The "Louis Vuitton sale" at Tokyo Ryutsu Center, explained
Travellers often search for a Louis Vuitton sale at Tokyo Ryutsu Center. What they mean is Shicchy's Charity Fair: a bi-annual pawnbroker bargain event offering 30–90% off luxury fashion. It is not run by Louis Vuitton. It sells second-hand and pawned designer goods, with Louis Vuitton as the main brand alongside Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Hermès and Tiffany. Savvy Tokyo reports that the fair has operated since 1972 and donates profits to charitable causes.
- When: twice a year, in June and November. Listings for 2026 give the 92nd fair as 20–22 November 2026. Confirm the dates on Shicchy's own pages before you book flights.
- Where: Tokyo Ryutsu Center, 6-1-1 Heiwajima, Ota, Tokyo, near Haneda Airport. Take the Tokyo Monorail to Ryutsu Center Station; the event listing describes it as a one-minute walk. The monorail runs from Hamamatsucho.
- Entry: the 2026 listing says free admission and no reservation required.
- Size and prices: tens of thousands of items. Listings mention roughly 70,000 (2026) to 100,000 items. Discounts are quoted as 30–90% compared with retail.
- Tax-free: bring your passport. Tax-free rules change on 1 November 2026 (see below), and the November fair falls after that date, so ask the seller how tax-free works on your purchase.
Because these are pre-owned goods, inspect condition and check what is included (box, papers, receipt) before you pay.
Buying a second-hand Rolex in Tokyo
GINZA RASIN is a Ginza dealer of pre-owned and new luxury watches (Patek Philippe, Rolex, Franck Muller, Omega and Cartier). Its Ginza Chuo-Dori store (1–2F KDX Ginza 8-chome Bldg, 8-9-17 Ginza) specialises in Rolex, and its main store and Shinjuku store carry other brands. All list opening hours of 11:00–19:30. The website says staff speak English, Chinese and Korean, and offers eligible visitors 10% off second-hand items with a valid passport. The tax exemption does not apply to brand-new Rolex.
Nakano Broadway is a four-floor complex whose first floor has general shopping and several luxury watch retailers. Its upper floors are mostly anime, manga and collectibles shops such as Mandarake and Taco Che. It is a five-minute walk from Nakano Station on the JR Chuo Line, open roughly 10:00–20:00, with hours varying by shop.
Where to shop in Tokyo, by neighbourhood
Ginza — luxury and department stores. Long-established department stores such as Ginza Mitsukoshi and Matsuya Ginza, the store Wako, and modern complexes including Ginza Six. On weekends and national holidays the main street, Chuo-dori, is closed to traffic (noon to 6 pm from April to September, noon to 5 pm from October to March).
Harajuku — two shopping streets. Omotesando has upscale boutiques and designer brands, while Takeshita Dori is a narrow street of youth fashion and cafés.
Shibuya — youth fashion. The birthplace of many of Japan's youth fashion trends, with Shibuya 109 and dozens of small fashion stores.
Akihabara — electronics and anime. Known for electronics, gaming, anime, manga and figures.
Shinjuku — department stores. A broad mix of department stores, food halls and books, with late-night shopping.
Tax-free shopping for tourists
The rules change on 1 November 2026. Under the new system, visitors pay the tax-inclusive price in the shop and get a refund when they leave Japan, instead of getting the tax deducted at the till.
- You need to spend at least ¥5,000 before tax at the same store on the same day.
- Goods must be bought within 90 days of departure and be carried out of Japan by you.
- Before check-in, complete the customs terminal application or use Visit Japan Web. You get a red or green response, and red means a customs inspection.
- Passport requirements continue. Keep your receipts.
Before 1 November the older system still applies. Ask each shop which one it uses.
Getting there
From Haneda Airport, Ginza is about 35 minutes by limousine bus or 50 minutes by train. From Narita it is about two hours by limousine bus or 1 hour 35 minutes by train. From Shinjuku it is 16 minutes on the Marunouchi Line. Flights to Tokyo are a long haul from Europe, so a shopping trip works best as a 4–5 day trip. Compare prices from your city: London, New York, Los Angeles, Sydney, Singapore. See also our Tokyo weekend guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Louis Vuitton sale at Tokyo Ryutsu Center run by Louis Vuitton?
No. The event people call the Ryutsu Center Louis Vuitton sale is Shicchy's Charity Fair, a pawnbroker bargain event held twice a year. It sells second-hand and pawned designer goods (Louis Vuitton is the main brand, alongside Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Hermès and Tiffany) at 30–90% off retail, according to Savvy Tokyo.
When is the next Shicchy's Charity Fair?
Listings for 2026 give the 92nd fair as 20–22 November 2026 at Tokyo Ryutsu Center, with free admission and no reservation needed. The event has been held in June and November. Check Shicchy's own pages before you fly, because dates can change.
Can tourists shop tax-free in Tokyo?
Yes, with a passport, on purchases of at least ¥5,000 before tax at the same store on the same day. From 1 November 2026 Japan switches to a refund system: you pay the tax-inclusive price and claim the refund when you leave the country.
Where can I buy a second-hand Rolex in Tokyo?
GINZA RASIN has a Ginza Chuo-Dori store that specialises in Rolex (open 11:00–19:30) and a Ginza main store and Shinjuku store for other brands. Nakano Broadway also has several luxury watch retailers on its first floor.
Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources in September 2026. Event dates, opening hours, prices and tax rules change, so confirm before you go.
- Savvy Tokyo — Shicchy's Charity Fair review
- Shicchy's — 2026 event dates (Facebook page)
- Time Out Tokyo — Tokyo Ryutsu Center
- japan-guide.com — Japan's tax-free shopping rules change from November 2026
- GINZA RASIN — shop locations and tax-free information
- GO TOKYO — Nakano Broadway
- GO TOKYO — A guide to Ginza
- japan-guide.com — Tokyo shopping guide