With locations all across Japan, BOOKOFF is a treasure trove for second-hand shoppers.
Quality and cost performance!
Despites its name, larger locations sell everything from second-hand clothing and jewelry to kitchen appliances, musical instruments, cameras and phones (in addition to a wide selection of books and comics, of course). There are also other OFF-chain stores with slightly different names depending on their specialty, such as HARDOFF, HOBBYOFF, OFFHOUSE, and more.
Besides the affordability, I love BOOKOFF because everything is in such great condition. All items brought into the store are carefully vetted, then cleaned or washed appropriately. If a product has some sort of defect, it is always written on its tag for full transparency.
Reliable, affordable, and eco-friendly — what’s not to love?
Donating
BOOKOFF and its sister stores also accept donations or will buy your used items. Look for the kai-tori (買取) counter and show your items to the staff there. Just don’t expect more than a few yen unless your item was really rare or valuable in the first place!