Top 10 Must-Buy Souvenirs in Shinjuku: A Shopper's Guide to Tokyo's Best Gifts
Shinjuku, known as one of Tokyo's representative entertainment districts, is famous for its numerous department stores and attracts many tourists throughout the year. The area is also home to Japan's premier entertainment district Kabukicho and offers plenty of night spots.
Beyond department stores, Shinjuku has many attractive shopping spots, making it an ideal location for buying souvenirs. There are also numerous tourist facilities such as theaters where you can enjoy Japanese comedy, where unique and interesting souvenirs can be purchased.
In this article, I will introduce must-buy souvenirs in Shinjuku and the stores where you can purchase them. I've carefully selected gifts that will definitely please your friends, so please use this as a reference.
There are Various Types of Souvenirs You Should Buy in Shinjuku
Shinjuku has many department stores and souvenir shops, making it an excellent environment for those who want to purchase souvenirs from their Japan tour. The variety ranges from food to household goods and toys.
Here are the items I particularly recommend that would make people happy as Shinjuku souvenirs:
- Wagashi (Japanese Sweets): Arare crackers, Rice crackers, Mochi
- Stationery: Fountain Pens, Masking Tape
- Traditional Crafts: Fans, Chopsticks
While buying traditional Japanese sweets like Wagashi is recommended for Japanese souvenirs, it's also worth purchasing Traditional Crafts that reflect Japanese traditions and culture, or high-quality and user-friendly Japanese-made stationery.
Points to Note When Selecting Souvenirs
When purchasing souvenirs, be mindful of expiration dates for food items and beware of counterfeit products when buying clothing or crafts. Some Japanese sweets in particular have expiration dates of only 1-3 days. When purchasing wagashi, always check the expiration date printed on the box.
When buying clothing or crafts, make sure to purchase from official brand stores. Among the shops in Shinjuku, there are many that sell poor-quality counterfeit goods, so be especially careful when shopping in tourist areas.
5 Recommended Souvenir Shops Around Shinjuku Station with Attractive Souvenirs
Next, I'll introduce five recommended souvenir shops around Shinjuku Station that offer attractive souvenirs.
BUSTA Shinjuku THE Souvenir SHOP
Source:Uoo
BUSTA Shinjuku THE Souvenir SHOP is a gift store located inside the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal. Besides Tokyo souvenirs, you can also purchase famous souvenirs from across the entire Kanto Area.
This store offers a rich selection of approximately 60 types of popular sweets from Tokyo and the Kanto Area, and including miscellaneous goods, the total variety reaches 200 items. As the only souvenir shop within the Bus Terminal, it's recommended for spending your waiting time before boarding your bus.
The store is spacious enough that you can enter with your rolling suitcase without any issues. With long operating hours from 6 AM to midnight, you can visit anytime according to your bus arrival or departure schedule.
Address: 5-24-55 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Operating Hours: 6:00-24:00
Closed: Never
Phone Number: 03-6274-8661
Isetan Shinjuku Store
Known as a representative department store in Shinjuku, Isetan is filled with shops selling high-quality merchandise, making it an excellent destination for tourists seeking Shinjuku souvenirs. Isetan is a department store characterized by its Art Deco exterior completed in 1920 and has long been beloved as a symbol of Shinjuku.
If you want to buy food souvenirs at Isetan, head to the food section on the B1 floor. It offers a particularly rich variety of Japanese sweets, with many delicious Japanese-style seasonal treats available.
Isetan also has shops selling Shichimi (Japanese seven-spice blend) and Green Tea, among others, making it enjoyable just to walk around. Isetan is directly connected to the subway station, so you can access it without getting wet in the rain, which is another convenient point.
Address: 3-14-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Operating Hours: 10:00-20:00
Closed: Varies by store
Phone Number: 03-3352-1111
Official Website: https://www.mistore.jp/store/shinjuku.html
Shinjuku Takashimaya
Shinjuku Takashimaya is a department store located on the south side of Shinjuku Station. In addition to Takashimaya, Tokyu Hands and UNIQLO are also housed in the same building, making it a place where shopping enthusiasts can stay all day without getting bored.
Within Takashimaya, there are plenty of shops selling Japanese sweets and traditional Japanese miscellaneous goods as perfect Shinjuku souvenirs. Additionally, at Takashimaya, international visitors can use the TAKASHIMAYA SHOPPER'S CARD, which offers a 5% discount on purchases over 3,000 yen.
Furthermore, there is a tax-free counter that can arrange delivery to airports, and interpreters fluent in foreign languages are always available, making this department store easily accessible for foreign tourists.
Address: 5-24-2 Sendagaya, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Operating Hours: 10:30-19:30
Closed: Never
Phone Number: 03-5361-1111
Official Website: https://www.takashimaya.co.jp/shinjuku/
Odakyu Ace
Source:PR TIMES
Odakyu Ace is a shopping arcade located underground in the Shinjuku West Exit Plaza. This historical underground shopping area opened in 1966 and is directly connected to Shinjuku Station, making it easily accessible even for first-time visitors to Shinjuku.
In 2022, it was renovated and divided into five sections from PART 1 to PART 5. I especially recommend PART 3, which has an excellent selection of stores selling eye-catching products with cute packaging and cans, as well as baked goods shops.
While not an extremely large shopping mall, it has bakeries, restaurants, and cafes where you can enjoy delicious Japanese food, making it perfect for relaxing. If you're looking to enjoy shopping and dining together, Odakyu Ace is a must-visit destination for tourists seeking authentic Shinjuku souvenirs in a convenient location.
Address: 1 West Exit Underground Mall, Nishi-Shinjuku 1-chome, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Restaurants 11:00-22:00 / Cafes 7:00-23:00 / Other shops 10:00-21:00
Closed: Varies by store
Phone: 03-3342-8116 (Disaster Prevention Center)
Official website: https://www.odakyu-ace.jp/
Lumine Shinjuku
Lumine Est is a fashion building located at the east exit of Shinjuku Station. It mainly features apparel and cosmetic stores targeting women in their teens and twenties. With numerous trendy fashion items available, it's a recommended fashion building for those sensitive to trends.
It can be accessed directly from the underground of Shinjuku Station, making it easily accessible even for first-time visitors. Tax-free services for foreign visitors are also available, allowing for consumption tax refunds. Many tourists find Shinjuku souvenirs with unique Japanese designs here.
Address: 3-38-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: Varies by store
Phone: 03-5334-0550
Official website: https://www.lumine.ne.jp/est/
Lumine 1
Lumine 1 is a department store located at the west exit of Shinjuku Station. It targets working women and features many fashion and accessory stores that appeal to women involved in business.
One characteristic is that shops change frequently as they constantly provide new value and imagination, so the latest trending shops are always lined up.
The basement second floor is filled with restaurants and souvenir shops, along with many accessory and cosmetic shops, making it an ideal department store for purchasing Shinjuku souvenirs all in one place. Visitors particularly appreciate the wide variety of unique gifts that represent Japanese culture.
Address: 1-1-5 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: Varies by store
Phone: 03-5334-0550
Official website: https://www.lumine.ne.jp/shinjuku/
Lumine 2
Lumine 2 is a department store located between the East and South exits of Shinjuku Station. Its concept focuses on creating life value, pursuing the provision of new value and emotional experiences beyond just shopping.
The store offers a wide variety of shops featuring fashion, accessories, cosmetics, and many cutting-edge trendy stores. On the 7th floor, there is a theater called Lumine the Yoshimoto, where you can enjoy Japan's unique Comedy Shows.
At Lumine the Yoshimoto, there is a Yoshimoto Entertainment Shop that you can enter for free, where you can purchase funny Shinjuku souvenirs featuring comedians. These make excellent mementos of your trip to Japan and are perfect for tourists looking for unique items to bring home.
Address: 3-38-2 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: 11:00-21:00
Closed: Varies by store
Phone Number: 03-5334-0550
Official Website: https://www.lumine.ne.jp/shinjuku/
It's also recommended to purchase souvenirs while visiting famous tourist spots in Shinjuku!
While buying souvenirs at department stores and souvenir shops is great, it's also recommended to purchase souvenirs at famous tourist attractions in Shinjuku. They sell unique souvenirs that are perfect for creating special memories of your trip. When tourists visit Shinjuku, finding distinctive souvenirs becomes part of the adventure itself.
From here, we will explain famous tourist spots in Shinjuku and recommended souvenirs you can purchase there. All these spots have a rich selection of products, so please enjoy shopping to your heart's content.
Lumine the Yoshimoto
Source:Tripadvisor
Lumine the Yoshimoto, located on the 7th floor of Lumine 2, is one of Japan's largest comedy theaters. It is crowded with many spectators every day as you can enjoy Japan's unique comedy forms such as manzai, comedy skits, and performing arts all day long.
Lumine the Yoshimoto has a souvenir shop called Yoshimoto Entertainment Shop, which you can enter for free. It offers a rich variety of unique Shinjuku souvenirs themed around Japanese comedians, which are recommended as a memento of your visit to Japan.
The shop is filled with distinctive items that will make you laugh just by looking at them. If you want to purchase souvenirs that are a bit different and unique compared to others, definitely visit this place to find special mementos.
Address: Lumine 2, 7F, 3-38-2 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Business Hours: 11:00-21:30
Closed: None
Phone Number: 03-5339-1112
Official Website: https://lumine.yoshimoto.co.jp/
UNIQLO Shinjuku Store
Source:PR TIMES
The UNIQLO Shinjuku main store located at Shinjuku Station's East Exit is the largest UNIQLO in the Shinjuku area. Previously, it was jointly operated with the electronics retailer BIC CAMERA as a store called BICQLO, but in October 2024, it was completely renovated with a fresh new look.
UNIQLO Shinjuku main store serves as UNIQLO's global flagship, welcoming a wide range of customers from both Japan and abroad. The store also features PLST and UTme! shops, which are brands operated by Fast Retailing (UNIQLO's parent company), making its product selection much more extensive than other UNIQLO stores - perfect for tourists looking for quality Shinjuku souvenirs to take home.
If you get tired while shopping, head to UNIQLO Coffee on the second floor. It's highly recommended as you can enjoy a cup of coffee for just 200 yen, which is an incredibly reasonable price for a Shinjuku shopping break.
Address: M1 Shinjuku Building 1F-3F, 3-29-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Closed: Never
Phone: 03-6380-5115
Official website: https://www.uniqlo.com/jp/ja/
Don Quijote
Don Quijote is one of Japan's largest discount stores with numerous affordable products, located at the entrance to Kabukicho. It operates 24 hours a day, so you can shop conveniently at any time.
Don Quijote's motto is "You'll definitely find what you want to buy," and the interior has such a variety of products that there's virtually nothing you can't find. Moreover, since all items are priced lower than at other stores, it's popular among foreign tourists as a place to purchase souvenirs from Shinjuku.
The store features many items with foreign tourists in mind, with a particularly extensive selection of snacks and sweets. They also have a wide variety of cosmetics and toys, so when visiting Japan, please be sure to stop by Don Quijote for memorable Shinjuku souvenirs.
Address: 1-12-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Hours: Open 24 hours
Closed: Never
Phone: 0570-005-921
Official website: https://www.donki.com/
