
(buying rice for 1 Ringit in Lankawi!!)
miss those days of bargaining... But I also miss the days in Japan I can just go to:

Here is some information I found that may be of great use to the new and old FG- enjoy
Wise buys
Tokyo is not the easiest place to shop—the city holds backs its charms in a million tiny corners and niches. But the patient peruser will find riches aplenty. Witness the second-hand book quarter—Jimbocho—which caters to the capital's many bibliophiles (works in English included). Equally, the Japanese genius with cotton has led to the creation of the yukata—a dressing gown found in a variety of styles only in Japan. Alternatively, a smaller item in cotton is the tenugui, a traditional Japanese towel.
The customer is not always right. In smart shops, expect to be met with incredulous stares if you ask to try something on, and always ask permission before handling anything delicate. In many cases, items are arranged like museum exhibits. Be sure to have any presents gift-wrapped. Wrapping is a Japanese art form, especially in smaller boutiques.
more:
http://www.economist.com/cities/findStory.cfm?city_id=TK&folder=Shopping#Landmark_destinations