How and where to sell your second-hand and used clothing in Tokyo

Rinkan specialises in designer clothing, accessories and sneakers. There are a few Rinkan shops around the city, each offering a well-curated selection of luxury labels from Japan and abroad. The Shibuya location, also the flagship store, features sleek interiors and well-designed display cases that will make you feel like you’re in a designer boutique. The selection here ranges from Dior tees and ready-to-wear Louis Vuitton to Hermès jewellery and cult sneakers.

You can easily find Ragtag around Tokyo, with locations in Shibuya, Shimokitazawa and even Kichijoji. The selection here is mainly designer, and you can get some really good deals especially if you’re on the hunt for Japanese labels such as Sacai or Issey Miyake. The Cat Street outlet is the largest, with floors dedicated to menswear, women’s fashion and even one just for designer handbags. The menswear section contains a sizeable selection of streetwear, especially from Supreme, Off White and Yeezy.

Bazzstore has a number of outlets across the city, including in Harajuku and Shimokitazawa. The shop carries a wide range of clothes, from Zara basics to rare collabs and coveted Japanese labels such as Comme des Garçons and Yohji Yamamoto. Alexander Wang handbags and Balenciaga wallets can often be found amongst the shelves, and the shop usually carries a decent selection of sneakers and accessories.

For high-end fashion that won’t break the bank, Kindal is a great spot to shop for designer bargains. The shop curates its selection well, so you know you’re getting consignment goods that won’t fall apart after one wear. If you’re looking to sell, one bonus of going with Kindal is that the buying policy is quite flexible –  you can send your items to them via post instead of coming to a store in person.

This expansive thrift store might be a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s definitely worth exploring fully. Prices here are reasonable, and you’ll get a mix of contemporary fashion, vintage duds and even cheap costume jewellery.

The range is heavy on the trends, so if you’re looking to stock up on cheap Hawaiian shirts or tie-dye tees, this is your spot. Don’t miss the rack of Japanese souvenir jackets, or sukajan, which may contain a hidden treasure or two. There’s even a selection of used kimono, too.

Treasure Factory Style is a good place to start your Tokyo thrift adventure. The store offers a mix of contemporary designer and non-designer clothing and footwear for men and women. There’s also a fair number of handbags, accessories and even backpacks. Keep an eye on this Koenji store for some designer steals or maybe a pair of rare limited edition Nike sneakers in its bargain pile.

Exchange by name, exchange by nature: this spacious store sells imported, non-branded used clothing, while also buying in items from customers, or even allowing them to swap threads they no longer want for pieces from the store. Clothes have to meet a certain standard, mind you, so showing up with a sack of baggy old T-shirts probably isn’t going to get you much more than a raised eyebrow.

Look out for the sales on the first Sunday of every month, when everything is marked down to half price.

2nd Street has a number of locations around Tokyo, but the two-floor Shimokitazawa outlet is hard to beat. Offering designer duds on the first floor and general fashion up on the second, there’s something for everyone and every budget.

For a consignment store stocking countless items, the shop is surprisingly well organised and you can easily shop for items by category and colour. For vintage lovers, there are often a few vintage items thrown into the mix as well. The store holds frequent sales and campaigns, so it's worth stopping by every once in a while to see what bargains are in store.

If you’re shopping on a budget, Mode Off is a great place to snag some deals. The chain has stores scattered all around Tokyo, carrying a hodgepodge of second-hand clothing, shoes and accessories, with a few designer pieces thrown into the mix. The Setagaya location encompasses two floors with menswear on the first and womenswear on the second. Unlike most consignment stores, which typically don’t take clothing from fast fashion stores like Uniqlo or H&M, Mode Off will take virtually anything off your hands, regardless of the brand.

Alternatively, you can also buy and drop off clothing at Mode Off's sister store, Book Off.

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