Luxury Brands to Buy in Japan — Japanese Designers Loved Worldwide and Japan-Exclusive Items

Japanese high-end fashion labels have a strong presence on the global runway. Experiencing them in Japan brings even more advantages: better pricing, tax-free shopping, and access to exclusive items. Visiting flagship stores also allows travelers to immerse themselves in the brand’s world in a way that goes beyond shopping.

Why Buying in Japan Is Worth It

The same piece can often be 20 to 30 percent less expensive in Japan than overseas. For tourists, the tax-free system makes purchases even more affordable. Flagship stores stock full seasonal collections, offer limited colors, and sometimes launch pieces in Japan before anywhere else. For fashion enthusiasts, Japan is a destination where shopping becomes a smart investment.

Hover over the image to check the price.

Leading Japanese Luxury Brands

Comme des Garçons: Avant-garde design that redefined the concept of fashion. The Aoyama flagship store is as striking architecturally as the clothes themselves.

Yohji Yamamoto: A unique philosophy of black. Flagship stores carry not only the main line but also Y’s and Y-3.

Pleats Please Issey Miyake: Innovative pleating technology creates light, wearable pieces. Pricing advantages in Japan are especially clear.

sacai: Distinctive silhouettes built with mixed fabrics. A favorite of international celebrities, instantly recognizable on the street.

Rising Designers to Watch

Mame Kurogouchi: Traditional crafts and delicate details combine with modern femininity. Known to many through Uniqlo collaborations, yet the original line is truly luxurious.

2025 fall-winter look @Mame Kurogouchi

Anrealage: Experimental design using light and technology. A regular presence at Paris Fashion Week, representing a forward-thinking Japanese aesthetic.

2025-26 A/W COLLECTION SCREEN, etc. ©anrealage

Where to Shop

Aoyama and Omotesando are the core districts for Japanese designer flagships. Ginza brings together global luxury houses and is a hub for Japan-exclusive pieces. In Shinjuku and Shibuya, large department stores make it easy to compare multiple labels in one stop. Each area offers a different layer of Tokyo’s fashion culture.

International Labels with Japan-Exclusive Pieces

Louis Vuitton: Collaborations with Japanese artists and designs inspired by Japanese motifs are highly sought after, even in the global resale market.

Gucci: Collaborations with illustrator Yuko Higuchi create a whimsical yet edgy world. These collections are only available in Japan.

A Walking Route in Omotesando and Aoyama

From Omotesando Station to Aoyama, flagship stores line the streets within walking distance.

Suggested Route

• Start at Omotesando Station Exit A1
• Comme des Garçons Aoyama
• Yohji Yamamoto Aoyama
• Issey Miyake Aoyama (Pleats Please flagship)
• sacai Aoyama
• Return to Omotesando to see Louis Vuitton and Gucci

A half-day walk through these stores offers a concentrated experience of Japanese and global fashion

The Lasting Impression of Shopping in Japan

Buying luxury fashion in Japan is not only about price or availability. It is about experiencing design in its native context, discovering exclusives, and walking through districts where architecture, fashion, and culture intersect. Each purchase carries the memory of the trip, recalled whenever the clothes are worn.

You might also be interested in these articles
■Japan Denim: Rewriting the Rules of Indigo
■Japanese “Kawaii” Fashion — Popular Brands Representing the Mass-Produced Look