On an early Sunday morning, the Tokyo International Forum located in the Marunouchi area opens its space to the Oedo Antique Market, which offers international goods dating from the 1800s to the early 2000s. Strolling through the market allows you to truly experience the rich traditions and cultures showcased through its merchandise.
Market History
On the first and third Sunday of each month, the Oedo Antique Market, featuring around 250 dealers, stands as Japan’s largest and oldest outdoor antique market. Visitors can enjoy free admission to the market, allowing them to explore the various shops from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at their leisure. Because it is hosted at the Tokyo International Forum, there are many international food options for those that get hungry while shopping.
The Oedo Antique Market began in September 2003 as part of a larger festival in Japan, celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Edo period. The Edo period, spanning from 1603 to 1868, was marked by Ieyasu Tokugawa’s absolute rule, the influence of Neo-Confucianism and a flourishing popular culture. Even though it’s very rare to find a product at the market that was from the Edo period, there is a possibility of finding a treasure from that era.
Oedo Antique Market and its international pull
Today, the market is renowned for its international flair, featuring dealers from various countries, selling items from around the globe and attracting customers who come to shop for these diverse goods. Like the rest of Japan, the Oedo Antique Market is just as peaceful and quiet, despite the hundreds of people in attendance. That means no aggressive sellers, no hagglers and no unnecessary uproar.
If you’re searching for something specific, you’ll easily find it as sellers display everything in a flea-market-style layout. For those that are just browsing for fun, there is so much to take in. Of the 250 sellers, most explicitly speak Japanese or a small amount of English. However, that does not deter foreign customers or hurt vendors’ sales.
For customers that speak English, vendors get their sales by pointing and showing the purchase amount, and, sometimes, that’s all it takes to make a sale. For those that speak Japanese, the sellers provide more detail about the items, describing what era they are from, what they were used for and how rare the item is. Among the various words you quietly hear throughout the market, “mezurashi”, which means admirable and rare, is one of the most used to entice customers.
The Oedo Antique Market is a local gem you won’t want to miss if you have the chance to visit. The overall atmosphere of the market makes for an enjoyable experience and will not leave you with buyer’s remorse.
