Retail & Shopping · Practical guide
Kojima
"Kojima x Bic Camera", Mini 4WD Racetracks & Suburban Malls
What to expect, how it works, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Japanese name | コジマ (Kojima) |
| Category | Retail / Family-Friendly Electronics Megastore, "Kojima x Bic Camera", Mini 4WD Corners (selected stores) & Home Appliances (Kojima Official Website) |
| Store Count | Over 140 large-format stores nationwide, strategically situated in major shopping mall complexes (Lalaport, Aeon Mall) and suburban highway thoroughfares across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, and regional hubs, operated by Kojima Co., Ltd. (Bic Camera Group) (Shop Locator) |
| Ordering Style | Spacious family-friendly retail format: wide stroller-accessible aisles; interactive hands-on toy and electronics demonstration zones; tax-free processing at the register in licensed stores |
| Membership Required? | No membership or ID required to purchase (Bic Camera and Kojima point cards can be used at each other's stores — physical stores only, not their online shops, and each card keeps its own balance); physical foreign passport required for Tax-Free purchase registration |
| Approximate Price Range | Tamiya Mini 4WD cars & parts ~¥400–¥2,500; travel gadgets & electric toothbrushes ~¥2,980–¥12,800; beauty devices & hair dryers ~¥15,000–¥38,000; digital cameras & PCs ~¥35,000–¥180,000+ (subject to revision); Tax-Free available at licensed tax-free stores on purchases of ¥5,000+ (excluding tax, same store, same day) |
| Payment Methods | Cash, all major international credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay with contactless tap), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA), electronic money, and smartphone QR code payments (PayPay, etc.) |
| Multilingual Support | Stores offering tax-free sales are flagged with multilingual (English / Chinese / Korean) TAX FREE signage in the official store listings; in-store language support varies by store |
What it is
Kojima (コジマ), operating primarily under its modern collaborative banner "Kojima x Bic Camera" (コジマ×ビックカメラ), is a key pillar of the Bic Camera Group. While urban Bic Camera flagships target crowded skyscraper train stations, Kojima brings Bic Camera's massive purchasing power, competitive pricing, and duty-free inventory into spacious, family-friendly suburban shopping malls and highway plazas. Kojima is also known for its Mini 4WD scene: many Kojima x Bic Camera stores are registered Tamiya "Mini 4WD Stations" with an in-store circuit (ミニ四駆コース), where families and international tourists can purchase classic Tamiya motorized car kits in the toy department and run them on the track. Circuit availability and usage conditions vary by store — Kojima's and Tamiya's official store lists name the stores that have one.
How to shop
- Visit Mall-Based or Suburban Locations:
- Kojima stores are prominently featured inside premier shopping malls like Lalaport and Aeon Mall across Greater Tokyo and regional hubs.
- Navigate the Family-Friendly Layout:
- Toy & Hobby Department: Walls of Nintendo Switch games, Tomica die-cast cars, Gundam kits, and Tamiya Mini 4WD racers.
- The Mini 4WD Corner (selected stores): At stores with an in-store circuit, take your assembled car to the racing circuit and run it alongside local enthusiasts — check Kojima's official store information for which stores have a circuit and any usage rules.
- Beauty & Health: Hands-on display islands featuring hair stylers, travel facial steamers, and shavers.
- Digital Cameras & Audio: Display tables with Sony, Canon, and Nikon cameras and noise-canceling headphones.
- Checkout & 2026 Tax-Free Refund Registration:
- At the register, inform staff: "Tax-Free kudasai".
- Present your physical foreign passport with valid temporary tourist landing sticker.
- Under Japan's refund-based tax-free system (2026 rules), you pay the full tax-inclusive total at the store while staff electronically register your passport and purchase records with Japan Customs.
- When departing Japan, complete the export confirmation before checking your baggage and within 90 days of purchase: present your passport at a tax-free procedure terminal at the airport (Visit Japan Web can be used at eligible airports), and show the purchased goods themselves only if your record is flagged for inspection. Customs confirmation is decided per tax-free purchase record (usually corresponding to a checkout transaction). Take every tax-free item recorded in that transaction out of Japan. If any of those items is missing, the entire tax-free purchase record cannot be confirmed. Non-consumable items such as electronics may be used in Japan as long as they are exported; consumables must not be consumed in Japan.
- Once Customs has confirmed the export, the store refunds the tax through the refund method you registered at purchase — for example back to your card, or cash at a contracted refund counter (a handling fee may be deducted). There is no general airport counter that pays out refunds for every shop, so confirm the store's method when you buy.
Services & options
- Tamiya Mini 4WD Racing Kits & Upgrade Parts: Classic motorized Japanese racing car kits you can build and race directly on their in-store track (~¥900–¥1,500).
- Japanese Hair Dryers & Beauty Rollers (Panasonic, ReFa): High-speed ionic dryers and microcurrent skin rollers displayed with testing mirrors.
- Tomica Die-Cast Cars & Plarail Trains: Authentic Japanese police cars, bullet trains, and fire trucks that make beloved souvenirs for kids (~¥450–¥800).
- Tourist Discount Coupons: Check Kojima's official site for any current visitor coupons, and confirm the eligible stores and terms on the coupon itself — coupons issued for Bic Camera are not automatically accepted at Kojima.
Payment & practical info
Prices and details checked: November 2026.
- Accepted Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, UnionPay, Suica/PASMO, PayPay, and cash.
- Hours: Typically 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM, following the host shopping mall's operating hours; hours vary by store.
- Tax-Free Threshold: At stores licensed for tax-free sales, spend ¥5,000 or more before tax at the same store on the same day. Physical passport required.
Good to know / Common mistakes
- Coupons Are Brand-Specific: Kojima belongs to the Bic Camera Group, but a tourist coupon labeled for Bic Camera is not automatically honored at Kojima. Check the eligible stores and conditions printed on the coupon itself before relying on it.
- Easy Stroller & Wheelchair Access: Wide, carpeted aisles make Kojima significantly easier to navigate with baby strollers or heavy shopping bags than cramped multi-story downtown shops.
- Combine with Mall Dining: Visiting Kojima inside a shopping mall allows you to enjoy tax-free electronics shopping, extensive food courts, and fashion apparel all in one visit.
FAQ
- Q: Can anyone race on the Mini 4WD track?
- A: Circuits are installed at selected stores (Tamiya "Mini 4WD Station" locations), not chain-wide. At a store that has one, customers run their cars by following the track etiquette and safety guidelines posted beside the circuit — ask staff about availability and any usage conditions on the day.
- Q: Are prices the same as Bic Camera?
- A: Not necessarily — even within the Bic Camera Group, prices, promotions, and warranty handling are set for each store and brand. Check the price and the warranty terms at the Kojima store where you buy.
- Q: How does the 2026 Tax-Free refund work at departure?
- A: Complete the export confirmation before checking your baggage and within 90 days of purchase: present your passport at the airport's tax-free procedure terminal (Visit Japan Web works at eligible airports), and show the goods only if your record is flagged for inspection. The refund itself is made by the store through the refund method registered at purchase (such as a card refund or a contracted refund counter), not paid out by Customs — check the method and any handling fee when you buy. Customs checks each tax-free purchase record. All tax-free items on that record must leave Japan. Using non-consumable electronics in Japan is allowed if they are exported; consuming consumables in Japan prevents the refund for that purchase record.
Sources
- Kojima Official Corporate Website (Verified: 2026-11-08)
- Kojima x Bic Camera Store Locator (Verified: 2026-11-08)
- Bic Camera Group Tax-Free & Global Network (Verified: 2026-11-08)
- Bic Camera official point-card mutual use page (Verified: 2026-11-09)
- Kojima official Mini 4WD store list (Verified: 2026-11-09)