Buy Japan-Made Glasses Tax Free at Megane Ichiba × Popular Sightseeing Spots in Osaka and Kyoto

A Basic Guide to Shopping at Megane Ichiba – A Glasses Chain with All-Inclusive Pricing and Japan Quality Products

Megane Ichiba is an eyeglass chain with over 1,000 locations throughout Japan. It attracts a lot of international customers daily thanks to its Japan quality products and reliable service. It is especially popular for offering high-quality frames and lenses at an all-inclusive price!

While most eyeglass stores charge extra for ultra-thin lenses, high-grade progressive lenses, and the like, Megane Ichiba offers prescription lenses at no additional cost. These lenses are sourced from major Japanese manufacturers such as Nikon-Essilor, HOYA, Itoh Optical Group, and Seiko Optical Products.

*Please note that some of the lenses may need to be specially ordered.

An Extensive and Diverse Selection of Glasses

Megane Ichiba carries a wide variety of frames, from the latest trends to classic designs, including options that prioritize lightness and comfort. On top of top domestic and international brands, it also has its own private label products that are worth checking out! Megane Ichiba’s headquarters and factory is in Sabae City, Fukui Prefecture – a global center for eyewear manufacturing. Many of its products are designed, developed, and produced there.

Thorough Vision Testing and Professional Glasses Fitting

Have you ever had glasses made with your prescription, only to experience eye strain during long hours of computer work? Megane Ichiba not only performs accurate vision testing but also carefully asks about your lifestyle and vision needs to recommend the best lenses for you. 

Even after purchase, free prescription changes* are available within 6 months of receiving your glasses. This service is available at any Megane Ichiba location, not just where you purchased them. So, if you have glasses made in Tokyo but want to change the lenses after arriving in Osaka the next day, Megane Ichiba can accommodate that.

*If you can’t seem to adjust to your prescription lenses, you can get them changed free of charge within 6 months from the date of receipt. (Available at Megane Ichiba stores across Japan)

*If the lenses were made with an ophthalmologist's prescription, a new prescription is required.

*Lens color changes are not included.

*Desired prescription strength may not be eligible in some cases.

Quick Pickup

You can receive your glasses in as little as 25 minutes! (*Depending on same-day lens availability.) After selecting your frames, having your vision tested, and deciding on your lenses, all you need to do is explore the area around the store while you wait. With the short turnaround time, it’s easy to fit shopping for glasses into even a packed travel itinerary.

Tax-Free Shopping and Multilingual Support

Megane Ichiba has several tax-free stores, with all three of the stores introduced in this article offering tax-free shopping. Additionally, some stores are equipped with eye examination equipment that can support up to nine languages. Customer service is also conducted using translation devices, and an increasing number of stores now have multilingual staff members as well.

On the day we visited the Kyoto Shijodori Main Store, customers from various countries were talking about glasses with the staff and looking at the in-store product selection. “We don’t just talk about glasses with customers; we also introduce them to charming alleyways we frequent or have fun conversations about anime,” remarked one of the staff. It’s easy to clearly communicate the style of glasses you want using their translation devices, so even if you don’t know Japanese, you can have glasses made to match your preferences.

Megane Ichiba Shinsaibashi Main Store - Find Your Perfect Pair of Glasses in Osaka's Trendsetting District

From here, we’ll introduce three of Megane Ichiba’s stores in Osaka and Kyoto from the perspective of one of our editors, along with each store’s staff recommended products and nearby sightseeing spots. 

First is the Shinsaibashi Main Store, located in the heart of one of Osaka’s top shopping areas and known for its extensive selection.

Staff Recommended Product: FREE FiT

This store has a clientele mainly consisting of young people and tourists of all ages. One of its most popular products is “FREE FiT,” a private brand that can be said to be no.1 in Megane Ichiba when it comes to its range of sizes, frame types, and colors. It uses special screws developed together with craftspeople from Sabae, Fukui Prefecture, to be lightweight and resistant to slipping.

I was assisted by a Chinese staff member who was also fluent in Japanese. Since I'm a Chinese speaker, I tried on FREE FiT while receiving explanations in Chinese. What amazed me first was the lightness. The lightest frame model weighs less than 8 grams, yet when I put on the glasses and looked around, they didn't slip at all!

With 227 color and design variations, I was having trouble deciding, so the staff member used a "Face Type Analysis" board to select several frames that would suit my facial shape and the shape of my eyes and nose. They also asked about the colors I usually wear and when I would be wearing the glasses. Thanks to them, I was able to find a pair I liked!

Next was the vision test, which went by smoothly thanks to the multilingual eye examination equipment. When I mentioned, "I spend a lot of time working on a PC," they made the prescription slightly weaker to prevent eye fatigue. 

Once they determined my prescription, it was on to choosing the lens type. I learned that Megane Ichiba's standard clear lenses are ultra-thin and come with 99.9% UV protection. They are also anti-smudge, water-repellent, and anti-reflective. Since UV protection was a feature I definitely wanted, I appreciated being able to get it at no additional cost.

After deciding on the lenses, I just had to wait 25 minutes to receive them – very quick! While waiting, I went up to see the second floor of the store, where there was a Japan brand corner with an impressive array of stylish glasses on display. Surprisingly, right next to it was a contact lens corner! Apparently, the store gets many international tourists who visit because they ran out of their contact lenses, their glasses broke, and so on. Such great service has led to many positive reviews such as, “I received quick and attentive service during my trip.”

Finally, the glasses were complete! I put them on to check the fit and the staff member applied heat to the temples and made other slight adjustments, ensuring an excellent fit. They then saw me off at the store entrance – and with that, my shopping was complete.

Recommended Sightseeing Spots in Shinsaibashi

Megane Ichiba’s Shinsaibashi Main Store is located on Shinsaibashi-suji Shopping Street, a paradise for shoppers with fast fashion stores, drugstores, character goods shops, and much more. Be sure to try Osaka’s famous Takoyaki while you’re there! 

Within walking distance is Amerika-mura, a district that leads Kansai youth culture. This area is also recommended if you're looking for unique fashion items or accessories.

Megane Ichiba Namba Store - Discover Glasses That Combine Functionality and Design

Next, I visited the Namba Store, located close to the Shinsaibashi Main Store. As a major transportation hub, Namba is both a bustling tourist destination as well as a top business district in Osaka.

Staff Recommended Products: ZEROGRA, nose free

Here, I asked the staff for glasses that were perfect to use at work, and they recommended “ZEROGRA.” It has an ultra-lightweight frame with very thin temples that are extremely flexible and resistant to breaking even when stretched wide to the sides. When I tried a pair on, they were so light that it felt like I wasn’t wearing glasses at all, and they also fit closely to the silhouette of my face.

Another product popular with international tourists is "nose free." Its distinctive feature is that the tips of the temples are thick. Normally, glasses have their center of gravity shifted forward where the lenses are, but this lineup has weighted temple tips, so the center of gravity is distributed toward the ears, putting less weight on the nose pads. This feature has attracted many international tourists to purchase a pair, and they have left happy reviews such as, “They don’t leave marks on my nose!”

Recommended Sightseeing Spots in Namba

About a 2-minute walk from the Namba Store is Dotonbori, a popular photo spot. While you’re there waiting for your glasses to be made, why not enjoy a mini cruise along the canal? It takes just 20 minutes and lets you view Osaka’s streets from a whole new perspective.

If you get hungry, head to Kuromon Market, about a 10-minute walk from the Namba Store. Under a 580-meter-long arcade, about 150 shops line the area, where you can casually enjoy sushi, seafood bowls, tempura bowls, and more at eat-in corners.

Megane Ichiba Kyoto Shijodori Main Store - Find Glasses with an Old Japan Atmosphere

The last place I visited was the Kyoto Shijodori Main Store. It has a traditional Japanese exterior that perfectly matches Kyoto and catches the eye. Since it’s located in a popular tourist area within central Kyoto, you can easily drop by during your sightseeing.

Staff Recommended Products: THE BEDFORD HOTEL, cotori

The staff member I talked to introduced “THE BEDFORD HOTEL” to me – a lineup of glasses with refined designs that match the atmosphere of Kyoto, a former capital of Japan. While looking classic and elegant, it still manages to bring out each person’s individuality. It’s the perfect pair of glasses for strolling through the ancient streets of Kyoto.

I was also introduced to the private brand “cotori” which had a cute and relaxed appearance with round silicone nose pads that fit gently against my skin. Coming in all kinds of shapes and colors, this looked like a highly fashionable lineup of glasses, and I greatly enjoyed trying them on as if I were choosing clothes.

Recommended Sightseeing Spots Around Kyoto Shijo Street

After deciding on your glasses at the Kyoto Shijodori Main Store, spend your waiting time strolling around Nishiki Market (Nishikikoji Street) which is about a 2-minute walk from the store. In addition to local foods such as nama-fu and Kyoto pickles, you’ll find stores selling all kinds of goodies such as wagyu beef, seafood, and various Japanese sundries.

 

On your next trip to Japan, why not follow this article and grab a pair of high-quality Japanese glasses at a great price while sightseeing your way around the surrounding area? Megane Ichiba has a full selection of functional, high-quality eyewear to meet various needs. Even if you want frames from overseas luxury brands, you can get them fitted with prescription Japan-made lenses at no additional cost! We hope you’ll take the opportunity to create unforgettable memories in Japan with your new Megane Ichiba glasses.