Even if you're not an inveterate shopper, cruising Japan's gargantuan department stores or rummaging around its vibrant discount outlets is an integral part of local life that shouldn't be missed. Japan also has some of the most enticing souvenirs in the world, from lacquered chopsticks and luxurious, handmade paper to a wealth of wacky electronic gadgets.

Historically, the epicentre of commercial frenzy is Tokyo's Ginza, to such an extent that the name has become synonymous with shopping street; you'll find "little Ginzas" all over Japan. However, the mechanics of shopping are the same throughout: all prices are fixed, except in flea markets and some discount electrical stores where bargaining is acceptable. Few shops take credit cards and fewer still accept cards issued abroad, so make sure you have plenty of cash. All except the smallest purchases will be meticulously wrapped.

In general, shop opening hours are from 10am to 7pm, or 8pm. Most close one day a week, not always on Sunday, and smaller places tend to shut on national holidays. Nearly all shops close for at least three days over New Year. If you need anything after hours , you'll find 24-hour convenience stores in most towns and cities, often near the train station. These sell a basic range of toiletries, stationery and foodstuffs, at slightly inflated prices: Lawson, Family Mart, AM/PM and Seven-Eleven are the most common.

Taxes, duty-free and discount stores
A five percent consumption tax is levied on virtually all goods sold in Japan. Sometimes this tax will be included in the advertised price, and sometimes...

Automated shopping
Japan boasts an estimated 5.4 million vending machines - roughly one for every twenty people. Nearly all essentials, and many non-essentials, can be bought from a machine: pot noodles, drinks, films, batteries, shampoo, razors, CDs, flowers...

Department stores
Japan's most prestigious department stores are Mitsukoshi and Takashimaya, followed by the cheaper, more workaday Matsuya, Matsuzakaya, Seibu and Tobu.

Art, crafts, and souvenirs
Japan is famous for its wealth of arts and crafts, many dating back thousands of years, and handed down from generation to generation. Though the best are phenomenally expensive, there are plenty at more manageable prices which...

Electrical goods and cameras
Japan is well-known as a producer of high-quality, innovative electrical and electronic goods . New designs are tested on the local market before going into export production, so this is the best place to check out the latest...

Books and music
Imported foreign-language books are expensive in Japan, and only available in major cities. However, some locally produced English-language books are cheaper here than at home, if you can find them at all outside Japan.

Clothes
All Japan's big department stores have several floors devoted to fashion, from haute couture to more modest wear at affordable prices. Elsewhere, you'll find trendy boutiques - many of them stacked in multi-storey "fashion stores"...