Shimokitazawa: The Heart of Tokyo's Second Hand and Vintage Scene

The spacious New York Joe Exchange is one of two shops in this Tokyo micro chain, located a five minute walk north of Shimokitazawa Station. The collection at this shop is less actively curated than at smaller vintage stores in the neighborhood, which makes it a great place for digging: it’s not unheard of to find a fairly priced vintage Undercover or White Mountaineering piece between a '90s skate brand tee and a Hawaiian shirt. The women’s section is heavy on cutesy kitsch and Japanese brands that are mostly unknown outside of East Asia.

New York Joe Exchange

Hypebeasts flock to Harajuku and Shibuya vintage shops for more recent pieces but patience and a keen eye are rewarded at places like New York Joe Exchange, where the prices are reasonable and there is a high turnover. Shops like New York Joe Exchange thrive on customers exchanging their faded grails to re up on new pieces. The fact that many of the pieces on the racks are provided by local fashionistas mean that the stock is always changing. For the truly budget conscious, visit on the first Sunday of every month, when nearly everything is sold at half price.

NEWYORKJOEEXCHANGE Shimo-Kitazawa

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 3-26-4

03-5738-2077

View All

Flamingo

Flamingo is one of the most reliable and affordable used American clothing stores that has branches both in and out of Shimokitazawa. This shop is full of handpicked clothing, shoes, accessories, and knickknacks from the 1960s to the 1980s, as well as some new items. As you walk in, you’ll instantly feel the love and dedication that they have put into the shop. For those that grew up in the United States, it can be startling to see the reverence and care given to styles and craftsmanship of former generations. There are also two other locations in Shimokitazawa called Flamingo Shimokitazawa Mabataki and Flamingo Shimokitazawa 2nd, with different curated collections. All of these are located in the northern area of Shimokitazawa so you can easily hop between them in a day.

Flamingo Shimo-Kitazawa

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 2-25-12

0334677757

View All

Florida Shimokitazawa

Florida Shimokitazawa is a cool thrift shop in the north area of Shimokitazawa and one of the sister stores for Flamingo. But one thing that sets this store apart from other thrift shops is that you can trade your unwanted items for either money or ... Japanese rice. Although there are certain criteria for trading (please check their website for the details), this is definitely an amazing offer if you are one of those fashion fanatics who put priority on shopping over buying food. Those on a tight budget can still enjoy shopping there thanks to their reasonable price range.

FLORIDA(フロリダ) 下北沢店

東京都世田谷区北沢2-29-2 フェニキアビル B1F

03-5790-5017

View All

Valon

One of the must-visit shops in Toyo Hyakkaten (also known as the Shimokita Garage Department), Valon is only three minutes walk from the Shimokitazawa Station. This fabulous little vintage store specializes in used items from the American West Coast. Their shop is smaller than 15 square meters but packed with all sorts of high-quality used items, including a smart collection of well-shined leather shoes for both men and women. If you want to check out more womenswear in a similar style, be sure to visit their sister shop LANP, which is also located in Toyo Hyakkaten.

Toyo Hyakkaten

Ocean BLVD

Ocean BLVD is perhaps the shop that best represents the neighborhood: it's barely organized and often chaotic but clearly a labor of love and stocked with a truly eclectic collection of vintage, antique and homemade clothes. The shops rewards those with the dedication to dig and the vision to transform cotton dungarees and a neon pink t-shirt into a formidable summer look.

Ocean BLVD

Merrily is one of the collections at Ocean BLVD heavy on one of a kind homemade and reworked vintage pieces, it’s the place for East Tokyo girls and women looking for an absolutely unique look.

WEGO

WEGO is a chain mostly known for simple essentials but the shop in Shimokitazawa does a steady trade in vintage and second hand clothes. It’s certainly not difficult to put together a credible Shimokitazawa look with WEGO second hand selections but the emphasis is less on carefully curated designer pieces than the meat and potatoes wardrobe. For committed diggers and the budget conscious, WEGO is worth checking out.

WEGO Shimo-Kitazawa

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 2-29-3 Oak Plaza 1F

0357905525

View All

Go here

SMITH&YOU

If you’re on the hunt for eye-catching retro dresses, skirts or shirts, SMITH&YOU will definitely whet your appetite. This savvy women’s secondhand clothing store is just a few steps from the West exit of Shimokitazawa Station. It has a good selection of European vintage items from the ‘60s and ‘70s featuring unusual patterns, carefully designed silhouettes and striking colors that you won’t find anywhere else. In addition to its quirky collection, it also stocks secondhand luxury brands such as Burberry, FENDI, ESCADA, CHANEL, GUCCI and many others, making it a paradise for designer lovers.

HAIGHT & ASHBURY

HAIGHT & ASHBURY is just three minutes’ walk from the North exit of Shimokitazawa Station, with a giant red shoe marking its entrance. This shop accommodates both menswear and womenswear, and stocks a wide range of cool items dating from the 1800s to the 1990s that their professional buyers find in the United States and Europe. While they don’t have any particular concept for their collection, their carefully selected items always carry some hints of the latest fashion trends, so it’s a must stop for all sorts of vintage and antique lovers.

HAIGHT&ASHBURY

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 2-37-2

0354534690

View All

ROSE Shimokitazawa

Just a block away from New York Joe Exchange you can hop into ROSE Shimokitazawa to look for chic and elegant outfits. At this women’s used clothing boutique, the staff dress up a mannequin torso by the entrance every single day and you can find hand-picked pieces from the US and Europe. As their concept - “a lady-like shop that subtly emphasizes cuteness” - suggests, you can find special items that add a slight accent to your daily wardrobe, without making you look like you’re trying too hard. They also have a good selection of unique and affordable accessories that will inspire you, so make sure to check them out too.

ROSESHIMOKITAZAWA (Rose Shimo-Kitazawa)

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 3-27-2

0334656655

View All

iroha

With its plain white brick walls, wooden racks, and wooden and iron hangers creating an organic and open atmosphere, iroha used&select is a unisex clothing store located in the northern area of Shimokitazawa. The owner takes pride in stocking various items that reflect a casual street style and sleek high fashion style. Although the collection is heavily skewed towards menswear, anyone with a taste for a clean, genderless look will appreciate what they offer, which consists of regular used clothing from the 90’s onwards. In this fine shop, you can find your old favorite or discover something new to complement your regular style.

iroha

Hickory

Hickory is one of the oldest used clothing shops in Shimokitazawa. This cool shop is nestled in a corner of an ordinary Japanese neighborhood while being home to American outdoor brand items dating from the 1940s to the 1990s. Their reliable collection is all in good condition and you can easily find your favorite piece by classic brands such as North Face, Columbia and Patagonia to name a few. Remember to also turn your gaze to the walls if you have a soft spot for sporty backpacks. Along with these fine items, they also stock casual women’s dresses in flower prints and ethnic patterns.

hickory

Tokyo Setagaya-ku

0334194146

View All

BIG TIME Shimokitazawa

BIG TIME is a solid vintage and used clothing shop that has seven outlets in Japan. Their Shimokitazawa shop offers a wide variety of affordable American and European menswear and womenswear from the 1950s to the 1990s, as well as leather shoes, colorful accessories, retro homewares, and even furniture. If you’re still new to wearing used clothing and not too sure how to incorporate them into your style, have a look at their on-trend selection of regular clothing that has a slight vintage look. Traditional, retro, contemporary, bohemian, romantic, country - name any style you like and they will surely accommodate your needs.

BIGTIME Shimo-Kitazawa

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 2-26-151-2F

05038032253

View All

Zondag

Zondag (it reads as “dontaku” in Japanese) is just five minutes’ walk from the Shimokitazawa Station (and diagonally opposite to HAIGHT & ASHBURY) and offers simple but subtly unique oversized menswear. Their sleek collection is mainly from the 1980s to the 2000s, with solid sporty jackets and sweatshirts of classic American brands, such as Nike, North Face, Campion, and Adidas. You can also look for more refined pieces from their stock of J. Crew and Banana Republic, or quality items from Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, and COACH. You’ll surely find inspiration in their eclectic mixture of used clothing.

A-room

If Shimokitazawa is your regular shopping spot, you can’t miss A-room, a solid vintage shop specializing in American menswear. Supplied by passionate buyers, they get new stock from the US every two months and are always packed full of hip vintage items. Stepping into the store, you’ll find their abundant stock of basic but must-have items from casual American brands, such as Nike, Reebok, Patagonia, and North Face. If you like to enjoy a mixture of chic and casual styles, you can pick up a sleek vintage suit and match it with a pair of Converse canvas shoes.

ALASKA vintage clothing

ALASKA vintage clothing is home to all sorts of American used items, as well as the store’s original T-shirts that reflect their love for Alaska. Their fine collection of American comic T-shirts, eye-catching shorts and print shirts are carefully laid out by color, making them hard to miss once you enter the store. They also carry a wide variety of one-of-a-kind dresses, including 70’s style, ethnic patterns, sailor-style, bold embroidery, shiny china dresses...it’s a treasure trove for savvy vintage lovers!

ALASKA vintage clothing

ALASKA

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 2-30-10

0357387885

View All

Go here

Signal

Situated in the northern area of Shimokitazawa, Signal located in front of ALASKA vintage clothing and caters to intrepid, hip vintage lovers of American used clothing and second-hand designer collections. The owner's fashion aesthetic is influenced by a ‘90s style (and he happens to be a ‘90s kid himself) but the store offers items from all sorts of fashion genres. There are also a variety of branded items from Balenciaga, Maison Margiela, RAF SIMONS, Yves Saint Laurent and Salvatore Ferragamo in this store if you want to add a sophisticated look to your usual style.

signal

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 2-36-2

0364078322

View All

Go here

HONEY WOOD USED CLOTHING

HONEY WOOD USED CLOTHING is just six minutes’ walk from the Shimokitazawa Station and offers top-quality, secondhand American menswear. This friendly vintage shop has been delighting savvy shoppers since its opening in 2012. Sweatshirts, plaid shirts, Aloha shirts, T-shirts, jeans, sporty jackets, leather shoes, long coats, blazers, military jackets. Name what you want and they’ll offer you the finest quality items that will make you wonder if they're used at all. It's the owner's extensive knowledge and endless enthusiasm for American used clothing that make this shop so special and reliable for all sorts of vintage lovers.

HONEY WOOD USED CLOTHING

Little Trip to Heaven

Do you want to make a little trip somewhere? If so, go and check out Little Trip to Heaven in the northern area of Shimokitazawa. The concept of this shop brings to mind a European flea market, so you’ll definitely feel like you're making a little trip. They have plenty of fabulous American and European vintage items for women from the 1950s to the 1970s, as well as on-trend original items. You’ll encounter all kinds of garments that will catch your attention: casual cotton dresses, dreamy bohemian dresses, romantic long dresses, and even carefully embroidered, lacy wedding dresses! This beautiful vintage shop is a feast for the eyes.

Little Trip to Heaven

SPiKe

This amazing store is only two blocks away from HAIGHT & ASHBURY and sells a range of vintage American and military-inspired pieces for men and women, all of which are in mint condition. You can find almost anything here, including military jackets, university sweatshirts, Levi's jeans, trench coats, wool sweater, caps, bags, eyeglasses, and more. Some are dead stock or unworn items, so be prepared to meet the cream of the crop. Opening in November 2018 is their sister store, SPiCe, which specializes in menswear and is only five seconds away if you run from the East exit of Shimokitazawa Station.

Treasure Factory Style is part of a larger chain of discount second hand shops, but the location in Shimokitazawa is far from pedestrian. Unlike other shops in the neighborhood, it is less quirky and focused more on major brands, but the prices are unbeatable and it is worth a look, especially if one is hunting for more mainstream brand items (for example, it’s not a bad place to pick up a Ralph Lauren Polo shirt for under 1000 yen, but you can also find designer pieces for a reasonable price).

Treasure Factory Style

Treasure Factory Style Shimo-Kitazawa

Tokyo Setagaya-ku Kitazawa 2-3-9 SEEF Building 1F

0354332288

View All

Go here