ngl most of those places like komehyo and brand off are fixed price, especially the chain stores. the only time i've seen negotiation work is at smaller independent shops in shinjuku or ueno, and even then it's more about bundling items than haggling a single bag

if you're polite and ask in japanese sometimes they'll knock off the tax or throw in a dust bag, but don't expect a discount on the tag price. daikokuya in shibuya is another one where you might get a tiny break if you pay cash, but it's rare

honestly the online rumor might be from daikokuya or a shop like amore that has a few locations with different policies. the amore in harajuku is more firm than the one in shinjuku in my experience

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yeah so most of those big chain stores are fixed price, especially komehyo and brand off. they have way too many locations to be flexible on pricing. the only exception i've seen is if you're buying multiple high-end pieces at once, like spending over 500k yen, then sometimes they'll quietly offer a small discount

the smaller shops in koenji or shimokitazawa are a different story though. there's a place called rag tag in shimokitazawa where i watched a girl get 5% off a chanel just by asking nicely in japanese. but even then it's more about being respectful and knowing what you're talking about than aggressive haggling

if you really want to negotiate, try the shops in ameyoko market in ueno. those places are more used to bargaining culture since they deal with tourists all day. just keep it low key and don't be that person making a scene over 2000 yen

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Pretty much what everyone else said - chain stores are sticker price. One thing nobody mentioned though is that some stores have loyalty programs or member discounts that aren't advertised, so if you plan on buying a lot it's worth asking if they have a membership card that could save you a few percent.

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honestly the guide nailed it but i'd throw in nakameguro for anyone visiting in spring. the canal walk during cherry blossom season is insane, way less crowded than ueno or shinjuku gyoen. plus there's a killer onigiri spot called Onigiri Bongo that sells out by noon, and the area has a ton of tiny wine bars and vintage shops. rooms at the Claska hotel start around $120 and it's a quick hop to shibuya on the tokyu line

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solid write-up, covers the big ones well. for my money, if you're a food nerd, staying near a good tsukemen or ramen spot is a legit strategy. i booked a hotel in takadanobaba once just cause i wanted to be walking distance from Taishoken, the tsukemen birthplace. that area is also full of student bars and cheap eats since Waseda Uni is there, rooms at the b:CONTE hotel run like $90 a night and it's two stops from Shinjuku on the Yamanote. way less tourist crush than Shibuya for late-night bowls

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This is a solid breakdown, really covers the main bases well. One thing I'd add for anyone staying in Shinjuku is that the station itself can be overwhelming even for locals, so picking a hotel on the west side near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is a good hack. The views from the free observation deck there are just as good as the paid ones, and you avoid the chaos of the east exit. For cheap eats in that area, the basement floor of Takashimaya department store has incredible takeout bento boxes under 1,000 yen that beat most convenience store meals.

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