The Osu Kannon Temple hosts an outdoor flea market on the 18th and 28th of every month. Arrive early and pray at the temple for good fortune as you haggle for the best deals on antiques, art, and household items.
While it’s usually reserved for the Chunichi Dragons and their doomed opponents, in the off season Nagoya’s boys of summer lend their field to less wealthy, less athletic folks during the Nagoya Dome Flea Market, which is held twice a year. The colossal event boasts gifts for hobbyists and delicious snack items from all over the country, but perhaps the most unique among the flea market’s attractions is the section where unclaimed items from the nationwide rail system’s lost-and-founds resurface after their obligatory claim period has expired. For the foreign visitor, it’s the spectacle and size of the market itself that is truly unforgettable. Tickets for the Nagoya Dome Flea Market are ¥800 at the door and kids get in free.
Port Messe Nagoya gives the dome a run for its money with its own giant flea market, held the first weekend of May. The Mammoth Flea Market is the place to pick up secondhand electronics, fashion items and nostalgic Japanese toys. All three exhibition halls is utilized to accommodate 4,000 booths for the spring market, so polish up your negotiating skills and plan to make a day out of it. Doors open at 10:00 and day-of tickets are ¥1200 for adults.
Nagoya’s Recycled Kimono Fair is the perfect solution for the thrifty fashion. Even Japanese people reserve wearing Kimono or traditional silk robes for special occasions, so many of the items that you’ll find at the fair are likely to be in near-new condition. With items starting at ¥100 and half of the kimono going for less than ¥2000, you can justify wearing your finds only occasionally or experimenting with the delicate fabrics at home. The two-day fair is held twice a year on the fourth floor of the UNY Ozone building near Ozone station. The next event is planned for June.
For visitors who are not able to be in town during the Recycled Kimono Fair, the Osu Kannon district is the place to go. Several shops within a few blocks of each other offer deals on discounted used kimono.
Flea Markets Scheduled in Nagoya
- OZ Mall Ozone shopping district in Kita Ward on every 1st Sunday from 10:00–14:00
- Nagoya Keirin in Nakamura Ward on every Sat., Sun. & National Holidays on which races are held from 10:00–16:00
- Apita Nagoya Kita in Kita Ward on Every 1st Thu. from 10:00–14:00
- Kasadera Kannon Temple in Minami Ward on Every 18th of month from 9:00–15:00
- Apita Chiyodabashi in Chikusa Ward on Every 2nd Sat. from 10:00–14:00
- Apita Shinmoriyama in Moriyama Ward on Every 4th Sat. from 10:00–14:00
- Aeon Arimatsu in Midori Ward on Every 2nd Sun. from 10:00–14:00
- There is also a regular weekend-long Kimono Recycle Fair held at the Uny Department Store in Ozone (5 minutes from JR Ozone’s South Exit. A majority of the items are priced between 1000 and 3000 Yen; entry is free.
Flea markets are an opportunity to re-use household goods such as clothes and second hand books. The Central Japan Flea Market League (CJFML) holds regular flea markets throughout the region. Though smaller than the mega-markets held at the Nagoya Dome and Port Messe, the organization’s events happen nearly every week. Ask a Japanese speaker to check the CJFML website (http://www.cjfleamarket.com) to find out if a flea market is scheduled during your trip. Also visit; Effective use of resources and junk items: http://www.nagoya-recycle.or.jp/
