4 best mega thrift stores in and around Tokyo

Bookoff may be a familiar sight to seasoned penny-pinchers, as there are many branches of this consignment shop located around Japan. However, in suburban neighbourhoods and other areas outside the city centre, you’ll also come across bigger versions of the store, known as Bookoff Super Bazaar. These massive outlets let you shop for almost anything your heart desires, as they stock everything from designer clothing and accessories to sporting equipment and home décor.

One of the closest branches to Tokyo is Bookoff Super Bazaar Chiba Makuhari, which lies just under an hour from the city centre and a ten-minute walk from Makuhari Station. Upon entering, the first thing you’ll see is rows of used books on your right and then the used clothing and shoes section to your left. Past these zones you’ll find plenty of kitchen and homewares, used kimono, children’s toys, sporting goods, video games, K-pop merch and even electronics. It’s definitely worth stopping by the brands section; you can’t beat the lineup of handbags and accessories, which are all neatly organised behind glass counters and cabinets for easy viewing. 

Visitors: Be sure to bring your passport with you as Bookoff offers tax free services for tourists.

You’ll want to give yourself ample time to browse this Super 2nd Street in Saitama, a colossal version of 2nd Street, which is another popular consignment and used clothing store found across Japan. While 2nd Streets in the city often have a narrow focus on clothing, shoes and accessories, Super 2nd Street offers a much more varied selection. 

Omiya Nisshin branch of Super 2nd Street still stocks a plentiful selection of fashion, shoes and accessories, but there’s also a wide range of tableware, used furniture, musical instruments, collectables and children’s toys. They’re good with designer goods, too: you can browse a great assortment of handbags and jewellery as well as many luxury watches. 

Super 2nd Street Omiya Nisshin Store is about an 18-minute walk from Miyahara Station and can be reached in about an hour from central Tokyo. 

Recycle Gallery News Karasuyama is one of the larger recycle shops you’ll come across in Tokyo and offers some pretty good thrifting for those with enough patience to sift the entire store. The two-storey shop is like a giant warehouse filled with all sorts of bits and bobs ranging from used furniture to full-on working appliances like refrigerators and washing machines. 

The first floor is where you'll find a large selection of antiques, ceramics, Japanese tableware and home appliances. There's also a musical instrument section and an area dedicated to secondhand clothing. Larger furniture pieces such as bed frames, tables and couches are available upstairs.

If you’re someone who’s just moved to Tokyo, this would be a good spot to pick up some affordable items to fill your new home. The shop even offers a free one-hour rental of a small truck if you need some help to bring your things home with you (available only for purchases of ¥5,000 or more).

The shop can be reached in under 30 minutes from Shibuya and is just a ten-minute walk from Chitose-Karasuyama Station.

Treasure Factory is another recognisable name in the second-hand retail business, and the company has multiple versions of its store around Japan. These include Trefac Style specialising in fashion, and Trefac Sports Outdoor selling sporting goods. The massive Treasure Factory in Nerima is like the mothership of all the stores combined, offering a mix of clothing, designer goods, home appliances, instruments, electronics and more.

The store's well-stocked clothing section is where you can find steals on popular brands as well as the latest trends. There's also an ample selection of designer bags and accessories from brands including Chanel, Louis Vuitton and Burberry. The electronics zone is worth a browse for its wide array of TVs, smartphones, speakers and gaming consoles. And aside from having one of the largest furniture sections in Tokyo, Treasure Factory stocks plenty of home decor and tableware as well as golf equipment and outdoor items for camping.

Treasure Factory Nerima is about a 20-minute walk from Shakujii-koen Station and can be reached in just over 40 minutes from Shinjuku.