Discovering the Treasures of a Japanese Antique Market

One of the most unique places to visit on weekends or while traveling in Japan is an antique market—a true treasure trove of history. You can find antique markets held at temples, shrines, squares, parks, and other locations throughout Japan. These markets offer a wide variety of items, mainly from the early 17th century to the present day, including pottery, lacquerware, paintings, kakejiku hanging scrolls, kimonos, old books, and more. Browsing the stalls is a journey through time and culture, making it a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history and the arts.

Tokyo is brimming with antique markets, and one of the oldest and most charming among them is the Ueno Aozora Market. This gem is held in the open air under the blue sky, aozora in Japanese, in Ueno Park, right in front of JR Ueno Station. It attracts an estimated 16,000 visitors per day.

On a gorgeous November day, when the maple leaves were stunning shades of red and the ginkgo trees were aglow with yellow, Team Musubi visited the Ueno antique market and spoke with professional antique dealers about how to find valuable antiques and enjoy an unforgettable treasure hunt.

The origins of antique markets are surprisingly old, dating back to the 1600s during the Edo period.

The Kobo Market at Toji Temple in Kyoto is one of the oldest and most fascinating markets in Japan. Every month on the 21st, the festivities begin at Toji Temple, celebrating the life and legacy of Kobo Daishi (774–835 CE), also known as Kukai, the renowned founder of Shingon Buddhism.

In Tokyo, the Setagaya Boroichi has been a vibrant fixture since 1578, and it holds the esteemed title of a Tokyo Metropolitan Government–designated intangible folk cultural property. From around 1600 to the early 1800s, the items sold were mainly everyday items, such as New Year's items, daily necessities, and farm tools, highlighting how different the market once was from what we see today. Around 1887, it seems that nearly sixty percent of the items sold were old clothes and rags that were purchased as everyday wear for farmers. It wasn't until the period of rapid economic growth in the 1960s during the Showa era that the market began to take on the form it does today, with a focus on antiques.

Some antique markets are held within the grounds of temples and shrines, like the magnificent Toji Temple, while others take place in local parks and town squares.

Ueno Aozora Market is one of the few markets held in a park for a week and is supported by the Ueno Tourism Federation. It has an impressive history spanning more than forty years.

Ueno Park, the site of the vibrant Aozora Market, is a bustling hub in the heart of the city. It is home to the historic Kanei-ji Temple, the popular Ueno Zoo, and the Tokyo National Museum, among other fascinating museums. This lively destination draws an impressive 80,000 visitors daily, making it one of the city's most popular attractions. Along the way, there's an antique market that many visitors stop in their tracks to explore. It offers a rich mix of unique and fascinating antiques, each with its own story waiting to be discovered.

"We've seen a change in the people who visit the antique market, with inbound tourists now accounting for sixty percent in recent years, making it a popular tourist spot," says Tamura Akihiko, chairman of the organizing group for Ueno Aozora Market.

Tamura, who has had a stall in Ueno since the market first began, explains that at the time there were only a few antique markets and only sixty professional dealers in Tokyo who could set up stalls. He says that the fact that discerning professionals run stalls is what sets Aozora Market apart from flea markets, which anyone can set up.

Aozora Market is home to around fifteen stalls, depending on the day, each displaying a distinct specialty. Tamura’s stall is a one-stop shop for antiques, selling precious items from 2,000-year-old earthenware to Ming Dynasty coins from China, as well as raw stones. Some specialize in kimono, while others sell tableware, regional toys, ornaments, and other items mostly dating from 1868 (the Meiji period) onwards.

At this market, items are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, making early visits essential for rare finds. People start showing up at 10 am ready to buy the items they've been waiting for. Crowds arrive bright and early, and by lunchtime the market is buzzing with excitement. The vendors see a steady flow of customers, and some items sell quickly.

Antique markets are a place full of curiosity and fascination. What aspects of antique markets are we attracted to? Tamura spoke passionately about antiques.

"The allure of antiques is that they transport us to the time when our ancestors lived, allowing us to glimpse their daily lives. Daily items such as ceramics and pottery that enriched their lives and were passed down through generations are regarded as valuable because they have gone through a long history. Modern ceramics possess different values and qualities from antique pieces. It is impossible to say whether antiques or modern pieces are better."

Tamura shared an interesting story. In the antiques world, dealers sometimes borrow the human expression “born and raised” to emphasize that an object’s worth reflects both how it was made and how it has lived through time. Even though a piece of pottery was made in a prestigious kiln, if it has been poorly handled and the damage is obvious, it would generally be judged to have little value. On the other hand, despite the fact that a piece of pottery was made in large quantities, if it has been enriched with a certain flavor over the years, it can be treated as a masterpiece.

Tamura illustrated this idea with an example of Karatsu ware from the 1860s. During Toyotomi Hideyoshi’s invasion of Korea, a large number of people gathered in the Kitakyushu region, creating a sudden demand for food vessels. To meet this need, vast quantities of simple Karatsu plates were produced and discarded after use, much like disposable containers today. Though originally made as everyday ware, these pieces are now known as “mottled Karatsu” and are highly valued by collectors. Their worth lies not only in their material quality, but in the history they embody—offering a tangible connection to the lives and circumstances of that era.

"The key to fully enjoying pottery is not just to appreciate its practical uses and inherent value, but to delve deeper, exploring its diverse facets, including its fascinating history and origins."

During our 30-minute conversation with Tamura, a tourist from the Middle East purchased a gemstone, a Canadian woman purchased a small Chinese ceramic horse, and a British man, a regular customer and collector of Japanese antiques, bought a 1960s Showa-era low table.

Hayashiya is an antiques store that specializes in ceramics and pottery. At the beginning of the market, he displayed a stunning collection of ceramic sake cups from the Meiji period (1868–1912 CE) that had belonged to a very well-off family. Many were purchased by a tourist from Hong Kong who loves Japanese arts and culture.

"It had impeccable provenance and was meticulously cared for, so I am positively certain that it was a superb and valuable purchase."

If you look carefully at antiques, you can find a real bargain, just like this customer from Hong Kong. However, for those visiting an antique market for the first time, expectations may be high. Tamura shared his secrets for finding good deals at any antique market.

"Trust your instincts. An antique does not have to be valuable to be meaningful. As long as you are satisfied with it, it is worthwhile. We are always happy to answer questions from customers who ask us about the background and history of an item. Ultimately, the decision to purchase or not is yours. While we may believe in its potential, we will refrain from recommending its purchase. The most important thing is that you find an item that speaks to you personally. Even if you later find out that the item you bought is not good and that it was a mistake, you will learn what is important to you and build your own values. Once you have a better understanding of what you are looking for, you may find greater enjoyment and a deeper appreciation for the unique offerings of antique markets."

Kokeshi dolls were all the rage a few years ago among foreign tourists, but now their popularity has spread to all sorts of items. As Akihabara is nearby, those who love Japanese comics come to buy plastic toys from the 1960s to the 1990s. Kimonos are also flying off the shelves. Other popular items include traditional paper dolls made from Japanese paper, old postcards, and iron kettles.

A man in his 40s visiting Japan with his family from Vancouver, Canada, who bought a hyottoko, the humorous clown mask made of old Japanese paper at one of the shops, Tsukasa Sakuraya, said, "When I go to souvenir shops, all I see are the same things, but when I come here, I can buy unique Japanese things. The Hyottoko is one of a kind, so I'm thinking of displaying it on the wall in my living room. My wife and daughter are also looking for their favorite souvenirs to remember our trip to Japan." His wife was the one who purchased a horse ceramic from Tamura's store.

Tsukasa Sakuraya was also selling postcards, posters, and papier-mâché pieces featuring old Japanese landscapes and lifestyles. An American family with two young children bought papier-mâché floats and dolls for their children. They seemed to love playing with these traditional toys. It was a little bit of a contrast, though, because Japanese children in the park looked like they enjoyed playing games on their smartphones. A Mexican-American woman in her 40s who bought a small one-serving iron kettle said that she happened to notice its beauty and liked that it was the perfect size for serving tea.

People from various countries were enjoying the antique market, mingling with Japanese customers who were purchasing ceramic plates, lacquered bowls, kimonos, and more.

You will love the thrill of finding something you like in a shop packed with antiques. It is like treasure hunting, so much fun that you will lose track of time.

"First, go to a small antiques market to get used to antiques. You're going to love how you'll feel when you're surrounded by all the antiques. The key is to choose a shop where the shop owners don't talk to you too much while you're looking at things."

Tamura shared some valuable tips on how to enjoy an antique market.

Many areas of Japan are home to antique markets that showcase traditional handcrafts, including pottery, ceramics, and silver and gold works. If you are interested in ceramics, it might be worthwhile to consider researching the production areas and local antique markets. Visiting a regional antique market could be a pleasant experience, allowing you to explore and potentially find something of interest.

You may want to consider the following markets:

Conveniently located just a one-minute walk from JR Yurakucho Station (International Forum Exit), this market is held on the first and third Sunday of every month in the ground-floor plaza of the Tokyo International Forum. Since its establishment in 2003, it has become one of Japan's largest outdoor antique markets, with around 250 stores selling a variety of Japanese items, including antiques and everyday goods.

This market is held twice a year in winter. It is just a three-minute walk from Setagaya Station or Kamimachi Station on the Tokyu Setagaya Line. A wide variety of products are sold, ranging from everyday items and accessories to toys and plants.

Held every Sunday morning from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., this open-air market is located within the grounds of Hanazono Shrine, just a two-minute walk from Metro Shinjuku-Sanchome and a seven-minute walk from the east exit of JR Shinjuku Station. Around ten vendors gather to sell a wide variety of products, from iron kettles and pottery to retro goods and accessories.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is the site of a market held during a festival on the 25th of each month. This festival is in honor of Sugawara no Michizane, the god of academics. This date marks both his birth and death anniversaries. Around 1,000 stalls sell antiques, old tools, food, and more.

It is held on the 21st of every month (except for March and September) within the grounds of Shitennoji Temple. 300 stalls are set up.

It is held along the approach to Hakozaki Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture from 7:00 a.m. until around 2:00 p.m. on Sundays except for January and September. Boasting the largest scale in western Japan, this flea market has over 200 stalls, with a wide variety of antiques and everyday items, including kimono, ceramics, toys, and more from across Japan.

*Please note that the dates and times listed here may be subject to change.