Flea Markets of Kyoto (2)

I went to Garakuta-ichi and Tedukuri-ichi. These are a different kind of market from Kobo-san and Tenjin-san that I wrote an article at last time. In these markets, the kind of the stall is limited. In Garakuta-ichi, only antiques stalls stand, and handmade goods and crafts line in Tedukuri-ichi.

Should go to Garakuta-ichi at early morning!?

Garakuta-ichi has no relation to ennichi. It is an antiques market which holds at wide precincts of . Even if you don’t like crowd, in Garakuta-ichi it’s OK, because you can see in your own good time.

The visitors who flocks there likes antiques. There are a lot of visitors who are pleased with finding the curious thing from among such though strange goods queue up as shown in the name of Garakuta-ichi (jumble market). Of course, it is also possible to meet goods of first-class. It seems that even merchant who has the fine antique shop at center of Kyoto city buys goods of first-class cheap at Garakuta-ichi, and sells it dear after repairs it. It is said that because they will have bought fine goods at early morning, you should go there around 6:00!?

There were stalls which sold colorful old kimono and obi, and young people who follow the latest “wa” trend were looking for the find there in kimono. Each of stalls has specialty. Some stalls showed the particular goods beautifully, and others looked like toy box was turned over. Merchants were looking like do not have enthusiasm in business. And sometimes I was not able to find where they were. Some of them occasionally start putting away goods at noon for reason why it is cold or hot.

“Hi, One-san, how much is this?” One-san means young lady. It is common sense there that you call “One-san” even if it is an elderly woman when you start price negotiation. You must not call “Oba-san”, because Oba-san means Mother or Grandmother.

Find only one in the world at Tedukuri-ichi!?

It is Tedukuri-ichi which hold at Chion-ji Temple every month. It is explained in the homepage as the following. “Tedukuri-ichi is the blue sky exhibition place that amateur creation person prices and sells goods that he/she made of the raw material with an own hand with the result that he/she can taste the pleasure. And visitor who obtains it also can enjoy the conversation with creation person there.” So it is possible to meet original handmade goods and crafts and the creator person there. You will find the only one handmade goods in the world.

Tedukuri-ichi of ten years ago was a simple market where the person in local was selling handmade goods. However in recent years it was reported in the magazine etc., and, now, became famous for a nationwide scale.

After a long separation I went to Tedukuri-ichi on 15th February, and there were many people in Hyakumanben bus stop where it is the nearest bus stop to Chion-ji Temple. And the precinct of Chion-ji Temple was crawling with stalls and visitors.

It seems that many of visitors were woman in 20-60 years old. Devised display, lovely small articles. There were a lot of unique goods, and I saw that the creator person and the visitor enjoy talking. There were stalls which showed a lot of goods, but it was doubtful about whether those were handmade or the seller made goods. It seemed that there were a lot of people who had the shop in another place, and also stood a stall there.

According to organizer, it is in recent years that the number of the stall and visitor has increased. The rights to stand stall are decided by the lot now because the people who want to stand a stall are increasing. Nevertheless, I hear that the people who do not live in Kyoto make an application for it. Then “Ichimoku-Tedukuri-ichi” that is the sisters market started last November. I felt that Tedukuri-ichi had changed considerably.

I think the knack of enjoying Tedukuri-ichi is to speak with the creator person when you found the favorite goods. It might be interesting, if you can hear how he/she did do the work.

The craftsman of Tenkoku (seal engraving) engraves one character in about 30 minutes. Its cost is 1,700 yen. He said I accept an order from foreigner and I engrave English name in Kanji character and I explain meanings of Kanji character in poor English. He also stands the stall in Kobo-san at To-ji Temple.

Information
>>>Garakuta-ichi (at To-ji Temple): The first Sunday of every month, from early morning to sunset; It is possible to enjoy the world of Japanese antiques. Some of stalls start putting away goods around 14:00. The number of stalls of Garakuta-ichi decreases when other big antique festivals clash with the schedule of Garakuta-ichi.

>>>Tedukuri-ichi (at Chion-ji Temple): The 15^th of every month, 9:00-sunset; Stalls are not same every time because the rights to stand stall are decided by the lot. You can buy handmade goods and crafts at reasonable prices.

>>>Ichimoku-Tedukuri-ichi (at Umekoji-Koen park): The first Thursday of every month (except January and May), 9:00-16:00; This is sister market of Tedukuri-ichi at Chion-ji Temple. Stalls are not same every time because the rights to stand stall are decided by the lot.

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