Retail & Shopping · Practical guide
Nojima
Advice from Its Own Staff, Department Store Hubs & Premium Electronics
What to expect, how it works, payment details, and common mistakes — in one place.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Japanese name | ノジマ (Nojima) |
| Category | Retail / Premium Metropolitan Consumer Electronics, Beauty Tech, SIM-Free Smartphones & Own-Staff Digital Consulting (Nojima Official Website) |
| Store Count | About 240 stores across the Greater Tokyo / Kanto metropolitan region (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Shizuoka, Niigata, Yamanashi, Nagano, Ibaraki) — Nojima's digital-appliance store count as of March 2026, per company filings — with high-end flagship stores inside landmark department stores (Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square, Ikebukuro Tobu, Kitasenju Marui), operated by Nojima Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Prime Listed) (Shop Locator) |
| Ordering Style | Consultative department-store retail: explore clean, carpeted lifestyle floors; direct consultation with Nojima's own sales staff; tax-free processing at the register in the stores listed for tax-free sales (55 nationwide) |
| Membership Required? | No membership or ID required to purchase (optional Nojima Mobile App for domestic loyalty points); physical foreign passport required for Tax-Free purchase registration |
| Approximate Price Range | Smartphone accessories & audio earphones ~¥1,500–¥6,980; Japanese beauty rollers & ionic hair dryers ~¥15,000–¥39,000; SIM-free smartphones & tablets ~¥35,000–¥160,000; high-end cameras & 4K OLED TVs ~¥65,000–¥250,000+ (as of November 8, 2026; 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, major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express, Diners Club, UnionPay with contactless tap), Japanese transit IC cards (Suica, PASMO), electronic money, and smartphone QR payments (d-Barai, PayPay, etc.) |
| Multilingual Support | Tax-free sales are offered at 55 officially listed stores, including the Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square store (note: the Ikebukuro Tobu store is not a tax-free store); in-store language support varies by store |
What it is
Nojima (ノジマ), headquartered in Yokohama and operating about 240 stores across Greater Tokyo and the wider Kanto region, is the electronics specialty chain whose stated policy is that all customer service is handled by its own employees — the company describes itself as the only electronics specialty store that keeps this up. Unlike typical mass-market electronics chains that rely on manufacturer-dispatched sales promoters pushing their own company's products, Nojima's stated corporate policy is Zero Manufacturer Dispatch (メーカー派遣ゼロ): it does not accept sales staff dispatched by manufacturers, so the advice you get comes from Nojima's own employees, who can compare competing brands (Sony vs. Panasonic, Apple vs. Google) side by side to find what truly suits your needs. Situated inside prestigious department stores like Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square and Ikebukuro Tobu, Nojima delivers a refined, tranquil shopping environment, with tax-free shopping at its officially listed tax-free stores.
How to shop
- Visit Prime Department Store Flagships:
- Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square Store: Located in central Shinjuku on the 11th floor, directly linked to Shinjuku Station South Exit.
- Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store: On the 4th floor of the Tobu Department Store, connected to Ikebukuro Station's west exit; open 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Note: this store does not offer tax-free sales — use a listed tax-free store (such as Shinjuku Takashimaya) for tax-free purchases.
- Receive Product Advice:
- Approach any staff member in the red-and-blue Nojima uniform.
- Because the staff advising you are Nojima's own employees rather than manufacturer-dispatched promoters, you can ask for straightforward side-by-side comparisons of competing products (e.g., comparing the battery life of a Panasonic shaver against a Braun or Philips).
- Explore In-Demand Travel Electronics:
- Beauty & Grooming: Premium facial massagers, hair dryers, and electric toothbrushes displayed with testing mirrors.
- SIM-Free Mobile Devices: Unlocked smartphones, portable Wi-Fi routers, and travel chargers.
- Checkout & 2026 Tax-Free Refund Registration:
- At a store that offers tax-free sales (Nojima officially lists 55 tax-free stores), tell the cashier at the register: "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
- Panasonic & ReFa High-Tech Beauty Devices: Premium Japanese beauty rollers, ultrasonic skin scrubbers, and ionic facial steamers with multi-voltage AC adapters.
- SIM-Free Unlocked Smartphones (Apple, Google Pixel, Sharp Aquos): Factory-unlocked smartphones — before buying, check that the model's supported frequency bands and eSIM support match your home carrier, and watch for any region-specific restrictions.
- Sony Noise-Canceling Earbuds (WF-1000XM Series): Industry-leading active noise-canceling wireless earbuds perfect for long international flights.
- Compact High-Output GaN Travel Chargers (Anker, Elecom): Ultra-compact fast chargers equipped with multiple USB-C ports that charge laptops, tablets, and phones simultaneously.
Payment & practical info
- Accepted Payment Methods: Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Amex, UnionPay, Suica/PASMO, PayPay, d-Barai, and cash.
- Hours: Hours follow the host building and differ by store — the Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square store recommended in this guide, for example, is open 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Check the official store page before visiting.
- 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
- Tranquil Department Store Setting: If you find the blasting loudspeakers and crowded aisles of Akihabara or Shinjuku megastores overwhelming, Nojima inside Shinjuku Takashimaya offers a quiet, relaxed, and upscale shopping atmosphere.
- Confirm Language on Cameras: Like all Japanese camera retailers, confirm whether digital cameras have English language menu firmware before finalizing purchase.
- Combine with Department Store Shopping: Visiting Nojima inside Takashimaya or Tobu allows you to easily combine electronics shopping with luxury fashion, kimono, and depachika gourmet basements under one roof!
FAQ
- Q: Why is Nojima's staff advice better than other stores?
- A: Nojima does not accept sales staff dispatched by manufacturers, so the person advising you is a Nojima employee rather than a promoter sent in by one brand — you can ask them to compare rival products head-to-head.
- Q: Can foreign tourists buy SIM-free phones on the spot?
- A: Yes, unlocked phones can be bought directly over the counter with no Japanese telephone contract required.
- 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
- Nojima Official Corporate Website (Verified: 2026-11-08)
- Nojima Store Locator & Department Store Flagships (Verified: 2026-11-08)
- Nojima Non-Manufacturer Policy & Tax-Free Guide (Verified: 2026-11-08)
- Nojima official tax-free store list (FAQ) (Verified: 2026-11-09)
- Nojima Shinjuku Takashimaya Times Square store page (Verified: 2026-11-09)