What I bought in Japan
JANUARY 30, 2026 ⚖️ Lossless
Tokyo has the most incredible shopping of anywhere I’ve visited. Brand availability is insane, sales are steep, and you’re going to find things you’ve never seen from designers you’ve never heard of. Prices were great and everything listed below was on sale, except for the Hysteric Glamour and Undercover t-shirts.
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Tokyo has the most incredible shopping of anywhere I’ve visited. Brand availability is insane, sales are steep, and you’re going to find things you’ve never seen from designers you’ve never heard of. Prices were great and everything listed below was on sale, except for the Hysteric Glamour and Undercover t-shirts.
Kiko Kostadinov Levi’s Denim Jacket
Purchased at GR8 in Shibuya
A gr8 find. I’ve held off on buying a denim jacket for a long time because I’ve struggle to find something interesting. This is exactly what I was looking for. There is some incredible embroidery on the front pockets and upper back that I loved. The chest pockets are very unique too and there’s some cool darts on the back waist. Perhaps the best part about this jacket is that it’s fully lined with a soft cotton, which makes it feel incredible against your body. The lining gives it a nice bulk and extra warmth that can be hard to find in other denim jackets. This is my consolation prize for not being able to afford Kiko’s Kraner leather jacket.
Jian Ye Kanabo Puffer
Purchased at ACRMTSM in Kanazawa
A new (to me) designer won me over with a brown puffer that feels like it was tailored exactly for me. There’s a lot to say about this jacket from the unique collar closure to what my friends called “dinosaur spikes” to the decorative rivets. The quality is incredible and it kept me warm in some very heavy snow and low temps. I haven’t decided how I feel about the wood beaded zipper pull, but a cool detail nonetheless. I’m also a huge fan of the necktag. There are two inner chest pockets and two spacious front pockets. Really an incredible jacket, I’m looking forward to my next run in with Jian Ye.
Feng Chen Wang Jacket
Purchased at GR8 in Shibuya
Another gr8 find. This jacket features some really awesome paneling and interesting pleats and folds. I’m a big fan of asymmetry in clothing so naturally this caught my eye. There’s a beautiful indigo removable liner that gives this jacket a bit more versatility throughout the year. Construction is solid, materials are premium, and the fit is great.
Jun Nakayama Feather Zip Up Hoodie
Purchased at Nubian in Harajuku
Jun Nakayama is a new designer to me (as was much of what I found in Nubian). I liked this zip up and thought it would just be something casual to throw on around the apartment, but there’s actually some very interesting details that are worth talking about. The zipper pulls are silver surfboards which satisfies my love for cool clothing hardware. The graphic is printed directly over the front of the sweatshirt, post-assembly, so you can see some print on the zipper teeth themselves. Is that cool or lazy? I think both. Lastly it gets points for having a second zipper pull which always just makes a zip up fit better.
Hysteric Glamour GRATEFUL HYS t-shirt
Purchased at Hysteric Glamour in Harajuku
I’ve long been a fan of Hysteric Glamour but it’s hard + expensive to acquire in the US. The shirt fits well and feels great. I had to pick up one for me and for a friend straight from the source.
UNDERCOVER UC1F4813 t-shirt
Purchased at UNDERCOVER (inside Parco) in Shibuya
Undercover is another longtime favorite of mine. I’ve been able to thrift two tees in Dallas but they’re few and far between. The timing was incredible because their SS26 collection hit stores just a day before I visited, so I was able to view the whole collection. The tee is great quality, but the neck is just a little too tight. It features artwork by Emma Bennett.
John Varvatos Tee
Purchased at John Varvatos in Harajuku
Allsaints and John Varvatos share a three story building in Harajuku that lets you really compare and contrast the two (Allsaints bought John Varvatos a few years ago). JV had similar stock to what I’ve seen in Dallas but almost every t-shirt was something I hadn’t seen. Almost daily I wear a plain black or white t-shirt, but I always try to find some with cool details. I love the way this one is woven and see a lot of wear in its future. The shoulder details particularly piqued my interest.
Jacques Marie Mage Artaud Eyeglasses
Purchased at Jacques Marie Mage in Harajuku
JMM has created one of the most pleasurable shopping experiences I’ve ever experienced. I didn’t make an appointment but they nicely allowed me to walk in anyway. They have a very knowledgeable team of opticians that help you out but don’t try to oversell or compliment every single pair you put on.
There are a few pairs on the ground floor, but the second floor has some exclusive pairs. I tried on a few pairs of sunglasses upstairs and really loved this pair that was made in collaboration with a pianist Glenn Gould. I wanted to checkout some eyeglasses instead because my current pair are quite old. I tried on a few and settled on the Artaud which I really liked and ended up buying. I’m a sucker for some good packaging and they didn’t disappoint.
Bottega Veneta Intrecciato Duffle Bag
Purchased at In Vintage in Shibuya
I didn’t arrive in Japan intending to buy a nice bag. I needed something to bring back everything I bought and found myself walking around thrift/vintage stores looking for an old military surplus duffle. I found this secondhand for a very reasonable price and felt like I couldn’t pass it up. It’s a simple yet awesome bag. Inside you’ll find a zip pocket, two open pockets, and a whole lot of space. Construction is great and I really like the amount of wear the previous owner put into it, they kept it in great shape.
Overall, I’m incredibly happy with everything I came home with and I’m really looking forward to going back.
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