AS you can imagine, being in one of the fashion capitals of the world would have been a total waste if I hadn’t done a little shopping.

It’s pretty amazing that within the metropolis that is Tokyo, Japan, there exist so many different wards (small cities within Tokyo) with vastly different facades, lifestyle and of course, fashion.

I spent some time exploring these areas, spending hours in their malls and shopping streets. Here are my favourite shopping places.

Shibuya

By far, my favourite shopping haunt. Despite the mad crowds, and the inevitability of bumping into someone and nearly tripping over, there is a certain charm to this part of town.

Shibuya is a great place to shop, if you can stand the crowds.

Apart from several department stores and the staple Uniqlo and H&M stores, there’s 109, an eight-storey women’s fashion mall jam-packed with small boutiques, where you’ll find a variety of stores that have that “Jalan Telawi, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur” feel to them. There’s also a 109 mall for men’s fashion just a few blocks away.

Here, you’ll discover where some Japanese girls get their cutesy gear – stores are filled with faux-pearl accessories, pink ribbons, belts and bags, and the ground floor hosts a large cosmetics section for your hair and makeup needs.

Harajuku

The second you step out of the Harajuku train station you find yourself right opposite Takeshita Street, where the lolitas (elaborately dressed Japanese youth in gothic, as well as French Baroque-era gear) of Tokyo roam.

Want a piece of them? There are many stores along this street and the next that sell all things that make up a sweet lolita’s appearance: pretty parasols, Vivienne Westwood-inspired platforms, elaborate lace-ups frocks and crazy hair accessories.

The gothic lolitas have their fair share of stores too. To look like one, head for the noticeable stores selling ripped jeans, studded and spiked jackets, and tops and accessories made from chain links and shredded metal.

Of course, for the regular shopper, there are many Bangkok-inspired boutiques lined along the street, reasonably priced compared to the lolita stores.

Omote-sando and Aoyama

Just a short walk away from the mad fashion area of Harajuku lie Omote-sando and Aoyama, a far cry from the layered outfits of the lolita teens. Here, classy ladies with expensive tastes walk up and down the hilly area, designer bag in hand.

For a break from the mad frenzy of Harajuku shoppers and tourists, chill out by walking down the street and window shop.

Ginza

This area is worlds apart from places like Shibuya. Step out of the train station and the first thing you’ll see are luxury stores lining the streets. Wide walkways make it easy for you to walk as slowly as you want and gaze upwards, open-mouthed, at the amazing window displays.

Regular shoppers will sigh with relief that Ginza is not all high-end.

Between the branded goods you’ll find a good mix of high-street brands like Zara, Forever 21 and Uniqlo, a big relief to the regular shopper who isn’t interested in blowing millions of yen in one area.

Shinjuku

Don’t get lost at this train stop – if you end up in the wrong exit you may be close to half an hour away from your destination. Two million commuters pack this station every day, so be sure to know where you’re headed before you exit.

If you’re staying in the city centre and aren’t motivated to go all the way to the other end of the city, Shinjuku is way closer and less overwhelming.

That’s not saying Shinjuku is a laid-back, take-your-time-walking sort of place. On the contrary, this area is as frenzied as Shibuya, but if you make enough effort, you’ll be able to find just about anything you want here.

Malls and department stores surround the station and disperse outwards, and in between these huge buildings you can find tiny stores that sell interesting knick-knacks and trinkets.