Secondhand shopping in Japan: Find figurines, electronics, and designer clothes

My trip to Okinawa was a chance to experience Japan's secondhand economy. Even wealthy families have a lot of unused items, often unsure what to do with them, so they often donate them through charity events. Secondhand stores are thriving in Japan, and we can learn from them!

HARD OFF, OFF House

HARD OFF, whose corporate slogan emphasizes resource recycling, has nearly 500 branches in Japan. Its subsidiaries also include Off House, Hobby Off, and Mode Off, totaling over 1,000 stores. The main products sold by each brand are as follows:

  • HARD OFF – Electronics
  • OFF House – daily necessities and clothing
  • Hobby Off – Games, Models, and Cards
  • Mode Off – Clothing
  • Liquor OFF – Alcohol

The shopping space is bright and if you don’t look closely you can’t tell that they are second-hand goods. Many of the goods still have the brands on them.

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF
Japanese Secondhand Stores – HARD OFF

Hey~ The rich man came to see what retro toys there are. There are many models displayed in the cabinet, both new and second-hand.

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF 玩具區
Japanese Secondhand Stores – Hard Off Toys Section

Anime figures are still very popular and occupy a large part of the toy area.

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF 動漫公仔
Japanese Second-Hand Stores – HARD OFF Anime Figures

A small area of video game consoles and game cartridges, but the number is much less than that of the animation warehouse. Friends who are collecting game cartridges can refer toSuper strong second-hand store – Anime WarehouseThis article.

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF 電視遊樂器
Japanese Second-Hand Shop – HARD OFF Video Game Consoles

WOW~ Boutique area, boasting authentic 100% products, COACH, LV, and HERMES can all be seen.

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF 精品區
Japanese Secondhand Stores – HARD OFF Boutique Area

Actually, Hard Off sells electronics, home appliances, cameras, stereos, musical instruments, and more, so we have a lot of 3C products, including various GoPros, digital cameras, and even a lot of cannons. But honestly, since I got a smartphone, I haven't used a digital camera in a long time (laughs).

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF 電器區
Japanese Second-Hand Stores – Hard Off Electronics Section

Mobile phones, smart watches, speakers, and large musical instruments.

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF 手機、手錶區
Japanese second-hand store – HARD OFF mobile phone and watch area

This section is quite unique, featuring a wide selection of traditional Japanese clothing, all in pristine condition, with some accessories costing under 1,000 yen. If you're planning on taking photos in a kimono or yukata, buying them directly from a secondhand shop might be a good and economical option.

日本二手商店 - HARD OFF 日本傳統服務
Japanese Secondhand Stores – HARD OFF Japanese Traditional Services

klook Okinawa theme activities discount sharing

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2nd Street

2nd STREET (Japanese: セカンドストリート) is Japan's largest chain of secondhand goods stores, with 850 locations in Japan alone and nearly 1,000 worldwide. Recently, a significant number have opened in Taiwan as well. 2nd STREET specializes in secondhand clothing, shoes, bags, accessories, and other high-end items. With a diverse selection of brands, ranging from affordable to high-end fashion, 2nd STREET is a favorite among young Japanese shoppers.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET
Japanese Secondhand Store – 2nd STREET

The co-branded model of Adidas and GUCCI still costs 30,000 yen even as a second-hand product. It is indeed not easy to have the support of a famous brand, and it has a value-preserving effect.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 名牌服飾
Japanese second-hand store – 2nd STREET designer clothing

Second-hand baby products, strollers, comfort chairs, etc. In fact, the rich man thinks that second-hand baby products are the best to buy, because babies grow very fast and each product is not used for a long time. Buying a good second-hand product can support it for a while, and you won’t feel bad if it gets dirty.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 嬰兒用品
Japanese Secondhand Store – 2nd STREET Baby Products

In the musical instrument area, you can see a variety of instruments, including guitars, electronic keyboards, and Okinawa's famous Sangenkoto.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 樂器
Japanese Second-Hand Store – 2nd STREET Musical Instruments

This thing is quite unusual. Any guesses? It's a fishing tackle. Apparently, fishing is a popular activity among Okinawans.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 釣魚工具
Japanese Second-Hand Shop – 2nd STREET Fishing Tools

In the toy area, models and dolls account for the majority.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 玩具區
Japanese Secondhand Store – 2nd Street Toys Section

Ultraman and monsters are also very cheap, some are only 100 yen, while in Taiwan they only cost 250 yuan. There is really a big difference. I recommend it to friends who like monster soft plastic.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 玩具區 超人力霸王 怪獸
Japanese Secondhand Store – 2nd Street Toys Section Ultraman Monsters

Out-of-print Gundam models. The rich man has not studied Gundam, but it seems that there are still many old series.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 玩具區 鋼彈模型
Japanese second-hand store – 2nd STREET toy section Gundam models

Some unpacked toys, the little rich man was digging for treasure here, and finally bought two 100 yen cars.Okinawa BeachRacing, the car disappeared in the end. Fortunately, it was bought cheaply, so the kids were not sad.

日本二手商店 - 2nd STREET 玩具區 挖寶區
Japanese Secondhand Store – 2nd Street Toys Treasure Hunt

Anime Warehouse

Manga Warehouse (マンガ廠) is a long-established anime store in Okinawa, and its name alone is sure to attract wealthy individuals. While Manga Warehouse is called anime, it also sells a wide range of clothing and even secondhand goods. Manga Warehouse has four locations in Okinawa, and this time, I visited the Awase and Akagamine branches to see what I found! For more details, please refer to the website.Okinawa Anime Warehouse: Sharing the Best Secondhand Toy StoreThis one!

日本二手商店 - 動漫倉庫 動漫商品
Japanese Second-Hand Stores – Anime Warehouse Anime Goods

rich man experience

Seeing so many second-hand goods also reminded the rich man of the many unused electrical appliances, clothes, etc. at home. He decided to sort them out and sell them to Taiwan's 2nd Street someday, hoping to make some extra money (laughs).

further reading

台北二手商店挖寶趣:復古小物、跳蚤市場與環保購物地圖

Treasure Hunting in Taipei's Second-Hand Stores: Vintage Goods, Flea Markets, and Eco-Shopping Maps

Recently, wealthy people have also followed the trend of environmental protection and loving the earth, and they will go into any second-hand stores they come across. This time, the rich man accidentally discovered a second-hand house in Wanhua Dashuigou, which is located in the historic South Airport Comprehensive Market. It was an unexpected discovery by the rich man and it was quite interesting. Let’s follow the rich man to see what treasures there are!

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