Thrift Shopping in Japan - An Interactive ESL Story + Worksheet

Looking for a fun way to improve your English while exploring Japanese culture?

✨ In this lesson, we’ll dive into the exciting world of thrift shopping in Japan. From Tokyo’s trendy Harajuku vintage shops to Kyoto’s hidden second-hand gems, Japan is famous for turning old into gold!

This post includes an interactive ESL story about two friends shopping in Tokyo, plus vocabulary practice, questions, and activities to help you learn English in a natural and enjoyable way.

Watch and Learn!  For more ESL reading and listening practice video lessons, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

🎩 Meet Emma & Yuki: A Day of Thrift Shopping

Emma and Yuki met outside Harajuku Station, excited for their day of exploring the best thrift stores in Tokyo.

👩‍💼 Emma: "I can't wait to find some cool vintage clothes!"

👩‍💼 Yuki: "Me too! I love finding a good bargain. And some of these shops let you pay with an IC card or QR code payment—super convenient!"

🏰 STOP & LEARN! Match the words with their meanings:

1. Thrift Store A) Old but stylish fashion

2. Vintage B) A small electronic payment card in Japan

3. Bargain C) A great deal, low price

4. IC Card D) Paying by scanning a code on your phone

5. QR Code Payment E) A shop selling second-hand clothes

(Answers: 1E, 2A, 3C, 4B, 5D)

🎀 Shopping at the First Thrift Store

They walked into a cosy little shop filled with colourful racks of second-hand clothes. Emma held up a denim jacket.

👩‍💼 Emma: "This looks amazing! How much is it?"

🧍‍💼 Staff: "It’s 3,500 yen."

👩‍💼 Emma: "Do you accept mobile payment?"

🧍‍💼 Staff: "Yes, you can use PayPay or scan this QR code."

🏰 STOP & THINK! What would you do next?

A) Pay with cash

B) Scan the QR code

C) Ask for a discount

👩‍💼 (Emma chose B!)

She quickly scanned the code, and within seconds, the payment was complete.

💡 Role-Play Challenge!

Try this conversation:

You: "Do you accept IC cards?"

Cashier: "Yes, you can use Suica or Pasmo."

You: "Great! I’ll pay with Suica."

📖 A Café Break & Final Reflections

After visiting a few more stores, Emma and Yuki took a break at a small café.

👩‍💼 Emma: "I love how shopping here is so convenient. Some places still need cash, but I love using digital payments!"

👩‍💼 Yuki: "Me too! And the best part? We both found amazing bargains today!"

👉 Don’t just read—join the story! 

Practise speaking with a friend, answer the discussion questions, or try the vocabulary exercises below.

🏰 STOP & DISCUSS!

1. Have you ever shopped at a thrift store? What did you buy?

2. What are the advantages of shopping second-hand?

3. What’s your favourite way to pay for things? Why?

🔶 Did You Know?

Why Thrift Stores Are Popular in Japan!

High-Quality Items🏆:

Japanese people take excellent care of their belongings, so second-hand items often look brand new!

Trendy Vintage Fashion 👗:

Japan has a strong vintage and streetwear culture, making thrift shopping exciting for fashion lovers.

Sustainability 🌱:

Many shoppers prefer second-hand clothes to reduce waste and help the environment.

Affordable Prices 💰:

Designer brands can be expensive in Japan, but thrift stores offer stylish options at a fraction of the cost.

Cashless Payments 📱:

Many thrift stores accept IC cards, QR code payments, and mobile wallets, making shopping fast and easy!

🔥 Your Turn!

• Write a short dialogue between a customer and a shop assistant.

• Act out the conversation with a friend.

👩‍💼__________________________________________________________

👩‍🦰 ___________________________________________________________

👩‍💼 ___________________________________________________________

👩‍🦰 ___________________________________________________________

👩‍💼 ___________________________________________________________

👩‍🦰 ___________________________________________________________

💬Share your thoughts in the comments!

🎬Thrift shopping in Japan isn’t just about finding bargains—it’s also about discovering stories, culture, and creativity. By combining this real-life topic with English learning, you can improve your vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills while having fun.

🌟 Did you enjoy today’s ESL thrift shopping story and activities? Share your answers in the comments below—I’d love to hear how you would shop in Japan!

📚 Teacher Tip:

Use this lesson before watching the video to introduce vocabulary, and after the video for practice & discussion!

💡 Want more? Download our free ESL shopping worksheet to keep practising anywhere, anytime.

🎥 Check out our YouTube Shorts Video Playlist:

🔗 Learn Themed Vocabulary in 60 seconds https://tinyurl.com/bp4rtcfu

🔗Grammar Adventure Shorts-Fun English Quizzes https://tinyurl.com/2s4bpc3c

🔗Grammar Stories & Fun Quizzes https://tinyurl.com/dmxjmwc4

📌 Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more free ESL lessons, interactive stories, and cultural adventures that make learning English exciting.

Would you like more lessons like this? Let us know! 💌