With the yen depreciating for the umpteenth time, visitors to Tokyo are more motivated than ever to purchase unique pieces for their fall and winter wardrobes. In particular, they have been looking for luxury items in the city’s popular shopping districts. While excited shoppers wander Omotesando marveling at the incredible market prices of recent new designer bags, Tokyo has always been a true paradise for vintage and archive lovers.
Whether you’re looking for an early 2000s Louis Vuitton bucket bag, a sophisticated Balenciaga City, or a sequined Fendi Baguette à la Carrie Bradshaw, Tokyo has you covered. Even in a random Book Off store, you have a chance of finding a Coach or Burberry bag in good condition.
Japanese culture’s attitude towards designer bags should also encourage you to explore the city’s vintage scene. There is a real appreciation for fine craftsmanship, and consumers generally tend to be careful with their luxury goods, so there are plenty of bags in mint condition at reasonable prices. At the dealer level, Japan’s second-hand luxury boutiques and stores are notoriously meticulous in their certification processes and quality assurance. Therefore, interested buyers can purchase the product with a sense of trust.
Even though in today’s fashion resale landscape we can purchase these well-maintained pieces from all over the world, there’s still something exciting about discovering rare gems in-store. Read on to discover the city’s treasure map.
Best Vintage Boutiques for Designer Bags
amore retro
amore retro It can be said that it is currently the most famous retro luxury bag brand in Tokyo. Its clients include celebrities from around the world, including Blackpink’s Jennie Kim, Bella Hadid, Megan Thee Stallion and more. Among its branches, the Omotesando store is the most visited and specializes in unique vintage Chanel bags, including the classic double flap and 1990s red velvet top handle. Even if you’re not looking for a specific item, the store-like museum-like structure and Barbie Dreamhouse aesthetic are worth browsing for inspiration.
Amore Aoyama is just a 2-minute walk away and has a more diverse collection of luxury bags. Some of the coveted pieces here include: Louis Vuitton Blue Monogram Denim collection, Hermes Birkin bags and various embroidered Fendi Baguettes. With their famous customers and popularity on social media, these stores can get very crowded. If you want to avoid the long lines, both the Omotesando and Aoyama stores offer Store reservation free.
Retro Qoo
Retro Qoo Tokyo is another well-known store in Omotesando that sells vintage luxury bags and other designer items. Vintage Qoo has been enhancing the value of vintage Chanel bags since the early 2010s. Following major renovations and reopening in February 2023, the store expanded further in March this year. It now has three floors and displays more than 6,000 vintage items.
The newest basement level has an amusement park concept, with a pink Chanel bag carousel in the center of the room. In addition to the extensive Chanel collection, the store also sells the latest and historical pieces from Bottega Veneta, Celine, Dior, Loewe and other brands. Like Amore, Vintage Qoo is frequented by international celebrities such as Lily Collins and Victoria Beckham. It also has a location in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.
Qixi
Qixia smaller boutique located in a Brooklyn-like neighborhood Daikanyamaspecializing in second-hand designer handbags. Its minimalist interior showcases a variety of bags and accessories in neutral tones. If you’re looking for a simple yet high-quality everyday bag, check out the store’s selection of Stella McCartney Falabella totes, Fendi Zucca Baguettes, Prada Re-Nylons and more.
Hedy also has a branch Osaka and Fukuoka.
Atlantis Retro Tokyo
With more than 20 years of heritage, Atlantis Retro Tokyo Showcasing a range of new and second hand designer handbags from the local market. The team is made up of experts who can assist you in English and Japanese. There are three locations in Tokyo: Koenji, Ginzaand Hiroo. Each store has its own characteristics. You can book a private shopping appointment Instagram If you’re looking for a statement bag, contact an expert at Koenji for free.
The Ginza store mainly sells men’s luxury clothing and Chrome Hearts jewelry. Then the third position, in Peaceful Hiroo foreign communityoffering women’s luxury bags, clothing and jewelry. The store has several Hermès Birkin and Kelly bags in good condition.
Casanova Vintage Ginza
Shopping mall in Ginza, Latest Casanova Vintage Store Featuring a sleek, streetwear-inspired aesthetic. Unique Louis Vuitton duffle bags, Goyard totes and Chanel clamshell bags line floor-to-ceiling shelves like works of art. The store also displays actual artwork, such as this 2009 Takashi Murakami Flower Ball.
Other Casanova locations — IT Main store and a appendix — both between Harajuku and Omotesando. Please see the store’s website for a detailed listing Well-known customersincluding Pharrell Williams, Kim Kardashian and G-Dragon.
Aru
We have branches in Omotesando and Ginza. Aru It has a great reputation among tourists and locals for its high quality and wide selection. Specifically, four floors Ginza flagship store Featuring the coveted Hermès Birkins in a variety of leather finishes and colors. Many of Allu’s pieces are new, even mint, and this is reflected in the price.
In late October, Allu will open its largest branch near Shinjuku Station. It is also worth noting that Allu has two branches in Shinsaibashi, Osaka: main store,as well as appendix. Both the Ginza and Shinsaibashi stores have floors dedicated to luxury watches.
Brand Collection
Brand Collection It brings together domestic and foreign designers such as Yohji Yamamoto, Comme des Garçons, Saint Laurent and Gucci. The Shibuya and Omotesando stores are famous for their luxury bags. The Omotesando store leans toward more demure styles, such as Lady Dior bags, Miu Miu Wander Hobos and Hermès Kelly bags.
Shibuya store Featuring sleeker, trendier styles such as Balenciaga’s Le Cagole collection and Saint Laurent’s Rive Gauche collection. If you are in the area, Hiroo and Located in Azabu-10 Various locations also sell a wide range of fashionable items.
Best second-hand chain stores for designer bags
Booking Offer
Most people have heard of Book Off because it is the largest second-hand chain store in Japan. Among the many categories they sell are affordable luxury bags. These items may not be as original or as carefully curated as those found in the aforementioned boutiques, but they are much cheaper. Depending on your luck, you might stumble upon a rare gem. There are obviously many Book Off locations within Tokyo, but head to Supermarket booking In Saitama, you can find more affordable luxury goods. It’s only a 50-minute train ride from Shinjuku Station and off the beaten path. Book Off Super Bazaar is great for those who may be into or looking for old leather bags, and anyone who wants to spend a day browsing.
Brand Off and Komehyo
Unlike the all-inclusive Book Off, Brand closure and Mi Bing Special focus on second hand luxury goods. Brand closure Ginza Main Store The most famous one is the third floor, which specializes in selling Hermès Birkin bags and Kelly bags. Depending on where you’re going or where you are, check out this location list All over Japan and overseas. Likewise, Komehyo specializes in second-hand luxury goods. The flagship store is located in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture, but there are many more places to visit Tokyo.
Daikokuya
Founded in 1947, Daikokuya We have a long-standing influence and reputation in Japan as a second-hand seller and pawn shop with competitive prices. The flagship store is located in Shinjuku, and there are many branches in major stations in Tokyo such as Shibuya, Ginza, Roppongi, Azabujuban, Ikebukuro, Ueno, and Machida. their website List all locations.
Honorable mention
In addition to clothing and accessories, 2nd Street, Ragtag and Kindal stores in Tokyo and other areas sell a wide range of designer bags. It can be more difficult to find specific items in these chains’ brick-and-mortar stores, as they often focus more on apparel.
Other Sources of Vintage Designer Bags
Oi Racecourse Flea Market (Tokyo Flea Market)
If you really want to hunt, go to Tokyo’s largest flea market. Almost every weekend, some 250 to 300 vendors gather in the parking lot of Oi Racecourse (Tokyo’s racecourse), selling everything from digital cameras to home decorations. The market is usually open from 9:00 am to 2:30 pm, and you can get there by taking the Keikyu Main Line or Tokyo Monorail. If you’re lucky, you might find a vendor selling second-hand bags from brands like Coach, Burberry, Fendi and even Balenciaga. Of course, please keep in mind that the authenticity of these bags cannot be guaranteed. But if you have a keen eye for genuine and fake name-brand items, or just want to spend a few hours enjoying sifting through the variety, this market is the perfect place to shop. If you get hungry, you’ll also find food trucks on site.
Online resources
Almost all of the boutiques and chains mentioned have online stores where you can easily search for the specific items you may be looking for. You can also check out Yahoo! Japanese auctions offer great deals, but be aware that you can’t be completely sure of the item’s authenticity and condition. If the seller has a good reputation on the site and provides multiple clear pictures of the item in the listing, you’re more likely to agree to the purchase. Sites like Rakuten, Mercari, and eBay Japan can also be sources for finding specific items at discounted prices. Try comparing availability and pricing between platforms to ensure you’re getting the best deal at any given time.