Tokyo’s Hidden Gems: 5 Best Free To Visit Flea Markets
Free things to do in Tokyo can be hard to come by, but travellers often overlook the cities many flea markets that take place across the city most weekends.
Flea markets in Tokyo are typically free to attend and offer the chance to pick up some authentic gifts, such as kimono, to take back home at bargain prices.
Often located around shrines or in popular areas of the city, you can easily plan your visit to one of Tokyo’s many markets around your other activities.
To help you plan which market you’d like to shop at, we’ve rounded up 5 of the best free to visit flea markets in Tokyo:
5 – Hanazono Shrine Antique Market
Hanazono Shrine Antique Market may be one of the smaller antique markets held in Tokyo, this market has a unique setting that makes it worth visiting.
Set against the backdrop of Hanazono Shrine, the market is the perfect place to pick up a variety of goods from kimono and pottery, to furniture and tableware.
The market takes place weekly on a Sunday, from 06:00 until 18:00.
4 – Tokyo Romantic Flea Market
Tokyo Romantic Flea Market takes place twice a month on the 2nd and 4th Sunday at Shibuya Garden Tower, with around 100 sellers offering items from Asia and across the world.
A mixed market with plenty of antique and vintage goods, you can also pick up organic foods and plants/flowers.
The market is open from 10:00 to 16:00, though some sellers may leave earlier if they sell out.
3 – Mottainai Flea Market
Based on the 3R principles of Mottainai, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, the Mottainai Flea Market takes place multiple times a month at different venues across Tokyo.
With a focus on selling second hand goods, in keeping with the markets principle of re-use, bargains are easy to come by.
The organisers also run a sister event, the Mottainai Handmade Market that invites sellers to showcase and sell local arts and crafts.
2 – Oedo Antique Market
The largest outdoor antique market in Japan, with over 250 dealers, Oedo Antique Market has been held since 2003.
Held on the first and third Sunday of every month at Tokyo International Forum, the market is open from 09:00 to 16:00 and visitors can expect a huge selection of antiques, art and more to be on sale at each market.
1 – Ohi Racecourse Flea Market
Ohi Racecourse Flea Market takes place in the carpark and surrounding areas of Ohi Racecourse and is one of Tokyo’s largest flea markets, often hosting over 500 stalls on average.
Held weekly on Saturday and Sunday, from 09:00 to 14:30, it’s recommended to arrive as early in the day as possible as the market is incredibly popular and can get busy.
Goods on sale range from antiques to second hand electronics and there are always plenty of food and drink vendors on site, making it possible to spend most of your day at the market.
With free entry and low priced goods on sale, flea markets are a great choice to get a taste of authentic day to day Japanese life and they’re also a great place to pick up souvenirs or gifts for family and friends back home.