TreFac Style Style Koenji 2 — Local services in Tokyo

A very strange customer service experience. Apparently, one of the staff decided to take out their bad mood on me. At first, he wasn’t very eager to help, and when I brought a pair of jeans to the counter to buy them, he asked, “Do you need tax-free?” Of course, I said yes — I always do it when shopping abroad.

But when I handed over my passport and he saw that I’m from Russia, he suddenly changed his mind and said, “Sorry, we don’t have tax-free.” Really? Even though there’s a “Tax-Free” sign right there at the counter, and he was the one who asked me about it in the first place?

I bought the jeans anyway, thinking maybe I was just overanalyzing the situation and there were just technical issues or something.

But the next day, I went to another branch of the same store, in the Gotokuji area. I brought a pair of sneakers to the counter — this time, a woman helped me. She asked for my passport and processed the tax-free refund without any issue and warm attention.

So tell me, guys — how come your staff refused to do tax-free for me the first time? I’ve never had that happen before, and while I understand certain situations, this one was just really unpleasant and...

If 2nd STREET is the clean, corporate face of Tokyo secondhand, then TreFac Style is its cooler, less predictable cousin. The shop hits that sweet spot between organized retail & treasure-hunting chaos...you can browse racks without feeling like you need a tetanus shot, but there’s still a sense you might stumble onto something wild.

The selection here is broad & fun: vintage tees, shoes, bags, outerwear & plenty of rotating seasonal finds. Prices are fair (sometimes surprisingly good) & you can tell the staff curate with an eye for pieces that have personality, not just resale value. Compared to some of the other thrift giants in Kōenji, this store feels approachable but not boring! There’s enough quirk in the mix to keep you digging.

I walked out with a few finds I wasn’t expecting & that’s the hallmark of a great secondhand shop.

This place delivers the goods: organized, affordable & still full of surprises. A must-stop if you’re...

Don't skip out on this place if you go to Koenji, has some really good items for a fraction of the price compared to a lot of other stores around the area. I managed to find two luxury bags for around 5k yen each, which is such a steal. Also has a good range of sizes, unlike a few more trendy spots in the area. Definitely...