The 5 Best Clothing Brands To Buy While You're In Japan, According To Reddit

Outside of traditionally-renowned European cities like Paris and Milan, there are plenty of other destinations that have been — both quietly and loudly — making a name for themselves in the fashion world for decades. One of these fashion powerhouses is Japan.

Brimming with secondhand and vintage boutiques, large-scale shopping districts in cities like Tokyo and Kyoto, and cutting-edge street fashion, Japan is home to pretty much everything a fashion lover could ever dream of finding (and buying). From small brands focused on sustainability to larger names that have taken over runways and fashion weeks across the globe, the country's designers aren't shy when it comes to pushing boundaries and setting trends. And even though some travelers might be disappointed with Japanese clothing sizing, the unique styles and quality craftsmanship more than make up for it.

However, it's precisely this abundance of options that can make it a little difficult for first-timers to pick and choose where to shop. Luckily, though, there are also plenty of seasoned fashion enthusiasts out there who are ready to share their recommendations — all so visitors can arrive well-informed and ready to upgrade their closets. After scouring through Reddit threads, style blogs, and fashion-focused publications, we landed on five of the most popular and sought-after Japanese fashion brands that experts and locals alike suggest visitors shop for.

Kicking off our list of the best Japanese clothing brands to shop for is Kapital. Founded in the 1980's, the brand's aesthetic is primarily based on its founder Toshikiyo Hirata's affinity for all things American-style denim. After spending some time in the United States, Hirata moved back to Japan with a dream to produce his own denim — and that's exactly how Kapital was born. Today, the brand is well known among fashion enthusiasts and denim connoisseurs for pushing the limit on innovative design and distressing techniques. 

With a playful and sometimes ironic approach to classic styles, Kapital's garments often feature asymmetrical designs, unusually placed pockets, and unexpected details that challenge conventional fashion norms. Along with this, the brand also plays with traditional Japanese crafts like boro and sashiko — which add a touch of local flair to its designs. Kapital has even gained so much popularity that author David Sedaris wrote a full essay for The New Yorker in 2016 detailing his experience shopping at the brand — trust us, it's a must-read for pretty much everyone, whether fashion savvy or not.

Available in-person at one of their 13 stores or online (but only if you're shopping from within Japan), Kapital carries both men's and women's clothing, as well as accessories. Prices range from roughly $325 for a coat to $100 for a classic pair of jeans, $15 for one of its iconic bandanas, and $75 for one of its men's t-shirts.

Another brand with a strong focus on American-style denim, 45R burst into the scene in 1977 with a dream to provide shoppers with "feel-good" clothes. Through a philosophy of "nai monozukuri" — aka, "creating things that don't exist, but feel like they should" — 45R has developed a unique approach to fashion that blends innovation with tradition.

With an emphasis on high-quality raw materials — think specialized wools and natural indigo dyes, all of which are ethically-sourced — as well as a commitment to traditional craftsmanship and techniques, the brand's unique designs often rely on the element of surprise and storytelling. Beyond that, 45R has made significant strides in sustainability, with services like 45R Laundry — designed for garment care — and Futatabi Jeans, its recycling and upcycling system. Both of these initiatives highlight 45R's mission to create only timeless and durable pieces that withstand the test of "fast fashion" cycles.

Best of all, you don't necessarily have to travel all the way to Japan to get your hands on a 45R original. Nowadays, the brand's online store ships limited stock around the world, and there are currently three U.S. locations to shop in-person: two in New York City and one in San Francisco. In terms of pricing, shoppers can expect to pay around $250 for their denim, anywhere from $210 to $400 for a men's cotton button-down, and roughly $370 for one of their classic cotton dresses.

One of the most popular brands — with over a dozen mentions across Reddit threads dedicated to Japanese fashion and streetwear — is Beams. After debuting in 1976 — inside a tiny 230-square-foot room, where the brand's menswear flagship store now stands — Beams has always been about American culture, quality craftsmanship, and innovative design.

In short, the brand's philosophy centers on blending international styles with a unique Japanese perspective, as well as offering a wide range of products that include everything from men and women's clothing to home goods. Known for its numerous sub-brands — like Beams Plus, which reimagines classic American menswear — Beams has also built much of its reputation through collaborations with international names like Motorola, L.L. Bean, Levi's, and Coca-Cola. Today, Beams stores typically carry a combination of private labels and curated brands — which makes it a go-to destination if you're hoping to cover as much ground as possible in a short time.

Eager to shop for some Beams goodies? Head over to the brand's flagship store in Tokyo's popular Harajuku District for a full immersion into the Beams universe, or choose another one of its more than 150 locations across the country. Price-wise, expect to pay around $80 for a pair of men's pants, $40 for a Beams tee, and around $100 for a dress.

Okay, hear us out. Although The North Face isn't by any means a Japanese brand — it was founded in California in 1968 — the brand's "Purple Label" line is only available in Japan. On top of that, it's also produced in collaboration with Nanamica, a local brand that combines functionality, quality materials, and a fashion-forward aesthetic.

Fusing the parent brand's love of the outdoors, as well as its passion for functionality, with a touch of Japanese fashion sensibility, the Purple Label produces all of its pieces with a more style-conscious approach. Through a blend of vibrant colors, eye-catching patterns, and bold prints, the brand reimagines "outdoor gear" and elevates casual wear to a whole new level. This ultimately results in clothing that looks (and feels) as much at home on Japan's city streets as they would be on some of the country's most stunning hiking trails.

The North Face Purple Label is available to shop through various Japanese retailers and select stores — one of these is Beams. While one of its basic logo t-shirts can cost upwards of $90, a parka will set you back around $300, and a unisex button down can cost around $150.

Rounding off our list, we'd be remiss if we didn't bring up every fashion enthusiast's favorite avant-garde label: Comme des Garçons. Because, yes, despite its very French name, the brand was actually founded in Tokyo in 1969. From its conception, Comme des Garçons has consistently pushed the boundaries of fashion with its unconventional designs and conceptual approach. Known for playing with deconstructed fabrics, asymmetric cuts, and a mainly monochrome palette, CDG has created its own unique aesthetic that challenges notions of beauty and gender. Along with this, CDG's collaborations with luxury brands, streetwear pioneers, and footwear giants have also resulted in some pretty iconic pieces — further cementing its status as a powerhouse.

Comme des Garçons' popularity has spread far and wide, and there are currently stores in various destinations across the globe like Beijing, Paris, London, NYC, and Berlin. However, nothing beats heading directly to the source in Tokyo. One of the more expensive brands on the list due to its luxury status, CDG prices typically range from $300 for a classic button-down to $115 for a t-shirt, and up to $900 for a pair of tailored pants. However, some people argue that shopping for CDG in Japan is relatively cheaper than if you wanted to buy from the brand abroad — so if luxury is what you're after, picking a few pieces up while visiting Japan might just be right for you.

In order to land on these five brands, we scoured Reddit's top fashion and streetwear communities — including r/ThrowingFits, r/femalefashionadvice, r/malefashionadvice, and r/japanesestreetwear — looking for recommendations. Once we'd found threads revolving around Japanese labels, shopping advice, and brand discussions, we then created a simple chart that included a long list of local brand names and tallied the number of times a different Redditor mentioned or recommended it. Along with this, we also took into account any upvotes or comments that supported these recommendations.

This ultimately helped us identify trends and gauge popularity for the most-named brands by Japanese and international shoppers. On top of that, we also compared these results to recommendations or brand features that were published in big-name publications like Ssense, Instyle, Hypebeast, and Highsnobiety.

As for honorable mentions, other labels that didn't get quite as much love but still received significant attention include names like Is-ness, Nanamica, Auralee (this one was especially loved by women), Wacko Maria, and Undercover.