Don Quijote — Local services in Tokyo

TL;DR Version:

Don Quixote offers a fun, eclectic mix of groceries, toys, and household items, making it a must-visit for tourists in Japan. However, the Akihabara location shines brighter than the others, with an unbeatable variety and lively atmosphere. Visiting other branches after Akihabara can feel underwhelming, but it’s still a solid store for unique finds.

Full Version:

Review of Don Quixote General Goods Store

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Don Quixote, or "Donki," is a well-known general goods store in Japan, a place where you’ll find an almost overwhelming array of items, from groceries and toys to footwear and quirky souvenirs. It’s a shopping experience that combines convenience and variety, making it a must-visit for tourists eager to see what a true Japanese megastore has to offer. However, not all Don Quixote locations are created equal, and after visiting the Akihabara branch, other locations can feel surprisingly underwhelming.

The Akihabara Don Quixote location stands out with its vibrant energy and extensive selection. This flagship store is packed with unique, niche items, along with all the essentials, and even some things you never knew you needed. The flashing lights, eclectic displays, and lively crowd create an unmistakable atmosphere that feels quintessentially "Tokyo." There’s a sense of wonder as you explore each floor and stumble upon everything from exotic snacks to electronics and themed merchandise—it’s the kind of place that’s hard to replicate.

However, once you’ve experienced the Akihabara location, other Don Quixote stores may feel a bit disappointing. They offer many of the same categories of products, but with less variety, fewer unique finds, and a toned-down atmosphere. They serve as decent general goods stores but lack the excitement and expansive selection of Akihabara.

Overall, Don Quixote earns a respectable 3 out of 5 stars for its convenience and wide range of products. It’s a solid, practical stop for those in need of essentials or those looking to pick up fun Japanese items, especially if you can’t make it to the standout Akihabara location. For anyone traveling to Japan, Don Quixote is worth a visit—but if you have the choice, Akihabara is where you’ll get the true "Donki" experience.

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The worst. Ruined my shopping experience in Japan every single time. Insisted that I paid with a signed credit card each time although I can produce picture ID as proof of identity. Last time in 2019, I signed my card after their insistence and use it for payment which subsequently caused my card info to be compromised and fraud protection services of my credit card intercept the fraudulent transaction later on and my card had to be replaced. Same nonsense this time and I refused adamantly to sign it. Told them what happened the last time but was met with their nonchalant attitude. Unfortunately I had tapped my card for contactless payment and heard a beep sound so I insisted on them voiding out/cancelling the transaction which they claimed did not go through. They even ask me to call my credit card co. to verify. So I’m supposed to be inconvenienced because of their stupid rules that had previously compromised my card?!?! Anyway, I wasted an hour at the store waiting for them to find a solution/confirm that I had not been charged. They spoke little to no English and had the appalling behavior of speaking amongst themselves knowing very well I could not understand Japanese language. If you think it is impossible in Japan for people to be rude, go to this store and that is the norm. I ended paying with the same card stored in my apple wallet. I would have walked away and abandon making the purchase had I not had spent a ton of time getting the products that I had picked out and wasted the entire night shopping with no alternative and leaving Japan the next day. My experience is definitely an eye opener and not in a good way! I came up with the solution and not them as I remember the customer at the cash register enquired if he could pay with “Apple Pay”…if you like to ruin your time in Japan, go to this store and pay with unsigned card. It doesn’t matter if you have all the picture identifications (driver’s license, passport). It also doesn’t matter that your card info. was stolen/compromised by them or it is happening at 2am Japan local time and I left the store after 3am. Thanks Don Quijote! But...

Great Discount store for things you may need urgently.

Occasionally they have superb offers - for example, (well notably), I found coffee at nearly 1/2 the price of stores elsewhere recently.

Though on tech stuff - such as wires for iPhones etc... I suspect they're using cheap Chinese knock-offs marked up at 1000% - given research I've done on Alibaba... so be wary (I've gone through many a 1500Yen iPhone charging cable within months - so choose carefully). For other Tech stuff, I'd look around or buy online.

They do have a small home fitness range - dumbbell weights are reasonably priced - though limited in mass - especially given the Foreign residency within the area - 10Kg is their current max. I think, they could (especially given the current Pandemic) - do much better here... (particularly since Private gyms will be going out of business soon, having a showroom of gym equipment would trump even the likes of fighting road's drop shipping attempt - more so, if they aim at the foreign Community).

For Cycling things - they have a small range, less than that at Bic-Camera's bigger stores but still okay. However if you have a bicycle, then compare prices to the D2 Store near Tamachi.

For Business shirts, etc - they're fine, if you know what you want, you can pick up a reasonably priced item. Likewise Shoes, etc..

There's just so much to review in Don Quijote, that a simple review like this couldnt possibly help you....

BTW.. If you're into kinky stuff.. they have that type of stuff too...(likewise Halloween things/or x-dressing - who knows), though as I've never needed such "toys" to please, I don't know anything about them.

Well there you go, me and my big mouth reviews... they've stopped stocking the Coffee I so love and crave - and elsewhere stores have ramped up their prices - welcome to the Japan Cartel experience. Kudos to DQ for attempting...