Finding Clothes in Tokyo

[BakaAoi]

Hello!
I am planning a Home stay to Tokyo in the distant future and I have few questions.
Where would one find clothes and such in Tokyo if they are on the more lager end of the size chart? I have heard that it is either extremely rare to find larger size clothes and/or it is extremely expensive.
Also is the Japanese size chart different from let's say American size chart?
Thank you for any help!

 

[Damicci]

You can go to major shopping areas such as:
Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku. I never bought clothes there but I was given old clothes from a friends 6'1" husband and he was thinner than me. So it is possible.

Yes the size chart is different. Especially shoes. US sizes are about 2 sizes larger i think.

example if you wear a US 12 then you may look for a JP 10. something like that. Not exactly sure. sorry.

 

[nice gaijin]

Depending on your dimensions, you might have a rough time finding stuff that fits in the fashionable department stores. I did stumble upon a collection of used clothing stores in ura-harajuku that were almost completely made up of salvation-army rejects from the early 90's that came in all sizes. I'm not suggesting you should shop there, but that you might find something in that area. The prices in that area are also more reasonable than the aforementioned department stores.

 

[Carlson]

how big a guy are we talking about? im 6 foot 1 at around 180 lbs. not the biggest but not small comparted to most japanese. i dont have to find all my clothes in tokyo beings i can shop on base that have american stores. but when i go off i find a good place for shirts and shorts at a good price is Uni Qlo

 

[Kyoko_desu]

Originally Posted by BakaAoi
Also is the Japanese size chart different from let's say American size chart?
Thank you for any help!

Yes, it is different.

Size Chart - Shoes
http://www.timberland.co.jp/shoes/size.html

Clothes size Guide
http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/sizes.html
(Click on the Japan flag and Japanese size will appear on the list.
If you can't read Japanese, maybe you want to PM me and give me your size?
I will tell you what your size is in our size chart by checking this chart.)

 

[Kyoko_desu]

This is a shoes size related funny thread. Check it out.
Thief!!!

By the way, the average shoes size of Japanese women is 23.5cm, I think.
And from what I heard, Japanese feet are a bit wider than those of Westerners.

 

[BakaAoi]

how big a guy are we talking about? im 6 foot 1 at around 180 lbs. not the biggest but not small comparted to most japanese. i dont have to find all my clothes in tokyo beings i can shop on base that have american stores. but when i go off i find a good place for shirts and shorts at a good price is Uni Qlo

Well let's see im a girl and i wear shirt size of XL (U.S.) and a pants size of 18 (U.S.) and about 5' 8"

 

[BakaAoi]

Yes, it is different.
Size Chart - Shoes
http://www.timberland.co.jp/shoes/size.html
Clothes size Guide
http://www.usatourist.com/english/tips/sizes.html
(Click on the Japan flag and Japanese size will appear on the list.
If you can't read Japanese, maybe you want to PM me and give me your size?
I will tell you what your size is in our size chart by checking this chart.)

Doma arigato gozaimasu! Your links to those charts are wonderful! Thank you for your help!

 

[Kyoko_desu]

BakaAoi chan, dou itashimashite!

XL stands for extra large, right? Then I'm afraid it will be difficult for you to find shirts that will fit you here.

We usually have only sizes 7, 9, and 11, which is 4, 6, and 8 in American sizing. There is a "big size section" which handles sizes 13-17 (in American sizing, 10-14)in almost every shopping mall/store here, but the design sucks. The big sized clothes are generally designed for middle aged and older women and you are only 16. However, imported jeans must have bigger sizes and you know, we girls can look cute in men's shirts too!

Oh, just remembered, we also have sizing S, M, and L for both men and women, but I assume, our L is American M or maybe S. So I recommend you to bring as much clothes/shoes as you can from home or probably your parents can send them to you anytime.

Anyways, BakaAoi chan, I hope you will make it to Japan some day and have a great time, ganbatte ne!

 

[lonewolfwfk]

Thanks for bringing this subject up BakaAoi! I've been back to Japan for about a year now and am having one helluva a time finding clothes and especially shoes. I'm 185cm tall and 98kgs (on the muscular side, so neck, chest and arms are quite thick).:angryfire I wear size US12 shoes or 130 in Japan I think. Can anyone suggest some places for me to shop for clothes and shoes? I live in Kumagaya, Saitama so going to Tokyo is a bit of a long train ride for me. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

 

[ArmandV]

On a couple of occasions, I was given t-shirts as gifts while in Japan. Both were size large. For me, they were more like mediums, so I could never wear them.

 

[jieshi]

If you can afford it, I found stores like Tommy Hilfiger had rather large sizes as they were all imported from America