Economically, Japan is continuing to tighten its belt, but Tokyo is still riding high as the world's ultimate shopping nirvana. And, with impeccable service and a superb selection of goods, it is very easy to be bitten by the shopping bug - even though the glittering international stores sell products at eyebrow raising prices.

The main shopping areas in Tokyo are: stylish Ginza, with its ritzy department stores, designer boutiques and chic galleries; young, trendy Shibuya for clothes and accessories; the ‘youth mecca' of Harajuku for teenage fashions and kitsch; and Akihabara for a vast selection of cut-price electronic goods and computers.

For authentic Japanese gifts that pack easily into your suitcase, Oriental Bazaar, 5-9-13 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, sells yukatas (a simple Japanese robe worn by both men and women) to suit every budget. Kitsch is big business in Japan, and if you are after something cute and cuddly, Kiddyland, 6-19-19 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku (http://corp.kiddyland.co.jp/en/), will keep you happy.

For more gift ideas under one roof, Three Minutes Happiness, 3-5 Udagawa-cho, Shibuya-ku, offers quirky Japanese gadgets piled high and sold cheap. But, the best spot for a guaranteed bargain are the ¥100 shops scattered far and wide throughout Tokyo - visitors never leave empty handed.

Shops are mostly open daily 1000-2000, with department stores closed one weekday a week. A consumption tax of 5% is added to the price of all goods. Credit cards are slowly becoming more widely accepted, but most transactions are still done in cash, so ensure you carry enough not to get caught out.