Family Dining · Practical guide

Takashimaya Japan Shopping Guide: Shinjuku & Nihombashi, Hello Kitty Card & Tax-Free Tips

Prices, ordering steps, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.

Quick Facts

Category Detail
Japanese name高島屋 (Takashimaya)
Brand NameTakashimaya (株式会社髙島屋 / Takashimaya Co., Ltd.)
Store TypeGrand luxury department store, historic architectural monument, high-fashion salon & gourmet food hall
Target AudienceInternational luxury travelers, connoisseurs of traditional Japanese crafts, designer fashion lovers, and gourmet food enthusiasts
Ordering StyleGracious personal sales assistance across specialized brand boutiques and departments with centralized Tax-Free service lounges
Membership Required?No membership or Japanese resident ID required for standard shopping; physical foreign passport required to receive the 5% Takashimaya Shopper's Card and process Tax-Free refunds
Approximate Price RangeDepachika wagashi gift boxes, bento, and regional sake ~¥900–¥3,800; luxury skincare and Japanese cosmetics ~¥5,000–¥30,000; domestic designer apparel, silk kimonos, and leather shoes ~¥22,000–¥110,000; high jewelry, Swiss watches, and couture ~¥120,000–¥2,800,000+ (subject to revision); Tax-Free available on purchases of ¥5,000+ (excluding tax)
Multilingual SupportDedicated Foreign Customer Service Lounges with multilingual staff (English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Korean) at major flagships (Nihombashi, Shinjuku, Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka Namba); foreign-language floor directories and interactive interpretation tablets
Payment MethodsCash (JPY), International Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay), Transit IC (Suica, Pasmo, ICOCA), e-Money (iD, QUICPay), QR Mobile Pay (Alipay, WeChat Pay, PayPay, etc.)
Store NetworkOver 15 department store complexes across Japan (including Nihombashi, Shinjuku, Yokohama, Osaka Namba, and Kyoto), along with prominent international flagships in Singapore, Bangkok, Shanghai, and Ho Chi Minh City
The Takashimaya department store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan
Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5 · via Wikimedia Commons

What it is

Takashimaya (髙島屋) is one of the most revered and aristocratic institutions in the history of Japanese commerce. Founded in Kyoto in 1831 by Shinshichi Iida as a secondhand clothing and cotton merchant, Takashimaya earned its reputation by introducing Japanese silk embroideries, damasks, and kimonos to world expos in Paris and Chicago in the late 19th century. Today, Takashimaya stands as a preeminent global department store group, celebrated for its exquisite balance of timeless Kyoto craftsmanship, high-fashion international luxury, and flawless hospitality (Omotenashi).

The crown jewel of Takashimaya is its breathtaking Nihombashi Main Store (日本橋髙島屋S.C.), which in 2009 became the very first department store building in Japan to be designated an Important Cultural Property. Featuring an original 1930s Showa-era neoclassical exterior, hand-operated vintage brass elevators with uniformed elevator attendants, and an idyllic rooftop garden, shopping here feels like stepping back into an era of aristocratic grandeur. In contrast, the colossal Shinjuku Takashimaya inside Times Square provides a modern, 14-story mega-emporium directly connected to Tokyo's busiest transit terminal. Both stores host world-renowned Depachika gourmet basements and extensive designer salons.

How to order

Step 1: Claiming Your 5% "Takashimaya Shopper's Card"

Step 2: Exploring Department Store Floors

Step 3: Paying at Brand Counters

Step 4: Finalizing Tax-Free Refund Registration (2026 Refund System)

What to order first

1. Clé de Peau Beauté & Shiseido Prestige Luxury Skincare

2. Handcrafted Kyoto Kiyomizu Ceramics & Nambu Cast Iron Teapots

3. Echire Pâtisserie au Beurre & Gourmet Depachika Delicacies

4. Issey Miyake Bao Bao & Pleats Please Designer Collections

5. Premium Master-Crafted Japanese Cutlery & Kitchenware (Aritsugu & Sakai)

Payment & practical info

Prices and details checked: November 2026.

Good to know / Common mistakes

1. Keep Your Hello Kitty Card as a Souvenir

The Takashimaya Shopper's Card offers 5% off eligible purchases of at least ¥3,000 before tax, subject to product and brand exclusions. It cannot be used at JR Nagoya Takashimaya or shops in shopping centers adjacent to Takashimaya. Ask at each participating store's designated counter about the card's validity period and restrictions before relying on it.

2. Department Store Tax-Free Processing Fee

Under Takashimaya's tax-free procedures effective November 1, 2026, a system handling fee of 23% is deducted from the amount equivalent to consumption tax (21% if tax-exclusive purchases total ¥1,000,000 or more). Additional card or currency-conversion charges may apply. The refund is processed after Customs confirms export, using the refund method registered with Takashimaya. Confirm the calculation and accepted refund method with the counter staff when you buy.

3. Knives MUST Be Packed in Checked Luggage

If you purchase a handcrafted Japanese chef knife at Takashimaya, remember that aviation security will confiscate any bladed instrument found in cabin hand baggage. Wrap the boxed knife securely and pack it into your checked suitcase before airline check-in.

FAQ

Q1: Can I use the Takashimaya Shopper's Card at the B1 Depachika food hall?

A: Most freshly prepared food items, bento, and dining restaurants are excluded from the 5% Shopper's Card discount. However, packaged culinary gift boxes, luxury teas, and regional sweets purchased for export may qualify for Tax-Free refund processing at the Tax-Free Lounge when eligible goods purchased at the same participating store on the same day total at least ¥5,000 before tax.

Q2: What is the difference between Nihombashi Takashimaya and Shinjuku Takashimaya?

A: Nihombashi Takashimaya is a historic, cultural monument with classical Showa architecture, tranquil luxury boutiques, and bespoke artisan crafts. Shinjuku Takashimaya (Times Square) is a colossal, modern 14-story mega-store directly connected to Shinjuku Station, featuring extensive international designer boutiques, an entire Hands store, and a rooftop dining park.

Q3: How do I receive my consumption-tax refund under the 2026 system?

A: Pay for your goods at Takashimaya sales counters, then bring your receipts and passport to the Tax-Free Lounge where your purchases are registered electronically with Japan Customs. Keep your receipts. When you leave Japan — within 90 days of purchase and before checking your luggage — present your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal for Customs' export confirmation (show the goods only if your record is flagged). After that confirmation, the store refunds the tax by the method registered at the counter. The seller or its refund operator processes the refund after Customs verifies export. Every tax-free item in each purchase record must be exported; consumables must remain unconsumed. Ask your store which refund method and pickup location apply. Eligible items are taxed at the standard 10% rate or, for qualifying food and drinks, the reduced 8% rate; the amount actually refunded varies with any fee deducted and the store's conditions.

Sources