Japanese products have earned a reputation for their exceptional quality and safety, often regarded as some of the best in the world. When crafted by Japanese hands, products are sometimes elevated to an art form! If you’re fortunate enough to have friends or family in Japan, getting your hands on these products is a breeze. For most, however, the language barrier can make shopping in Japan quite the challenge.
Luckily, my friend Suzukaze, an expert in navigating Japanese websites, shared some useful tips on finding and buying Japanese products at the best prices!
Uniqlo
Known for its basic yet stylish clothing at affordable prices, Uniqlo Japan typically offers lower prices than Uniqlo stores in other countries. Navigating the Japanese Uniqlo website can be tricky since it's entirely in Japanese. Google Translate can help, though it’s not always perfect.
For affordable, everyday clothing, Uniqlo is unbeatable!
Here’s a simple method: First, visit Uniqlo USA at http://www.uniqlo.com/us/, where everything is in English. Find the item you want and note the SKU number, which appears below the product description. Copy this number and paste it into the search bar on Uniqlo Japan’s website to find the item and its price. Japanese prices are usually better, and you can estimate the total cost to ship to Vietnam by dividing the price by 3.5 (this is a rough conversion Suzukaze often uses).
Right now, you can check out the Uniqlo x Lemaire collection, a collaboration with minimalist French designer Christophe Lemaire.
This method works for regular-priced items but not for sale items, as US and Japan sales differ. However, big promotions are often featured on the Uniqlo Japan homepage: http://www.uniqlo.com/jp/
For sales, check the banners on the homepage, or click the Women/Men/Kids menu to browse sale sections.
While Amazon is globally popular for shopping, Suzukaze recommends Rakuten for buying in Japan. Rakuten has an English version at http://global.rakuten.com/en/, with direct currency conversion from yen, making price estimates easier.
Rakuten operates as a marketplace with various shops, so domestic shipping fees around 100,000 VND are common. For high-value orders over 10,000 yen (~90 USD), free shipping is often available.
For popular brands like DHC, Shu Uemura, Labo Labo, and Hada Crie, Amazon Japan is a good option if sold directly by Amazon. However, avoid third-party sellers, as they are less reliable than those on Amazon US. Japanese buyers also leave fewer reviews, making it harder to assess product quality.
Suzukaze has had instances where they ordered from Amazon Japan only to receive an email a week later saying the item was out of stock, with no estimate for restocking.
Japanese Fashion Websites
Beyond Uniqlo, Japan has a variety of fashion brands. Zara is a notable example. While Zara’s prices are lowest in Spain, stock runs out quickly. If you’re a Zara fan, check Zara Japan for a wider selection and frequent sales. Price estimates for Zara Japan can be done similarly to Uniqlo: divide the price by 3.5 for an idea of shipping costs to Vietnam.
For budget-friendly fashion, GU (gu-japan.com) is a great option. A subsidiary of Uniqlo, GU targets a younger crowd and offers trendy, affordable clothing.
For high-end fashion enthusiasts, check out zozo.jp, a site featuring designer items from top Japanese brands. Expect to find unique, on-trend pieces here, but they won’t come cheap!
These tips should help you confidently explore Japanese shopping and score the best products at great prices!
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