Flea Markets in Japan

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Antique & Flea Markets in Tokyo (Temples Flea Markets)

Arai Yakushi Temple Flea Market – 新井薬師アンティーク・フェア

The Antiques Fair at Arai Yakushi Temple in Nakano-ku is held on the first Sunday of every month and features 50 to 80 shops. Arai Yakushi belongs to the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. The temple is dedicated to Yakushi Nyorai (the Healing Buddha). Generally, temples dedicated to the Healing Buddha are called Yakushi (temple).

The official name of Arai Yakushi is Baishoin, but it is more commonly known as Arai Yakushi because of its location in Arai. The temple became popular when a prayer to the temple cured a serious eye disease of a daughter of the fifth Tokugawa shogun, Ietada. Since then, Arai Yakushi has been regarded by people as an eye-healing temple.

Where: 5-3-5 Arai, Nakano-ku, Tokyo
When: First Sunday every month (except February): 08:30 – 15:30 (website)
Number of booths: 50-80
Access to the Flea Market
: 5 min. walk from Araiyakushi-mae Sta. on the Seibu-Shinjuku Line ・15 min. walk from Nakano Sta. (North Exit) on the JR Chuo Line
Review of Arai Yakushi Temple Flea Market on fleamapket.com

Nogi-Jinja Shrine Flea Market – 乃木神社骨董蚤の市

The flea market at Nogi-Jinja Shrine is held on the 4th Sunday of every month from early morning until 3:30 pm and features around 40 antique and flea dealers. Due to the large population of foreigners in the area (Akasaka and Roppongi), foreign visitors are often seen at this antique fair.

Nogi-Jinja Shrine is dedicated to General Maresuke Nogi (1840-1912). Nogi was a great soldier and a hero of the Meiji period. He commanded the Imperial Army and captured Port Arthur from the Russians in 1905, losing both his sons in the process. On the day of Emperor Meiji’s funeral in 1912, he and his wife committed suicide. He was one of Japan’s greatest heroes until the Second World War. General Nogi’s residence, where he and his wife died, remains in good condition on the grounds of the shrine.

Where: 8-11-27 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
When: 4th Sunday of the month (except November): 08:00 – 15:00 (website)
Number of booths: 40
Access to the Flea Market
: 1 min. walk from Nogizaka Sta. (Exit 1) on Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line
Review of Nogi-Jinja Shrine Flea Market on fleamapket.com

Yasukuni Shrine Flea Market –  靖国神社青空骨董市

The open-air antiques fair at Yasukuni Shrine is held every Sunday from sunrise to sunset, with around 10-20 dealers from all over Japan.

Yasukuni Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in Chiyoda, Tokyo. It was founded by Emperor Meiji and commemorates all those who died in the service of the Empire of Japan. The Yasukuni Shrine flea market is not the most impressive of its kind in Tokyo, but it is a fun place to be if you are visiting Yasukuni anyway.

Where: 3-1-1 Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
When: Sundays from sunrise to sunset (website)
Number of booths: 10-20
Access to the Flea Market
: 5 min. walk from Kudanshita Sta. on the Tozai, Hanzomon and Toei Shinjuku Subway Lines・10 min. walk from Iidabashi Sta. (West Exit) on the JR Chuo Line.
Review of Yasukuni Shrine Flea Market on fleamapket.com

Hanazono-Jinja Shrine Flea Market –  花園神社青空骨董市

The flea market at Hanazono Shrine is held every Sunday (except on the days of the shrine festival, 27 December and 3 January) from early morning until 3-4 p.m. This flea market offers an interesting selection of antiques ranging from small furniture to collectibles such as old coins. The Antique Fair is held 2-3 times a month on Sundays.

Hanazono Shrine is the largest shrine in Shinjuku and is known as the guardian of Shinjuku. It was founded in the Edo period. Today, the shrine is located near the Kabukicho red light district. Any feeling of incongruity about the location of the shrine disappears when visitors enter the shrine grounds – it is very quiet, like other shrines, and does not fail to give people comfort.

Where: 5-17-3 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
When: Every Sunday from sunrise till sunset (canceled in events and rainy days, and not held during shrine festivals and Dec. 27th and Jan. 3rd): 06:30 am – 3 pm (website)
Number of booths: 25-30
Access to the Flea Market
: 3 min, walk from Shinjuku-sanchome Sta. on the Marunouchi and Toei Shinjuku Subway Lines ・7 min. walk from Shinjuku Sta. (East Exit) on the JR Yamanote and Chuo Lines.
Review of Hanazono-Jinja Shrine Flea Market on fleamapket.com

Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Flea Market –  富岡八幡宮骨董市

The Antiques Fair at the Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine in Fukagawa, Koto-ku, is held every 4th and 5th Sunday of the month (except 27 December and 3 January) from 6am to 3pm and features around 50-80 stallholders selling a wide range of Japanese antiques, from plates to kimonos.

Tomioka Hachimangu is the largest Hachiman shrine in Tokyo. It was founded in 1627 in honour of Emperor Ojin (died 310 AD), who was deified as the god of war. Tomioka Hachiman’s festival in mid-August is one of the three major festivals in Tokyo.

The shrine is closely associated with sumo. During the Edo period, the shrine was the official venue for sumo and tournaments were held every spring and winter. The shrine is also proud of its “ichi-no-miya” mikoshi, which is the largest in Kanto and is beautifully decorated with diamonds. The mikoshi is so heavy that it was only carried when it was brought into the shrine. The mikoshi is housed in the building and displayed for visitors.

Where: 1-20-3 Tomioka, Koto-ku, Tokyo
When: Every Sunday (except 3rd Sunday of the month): 08:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Antique Market: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th Sunday of the month, from sunrise to sunset: 08:00 AM – 3:30 PM / Flea Market: 15th and 28th of the month: 08:00 AM – 3:30 PM (website)
Number of booths: 50-80
Access to the Flea Market
: 3 min. walk from Monzen-Nakacho Sta. on the Tozai and Toei Ooedo Subway Lines.
Review of Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine Flea Market on fleamapket.com

Gokokuji Antique Fair (Bunkyo-ku) –  護国寺骨董市

The Antique Fair at Gokokuji Temple is held on the second Saturday of every month. This flea market gathers around 25-40 vendors from early in the morning until 4 p.m. Travellers looking for typical Japanese items to take home usually have a great time at the Gokokuji Antique Fair.

In general, a trip to a Japanese flea market is a great way to learn about a different culture and history. The Gokokuji Antique Fair used to be very busy until recently, as the number of stallholders and visitors to the flea market seems to have declined over the past year.

The temple was built in 1681 at the request of Keishoin, the mother of the fifth shogun, Tokugawa Tsunayoshi. Its main hall is the oldest wooden temple building in Tokyo, having survived the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and World War II. It is well worth seeing.

Where: 5-40-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
When: Every 2nd Saturday of the month: 07:00 – 15:00 (website)
Number of booths: 25-40
Access to the Flea Market
: 1 min. walk from Gokokuji Sta. on the Yurakucho Subway Line.
Review of Gokokuji Temple Flea Market on fleamapket.com

Takahata Fudoson Temple Flea Market –  高幡不動ござれ市

The Takahata Fudo Antique Fair is held on the third Sunday of every month. This flea market gathers around 120 antique dealers from early morning until 4pm.

Takahata Fudo Temple, located in Hino City in the western suburbs of Tokyo, belongs to the Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism. It is one of the three major temples in the Kanto region dedicated to Fudo Myoo (Acala Vidyaraja). The temple contains many designated important cultural relics. In the hall of the five-storey pagoda are Kobo Daishi (founder of the Shingon sect) and 1000 Jizo statues (sentai Jizoo).

Where: 733 Takahata, Hino-shi, Tokyo,  
When: Every 3rd Sunday of the month: 07:00 – 15:00 (website
Number of booths: 120
Access to Flea Market: 5 min. walk from Takahatafudo Sta. on Keio Line
Review of Takahata Fudoson Temple Flea Market on fleamapket.com

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