If you need to stock-up for your new apartment or a new seasonal wardrobe for you or the kids, there are 10 greater Tokyo area outlet centers. Japanese outlets usually offer a 30-50% discount off of department store prices – although most of the product is made specifically for outlets nowadays. Still, some good values can be found and usually larger sizes as well. Most of the outlets are 30 – 60 Km from central Tokyo so expect 1-2 hours one way in a car or train. For comparison sake, we have approximated the distance from Shibuya Station to each outlet. Our favorite is Mitsui Outlet Park in Kisarazu and and Aeon Lake Town Outlet. All of the big outlets offer many of the same brands, so proximity is probably the best way to choose. If you are heading to Hakone for the weekend Gotemba is a great choice. Karuisawa although further away is right at a Shinkansen stop – bit more expensive for transport but very convenient.  Happy Bargain Hunting!!

Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers – 10 Day Trip Outlets

Listed in order of distance from Shibuya Station >+++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 2. Mitsui Outlet Park Makuhari (approximately 40km from Shibuya Station – about 50-60 min trip) – Conveniently located in Makuhari, you can shop 130 fashion and interior brands both Japanese and Western. Both Mitsui Outlets in Kisarazu and Iruma have more brands if you are willing to travel a bit further. If you are driving to Makuhari it very handy to add a shopping trip to Costco afterward. >+++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers +++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 4. Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu (approximately 44km from Shibuya Station – about 50 mins driving, 60 mins public transit) – Mitsui Outlet Park Kisarazu in Chiba is supposedly the largest outlet in Japan with over 250 stores and restaurants. It is also very convenient via bus and car if you live in central Tokyo. Makes a great shopping day trip with friends. They have a very well organized English website with a detailed shop guide and directions on how to get to the outlets. I did all my holiday shopping in a few hours and enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the huge food court. All the Japanese and foreign brands from kids clothing, sporting goods to home items are available at Mitsui Outlets. Since many of the customers are foreigners, they also carry many larger sizes in shoes and apparel. You also combine with a trip to Mother Farm in Chiba for a full fun day! Here are all our favorite Chiba spots – Chiba with kids Very convenient bus service from most major train stations in Tokyo.   Address: 3-1-1 Kaneda-Higashi, Kisarazu-shi, Chiba Hours:  Shops 10:00-20:00, Restaurants 11:00-21:00, Food Court 10:30-21:00 Access: http://www.31op.com/kisarazu/english/access/ Website: English website http://www.31op.com/kisarazu/english/ +++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 5. Mitsui Outlet Park Yokohama Bayside (approximately 50km from Shibuya Station – about 60 mins driving, 90 mins public transit) – If you live in Yokohama or south west Tokyo this is a great outlet with about 120 brands – both Japanese and western brands are available. +++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 6. Mitsui Outlet Park Tama Minami Osawa (approximately 50km from Shibuya Station – about 60 mins driving or train) – The easiest outlet center to get to from Shinjuku – 40 mins on the express train. On the smaller side of outlets with just over 100 brand stores, but good for the top brands. Check out the brand list below. +++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 7. Shisui Premium Outlet  (approximately 55 km from Shibuya Station, about 50 mins on train or car) – 180 brand outlets 15 miles away from Narita Airport. Top Japanese and International brands for fashion and interior.  Great shopping for people with Narita layovers. There is a direct bus to the outlets from Narita Airport.  From Shibuya Station in central Tokyo expect 1,1-1.5 hours on train or car. Outlet brand store list:  http://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/en/shisui/brands/?tab=1 Address: 2-4-1, Iizumi, Shisui-machi, Inba-gun, Chiba Phone: 043-481-6160 Business Hours: Daily 10:00 – 20:00; Closing Day: Once a year, on the third Thursday in February. Access: 15 min bus ride from Shisui Station on the JR or Keisei Line, or a direct bus from Narita Airport  +++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 8. Mitsui Outlet Park Iruma (approximately 65km from Shibuya Station – about 1.5 hours driving or train) – The Iruma Outlet is one of the big ones with 210 brands. There is also a Costco next door so you can outlet shop then do your groceries in one run. However, this outlet is one of the hardest to get to from central Tokyo. You can can the Fukutoshin subway line and stay on to the Seibu Ikebukuro line but them you need to take a bus 10 mins. You can drive in about 1.5 hours. I would recommend this outlet only to people in Saitama or North Western Tokyo area. +++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 9. Gotemba Premium Outlet (approximately 95km from Shibuya Station – about 1.5 hours driving or 2.5 hours on train) – Gotemba was the first and still is the largest Premium Outlet in the Kanto area. Although a lot farther than the other outlets it has all the best brands Japanese and Western, a playground, planty of parking and a great food court. The bonus is you can also see Mt Fuji while shopping on a clear day. There are daily buses from Shinagawa, Tokyo, Ikebukuro and Shinjuku stations in the a.m. to  Gotemba Premium outlet, returning in the early evening for a few thousand yen. Easier trip when you are not driving.  Bus transport options.  +++++Greater Tokyo Area Outlet Centers 10. Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza (180 km, only advised if you take the Shinkansen 1 min walk from Karuizawa Station on the Shinkansen) – If you have a Japan Rail Pass or are heading up to the resort area of  Karuizawa to escape the summer heat, see the fall foliage or ski, I highly recommend the Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza. Not only do they have over 200 brands, but there is a great kids playground and plenty to eat.  The outlet area is immediately out of the South Exit of Karuizawa Station on the Shinkansen line. The outlets are next door to the  Prince Grand Resort Karuizawa a full-service hotel resort famous for weddings, golf, and skiing. If you have a JR Rail pass the Shinkansen is covered, if no JR Rail pass the round trip from Tokyo is about 10,000 yen on the Shinkansen.