We love Japanese chain stores and none more so than the cheap and cheerful second hand ‘Off’ chain that consists of Hard-Off, Book Off, Hobby Off and more.
With over 1,000 ‘Off’ ハードオフ second hand stores across Japan, this is one way to buy lots of Japanese souvenirs and cut price collectibles without breaking the bank.
This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
From manga to musical instruments, trading cards to gachapon toys, no trip to Japan is complete without browsing a Book-Off or hitting up Hobby-Off in search of second-hand bargains and reusable items.
Shopping in Japan is a joyous experience especially if you like collecting and browsing. Here is our ultimate guide to the Off second hand shops with photos.
Japan checklist
We love using booking.com and agoda.com for researching and booking all our hotels, and Hostelworld for booking hostels. You can also purchase eSIMs from Airalo.
For booking tours, transfers and SIM cards we recommend Get Your Guide, Viator or Klook.
For booking rental cars visit Discover Cars.
Check out our Japan travel resources page >
What brands are part of the ‘Off Chain’?
Whilst the best known and biggest brand in the group is Hard Off ハードオフ, there are actually several different sub brands and other types of ‘Off’ chain shops.
These Japanese brands include:
HARD OFF ハードオフ – bigger ticket items like hardware, electronics, sound systems, musical instruments, gaming, consoles and desktops.
HOBBY OFF – second hand gachapon toys, collectibles, models, TOMICA cars, manga and anime figures, blind boxes.
BOOK OFF – Manga and anime comic books, CDs, vinyl, trading cards and other collectibles.
OFF HOUSE – This is the go to place for homewear, kitchen equipment, appliances, clothing, shoes, sneakers and general second-hand furniture. Visit here and you might need a bigger suitcase, or just buy one in OFF HOUSE Japan.
MODE OFF – fine fashion at lower prices, this is a great ‘OFF’ chain for designer labels at discount prices – ‘bag’ yourself a bargain.
GARAGE OFF – Motor vehicle mania with car and motorbike parts, sporting goods and bicycles / cycle parts
LIQUOR OFF – Kanpai to LIQUOR OFF, for a wide selection of Japanese beers, sake, spirits, wine and whiskey – often a bigger choice than the 7-Eleven Japan alcohol range.
Hard Off history / how many Off stores are there in Japan?
Many of you travelling to Japan have likely heard of second hand stores like Mandarake, which is otaku heaven.
However, you might be surprised to learn that the Hard-Off chain and its sub brands (Book Off, Hobby Off etc) have 1,012 stores across Japan in 47 prefectures as of November 2025 (source – Hard Off parent website).
Amazingly, it only opened its first store back in 2014 (in Okinawa) so it has gone from zero to 1,000 stores in just over 10 years.
And it isn’t just Japan that you’ll soon find Hard Off as they have plans for global expansion – in 2025, Hard Off announced plans to expand into other overseas markets like Thailand.
Second hand shops in Japan are big business – the Japanese term is risaikuru (“リサイクル) which means ‘recycling’.
You might like these Tokyo neighbourhood guides:
Akihabara
Asakusa
Ginza
Harajuku
Ikebukuro
Nakano
Odaiba
Ryogoku
Shibuya
Shimokitazawa
Shinjuku
Also check out our
Where to stay in Tokyo guide
A closer look at selected Off stores
Hard-Off Japan
Head to ‘Hard Off’ for second-hand hardware, from vintage VHS to used ukuleles (yep, they even sell musical instruments).
Hard-Off is one of the biggest resale stores, and is a treasure trove of old phones, manga toys, trading cards and more. Basically, Hard-Off have what you want, but at low prices (especially in their blue bargain bins).
You’ll find Hard Off stores in Tokyo neighborhoods like Akihabara and Ueno (the two most central Tokyo neighborhoods), Kichijoji, Shinagawa city and loads more in outlying neighborhoods – they are spread across Japan too.
For more information and to find Hard-Off stores near you, check out the official site >
Join our Facebook Japan Travel Tips Group!
Need help with your Japan itinerary or have any questions?
Head on over to our friendly Facebook group with 100,000+ members and ask the experts!
Click here to join our group >
Or if you just want to see more of our Japan photos, follow our Plan My Japan Facebook page >
Akihabara Hobby Off and Book Off
Second hand stores in Tokyo and Akihabara are pretty common but two of the best known brands can be found right next door to each other.
Hobby Off specialises in second hand models, statues, geek merchandise and trading cards, whilst book off specialises in old reading materials and anime / manga novels.
There are several Hobby off branches in Tokyo but Akihabara is one of the biggest with several stories of second-hand shopping. Honestly, it is a treasure trove of geek goods so allow plenty of time to explore.
Other things to know about Hard Off in Japan
- There is a Hard-Off app where you can collect loyalty points and receive exclusive discounts and offers.
- Many stores have a discount corner where second hand items are sold at even lower prices – this is always the Hard Off section we make a beeline too for even cheaper collectibles.
- You can check stock online at the Hard Off Mall and arrange pick-up in stores. Items in each store vary greatly so you may want to visit several if you scavenging for certain collectibles.
Found this article helpful?
Did you enjoy our Hard Off, Book Off, Hobby Off – ‘Japan’s Second Hand ‘Off’ stores article? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media.
You can follow us on:
Instagram
Tik Tok
Facebook
Pinterest
YouTube