Flea market is getting more and more popular in Japan, and you will see varieties of merchants. Some may be selling handmade silver jewelry, Asian clothes and accessories, or used CDs. Some others may be selling junk stuff just like the black markets used to after the WWII. Those markets held at private space accept “professional” merchants who sell varieties of stuff from music instruments to jewelry. You can recognize them easily because they are usually more organized than other “amateur” merchants. You don’t encounter them at those at public area though. Most of the merchants sell used clothes and unnecessary goods. These days, there are some Chinese selling new but cheap clothes, and they make huge crowds. Also, you might see a recycling service which collects used clothes, often near the end of market in order for the merchants to avoid taking remained stuff.


In Tokyo, you should be able to find a few flea markets every weekend. Three major ones are held at Meiji Park with about 600 merchants, at Shinjuku Chuo Park with about 250, and at Yoyogi Park with more than 800. The one at Yoyogi Park is regarded as Mecca because the very first organized flea market was held there. Other popular flea markets include those near Sunshine Building in Ikebukuro and near Shinjuku Mitsui Building. Some of the flea markets focus on certain goods, so you may need some research; for example, you can find antique markets near Jinja (shrines) or in Shitamachi (old part of Tokyo). At such antique markets, you can find kimono (traditional Japanese clothes) and setomono (china).