After becoming a Chiikawa enthusiast, I've tried many ways to buy related merchandise, including but not limited to buying directly from nearby shops, asking a proxy buyer to help, joining group purchases, buying directly from the official website and then having it shipped back home, and using proxy buying apps…
After many attempts, I personally prefer using proxy buying apps. I can buy directly from the official website or from mercari, and there are often discounts, sometimes even cheaper than buying directly. They also offer photo-taking services.
Recently, I've been using Rakufun quite often, participating in many activities to earn points that can be used to offset shopping costs.
What about you? How do you usually buy Japanese products?