Tokyo is not as big into markets and bargain shopping as other Asian centres like Bangkok and Singapore, yet it is a paradise for those into fashion and electronics. The Japanese capital is loaded with glitzy shopping malls where everything and anything can be picked up. Good buys in Tokyo include electronics, funky fashions, and antique furniture, as well as kimono robes, Hello Kitty stuff, and gaming units.
Shibuya is the main Tokyo shopping area. It is a fascinating thoroughfare of flashy department stores and squares and is a great place to meet and hangout. There are plenty of restaurants and fast food joints here and it is equally bustling of a night, owing to its bars and clubs. Shibuya is a short walk from the other busy shopping areas of Shinjuku, Harajuku, and Omotesando.
Shinjuku and Harajuku are the top fashion parts of Tokyo, thronging with Japanese teenagers and tourists day and night looking for the latest items. Unfortunately, most clothing here is aimed at the smaller Asian frame. Omotesando is not far from Harajuku and has the finest designer shops, while the Ginza district also has high quality shops and restaurants.
The top malls in Tokyo are Oriental Bazaar along Omotesando Dori and Venus Fort in the Odaiba district. Popular items include clothes, electronics, souvenirs, and handicrafts, plus they also come with ubiquitous food courts and gaming arcades for little ones.
For specific items in Tokyo, head to Akihabara for anime and manga (animation and comics) items. It is the eclectic part of town, with Chuo-dori Street being the most interesting. For antiques, Omotesando Antique Market and Antique Mall in Ginza are the best bets, while kitschy souvenirs and quality gifts are best had in Nakamise, Asakusa, or at Oriental Bazaar.
Bargain hunters will be disappointed with Tokyo as street markets are fairly thin on the ground. Ameyoko market in Ueno and Yanaka Ginza in Shitamachi Taito are worth a look, however.