Tip #8 Japanese Flea Markets = City Wide Garage Sales in Japan

Intro to Garage Sales in Japan

Garage sales in Japan, especially in the Tokyo area are park wide affairs mixed with people who just want to sell off baby clothes to antique dealers hocking their wares. Usually these items are in really good condition and can be bought at a fraction of their original price. Come find out more about Japanese Flea Markets and Garage Sales in Japan.

Japan is a Rich Society

So Garage Sales in Japan Are Usually Pretty Good

The Japanese have a concept of deep wealth. Because of generations of accumulated wealth Japan is a very rich society. This giant mass of high quality, well-kept goods with little extra space sometimes means that you can get great quality or even luxury items super cheaply at flea markets or more correctly, huge city wide garage sales in Japan.

Japanese Flea Markets = Garage Sales in Japan

for the City Residents

Because of little space and in big cities a lot of people don’t own cars because the public transportation is so good, garage sales where you put out fliers and put you sellable stuff on your lawn, just aren’t practical. Though the name is flea market, in reality these are massive garage sales in Japan where people in the city will shut up a small space in the regulated park area and sell their stuff. Flea markets in Japan are often held monthly and almost every city has them. Use this search term in Google to see if there is one in your area!

Japanese Flea Market and Garage Sale Etiquette

Don’t absurdly low ball an item as a negotiation technique

This is kind of insulting to the seller’s intelligence. Probably don’t expect a good response unless it is late and they are just desperate to sell. This situation doesn’t happen often.

Do ask for a little reduction in price

Generally 10 to 15 percent is a good reduction in price and the seller will probably be expecting that much.

Pay full price, but ask for something a little extra

The sellers almost always have some Knick knacks that they have around to sweeten the deals. Go ahead and ask for one if you want to go along with your purchase.
[h6]Helpful Japanese Phrase[/h6]

フリーマーケト

About the Author

Pjechorin

I have lived and worked with my family in Japan since 2005. For many years I have been interested in the very practical and creative side of Japanese culture. In my free time I travel around, enjoy hiking in the countryside and cities, and just generally seeing and doing new things. This blog is primarily a way for me to focus my energies and record and teach others about what I have learned by experience constructively. I am interested in urban development, and sustainable micro-economics, especially home-economics, and practical things everyday families can do to survive and thrive through these changing times.