Tokyo City Flea Market — Attraction in Tokyo

The Tokyo Flea Market at Oii Racecourse was one of those experiences I've heard about and didn't think much of at first. I'm not a shopper. I understand how thrilling the search and find for something rare or expensive can be, but I've always preferred activities instead of shopping when visiting new places. Plus, you think flea market and you consider it to be filled with crumby, worn down items or knock offs. But in Japan, where the care that's put into items is higher than most countries, second hand items are in great condition, making it like looking for gold in a gold mine: you're finding treasure among treasures. Let me tell you what I mean.

Getting Here Firstly, let's talk about how to get here. I love how easy it is to get around such a big city utilizing all forms of public transport. The best way to get here from the heart of Tokyo would be to use the monorail. It is quick, scenic (as it goes through the city and over a river), and when you exit you are adjacent to the racecourse. It is easy and they have a nice station stamp when you get off.

Entrance Fee No fee! It's free!

When to Go The weekend is the perfect time to go. Touted as Tokyo's largest flea market it lives up to the expectation.

Treasures Japan is notorious for the amazing prices and high quality of their second hand markets. Entire businesses like 2nd Street and AMERIKURA is based off this reputation. And while they do live up to their reputation they've got nothing when it comes to how incredible the finds and prices are at Oii Racecourse for the Tokyo Flea Market.

Walking around and you see so many designer items for sale. You think, "Oh, look at these knock offs." But you remember Japan is not known as a knock off luxury brand market. Instead, what you're looking at is a high end and high quality second hand market that is THRIVING. I saw so many vintage Seiko watches that have new batteries and are working. I saw Fendi, Coach, YSL, LV, and other designer bags in great quality. I saw so many vendors selling Burberry coats and aside from a few stains on some they all looked great. Large selections of high end wallets, sneakers, Japanese vinyl records, Japanese denim, Pokémon cards, and all the things lovers of fashion, Japanese culture, and looking like a boss could ask. Even I, a hater of shopping, enjoyed my time exploring and finding things in this robust market. We spent almost three hours there and it felt like we still missed stuff. It was that good.

Verdict If you're in the Tokyo area on a weekend the Tokyo Flea Market at the racecourse is a MUST. You get lots of shopping done, get your steps in, and you'll leave feeling like you pulled off one of the greatest heists in history. Check...

As an American visitor, the Tokyo City Flea Market is massive, must-see experience for thrifters. Size wise it reminds me of the Aquaduct flea market in NY. You'll find an incredible array of unique vintage Japanese items like clothing, kimonos, vintage toys, cameras, and pottery—that you can't easily find in the US. Key things to know: Go Early ( 8AM) and Bring Cash. It's huge, so start early for the best finds. Most vendors are cash-only. Bargaining is possible and i personally sugest on doing, but not a given. Unlike some US flea markets, prices can be fixed. Some vendors mark their vintage items considerably high. You can try a simple, polite negotiation, but don't expect deep discounts on every item. Language is manageable: Even if you don't speak Japanese, you can usually get by with pointing, using the phone calculator, and knowing "how much is this" (ikura desu ka). Know what you are willing to pay and don't assume every item is a massive steal. I found a Japanese Back to the Future laser disk in mint condition for $14 dollars which I'm going to frame and some 25 year old Macross kits in like new condition. The Food is Great: Don't skip the food stalls for some authentic Japanese snacks and meals! While at the flea market go ahead and buy an extra suitcase. They're fairly cheap. You're going to need it...

Addendum: This next bit isn't about Tokyo Flea Market itself, but a recent event and I needed to write down. I traveled to Japan a few months ago, and my biggest regret is that I never got to take my brother with me. As kids growing up we often talked about taking a trip to Japan together, and as an adult I placed that trip on hold with him thinking we'd have another chance later on. Since unexpectedly losing him last week, I've learned in the hardest way that life is incredibly precious, and the moments we share are not guaranteed. I've become so incredibly numb to a mondane, repetitious life that I've overlooked one of the most important person. Don't take the moments in life you have for granted. Stop doom scrolling for five minutes and call a loved one, take a small trip together even if its for a coffe or a burger, please, go do it...

We visit this flea market everytime we go to Japan. Over the years, we see more and more vendors but we have also seen the prices of various things go outrageously high.. you can probably still find "good deals" but most of them are overpriced. Some foreigners need to realize that just because their currency is stronger, doesn't mean they're getting a good deal. Most sellers here don't have standard pricing and just blurt out prices on a whim (I noticed some charge more if you don't speak Japanese).

Still cool for Vintage/Antique/2nd hand valuables but I prefer to visit different branches of Book off/Mode off/Hard...