Tokyo Summer Sales

Tiffany

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Every year, the closing of the rainy season marks the opening of Tokyo’s famous “end-of-summer” bargain sales—which, despite the name, happen before summer has even reached its peak. The Tokyo summer sales are a clever ploy to lure shoppers out from under their home air conditioners for a chance to score savings of around 30–50% on fashion and all sorts of other stuff, and a way for shops to clear their inventory.

tokyo summer sales
Photo by Kimmo Räisänen used under CC

One thing to be aware of is that most retailers don’t like to make much noise about their summer sale dates. While many of the listings below state a mid-July closing (or no closing), many of them start right up again with a “Summer Sale Part 2”. Also, as usual there are always lots of “Up to XX off” and other not-so-subtle ways to convince you you’re getting a better deal than you think.

Here’s when and where to go bargain-hunting in summer 2019!

Shop by area:

Pro tip: Online stores like Zozotown also have sales and you can pick up bargains all year round.

Ginza/Yurakucho/Nihonbashi

Matsuya ginza department store
Matsuya Ginza | Photo by Lucy Dayman
  • Mitsukoshi
    • Store-wide clearance sale from Friday, June 28th
    • Special Brand Bazaar from Wednesday, July 10th to Thursday, July 11th
    • Clearance sale for selected brands from Friday, July 12th to Monday, July 15th
  • Marronnier Gate Building 1 + 2 & 3 – Marronnier The Sale | From Friday, June 28th to Sunday, July 28th
  • Daimaru – Clearance Sale | From Friday, June 28th
  • While most items will go on sale from June 28h, the dates vary for others. Most will be on sale as long as supplies last.
  • Matsuya Ginza – Clearance Sale | From Friday, June 28th
    • As in the case of Daimaru, the starting date varies per brand.
  • Hibiya Chanter – The Chanter Bazaar | From Friday, July 5th to Monday, July 15th
  • Tokyu Plaza Ginza – Tokyu Plaza The Sale | From Friday, June 28th to Monday, July 15th
  • Ginza Six – Summer Sale | From Friday, June 28th to Sunday, July 21st

Shinjuku/Ikebukuro

Photo by Dick Thomas Johnson used under CC
  • Isetan – Summer Clearance Sale | From Friday, June 28th to Wednesday, July 24th
  • Mylord – Last Chance Sale | From Saturday, July 6th to Wednesday, July 31st
  • Odakyu – From Friday, June 28th
  • Lumine – Lumine the Bargain | From Thursday, July 25th
    • This applies not only to Shinjuku’s multiple Lumine branches, but also to the others in Ikebukuro, Tachikawa, Shibuya, Kita-Senju, Yurakucho, and more.
  • Parco Ikebukuro – Grand Bazaar (“Granba”) | From Thursday, July 4th to Monday, July 15th
    • Other Parco branches in Tokyo (e.g. Ueno) will also be having a Grand Bazaar for the same duration.
  • Marui City Ikebukuro and Shinjuku Marui – Final Sale | From Friday, June 28th
    • No, Marui shops are not closing down, despite the odd choice of name for this year’s summer sale. Other Marui branches in Tokyo – such as the Shibuya branch and the Ueno branch – will also be holding this sale around this time. The ending date varies per brand.
  • Sunshine City – Alpa Good Bargain |From Friday, June 28th to Monday, July 15th

Shibuya/Harajuku

  • Shibuya 109 – Summer Sale | From Friday, June 28th to Wednesday, July 31st
  • Omotesando Hills– Summer Sale | From Saturday, June 29th to Monday, July 15th

7 Responses to “Tokyo Summer Sales”

  1. Grace
    Grace July 8, 2013

    I’m totally going to check out some of these sales! Thanks!

  2. Avatar
    Theo Lubbe July 8, 2013

    Normal prices during the ‘sale’ period at the beginning of a season, inflated prices mid-season for all those shoppers who only realised into the season they have “nothing” to wear, with occasional ‘limited stock’ sales here and there.

    That’s always been how I’ve interpreted it, anyway – many clothes stores here in South Africa seem to do things that way. “Oh, we’re sorry, we’ve run out of stock of sale item x….”. Next day the sale for that item is finished, but it’s back in stock already.

  3. Avatar
    Brian August 21, 2013

    Are there equivalent sale periods for Fall, Winter and Spring?

    • Avatar
      CheapoGreg August 30, 2013

      Summer and winter are the two big ones but yes, there are Fall and Spring sales as well. It all doesn’t make much sense to me – it’s about 34 degrees outside at the moment but if you go into any fashion store they’re full of jackets and sweaters at the moment.

  4. Avatar
    po June 28, 2014

    i’m planning to head to tokyo in october. are all the shops going to be selling only autumn/winter clothing? Where can i get summer clothing at affordable prices?

  5. Cheapo Editor
    Cheapo Editor June 29, 2014

    Hi po, you might be able to find some summer items in the bargain bins if the stores have them. Otherwise, your best bet is to try some of the second-hand stores.

  6. Avatar
    Ario January 10, 2016

    heloo Greg! (^o^) Thanks lots for e info! When does Keio Dept Store Sale end ? & also do you have info on Odakyu Dept Store Summer Sale start & end dates? Thanku!!

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