1. Seoul
The mix of raucous street bazaars, sleek malls and chic local boutiques in Seoul has something to please everyone. Fun fact: South Korea has the highest number of credit card transactions per person in the world, and retailers are required by law to accept credit cards for any purchase, no matter how small the amount is. (That should give you an idea of how serious Seoul is about shopping.)
Great for: Everything from high-end luxury labels to local fashion boutiques and street markets selling traditional craft items.
Districts: Apgujeong-dong has a mix of trailblazing new local designers and big international luxury brands, while the Dongdaemun Shopping Market is open from midnight till the wee hours of the morning.
Of note:
- Seoul Folk Flea Market, the largest flea market in Korea. Find souvenirs, antiques, clothing, traditional art, and authentic Korean food at this market, which is popular with both locals and tourists
- Lotte Department Store is a shopper’s paradise with over 12 floors of fashion, electronics, food, jewellery and duty-free shops
- Galleria Department Store, which resembles a cross between a sea creature and a disco ball but nonetheless features an excellent selection of international luxury brands
- The Hapjeong district is a good bet if you prefer hipster cafes and quirky little boutiques to swanky malls
2) Kuala Lumpur
Home to some of the largest malls in the world, Kuala Lumpur is also a great place to shop for electronics. With discounts of up to 70%, the seasonal sales in malls and smaller stores are quite an event and should be on the bucket list of any self-respecting shopaholic. The 1 Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival runs from 27 June to 31 August 2015, while the 1Malaysia Year End Sale lasts from 14th November 2015 to 3rd January 2016.
Districts: Bukit Bintang-KLCC strip, which is home to 10 enormous malls chockfull of international brands, including Malaysia’s very own Jimmy Choo.
Of note:
- Suria KLCC and Starhill Gallery for luxury clothes and international labels
- Plaza Low Yat, which has a wide array of electronics
- Sungei Wang Plaza for Korean and Japanese fashion
- 1 Utama, the fourth largest mall in the world, which has an indoor rainforest, freshwater aquarium and rock climbing garden
3) Bangkok
In Bangkok, you can max out your plastic at a huge mall like Siam Paragon, tuck into delightful and insanely cheap street food, and nibble on freshly grilled seafood at a floating market – all in the same day. If that’s not enough, there’s also Chatuchak Market, which is so large that you can easily spend an entire day roaming the stalls there.
Great for: Chatuchak Market’s labyrinthine offerings as well as floating markets
Of note:
- Chatuchak Market, a sprawling bazaar is well-known and loved by many shopaholics familiar with Bangkok. Household items, clothes, jewellery, books, memorabilia, antiques … the list of items for sale is endless. Arrive early in the morning to beat the blistering heat and the hordes of other bargain-seekers.
- Amphawa Floating Market, which is considerably less touristy than Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Prawns, shellfish and squid are grilled in front of you at food stalls lining the river, with more unusual offerings like helmet crab egg salad available too.
4) Hong Kong
Hello, Hong Kong! As it turns out, Hong Kong delights not just foodies in search of excellent dim sum, but shopaholics as well. Causeway Bay is the primo shopping destination in Hong Kong, overflowing with a myriad of trendy boutiques, bargain-filled markets, and the enormous Times Square mall and Sogo’s department store.
Great for: Fashion, electronics, jewellery, watches
Districts: Causeway Bay for everything from street bazaars to upmarket boutiques and megamalls.
Of note:
- Budget clothes stores in Jardine’s Bazaar and Jardine’s Crescent for bargain hunters
- Fashion Walk, catering to the sartorial needs of the trendy and the (relatively) young
- UML Hobby, selling action figures and limited edition collectibles
- Satis-Factory Vintage Emporium, which is known for its wedding dresses and lace imported from England and dating as far back as the 1800s.
5) Tokyo
Tokyo is where the weird and the wonderful collide in one of the world’s most populous retail nirvanas. From ephemeral fashion in the trendy Shibuya 109 to Nakano Broadway’s plethora of manga, collectibles and figurines, any fan of hardcore shopping will spend countless happy days (and dollars) in Tokyo.
Great for: Fashion, electronics, manga and collectibles
Districts: Fashion in Shibuya and Harajuku, international brands and malls in Ginza, and Akihabara for electronics.
Of note:
- Isetan’s flagship Shinjuku store, with shopping consultants that you can book in advance
- Charming industrial vintage furniture from Journal Standard Furniture
- Kappabashi Dougu Street, which sells all the household tools and kitchenware you could possibly want, and probably a few you didn’t know existed (soba flour rolling pin, anyone?)
We hope you have enjoyed our list of the top shopping districts in Asia, make sure you stop and shop if you are visiting these destinations! :)