Trying to find “real” thrifting in Japan

Comments · 255

• HE

  @hela_helio · 1 year ago (edited)

  Honestly, I really appreciate this video because most of the "thrifting in japan" vids I've seen involve superr pricey stores (which aren't bad - they have their own target audience which is not me). Second and more importantly for me, all these japan-centered touristic experiences heavily involve extreme overconsumption so having something helpful like this guide to encourage more mindful shopping is nice! :)

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• UN

  @UnimportantAcc · 1 year ago

  Found it hilarious going to a 'thrift shop' and they selling shirts for $300 😂

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• SP

  @Spuck-666 · 1 year ago

  To be honest, Charity shops i the UK are near to useless these days (unless you live in a really well off area). Everything decent is sold online by them, and the shops are full of fast fashion.

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• ZI

  @Zizwanger · 1 year ago

  The best place I found to get secondhand Japanese brands is actually Korea lol specially in Busan, there a lot of vintage shops that stock a lot of Japanese brands! They are mostly curated, but the prices are still very reasonable

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• AS

  @AskaGuyette · 1 year ago

  Thrifting in Japan really opened my eyes to how cultural values shape secondhand shopping. Japan operates from a more collectivist mindset, and you can really feel it in how things like disposal and resale are handled. For example, if you want to throw away large items in Japan, you have to pay a fee and schedule a pickup—unlike in the U.S., where you can just drop stuff off at Goodwill, no problem. There’s a sense here that others shouldn’t have to “deal with your stuff,” whereas in America, there are entire systems (even government-funded programs) to process and redistribute it.<br><br>I went thrifting with my mom in Asakusa, about 45 minutes from Tokyo. We did find a few gems, but honestly, I was shocked by the number of vintage American items—stuff you could find at any U.S. Goodwill for a dollar—reselling for $80 to $100. It felt a bit disappointing as a traveler.<br><br>My advice: If you’re thrifting in Japan, focus on Japanese brands and pieces you can’t find back home—they’re often more affordable and unique. And if you’re from the U.S., honestly, your local Goodwill or Salvation Army is still the move for true Americana.

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• AL

  @Alwaysunderablanket · 1 year ago

  In my experience there are four levels of moving on clothing you don’t use/want any longer:<br><br>1. If it’s still decent and has current value, you can move it on via Mercari etc. I guess in this category is going direct to 2nd Street and the like. There is a degree of hassle involved but you can make decent money on good stuff. <br><br>2. Still good condition but you don’t want the hassle of dealing with people (a very Japanese concern) 😅 you just package it all up in a box and a company comes and collects and then assesses its value and puts it into your account or gives points for use on rakuten and the like. Not very profitable but zero hassle. <br><br>3. Drop off at a community depot of some kind. i live near a recycling depot in central Tokyo. You can drop off decent clothing there (ie NOT trash!). <br><br>4. If the clothes are worn out, you throw them away. You don’t give them on to charity. As you mention in the video, this is kind of considered insulting to pass on what is effectively trash as charity. If it’s not good enough to be worn by you, it’s not appropriate for someone else just because they are less fortunate/affluent than you.

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• CY

  @cyanadams464 · 1 year ago

  I live in the japanese countryside and I had the same problem coming from america as a big thrifter. I would say part of the problem is that basically anywhere in a big city there is no real thrifting. Outside of the city second street and book off are much less fancy. King Family is my favorite because they buy by the kg so it&apos;s much more similar in price and variety to an American thrift store. Unfortunately it&apos;s basically only accessible by car.

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• RH

  @rhnerdstorm · 1 year ago

  As a sewist, I’d be on the lookout exclusively for textiles that are made in Japan—bonus for anything that’s traditional. <br>It’s a life goal to visit my cousin who still lives there and shop for fabrics.

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• TI

  @timw8396 · 1 year ago

  The 2nd-hand shops in Japan are amazing for me. I was there with my family recently, and would pop out in the evenings to go shopping for myself. I&apos;m only interested in very specific brands, so I could go in, find the relevant section, and be out and onto the next place in minutes. It was surprising how often I found something I wanted.

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• TA

  @TaylarThibaud · 1 year ago

  OMGOSH what an immense pleasure the nuanced and cultural sensitive exploration you did in this video! As you&apos;ve mentioned the pre-owned is next level there and I wish that other wealthy nations had the same culture of mottainai rather than just bargain hunting. &nbsp;I&apos;ve found the true Tokyo suburbs and hinterlands is where the gems can be found. I loved the Book Off 409gou Kawasaki and also the range of used clothing chains called BIG TIME is underrated. I&apos;ve particularly enjoyed the BIG TIME out in Kawagoe...of all places!

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• RS

  @RS-ry4lp · 1 year ago

  I work next door to a Second Street and their items are hilariously priced. They’ll basically buy any old garbage and put it out for nearly full price. And since the buyers there themselves dictate what kind of stuff gets brought into the store, if the one near you only employs people with shit taste then the selection is going to be horrible.

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• LE

  @Leah-oh8uj · 1 year ago

  When I went to Japan earlier in the year, I found a lot of good stuff, reasonably priced/interesting in 2nd Street but we specifically looked for the larger stores that were often on the outskirts of towns. They weren&apos;t curated and you could have more of a rummage

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