Flamingo Shimokitazawa

If you’re strolling down the streets of Shimokitazawa, you can’t miss the mural-size neon flamingo beckoning you inside. Search for “best vintage Japan,” and one name you’ll see repeatedly is Flamingo. This US-inspired vintage shop is a major player in the US-inspired thrift store industry, similar to Chicago, and would be a terrific place to visit after going to Chicago. Flamingo maintains moderate rates and a wide range of options while focusing on vintage fashion from the 1950s to the present.

This Shimokitazawa boutique, a sibling of its Harajuku and Kichijoji namesakes, opened in 2005 and carries both contemporary apparel and American vintage clothing from the 1940s through the 1980s. A nice assortment of men's and women's clothing, as well as a few extras like retro-style kitchenware, are available thanks to the retailer's US-based buyer. Prices are kept low in the tradition of a thrift shop, and if you visit at the proper time, you might even catch one of their sporadic bargains to top off your sundae of cheap apparel with an extra dose of cheapness. Keep an eye out for the huge neon flamingo sign.

Opening hours: 12am-9pm daily

Address: 2-25-12 Kitazawa, Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan

Instagram: instagram.com/flamingo_shimokitazawa/ (29.3K followers)

Website: https://www.flamingo-online.jp/