Shopping in Japan

This time, I would like to talk about shopping in Japan. During my trip to Japan, I went to two big outlets. I've mentioned one called Gotemba Premium Outlets in the previous entry; while the other is called Mitsui Outlet Park. During the past decade, 'outlet' culture has become more and more popular in Japan though I am not saying that shopping at malls or shops is not unwelcome. The major features of these 'mega'-outlets are three-fold. First, they all sell brandname products, but probably not the most updated ones. Second, some of these items such as handbags or shoes are less expensive than the regular prices listed elsewhere. Third, they tend to cater needs of all walks of life from toys, ladies' wear to men's wear. Because most of these outlets are located in a bit remote areas, they are normally big in size and some areas are solely reserved for picnic. Dogs are also allowed in these mega outlets. I witnessed Japanese families having their packed lunch after shopping in some open areas.

Gotemba Outlet targets at high fashion. To name just a few, Gucci, Prada, D&G, Ralph Lauren, Bally and Armani can all be found in this outlet. For Mitsui Outlet Park, this one is more down-to-earth and aims at office ladies. Brandnames such as Nike, Adidas, G-shock and some cosmetics brands can be found in this mall. Though Mitsui Outlet is much smaller than Gotemba, the items of the former are more reasonable and affordable. In addition, Mitusi is located near one of the JR stations, so it is much more convenient. Apart from outlets, shops in Japan are full of beautiful products but their prices are relatively more expensive than those of Hong Kong. Think thrice before you shop in Japan!!