Deck the halls at the best Tokyo men's outfitters

Whatever the time of year, the sheer range of clothes-shopping choices in Tokyo -- from Japanese boutiques, vintage outfitters and department stores -- can be daunting, and it’s even worse in holiday season, when every outlet seems to have a sale.

And while the Gothic Lolitas and Harajuku girls may make it seem like women get to have all the fun, Tokyo, a world fashion hotspot, does not short change the men.

Japanese menswear is rich and exciting, ranging from vintage Americana to the deconstructed, monochromatic looks pioneered by Yohji Yamamoto, Issey Miyake and Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons.

To help navigate Tokyo’s bustling sartorial waters, here’s a list of our favorite go-to designers and stores for the year-end shopping season.

Best old dog, Comme des Garçons

Comme des Garçons -- almost in middle-age and still a revolutionary.

If you need a quick primer on Japanese fashion, look no further than Comme des Garçons, Rei Kawakubo’s 38-year-old fashion label that revolutionized fashion both in Japan and the West and continues to be an influential force today.

The Comme man is not constrained by conventional sensibilities of tailoring -- drop-crotch trousers, cropped pants and oversize jackets with exposed pockets are all part of the Comme oeuvre.

While some of those silhouettes may seem daunting, you can find many wearable pieces, such as the signature button-downs that mix different fabrics and patterns of plaid, gingham, denim, corduroy and silk into cohesive and interesting pieces.

But if you don’t think you can rock denim drop-crotch pants, then consider Comme des Garçons’ Play line, a collaboration with graphic artist Filip Pagowski that features a simple and charming collection of T-shirts, wool cardigans and sweaters with the signature heart logo.

Under the Comme des Garçons umbrella is also the designer Junya Watanabe, Kawakubo’s protégé, who also shows his collections in Paris.

His menswear line consists of a similar patchwork aesthetic with a Heritage flair -- Fair Isle blazers with solid colored pockets, Western shirts with a corduroy yoke and letterman jackets.

Walk straight out of exit A5 of Omotesando Station and you will see the blue mesh of the Comme des Garçons flagship store at 5-2-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku.

For Junya Watanabe, walk around the block to the 10 Corso Como/Comme des Garçons store at 5-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku. The men’s store is the building on the right-hand side.

Upon entering, there is a mix of different imported designers like Thom Browne and Kitsuné as well as Comme des Garçons Play. The bottom floor houses Commes des Garcons’ men’s labels Homme, Homme Plus, Shirt and Black.

The second floor is dedicated to Junya Watanabe’s line and his collaborations with Brooks Brothers and North Face. Both the Comme des Garçons flagship store and 10 Corso Como are open daily 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Best Japanese take on Americana, N. Hoolywood

N. Hoolywood, Mister Hollywood -- they may not know how to spell, but they sure know clothes.

The flagship store from N. Hoolywood, known as Mister Hollywood, looks like it came from the set of “Psycho.” The store is a two-story house in peeling powder blue paint, with a rusty gate and cracking columns.

As you walk down the rickety stairs on your way to the store, a wooden sign that reads “KILL” greets you.

The store springs from designer Daisuke Obana’s love of Americana and American directors -- Hitchcock in particular. American film references are everywhere in his clothes as well.

More on CNNGo: 5 craziest hidden Tokyo fashion boutiques

But what has made Obana a hit since he showed his first collection at New York Fashion Week this past year has been his careful attention to detail -- buffalo plaid button-downs with inverted pleats running along the back, plain long-sleeved shirts with a Western bib front and ecru t-shirts with seams sewn down the center.

Obana might be coming from the outside, but he does so with astonishing clarity and wit.

Walk towards Omotesando Hills out of exit A3 from Omotesando Station. N. Hoolywood is located at 4-13-16 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Open daily  noon-8 p.m.

Best outerwear, White Mountaineering

White Mountaineering -- for those days when you don't want to dress like a Japanese fop.

In Tokyo, sometimes it seems all roads lead back to Comme des Garçons. At first glance, the patchwork elements and heritage influences at White Mountaineering are reminiscent of Junya Watanabe.

Indeed, while head designer Yosuke Aizawa worked under Watanabe before breaking off in 2006, he has managed to create his own aesthetic with his new label.

As the name suggests, White Mountaineering offers a rugged collection perfect for braving the elements. The winter wear is particularly strong -- puffy down jackets, vests, sweaters, cardigans and hats will all help you withstand the onslaught of the elements while looking fashionable.

What sets White Mountaineering apart from rugged hiking clothing, though, is the mix of these high-tech materials with interesting prints.

The label often uses windproof and waterproof textiles like Goretex as well as a temperature-adaptive material by Schoeller to create functional outerwear that can withstand the elements.

White Mountaineering mixes these textiles with familiar patterns like camouflage that look like the shadows of trees or inkblots on corduroy.

Continue towards Jingumae Elementary School and directly behind Omotesando Hills, you will find a sleek metallic store with a small sign indicating the store within.  4-21-7 Jinguumae, Shibuya-ku. Open daily noon-8 p.m.