10 Select Shopping Spots in Ueno, Tokyo

Ueno is popular not only as a place for sightseeing, but also for shopping. It is a lively area full of shops that sell everything from clothes and general goods to food. This time, we introduce ten select shops including those that are unique to Ueno as well as places where you can find a great bargain.

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1. Sports Zyuen Ameyoko Building

This is the swimwear building of a sporting goods store that has five branches in the Ueno area, each specializing in specific sports. It is the ultimate swimwear store that sells current products by almost all manufacturers. There is everything from swimsuits for children to professional swimwear worn by Olympic athletes. You may find an unexpected gem hidden among the countless number of items. There is also the main branch, the BENEX store with a tax-free counter, a running store and an annex that sells walking shoes and other items.





2. London Sports Main Branch

This is another popular sporting goods store in Ueno, which has cardboard boxes full of brand name sportswear at the entrance. Most of their products are sold at 60%, 70% or 80% off, and some even at a discount of 90% off. They are not available in all sizes, but you can enjoy treasure hunting for items that suit you. The store also sells soccer, rugby and baseball goods, as well as running shoes, basketball shoes, and tennis shoes on the shoes floor. If you are a sports lover, you can\'t miss London Sports and Sports Zyuen when you are in Ueno.





3. ABC-MART

This is a shoe store that sells everything from sneakers to kids\' shoes and ladies\' shoes. There are six branches in the Ueno area that sell a wide selection of items, ranging from ones that are available at great prices to specialty shoes. There are even designs by famous manufacturers that are only available at ABC-MART. The display of attractive shoes that cover the outer wall is sure to catch your eye.





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4. MyBag Ameyoko Branch

This is a store specializing in bags, and sell items such as suitcases and bags for casual and business use, as well as wallets, belts and travel goods at super low prices. Everyday, the store procures a huge selection of overstock items, limited selection items, as well as items that were used as samples, and aims to sell them at prices that are the lowest in the Ameyoko area. If you find anything cheaper on the internet, show them the site, and you just might be able to negotiate a better price.





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5. Matsumoto Kiyoshi Ueno Hirokoji Branch

This is a drugstore chain with more than 720 branches around the country, known colloquially as Matsukiyo. They sell pharmaceuticals such as cold medicine and eye drops, as well as cosmetics, baby goods and food, all at low prices. You can buy items by Japanese cosmetic brands such as Shiseido at cheaper prices than in specialty stores. If you register Matsumoto Kiyoshi as a friend on Line, you\'ll get coupons twice a month, so be sure to take advantage of this.





6. Cosme Shop Silk Road

This is a discount store where you can purchase items by Japanese and international luxury cosmetics brands, hair care products and fragrances at discounts of 20% to 70% off. It is an established store that attracts customers from afar and is featured in many travel guidebooks. It is able to offer items by famous brands at low prices because it procures items in bulk on a regular basis only from reliable overseas vendors with who they have long-standing relationships. There is the main store along with Part 2 and Part 4 on the main street of Ameyoko, so be sure to stop by.

The photo is of Cosme Shop Silk Road Part 2





7. Shimura Candy Shop

This is a signature Ameyoko shop famous for its "tataki-uri" performance of selling chocolates at super low prices. An energetic staff member keeps taking the chocolates and snacks that are stacked high up and stuffing them into bags. If you buy a bag for 1,000 JPY, you\'ll be getting chocolates and sweets worth more than 2,000 JPY although you can\'t pick and choose the content. It\'s a great deal and comes with the entertainment of watching the tataki-uri.

*The image is of the temporary site
*Until October 14, 2018, the store is operating at a temporary location, four doors down, due to JR\'s earthquake retrofitting.





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8. Niki no Kashi Bic Kan

This is a shop where you can purchase "dagashi" (cheap snacks that children can buy with their allowance), snacks, chocolates, and a variety of different sweets at low prices. The store has a fun, poppy decor where approximately 5,000 different types of snacks are available at any given time. It is dedicated to introducing snacks that are tasty but not necessarily well known nationwide, so there are always new snacks to discover. Go to the tax free counter at the No. 8 cash register at the back of the store to get your items tax free.





9. Ameyoko Center Bldg. Basement Food Court

This is a basement shopping center where you can buy a variety of foods and spices from Asian countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and China. Step into the basement filled with exotic smells and you will enter a world far removed from the Ameyoko above. Chinese Food Kaiba, for example, looks like a regular butcher at first glance, but sells a wide selection of meats, such as internal organs, that are not available at regular supermarkets. There is also a variety of interesting spices. It is not a large area, but one where you can experience a unique atmosphere.





10. Cha no Kiminoen

This is a shop specializing in Japanese teas, and was established approximately 100 years ago. Specialists with a vast knowledge of Japanese teas will give you advice in navigating the approximately 70 different Japanese teas sold here. If you bring your own bottle, you can purchase brewed tea for between 250 JPY and 500 JPY (on weekdays, you can have it served in a cup for an extra 50 JPY). There is also a rich matcha green tea soft serve made with matcha green tea from Uji that is extremely popular. The shop accommodates overseas orders on the Internet, so you can continue to enjoy Japanese tea when you go home.





Ueno is a popular place to buy quality items at great prices. Enjoy shopping along the bustling streets filled with lively calls of the shopkeepers.



Kanto Feature

The information in this article is accurate at the time of publication.

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