Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho — Attraction in Tokyo

Ooh, the memories! This one's a classic tale from my wild yakuza adventures. Alright, so picture this: I'm strolling through the streets during Chapter 2, my quest to find alcohol for some homeless dudes. Not the most glamorous job, but hey, gotta start somewhere in the world of yakuza, right?

As I'm minding my own business, I notice a long line forming outside the Don Quijote store. Curiosity piqued, I stroll up to the kid at the end of the line. He's all hyped up, talking about how this is the line for the hottest new game. I can feel the excitement pulsating in the air. So what do I do? I march my way right into the store, only to step right back out.

But, hold up! There's no line now, and the kid is still hanging around. Something's fishy, and I'm itching to find out what. I saunter over to the boy, and that's when the unexpected happens. Some scoundrel snatches the new game right from under the kid's nose! No way I'm letting that slide. I'm like the hero in an action movie, charging down the alley after the thief. It's a chase, baby! I'm hot on the guy's tail, and when I finally catch up, there's no holding back. It's a brawl! Fist flying, the thrill of battle coursing through me. But, guess what? The thief's just a pawn in this game. Turns out he got robbed too, and now he's spilling the beans about another thief. I'm not one to let a mystery go unsolved, so I head off in search of the next link in the chain. And wouldn't you know it? I track down the second thief, ready for a showdown. Again, it's a fierce fight, but in the end, the truth emerges. This guy was just a pawn as well!

Alright, this is getting crazier by the minute. But you know me, I'm not backing down. I follow the clues like a detective on the scent, and lo and behold, I stumble upon the final thief. And wouldn't you know it? It's the boy's own dad! The sneaky guy just wanted to surprise his son with the game, so he pulled off a little heist. Talk about a twist! So there I am, standing there, game in hand, and the dad's like, "Hey, thanks for helping out, here's a little something for your trouble." Boom! I'm gifted a Sunburst, and I'm feeling like a total legend. Moral of the story? Never judge a book...

Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho (ドン・キホーテ 新宿歌舞伎町店) is a crowded, underwhelming branch of the Donki empire. It’s not bad, but with so many better locations around Tokyo, this one feels more like a tourist trap than a true bargain haven. 2/5 – Convenient in a pinch, but not worth going out of your way for.

Full Review: Don Quijote Shinjuku Kabukicho is, quite frankly, a letdown—especially when stacked against the high bar set by other Donki locations throughout Japan. It isn’t that this branch is outright terrible—it isn’t. The prices are standard, and the selection is adequate, with your usual spread of snacks, souvenirs, cosmetics, and quirky gadgets. But in a city brimming with fantastic shopping options, “adequate” just doesn’t cut it.

The core issue here is the location. Planted in the chaotic heart of Kabukicho, this Donki branch is perpetually swarmed. Maneuvering through the tight aisles feels like trying to squeeze through a rush hour train—except instead of commuters, it’s a mix of confused tourists, noisy groups, and the occasional disoriented shopper just trying to find some deodorant.

Unlike the well-organized, almost treasure-hunt-style layouts of better Donki locations (like the Akihabara flagship or the more spacious MEGA Don Quijote in Shibuya), this store feels claustrophobic and chaotic. Add to that the aggressive lighting, walls of clutter, and constant background noise, and you’ve got a recipe for sensory overload—not the fun kind.

If you're in Shinjuku and need something quick, sure, this place will do in a pinch. But if you have even a little time to spare, you’re much better off elsewhere. There are Donkis with better stock, better organization, and far less headache just a short train ride away. Kabukicho's branch simply doesn’t live up to the brand's potential—or its reputation.

Final Score: 2/5 This Don Quijote is a victim of its own location, overrun and underwhelming. It’s serviceable, but lacks the charm, scale, and excitement that makes Donki shopping genuinely fun. Not awful—but absolutely not worth a...

We've been coming to this specific location for years. Floors upon floors of stuff, jam packed with things you didn't even know you needed or existed. But as others have pointed out, it can get very crowded - something that's not unexpected in Tokyo where real estate is premium. But the reason for my 2 stars is what I've been noticing lately - especially within the last couple of years. The working staff as got rude(r?). I get that it's a busy place, they have to keep people moving, but the specific kind of rudeness I've been noticing has nothing to do with keeping a steady flow and pace. Now, I'm not sure if over the years they've had bad experiences with people of my kind (Indians, and honestly we're not the best travelers), but stereotyping all of us isn't cool. Just yesterday, I asked 3 people for a specific product I was looking for and got cold responses from all of them - we don't have it! I gave up, walked about a little bit and found a whole mini section of the exact product I wanted! Went to the check out line, cashier wanted to know what payment method we were going to use before he'd ring the first product, something no other cashier did. They he verified the name on the credit card and my passport, again - something no other cashier was doing. No other words were exchanged, till the very end when he called a manager (is what I'm assuming this person was), who checked all over the register and verbally said "no passport, no credit card" before turning to us and saying thank you (in a "please leave now") tone. I was disgusted. A couple of months ago, same location, had another not so pleasant interaction with a cashier. I'm beginning to wonder if it's just this location, because earlier in the day I went to a different, much smaller, location about half a mile away and the staff was much more chill and friendly. Overall, I would recommend avoiding this location if you're not white, and try and shop at one of the smaller locations, at least you'll be...