Hiroshima

DeoDeo
2-1-18 Kamiya-cho, Naka-ku
+81 082-247-5111
10AM-8PM daily
Kamiya-cho nishi tram stop

This is the headquarters of the Hiroshima-based electronics giant, with an appropriately huge selection of computer and camera equipment, music and DVDs, and — somewhat incongruously — imported designer watches.

DeoDeo Neverland
2-3-3 Ote-machi, Naka-ku
+81 082-247-3911
10AM-8PM daily
Hondori tram stop

This branch focuses on the important things in life, such as video games, giant fighting robots, and spaceships from the future.

Tokyu Hands
16-10 Hatchobori, Naka-ku
+81 082-228-3011
10AM-8PM daily
Hatchobori tram stop

Mostly Japanese home goods and appliances, but the first floor is full of travel and camping supplies, and the second floor has some fun party supplies along with a great selection of Halloween gear, when in season. If you scout around on the upper floors, you'll find some reasonably-priced traditional souvenirs like miniature sake barrels and tea sets.

Shopping in Hiroshima is dominated by a few huge department stores; in fact, trains deliver you directly into a fairly bland one called ASSE, which occupies the floors above the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station. Hon-dori 本通り, a covered shopping arcade in the city center, is the place to wander with a wallet you'd like to empty.

In terms of souvenirs, Hiroshima Carp memorabilia is the most widely found, although there's some spillover from the super-powered knick-knack engine that is Miyajima.

Best Denki
1-1-7 Nishikaniya, Minami-ku
+81 082-567-8000
10AM-8PM daily
Enkobashi-cho tram stop

A serene megastore chock full of Japanese video games, digital cameras, manga/anime videos and toys, and electronics in general. Just follow the river east from JR Hiroshima Station.

Fukuya (Ekimae)
9-1 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku
+81 082-568-3111
10AM-8PM daily

Aside from upscale boutiques like Chanel, Armani, and Dior, Fukuya has a good bookstore, Junkudo, on the 10th floor. Junkudo has two aisles of English language fiction and non-fiction, a few shelves of travel books, some interesting Japanese art and photography books directly facing the elevator, and a nice set of writing-oriented souvenirs toward the back — distinctly Japanese cards, stationary, pens, and the like. It's across the street from the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station, and the underground walkway leads directly into it.

PARCO
10-1 Hon-dori, Naka-ku
+81 082-542-2111
10AM-8:30PM daily; food court to 10:30PM
Hatchobori tram stop

For the latest in Japanese teen fashion, this is the place to look, with eight floors of clothes boutiques, and beauty supplies in the basement. There are also several music shops for a J-pop fix, and a good shop for soccer fans on the ninth floor. The concrete shape-jumble square behind the store is a popular hang-out space.

SOGO
6-27 Moto-machi, Naka-ku
+81 082-225-2111
10AM-8PM daily; food court to 10PM
Genbaku dome-mae tram stop

This concrete behemoth is on the other side of the street from the Peace Park, and the Hiroshima Bus Center is on its third floor. There are groceries and coin lockers in the basement, and a food court on the 10th floor. If you make it past all of the toys on the 6th floor, you'll find a Kinokuniya bookstore, with foreign titles not just English and a good selection of Japanese language study books.