Exploring Luxury Thrift Shopping in Japan: A Blend of Tradition, Sustainability, and Style

In recent years, Japan has gained a reputation as a hub for luxury thrift shopping, attracting fashion-forward individuals seeking high-end, pre-loved items at a fraction of their original price. Japan’s secondhand market is not just a place for bargains but also a cultural phenomenon deeply rooted in the country’s values of sustainability, preservation, and respect for craftsmanship. While you may stumble upon high-end items such as designer handbags, clothing, and accessories, Japan’s approach to luxury goods is unique, emphasizing both quality and modesty. As a society that treasures items for their lasting value, Japanese thrift shops cater to those with an appreciation for longevity over fast consumption.

One of the many thrift shops in Japan

Japan’s mentality toward used items is influenced by deeply ingrained cultural principles like mottainai, which signifies a sense of regret over wasting something that still has value. This ethos extends to nearly all aspects of life, from clothing to household goods. Thrift shops are abundant in Japan, offering everything from vintage clothes to secondhand furniture. What sets these stores apart is the meticulous care with which pre-owned goods are handled, often cleaned, repaired, and displayed in pristine condition. Items, especially luxury goods like handbags, are carefully inspected for authenticity and quality. In fact, luxury thrift shops in Japan are known for their rigorous checks, ensuring that customers receive only genuine items, which may explain why luxury secondhand shopping has become so popular among both locals and international tourists.

 

There's no shortage of LV's. 90% of thrift shops would have em in their shelves

When it comes to counterfeit goods, however, Japan has strict laws in place. The possession, use, or sale of fake designer goods can result in heavy fines or even arrest. Tourists caught attempting to bring counterfeit items into Japan or use them in public can face serious consequences, including confiscation of the goods, fines, and possible legal action. The Japanese government enforces intellectual property rights rigorously, and this extends to fashion items, where counterfeit bags or clothing are strictly prohibited. This makes luxury secondhand shopping a safe bet for buyers, as sellers in reputable shops are cautious about authenticity and follow the country’s laws closely.

A Hermes Bride-A-Brac Pouch priced at 111,700 yen or $685

Another reason Japan’s secondhand market is thriving is the Japanese preference for “silent luxury”—a concept that values quality, subtlety, and understated elegance. Many Japanese consumers prefer to buy high-end products without loud logos or overt brand names. This preference has influenced the luxury goods market, where items like handbags, watches, and shoes are selected based on their craftsmanship and design, not simply their brand recognition. The rise of thrift stores offering quality items without flashy logos is, therefore, not only a reflection of the country’s sustainability efforts but also a testament to the desire for refined, quiet luxury.

 

Don Quixote, a store popular to tourist also carries used luxury brands

The Japanese’s dedication to reusing and recycling, whether through thrift shops or selling pre-owned items, highlights a growing global trend of sustainability in fashion. In a world increasingly aware of the environmental impact of fast fashion, Japan’s approach to luxury thrift shopping offers a model for how pre-owned goods can be embraced without sacrificing style or quality. Whether you’re a local or a visitor, indulging in Japan’s thrift culture allows you to experience the luxury of timeless fashion while supporting sustainable practices that value longevity over disposability.

 

These thrift shops can be overwhelming and sometimes be too much

This shift of shoppers aligns with growing disdain for overt branding, flashy logos and oversized monograms are now seen less as status symbols  and more as an attempt to conform. Embracing thrifted luxury allows individuals to cultivate unique, understated style championing sustainability and rejecting fast fashion and inflated prices.

10 Things We Brought to Japan That We Didn’t Need (and Why You Should Leave Them Behind)

As seasoned travelers and repeat visitors to Japan, we thought we had our packing routine down to a science. Yet, even with all our planning, we brought several things that ended up being useless—or worse, a hassle. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, here’s a list of items to reconsider packing, along with our experiences and what we’d do differently next time.

Night at Ginza

10. My DSLR Camera

I’ve relied on my Canon D80 DSLR for years, and it’s been a staple on many of our trips. However, newer smartphones, like the iPhone 16 Pro Max, now rival (or even outperform) mid-tier DSLRs in convenience, video quality, and photo versatility. Lugging around the camera felt unnecessary when my phone could handle it all, including night photography and cinematic videos. Sucky part is, I never even took it out of the suitcase.

My faithful Canon 80D

9. Hand-Carry Backpacks

While backpacks can be useful, they became a nuisance for us on this trip. We already had two carry-on suitcases and two checked bags, and adding backpacks made traveling cumbersome—especially on the way home when we accumulated three additional bags. Between managing them at the airport and navigating public transportation, we wished we had skipped them altogether.

These Coach backpacks are workhorses on our travels

8. Extra Clothes

If you’re a fan of shopping, Japan is a paradise. Brands like Uniqlo and GU offer high-quality, affordable clothing, and thrift stores are packed with unique finds—many of them barely used or even brand new. If you’re planning to shop, two sets of clothes are enough to start with, as you’ll likely end up buying more there. Bringing too many clothes just eats up space.

Over packed on the clothing

7. Basic Toiletries

Toothbrushes, shampoo, shaving cream—Japan has it all, often in higher quality and at reasonable prices. Convenience stores like 7-Eleven and Lawson carry travel-sized items, while stores like Don Quijote and drugstores have full-sized options if needed. There’s no need to pack these basics unless you have a specific product preference.

6. An Extra Pair of Shoes

We brought extra shoes with the intention of having backups. Ironically, we ended up buying new shoes in Japan anyway! Japan’s shoe options, from trendy sneakers to traditional footwear, are fantastic and often cheaper than back home. Stick to one versatile pair and plan to shop if needed.

These Nike shoes are soft but gave me back pains after a whole day of walking

5. Snacks

We packed snacks thinking we’d need them, but Japan’s food scene completely blew us away. From convenience store meals to street food and Michelin-starred dining, 90% of what we ate was amazing. Save the luggage space—you’ll probably be too busy enjoying Japan’s local flavors to eat what you packed.

Snacks we bought in Japan

4. US Dollars

We brought over $1,000 in cash thinking it’d be useful, but we hardly touched it. Japan is a predominantly cashless society now, and most payments can be made using Suica cards, debit cards, or even mobile apps like Apple Pay. Keep a small amount of yen for emergencies, but there’s no need to bring so much cash.

3. Pajamas and Sleeping Clothes

We thought we’d save ourselves the trouble by bringing our own sleepwear, but Japan’s clothing stores are so tempting that we ended up buying new pajamas anyway. If you’re planning to shop, leave these at home and treat yourself to something uniquely Japanese, like a comfy set from Uniqlo. We stayed in 8 different hotels, and all of em provided us with pajamas or "Yukatas".

9H Capsule Hotel PJ's

2. Multiple Laptops and iPads

We overdid it here, bringing both laptops and iPads. They were heavy, took up space, and were a hassle at airport security. Unless you absolutely need them, stick to one lightweight device. The constant worry about breaking them during travel made us regret bringing so many.

1. ???

This one is up to you to decide. What’s the one thing you always pack but rarely use? Maybe it’s a travel iron, a hairdryer (most hotels in Japan provide one), or something else you think you can’t live without. For us, this spot is reserved for all the unnecessary “security blanket” items that we knew deep down we didn’t need but brought anyway.

Sapporo Uniqlo's exclusives

Lessons Learned

Despite being experienced travelers, we underestimated just how much Japan has to offer and overpacked for our trip. We’d left plenty of space in our checked luggage knowing we’d shop, but the extra items we brought still caused issues—both in terms of space and airline fees for additional bags.

Now that we’ve been back home for weeks, we’re already longing to return to Japan, even if just for a few days to pick up the little things we didn’t have room for. Next time, we’ll pack lighter and smarter—leaving more room for all the treasures Japan has waiting for us!

What about you? What’s the most useless thing you’ve ever packed on a trip? Let us know in the comments!