In large cities there are many shopping places such as the department store, boutique, jewelry shop, fashion buiding, etc. Travelers can select any commodity from traditional to latest style at the reasonable (sometimes expensive) price. In Japan the consumers must pay the consumption tax of 5 %, but do not need to pay the chip each time they eat, take a taxi, etc.

Tokyo

Tokyo is the center of plitics and economy in Japan. Many travelers do shopping of modern and traditional items and eat every kinds of food in Tokyo.

Famous department stores and high class boutiques are located along both sides of the main Ginza sreet. The center of the Ginza is around the crossing at 4-Block, where various shops representative of the Ginza center on. Department Stores such as Takashomaya, Matsuya, Mitsukoshi have long history and have been directing the commodity arrangement to the high class orientation (including popular one).

2) Shibuya and Harajuku

Shopping street which is always prosperous with young people. Shibuya is the shopping town radiated from Shibuya station and there are many individualistic shops along the street which has fanciful name like Fire Street, Spain Slope and so on. Parco, Yamaha, Tokyu Plaza, and Seibu Department Store are famous spots. In Harajuku near Shibuya there are many fashion stores and boutiques for young people which sell Japanese traditional items and even modern imported items.

3) Shinjyuku

Shinjyuku has different atmosphere in the eastern and western side. In the eastern side there are discount camera shops, department stores and many small stores especially for young people. In front of the Shinjuku station there is Yodobashi Camera Shop, one of the largest discount camera shops in Japan. Near the Shinjuku station there are Kinokuniya bookstore which has every kind of books and Isetan Department Store which is representative of Shinjuku and keeps many items of clothing, food and living. In the eastern side there are many skycrapers like wall street. Takashimaya Times Square near the Shinjuku station is a large shopping complex which has restaurants, video game arcades, theaters and so on.

Osaka is called "city of merchant", which means that there are many small shops and restaurant. Osaka is famous for the food of okonomiyaki, ramen, tonkatsu and takoyaki.

The large street neighboring Midosuji which goes through from north to south and where there are many old established shops and popular spots like Sony Tower, Parco and department stores like Sogo and Daimaru. There is European Village in the eastern side of Suo-cho in which high-class boutiques are standing in row. On the other hand in the eastern side there is American Village which is popular for young people.

2) Kita-Shinchi, Nakanoshima

Kita-Shinchi is the area sorrounded by the Root One, Mido-Suji and Dojima-river, and there are many high-class bars and clubs as socialable places. Nakanoshima is the basin between Tosabori River and Dojima-river and te center of politics and culture in Osaka. There are Osaka Municipal Office, Festival Hall, library, art museum and also large park in the south side.