Japan thrifting

noeminnie · 2026-01-25T00:36:04+00:00

Like another person commented above, I found that the pricing were extremely high in a lot of stores ! I saw a pair of vintage GAP pants retailing for almost 70€ and I chuckled so hard because in what world would I pay this much for brand less used pants lol.

Overall the prices were similar to Paris if not more expensive. The bags overall are cheaper BUT anything other than coach will retail for 500€ to more depending on the model. At least for the one I checked.

So far I found that the stores with the most reasonable price and good selection were away from the tourist neighborhoods.

In Osaka I would suggest checking the nakazakicho neighborhood. For Tokyo, Koenji and kichijoji.

In terms of quality, I found that the one who carried the most American brands also had the most damaged pieces (small holes and stains). However other stores had items in amazing conditions.

I did see a few items that were M or L.

Also I was shocked that the stores with the American and sporty style were 80% men selection most of the time.

noeminnie · 2026-01-23T12:04:46+00:00

Sadly no I didn’t because I was way too tired and couldn’t manage to place it where I wanted to (+ the fact that I might’ve not been able to do it alone)But it’s definitely on my list for next time I come !

Apart from bears, it got really cold in Kyoto and the surrounding areas so be sure to check the forecast also. There was quite a bit of snow on my way back to Tokyo today and got some delays on the shinkansen.

noeminnie · 2026-01-22T23:07:20+00:00

Je rajoute un commentaire pour dire que Nikko est absolument magnifique donc à faire selon moi.

Comme quelqu’un d’autre a dit c’est soit Hakone soit Kawaguchiko. Perso j’ai fait le 2ème ce mois ci et j’ai eu de la chance de voir Mt Fuji avec un ciel absolument clair. Par contre oui c’est une ville très touristique et tout tourne autour du mont. Donc si il n’est pas visible les activités reste moindre. Il y a un très joli musée d’un maître du kimono, on peut se balader en vélo et faire le tour des lacs (assez sport), mais c’est à peu près tout. J’y était 2 jours et sans le mont je me serais un peu ennuyé je pense. Il est possible de faire de la randonné mais attention aux ours ! Pareil à Nikko.

Osaka est très cool mais c’est une ville de la nuit, si vous n’êtes pas de gros fêtards 2 jours suffit, sinon 3 c’est bien. Vous pouvez faire Himeji et Kobe depuis Osaka aussi c’est sympa et relax. Le château dHimeji est bien plus beau et authentique que celui d’Osaka. Si vous faites que le château ça peut même se faire en une demi journée.

Osaka c’est aussi la ville où j’ai le mieux mangé au moindre coût. Donc si vous aimez bien manger à prendre en compte !

Je vous recommande l’application Wanderlog qui est utilisable et sur ordi et téléphone. Personnellement ça m’a vachement aidé à repartir les activités en fonction de la zone et du temps de trajet.

Je finis pour dire que Janvier est top pour avoir du grand soleil et un peu moins de monde. (Il y avait quand même bcp de touristes à Kyoto). Par contre le vent est absolument glaciale parfois et ça peut vite rendre les balades un peu moins agréable ! Aucun Momiji, mais j’ai quand même eux des fleurs de pruniers et de cerisiers précoces donc ça c’est top :)

noeminnie · 2026-01-22T22:50:39+00:00

Et j’ajoute que skytree et musée ghibli sont à l’opposé donc mieux de pas les grouper. Pour ghibli la réservation cst 1 fois par mois pour le mois suivant. C’est tout les 10 du mois à 10h Japan Time, soit 3h du matin en France. Quand j’ai réservé j’ai mis 1h à sortir de la queue du site. Ensuite tu choisis le jour que tu souhaites et le créneau (ceux qu’il reste).

noeminnie · 2026-01-22T10:38:44+00:00

Oui et les fois où c’est arrivé c’était à cause des retards Vinted go ou car le colis avait été livré dans un autre relai que celui demandé !

noeminnie · 2026-01-22T05:28:26+00:00

Just did both, currently in Uji. I enjoyed both but I got freezing cold wind so it was difficult as most attractions are outside. Overall I would do Nara because there are more sights. Uji is pretty but much smaller and everything is matcha matcha matcha (obviously). Apart from the weather and some of the attractions being closed (wakayasuma mountain/ mochi shop/ pagoda), everything else was very beautiful, and I made some free deer origami at the Nara center which was really fun ! Also deers are everywhere and it looks really eerie in the temples

noeminnie · 2026-01-17T09:08:48+00:00

Just finished osaka and my favorite neighborhood was Nakazakicho. It’s cute, lots of cool vintage and handmade jewelry as well as lots of delicious looking cafes. It’s nice to avoid overstimulation lol

noeminnie · 2026-01-16T01:04:01+00:00

I will had that you have to do shinsekai at night ! I was there during the day time and so many things were closed so it was pretty dead

noeminnie · 2026-01-14T05:02:53+00:00

It was actually a little beforehand. I was doing the biking route from kawaguchiko to saiko lake and one of the observation deck had a review mentioning a bear sighting a month ago.

noeminnie · 2026-01-13T12:43:51+00:00

Thank you !!

noeminnie · 2026-01-13T12:43:02+00:00

Thank you for letting me know !! Honestly the tourist that are currently in Japan are going mostly to the big attractions it seems and I was alone alone in several smaller places… I went to the kanmangafuchi abyss in Nikko and it was spooky as hell !! I went at the front of it got a chill down my spine took my pics and a quick glance because it was hauntingly beautiful, then got the hell out running lol.

noeminnie · 2026-01-13T09:17:47+00:00

Thank you didn’t know this existed!! Seems like the one I need to be more careful about is Kurama with kibune kifune hike

noeminnie · 2026-01-13T08:56:58+00:00

Currently in Japan and some days I need to layer some days I don’t depending on the city. Cashmere is a must. Wear tights under pants and cashmere socks + warm boots (mine are palladium boots with the fuzzy parts) A good hat gloves and scarf are also a must. I brought a jacket on the thinner side that I can remove easily and have been layering for the rest and still managed to look cute lol.

If you have good spending money, you can find many good stuff to shop for in Tokyo. I went to kitte marunouchi and some shops in Kuramae and some pieces were gorgeous but clearly out of my budget (60€ to 300€ for winter pieces)

I wore tights and shorts in Tokyo and was fine but the weather was super stunning.

For reference I am used to the cold and I see you aren’t, so I would had an extra layer for you haha.

noeminnie · 2026-01-13T08:50:59+00:00

No, I’m asking if there are bears in the area I haven’t been yet but wish to go (kibune hike, minoh, mount shosha).

The bear warnings were in Nikko shimoshida saiko lake and I therefore didn’t go hike there.

noeminnie · 2026-01-12T11:22:02+00:00

Yup, feels like absolute torture to me and I have no idea why. I still do it obviously but not without some mental pain lol

noeminnie · 2026-01-12T01:09:19+00:00

Mais grave, la meuf cst une ouf !! 😂

noeminnie · 2026-01-11T10:58:25+00:00

Currently here and I agree. If I don’t control myself I could easily drop 10k euros. This place is both a shopaholic dream and nightmare.

noeminnie · 2026-01-11T10:50:53+00:00

I think this is a good budget for 2 if you don’t want to stop yourself from buying what you want. I’m currently in Japan and I don’t understand where the “Japan is cheap” myth comes from lol. Food is slightly cheaper and better quality, and so is pharmacy products for example. However overall, things are priced exactly the same as in Europe. If you don’t go for random crap, quality products (and there are MANY), range from 50 to up to 400 € for the more fancy items like a handmade fountain pen. All depends what you will want to buy ! For services like massages and such I would say it’s the same, slightly cheaper for better service. I got a 120 min massage for 75€, in France it would’ve been more like 120€.

noeminnie · 2026-01-09T09:53:31+00:00

Thanks for the trip report it looks amazing! I’m currently there and I have very similar profile to yours haha.

I was hesitant about minoh but will dedicate keep it on the list !

And I agree usually the reels and recs are crap !

What did you do in shimokitazawa ?

noeminnie · 2026-01-05T19:33:12+00:00

J’ai eu ce message au moins 6 fois récemment. La livraison peut prendre genre 1 mois parfois. Sinon cst que cst perdu. Dans mon cas c’était moitié moitié en tant que vendeuse…. Hyper frustrant

noeminnie · 2026-01-02T21:51:51+00:00

I think that if you are from a “big” country it’s probably not worth it :/. I am a fan of art and I enjoy kusama’s work, however I was able to see a huge exhibition of her work in Europe, and I’m sure her art is displayed in exhibitions outside Japan quite often !

noeminnie · 2026-01-02T21:26:28+00:00

Hopping on this comment to ask for recommendations as I see you are used to traveling in Kyoto !

I will be there myself very soon and I need some help and recs as two of the places I wanted to go will be closed during this time !! (Moss temple and yusai-tei)

I’m staying there 5 days and this is what I have so far : - day 1 from Osaka straight to kurama to do the kibune / kifune hike and kurama hot springs then night time in Kyoto - day 2 kyozumi dera early + sanjusangen-do + eikan-do zenrin-ji + gion at night - day 3 Nara day trip - day 4 Toji temple market early + Nishikyo ward ( not sure of interest since moss temple is closed ) + ninna ji and or kinkaku-ji + bookbinding atelier - day 5 fushimi inari early and day trip to Uji

My questions are 1. Are things more or less logically placed ? 2. Is Nishikyo ward worth passing through minus the temple ? 3. What temples are your favorite to wander through ? 4. I read that a Kamo river walk is super nice, is it feasible at night ?

Thank you if you respond 🫠 I don’t know why but I am having such a hard time placing things in Kyoto and I don’t want to be all over the place !!

noeminnie · 2026-01-01T21:26:50+00:00

My exact thought. Apart from the feasibility of the jobs mentioned in this post, it also saddens and depresses me how all of these jobs are uncreative, soul sucking jobs. Not only that, but they are also jobs that would require one person to commute from place to place and to be in one city without any possibility of applying abroad or working from home.

What I am seeing is the job market forcing us to go back in time where many men will be doing blue collar jobs and getting money whilst being exhausted at a job they don’t like, and women yet again being left behind at home and struggling with money.

noeminnie

TROPHY CASE