If you want to sell a luxury bag in Tokyo, or a watch or piece of jewellery, the city’s resale stores make it straightforward. The same chains that sell pre-owned goods also buy them, at dedicated counters, usually with an offer on the spot. This guide explains the process, the legal checks, and how to get a fair result.
How buy-back works
Buy-back, kaitori in Japanese, follows the same pattern at most stores:
- You bring the item to the buy-back counter. Some stores take walk-ins; others prefer a booking.
- An appraiser inspects it, checks authenticity and condition, and looks at current demand for that model.
- The store makes an offer.
- If you accept, the store verifies your identity, you sign, and you are paid.
You are free to decline the offer and take the item elsewhere. Large chains have dedicated buy-back locations as well as counters inside their stores; KOMEHYO, for example, runs a buy-back floor in its Shinjuku store.
The identity check is a legal requirement
Under Japan’s Secondhand Goods Business Act, a licensed dealer must confirm the identity of the person it buys from and keep a record of the transaction. Expect to show official identification with your name and address. If you are not a resident of Japan, ask the store before you go which documents it accepts, because requirements differ between stores and not all will buy from short-term visitors.
Why offers differ
| Factor | Effect on the offer |
|---|---|
| Model demand | A model the store can resell quickly attracts a stronger offer |
| Condition | Corner wear, odour, scratches and polishing reduce it |
| Completeness | Box, papers, strap, links, padlock and receipt support it |
| The store’s own stock | A store holding several of the same model may offer less |
| Sales channel | Stores with overseas buyers or auction outlets may value some items more highly |
| Timing | Exchange rates and seasonal demand move prices |
The offer is a wholesale figure: what the store will pay now, leaving room for its costs and margin. It will be below the price at which the same item is displayed for sale.
What to bring
- The item, clean and complete.
- Every accessory you have: box, dust bag, cards, warranty papers, service records, spare links.
- The original receipt if you still have it.
- Identification.
Do not attempt repairs or re-dyeing before selling. Amateur restoration lowers value, and undisclosed work will be found.
How to compare offers
- Get at least two or three offers on the same day. The main chains have branches close together in Ginza, Shinjuku and Shibuya.
- Ask how long the offer is valid.
- Ask what would raise it. A missing accessory you have at home may be worth fetching.
- Compare the figure you receive, after any fees, not the headline.
- Do not be hurried. A reputable store will let you leave and think.
For background on the chains, see Best Pre-Owned Luxury Stores in Tokyo, KOMEHYO vs Daikokuya vs BRAND OFF and our KOMEHYO Shinjuku guide.
Buy-back, consignment or private sale
| Buy-back | Consignment | Private sale | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speed | Same day | Weeks or months | Unpredictable |
| Amount received | Lowest of the three | Higher, less commission | Potentially highest |
| Effort and risk | Low | Low to medium | High: fraud, disputes, shipping |
If a buyer comes to your home
Home-visit purchasing, where a dealer comes to your residence to buy goods, is regulated separately. Under the Specified Commercial Transactions Act, the Consumer Affairs Agency explains that a cooling-off period of eight days applies to door-to-door purchase, counted from the day you receive the documents the law requires the buyer to give you. Within that period you can cancel unconditionally. If you are pressured to sell at home, you are entitled to say no. A sale you carry out yourself at a store counter is not covered by this cooling-off rule.
Tax and records
Keep the purchase record the store gives you. Whether selling personal items has tax consequences depends on your circumstances and country of residence; ask a qualified adviser if the amounts are significant.
Frequently asked questions
Will the store tell me if my item is not genuine?
A store that will not buy an item often declines without a detailed explanation. A refusal is not a formal authentication verdict.
Can I sell an item without the box or papers?
Usually yes, at a lower price. For watches, papers matter more.
Is it better to trade in against another item?
Some stores offer a higher value for trade-ins. Compare it with a straight sale elsewhere.
For how the resale market works from the buyer’s side, read Pre-Owned Luxury in Tokyo.
Sources: Secondhand Goods Business Act, Japanese Law Translation; Consumer Affairs Agency, transactions subject to the Specified Commercial Transactions Act; KOMEHYO SHINJUKU store page. Last reviewed: 2 October 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice. TokyoLuxuryHub.com does not buy, sell or value items.
