Maternity Clothing in Japan: Popular Stores and Styles
Maternity clothing in Japan is quite different than that of North America. In North America, moms-to-be tend to like to show off their belly whereas in Japan, it’s all about loose clothing that hides the growing baby. However, there are enough Western clothing brands in Japan that you may be able to find something that is chic, in your size, and works with your belly. This is why I thought it would be helpful to share with you popular places where you can get maternity clothes in Japan and my experience with some of them.
Top-Ranked Maternity Stores in Japan
According to a poll by Tamahiyo in 2024, the following stores are the most highly recommended for maternity fashion:
- First Place: Uniqlo
- Second Place: Nishimatsuya
- Third Place: Akachan Honpo
Detailed Guide to Local Retailers
UNIQLO
Uniqlo made first place in 2024 as the best store for maternity clothes in a poll by Tamahiyo. If you want maternity jeans that can be hemmed and are available in a variety of sizes, UNIQLO is a good option. Unfortunately, only a few stores in Tokyo carry maternity clothing and it’s quite expensive. I’ve never seen their maternity clothes go on sale.
Nishimatsuya
Nishimatsuya ranked second place in 2024 as the best store for maternity clothes in a poll by Tamahiyo. This store is probably the cheapest before markdowns. I have a few maternity/nursing bras from here that were very affordable and are quite comfortable. Their clothing selection in general is small but very budget-friendly.
Akachan Honpo
This is one of the most popular baby stores in Japan. Akachan Honpo ranked third place in 2024 as the best store for maternity clothes in a poll by Tamahiyo. The maternity clothes here are a bit more expensive than Babies R Us and I haven’t seen anything marked down that I liked. Overall, the clothes are quite loose and simple; however, it’s worth it to take a look.
Babies R Us
I’ve found the clothing here to be the most affordable when it is marked down. In fact, I haven’t spent more than ¥1500 on a single piece of clothing, including jeans! All of the clothing I’ve bought from there has been so comfortable. The clothing tends to be quite baggy and loose, however, as per Japanese style.
H&M
H&M is great because of its variety of sizes and styles that suit different body types. It also tends to be quite cheap as it’s fast fashion; however, their maternity clothing tends to cost much more than their regular clothes and is only sold in certain locations or online. I’ve found that their maternity clothing does not go on sale in stores but sometimes is marked down considerably online.
Online and Specialty Shops
Specialized Japanese Brands
- Muji (無印良品): The quality of Muji clothes is excellent and I highly recommend their maternity pajamas.
- CHOCOA: They have some very cute and trendy clothing that looks more like what you would find in North America.
- ANGELIEBE: This store is very popular with Japanese moms and they have a huge selection of clothes.
- SWEET MOMMY: This is another popular online store for maternity and nursing clothing.
Regular Shops for Maternity Needs
I also suggest looking at shops like ZARA, H&M, and Gap for regular clothing in larger sizes as well as loose-fitting styles. ZARA does not have a maternity line in Japan but some of their regular dresses and shirts are very loose and can fit a growing belly.
Overseas Maternity Clothing Stores That Ship to Japan
If you’re looking for maternity clothes that are more “Western-style” (i.e., tighter or more revealing) or have a larger variety of sizes, then ordering overseas is a great option. Some popular overseas stores that ship to Japan include:
- ASOS (UK)
- Next (UK)
- Seraphine (UK)
- PinkBlush (USA)
- Gap (USA)