighbourhood is most well known for housing Tokyo’s most famous temple, Senso-ji, but just a few minutes away from this major tourist hub is Kappabashi-doori, whose hand-crafted ceramics and utensils supply most of Tokyo’s restaurants with their kitchenware. Expect to find exquisitely decorated bowls, Japanese knives, chopsticks and even plastic food across its 150 plus shops, as well as more heavy-duty kitchenware such as takoyaki and taiyaki machines.

Full of locally made goods from each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, d47 is a chance to travel the length of Japan without leaving the confines of the capital. Most products are travel sized and easily carried home, including nostalgic products from bygone eras, to tea sets, honey and jewellery. Located on the eighth floor of Shibuya’s Hikarie shopping mall, the shop is laid out like a museum filled with well-chosen finds.