Put your feet to good use and save money by walking between central stations in Tokyo. Used items tend to be cheaper than new anywhere, of course, but Ive found that Japanese prices skew especially low. I waited for three months before first payment, then another like three until he collected enough money. Gamers, manga lovers, and bookworms will want to check out Surugaya, while fashionistas might have some luck at ZOZOUSED or in the used section of the SPINNS online store. You might come across a 2nd Street in a popular shtengai, in your city's downtown area, or as a stand-alone shop out in the boonies. This guy was so genuine and sincere that he loved the jacket but didnt have money. 
For more about the people behind this site, check out the profiles of the cheapos. If you don't feel like keeping too many clothes because of limited space, don't worry. Unlike a lot of e-commerce situations, you can try to haggle in the comments section, but if the listing is already cheap, you may not find much success. The Shibuya location, also the flagship store, features sleek interiors and well-designed display cases that will make you feel like youre in a designer boutique. Mercari acts as the mediator to ensure that the item makes it to the buyer before handing over the cash. Art by You've put your yen where your mouth is, and the planet is better off for it. , "Nerd," "anime/manga enthusiast," or "person with a strong passion for their hobby or interest" in Japanese. On the other hand, I expect the Japanese used goods I buy to be in fairly pristine condition, because people tend to take better care of the items theyre selling. Creating less waste and using fewer resources also means its eco on top of cheapo. Offering designer duds on the first floor and general fashion up on the second, theres something for everyone and every budget. The only real catch with this is you do have to give out your contact details, which isn't too popular a move in Japan. Is there an easy way for Americans to sell items to Japanese consumers? So to save money and reduce hassle, many folks who are deciding to upgrade or are moving house offer their furniture or white goods for heavily discounted prices, and often even for free! From then on it was smooth sailing, so keep this cultural difference in mind when using Mercari.
Emily Suvannasankha By clicking send message I agree to the terms and conditions, privacy policy and to receive correspondence from RETHINK Tokyo and Williams Media. Outside of pandemic times, flea markets are wonderful places to find a few pieces of clothing, handmade goods, produce, or model airplanes to spice up the mundanity of life. But even if you're not a social butterfly, there are still ways to tap into your local hand-me-down network. So youve decided to venture into the wholesome waters of secondhand shopping and know the benefits of doing so. But while there are Western versions of Mercari with different branding, I highly recommend downloading the Japanese version of the app if you live in Japan. Please don't instantly buy this item.
2. While you're braving the outside world, you can also stop by any small thrift stores in your local area. Enjoy a series of manga and then pass it on to the next needy otaku7 who stumbles upon it in Book-Off. By the way, if you only want to see things available for purchase now, you'll also want to check the box that says "for sale now" (hanbaich, ) under "availability" (hanbai jky, ). So if youre looking to buy or sell any old trash ahem, beloved treasures of a bygone era keep an eye out for phrases like that on your next stroll around town. Copyright 2021REthink Media KK. There's a good chance you'll be able to reach someone with just the rusty old microwave you're looking for. You might plunder (TreFac Sports) for sports and outdoor gear, or (TreFac Market) to buy a whole set of large furniture at once. If youre looking to sell, one bonus of going with Kindal is that the buying policy is quite flexible you can send your items to them via post instead of coming to a store in person. To find why we started this site, check out the Tokyo Cheapo Manifesto. These terms might be useful at other secondhand stores besides Mercari too. 2nd Street has a number of locations around Tokyo, but the two-floor Shimokitazawa outlet is hard to beat. Their other chain stores are Mode Off (clothes and shoes), Hobby Off (collectibles) and Book Off (books and manga's but big shop can have appliances and gadgets too), 2. If you're know what you're looking for, Mercari is your best bet. Sponsored posts are clearly labeled with a "Sponsored" tag. Many of you are familiar with Ragtag, a popular high-end pre-owned fashion chain. Basic Japanese is okay.
But if you want even more "overwhelming cheapness" (or , to be exact), TreFac also has a used clothes outlet called UseLet (). Aya Francisco, Emily Suvannasankha, and Kanae Nakamine, Viewing under While you won't find much information about the site in English online, it's an incredibly popular resource in Japan with about 11 million visitors per month., The site is broken up into areas, and even nearest train stations, so you can search for items near you. It was originally a bulletin boardstyle classifieds site with job listings, houses, and items for sale., Over the years it reformed into a site and app purely dedicated to the buying, reselling and giving away of mainly household items and other everyday Japanese necessities, like bicycles. Flea markets are a lovely way to spend an afternoon and support people in your community. Our aim is to assist students in finding the right program and thus contribute to their long-term success, whatever their goal may be. It offers search functions that can narrow down your hunt by brand, category and size, but the easiest way is to enter search keywords. So at first, I assumed these "update" messages on Mercari were just a courtesy and required no response. And lastly, if youd prefer to try living more sustainably and/or feel less guilty about supporting fast fashion from potentially dubious corporations, secondhand shopping is an excellent solution. That is, until I got a one-star review from a seller saying they felt worried throughout the process because I didn't reply to any of their (question-free) messages. You can also sell your items online via Mercari Japan. You can also use a website called Tokubai to enter your postal code or prefecture, then under "Type of Store" (omise no shurui, ), select "reuse/secondhand shop" (riysu/chkohinten, ). You'll have more luck if you live in or near a metropolis with a sizable expat community.
Before moving to Japan, I had hardly ever messaged an online seller, simply waiting for the item to turn up in my mailbox after each wordless transaction. Get your favourite cartoon characters into your life at these speciality stores, Tokyo is home to a thriving vintage and consignment retail scene there are even neighbourhoods known specifically for their second-hand shops like, How to sell your second-hand clothes in Tokyo. You lucky seadog, you! I work in a Japanese company here in New York and I have had a very otherworldly experience selling to a Japanese gentleman my B3. It was a $800 sale. Japanese prices for used goods skew especially low. , One Nihonjin's Trash is Another Gaijins Treasure, a half-scale, fully functional model of R2D2, Book Off: The Biggest Used Book Store in Japan by Book Off, Japan's used goods sell big in Southeast Asia by The Japan Times (2017), no noticeable imperfections or dirt unless you look very closely. How do you not make a bumbling fool of yourself on this culturally Japanese platform? I know that eBay allows people to sell items to Japan but I also know that Yahoo is way bigger in Japan than it is in the US (and there isn't a way for Americans to sell to Japan via Yahoo, as far as I know). Give your old clothes a second life, or go thrifting for fashion at these consignment and vintage stores in Tokyo. These goodbye sales are like online yard sales, typically held when a foreigner is leaving Japan and wants to sell off everything they own, quick. how to get from Narita airport to Tokyo, which JR rail pass to choose, getting a SIM card and pocket wifi. 2nd Street has a wide selection, but can sometimes skew matronly. All of my furniture in Nagoya came from another student at my school who wanted to get rid of everything before he graduated and moved out. Now, how do you actually locate a Japanese thrift store in a sea full of kanji? Japan's online resale marketplace is a thriving hotbed of incredible bargains and top quality items. After using it three times, I folded it up and stored it. For example, if you know you want to buy manga from a certain imprint but aren't sure which series to choose, go to Book-Off and flip through some options. For items like mobile phone and Ipad or tablets, the staff will have to verify if gadget can be used in Japan, completely paid (if from a mobile company) and if it was not stolen. You can specify the condition of items when you search, peeking at this handy dandy vocabulary list if you need to. 3. My experience comes from bargain hunting as a grad student in Nagoya, but I suggest looking into your local area to support any small thrift stores or flea markets near you. Meander along Japan's "golden route"taking in Nagano, Kanazawa and more. After that faux pas, I put a Japanese explanation in my bio that I was an American foreigner, so no need to fret if I didn't respond to messages that weren't questions. But you should also know a few of the best places to find used items overall in Japan, as well as on the good old internet. But, the group which is managed via a Yahoo! Or maybe you don't know exactly what you're looking for and need to scour a few tables of random stuff until something screams (Katte!, "Buy me!") There's no payment system on the site; you pay cashon delivery (or pick-up). Even with basic Japanese (or Google Translate), the search function is easy to navigate and extremely detailed. If youre tidying your closet and looking to sell rather than to buy, youll be glad to know that its really simple to consign your items in Tokyo. How to sell your item in Second Hand Store in Japan. Zozoused is its thrift shop sister site with close to a million items in stock. Okay, you've learned some vocabulary to help you spot secondhand stores in your neck of the mori3. You can also join Yahoo Auction especially if you want to sell something rare. 3. We cover all the basics including things to do in Tokyo, So I recommend at least dipping a toe into your local thrifting scene you might happen upon something special you never would have thought to Google. In addition to buying pre-owned items, many of these places will pay you a modest amount of money for your used stuff as well. Once your item is sold, you have 3 months to withdraw earnings to your account. But it's a small price to pay for a more personal, interactive experience where you always know exactly what you're buying. Tokyo is home to a thriving vintage and consignment retail scene there are even neighbourhoods known specifically for their second-hand shops like Shimokitazawa.
So get your thumbs in typing position, because here are some of the best online places to find used items in Japan. Here are some example sentences you might come across in your secondhand shopping pursuits. Unlike typical American sellers, Japanese sellers often message you a lot, both when you buy an item and when they ship it. I've not sold any jackets to Japan. Nine times out of ten, I can barely tell the difference between a new item and a used one described as "in good condition" or better. If its more high-end designer labels, head to a shop that carries similar items for a better buy-back price. But what about people you do know? If you already know what you're looking for, my number one suggestion is to investigate a magical place called Mercari, or (Merukari). November 16th, 2021 | Lily Crossley-Baxter, Go-Karting in Tokyo: Everything You Need to Know, Your Prepaid SIM Card Options for Travel in Japan, Renting a Pocket Wifi Router in Japan: Best Options, Cheapest Way to Transfer Your Money Out of Japan. Theres even a selection of used kimono, too.
Treasure Factory isn't quite as ubiquitous as 2nd Street or the Offs, as right now there are only 100+ locations in eleven prefectures. Many foreigners, students, and expat teachers in Japan are fairly transient, so there's almost surely a flow of used bed frames and washing machines in town that you can get in on. Secondhand online shopping for both designer and fast fashion is booming at the moment, which means youve got an abundance of choice right at your fingertips, literally. Hard Off Group Hard Off has expanded their stores from just selling and buying CDs and books to clothes, bags and appliances.