Don Quijote in Tokyo: which store, what to buy, and how to get it home
Don Quijote, Donki to everyone in Japan, is a discount store unlike any other: narrow aisles stacked to the ceiling with snacks, cosmetics, medicine, electronics, costumes and souvenirs, often open until late at night. For many visitors it is the last stop before the airport. Here is how to make the most of it.
For the serious haul: Japanese skincare and cosmetics, where to buy them, a shopping day with the car waiting.
Which store to choose
MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya is the flagship most visitors know, open 24 hours and spread over several floors. The Shinjuku Kabukicho store is lively late at night, and there are large stores in Ginza, Akihabara and Asakusa. The big stores have dedicated tax-free counters and staff used to visitors; the small neighbourhood ones are calmer but have less choice.
What visitors buy
Japanese snacks and limited flavour sweets, skincare and make-up, over the counter remedies, hair tools, kitchen gadgets, character goods and souvenirs packed for gifts. Many visitors also buy a suitcase there to carry it all. Medicines have limits on quantities and some cannot be taken into every country, so check your own rules before stocking up.
When to go
The stores are busiest in the evening, from about 18:00 to 22:00, and around the weekend. Late morning on a weekday is the calmest time. Very late at night is fun for the atmosphere, but the tax-free counters can have queues at peak times.
Tax-free from November 2026
From 1 November 2026, tax-free shopping in Japan works as a refund. You pay the price including 10 percent consumption tax, keep your receipts and register your purchases, and the tax is refunded at customs when you leave Japan. Bring your passport when you shop, as it is still recorded at the till.
By car, and the price
Donki shopping tends to end with several bags or a new suitcase. A chauffeur by the hour waits outside, takes everything back to your hotel, or goes straight on to the airport on your last day. It is from ¥16,000 per hour with a two hour minimum, and a Donki stop with another district usually takes two to three hours. Your chauffeur can speak English, Italian, Spanish, French or Japanese, at the same price.
Frequently asked questions
Which Don Quijote is best in Tokyo?
MEGA Don Quijote Shibuya, open 24 hours over several floors, is the best known. Shinjuku Kabukicho, Ginza, Akihabara and Asakusa also have large stores with tax-free counters.
What should I buy at Don Quijote?
Japanese snacks and limited flavour sweets, skincare and cosmetics, over the counter remedies, kitchen gadgets, character goods and souvenirs.
When is Don Quijote least crowded?
Late morning on a weekday. Evenings from about 18:00 to 22:00 and weekends are the busiest.
Is Don Quijote tax-free?
Yes, the large stores have tax-free counters. From November 2026 you pay the tax at the till and get it refunded at customs when you leave Japan.