A couple of weeks ago, I sat down with two girlfriends, Makiko and Mayumi. Like us, they’re petite. And, also like us, they love to shop.

Samantha Vega Purse | $220

What is your favorite Japanese handbag designer? What can’t you live without?

Makiko: I love my purse. It’s by IKCB and is well designed and totally functional.
Mayumi: My Samantha Vera bag.

Banana Republic Slide Sandal | 5.5 | $70 (sale price)

Where do you two shop in L.A.?

Mayumi: Macy’s, Hollister, Nordstrom, American Eagle Outfitters, Banana Republic (for the sales), and Forever 21 for accessories.
Makiko: J.Crew, Ann Taylor Loft, Garnet Hill, and J.Jill.

Many visiting Japanese women go to Robertson to shop at Kitson and also Fred Segal shops.

Any last words for my readers? What should they know about shopping in Japan?

Well, there is quite a bit of practical information to share:

You should know that the sizing is different. Everything is in centimeters.

While department stores will take credit cards, many boutique stores will not. So be sure to ask your sales staff before making a purchase.

The customer service in Japan is among the best in the world. Be prepared to have a sales person give you their utmost attention.

Wear a good pair of walking shoes. You’ll end up walking between the neighborhoods while shopping, so you’ll need a sturdy shoe to get around. The train is expensive to take (unless you get a JR pass). Also, be sure to get English rail maps, because they aren’t available in the stations. Taxis are really (really) expensive. The meter starts at $7.

Also, avoid trains during rush hour (7–9am) because people are literally crowded in them like sardines. This is where frequent pick pocketing happens. The last train runs at midnight, and the squishing is the same.

Furthermore, don’t show too much skin. You’ll want to wear tops and bottoms that cover above your collarbone and below the knee.

If your sales girl won’t make eye contact, it’s not because she is being standoffish, but because eye contact is considered rude. Look at people’s noses if you are unsure.

Are there any Japanese online shopping sites you could recommend to my readers?

We recommend Rakuten. It has everything and is a good online shopping experience. It’s also translated into English. In addition we recommend these online shops too:

Private Label Top

Jill Stuart Skirt

Jill Stuart – Everyone in high school wanted a Jill Stuart skirt!

Natural Beauty

Natural Beauty — They have a nice selection good for the office.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 23rd, 2007 at 10:27 pm and is filed under Online Shopping, Interviews, International. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.