10 Best Markets in Tokyo
Where to Go Shopping like a Local in Tokyo?
Tokyo might be known as a retail mecca thanks to its major department stores, luxury brands and underground arcades, but the best markets in Tokyo offer something far more unique. You can shop the most eclectic and dynamic retail this neon-soaked metropolis has to offer, whether you’re seeking out finger-licking street food or rare antique.
Browse farmers’ markets for fresh produce, hit a historic racecourse for a mammoth selection of retro clothing or attend an eminent art fair to peruse cutting-edge works by contemporary painters. Collectors will love finding old kimonos, ceremonial tea sets and hard-to-find vinyl records from a cult Japanese punk band. Read on to discover where to shop in Tokyo.
1. The United Nations University Farmers’ Market
Eco-focused market stocking all things organic
Good for: Shoppers, Food
Hosted every weekend outside the United Nations University in Shibuya, the UNU Farmers’ Market showcases a delectable selection of organic produce and homemade fare. You can also peruse a fine selection of botanical products like indoor potted plants and flower arrangements.
When you’re not shopping lime green goya, a vegetable that’s native to Okinawa, or picking up jars of luxurious local honey, swing by the market’s food trucks for a hearty homemade lunch. On any given weekend you’ll find Japanese, Indian and Italian cuisine, including cheesy pizzas cooked in a rustic brick oven.
Location: 5 Chome-53-70 Jingumae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan
Open: Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm (closed on Monday–Friday)
The United Nations University Farmers’ Market
2. Oi Racecourse Tokyo City Flea Market
Fashionistas flock here
Good for: Shoppers, Food
Featuring hundreds of vendors on weekends, Oi Racecourse Tokyo City Flea Market takes place in the car park of Tokyo City Keiba, one of the city’s most iconic horse tracks. While the market is famed for its vast collection of pre-loved clothes, it’s also a treasure trove of hidden collectables spanning antiques, fossils and hand-painted ceramics.
Come early and join the bargain hunters as they rummage through piles of vintage apparel cast arranged on plastic tarps. Haggling is encouraged, so feel free to do so. And make sure you check the forecast as the market can get cancelled if the weather is bad.
Location: 2 Chome-1 Katsushima, Shinagawa City, Tokyo 140-0012, Japan
Open: Saturday–Sunday from 9 am to 2.30 pm (closed on Monday–Friday)
Oi Racecourse Tokyo City Flea Market
3.
Shibuya Antique Market
Bargains from bygone eras
Good for: Shoppers, Food, History
Shibuya Antique Market is held every second and fourth Sunday of the month outside Shibuya Garden Tower, a handsome glass skyscraper that’s 5-minutes from Shinsen Station, Keio Inokashira Line. Featuring approximately 100 vendors, this upscale fair has made a name for itself with its old-world collectables and rare vintage finds from Japan and other diverse regions.
When you’re not browsing ornate metal teapots, artisan jewellery and striking silk kimonos, you can eat at a small number of food stalls. If you’re looking for a more substantial meal, head to nearby One Garden for authentic Japanese dishes. We love the Ise lobster with sea urchin and the caviar and edamame tofu.
Location: Shibuya Garden Tower, 16-17 Nanpeidaicho, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0036, Japan
Open: Every second and fourth Sunday of the month from 10 am to 4 pm
Shibuya Antique Market
4. Ameya Yokocho
Atmospheric market street
Good for: Shoppers, Food, Budget
Ameya Yokocho, or Ameyoko Shopping Street, is a buzzing retail boulevard that draws bargain hunters from across the city with its eclectic stores, eye-popping signage and some truly dazzling discounts. Conveniently situated on the JR Yamanote Line, visitors pour in to peruse sporting goods, colourful sweets, watches and cosmetics products before hitting the food trucks and eateries for a cheap Japanese meal.
Look out for vendors selling tropical fruits threaded onto long sticks or sample authentic Tokyo street foods like takoyaki octopus dumplings and okonomiyaki pancakes. For an authentic cultural experience, visit Cha-no-Kiminoen, a speciality green tea shop dating back to the 40s that stocks aromatic brews like sencha and genmaicha.
Location: 6 Chome-10 Ueno, Taito City, Tokyo 110-0005, Japan
Open: Daily from 10 am to 8 pm
Phone: +81 (0)33-832-5053
Ameya Yokocho
5. Market of the Sun
Bi-monthly farmers’ market with plenty of artisan goods
Good for: Shoppers, Food, Budget
Market of the Sun is Tokyo’s largest farmers’ market, located in the special ward of Chuo in the beating heart of the capital. Come here for a vast array of fruits and vegetables that are native to Japan, as well as educational workshops focused on harvesting and farming.
When you’re done filling your bags with the freshest produce in the city, you can stock up on artisanal baked goods and deli-style ingredients including homemade bagels, rich fruit preserves, aromatic coffee and traditional Shinshu miso. Food trucks offer tasty meals to hungry shoppers exiting the market, so be sure you sample the American-style hamburgers and Indian biryanis.
Location: 1 Chome-8-1 Kachidoki, 中央区 Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0054, Japan
Open: Every second Saturday and Sunday of the month from 10 am to 5 pm
Market of the Sun
6. Art Fair Tokyo
A unique dialogue between exhibitor and buyer
Good for: Shoppers, Luxury
Art Fair Tokyo brings together some of the most prestigious galleries from across Japan, as well as the global arena. The oldest art fair in Asia, AFT is one of the driving forces of the Japanese art market with its extensive collections of contemporary pieces that span painting, sculpture, textiles, photography and avant-garde mixed media.
Collectors and buyers flock to the Tokyo International Forum hall every March to admire works from creators such as the ultra-modern Tomoko Hasuwa, performance-based Chiharu Shiota and contemporary pop artist Taro Yakumo. If you buy an Advanced Ticket you’ll save 1,000 yen, while children under 5 enter free with an adult.
Location: 3 Chome-5-1, Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
Phone: +81 (0)35-797-7911
Art Fair Tokyo
7. Heiwajima Antiques Fair
Japan’s oldest and most exalted antiques show
Good for: Shoppers, Luxury
Around 3,000 dealers flock to the Heiwajima Antiques Fair, held several times a year at the Tokyo Ryutsu Centre, to flog bygone-era collectables. These include prized Asian porcelain, tea ceremony sets, netsuke sculptures used to fasten a container onto the sash of a kimono, jewellery, statues and traditional prints. While this event teems with seasoned professionals who trade antiques for a living, it’s still OK to haggle for a discount.
First established in 1978, HAF has grown into Japan’s oldest and most prestigious event that’s solely focused on coveted antiques. Our tip is to visit on the first day of the fair, while all those rare items are still up for grabs. Admission for buyers is free.
Location: Tokyo Ryutsu Center, 6 Chome-1-1 Heiwajima, Ota City, Tokyo 143-0006, Japan
Phone: +81 (0)33-767-2111
Heiwajima Antiques Fair
8. Tsukiji Outer Market
Expansive seafood hub beloved by Tokyo’s chefs
Good for: Shoppers, Food
For the best seafood in the capital, nothing beats Tsukiji Outer Market. The vendors here sell lean akami tuna, succulent crabs and scallops and himono, a traditional sun-dried fish with a rich, umami flavour. The city’s chefs adore this gastronomic hub for its impressive range of speciality edibles like salt-pickled mullet roe and deep-green nori seaweed sheets.
When you’re not spending your cash on the catch of the day, head to one of the market’s lively sushi restaurants for a traditional Japanese meal. We recommend Shutoku Ganso, a hole-in-the-wall venue down an alley near Tsukiji, for sea urchin nigiri and succulent bluefin tuna.
Location: 4 Chome, Tsukiji, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Open: Monday–Saturday from 5 am to 2 pm, Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm
Phone: +81 (0)33-541-9444
Tsukiji Outer Market
9. Nakamise-dori Street
Bustling shopping boulevard on temple grounds
Good for: Shoppers, Food, Budget
Dating back to the 17th century, Nakamise-dori Street is a charismatic shopping arcade that connects the main gate of Sensoji Temple to its lantern-lit, frescoed hall. Many of the retailers here have been run by the same family for generations, making it something of a cultural phenomenon.
Close to 100 stalls compete for attention, enticing buyers with everything from samurai swords and matcha ice cream to Hello Kitty merchandise. For traditional souvenirs, you’ll be treated by vendors selling vivid kimonos, multi-coloured chopsticks, ornate sandals and pretty paper opera fans.
Location: 1 Chome-36-3 Asakusa, Taito City, Tokyo 111-0032, Japan
Open: Daily from 11 am to 2 pm and 5 pm to 9 pm
Phone: +81 (0)33-844-3350
Nakamise-dori Street
10. Mottainai Flea Markets
Reduce, reuse, recycle, respect
Good for: Shoppers, Budget
The hyper-sustainable Mottainai Flea Markets are held every weekend in and around Tokyo, including the prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba. Locals and tourists flock to the bazaars to score hand-me-down clothing and used household goods at prices that sometimes seem too good to be true.
In the past, this eco-minded event has taken place at prime locations like Komazawa Olympic Park, Shimokitazawa Station and the rooftop of Parco Kichijoji, a popular urban shopping centre. Make sure you check the official website as the market changes locations frequently; sometimes it even moves twice in 1 weekend.
Mottainai Flea Markets
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