Shopping in Tokyo -Ameyoko Market
28th August 2006
The most fun place to shop in Tokyo is not found in a department store, not in the electronics district of Akihabara, nor in Shibuya or Ginza. The are all good places to visit with your wallet, but not nearly as fun as the Ameyoko or “Black Market”.
The name comes from the second world war were all kinds of black market products changed hands at this really poor excuse for a market. Squeezed in under a railway bridge the narrow alleys of Ameyoko is to be found right next to Ueno park.
There are no pirate watches or DVDs for sale, at least not in public, but at Ameyoko you get that same feeling of an “anything goes” market. What they do have is clothes, shoes, food, leatherware, perfume, jewellery, watches, sporting goods, DVDs, souvenirs, t-shirts and a lot more. Not really big on electronics, probably because of the proximity to nearby Akihabara.
Buying a pair of shoes here means
trying them on in the street
I like the bustling nature of this place. After strolling in the main alleys with stores selling fresh food, sneakers and t-shirts, salesmen shouting the traditional “Irrashamase!” it is nice to go to the indoor part of the market, under the railway. There you’ll find hundreds of very small shops selling specialised items. One sells pocket knifes, another flashlights and the third one cowboy boots. Here is also where the jewellery, perfume and watches will be found. I am not sure if it is legal, but if you want to get one of those telescopic night sticks or replicas of Glocks and sub machines, it’s to be found in here too.
Not everyone likes Ameyoko. I have brought people here that found it too noisy and disorganised. If you prefer that kind of shopping a place like Daikanyama is more your thing than Ameyoko. But if you are looking for that bustling, crazy, asian style market this is the place to go in Tokyo.
How to get there: Take the JR Yamanote line to the station Ueno. Exit Ameyoko. You probably will come here sooner or later since there a lot of things to see in Ueno park too.
Technorati Tags: shop, Tokyo, Ameyoko, Ueno
Related articles:
September 12th, 2006 at 12:52 am
Hi! I found you through Maggie!
About Ameyoko, it has changed so much it’s not even the same place it used to be 10 years ago. I don’t know if you knew it then, but Ameyoko now is nothing to write home about. I went there again last year and I wish I didn’t. It was so disappointing
September 12th, 2006 at 9:49 am
Thanks for your comment. I don\\\’t know what is was like then years ago, so I can\\\’t compare. I still like the market atmosphere better than the department stores here in Tokyo that I found incredibly boring. Where is your favourite place to shop in Tokyo?
September 12th, 2006 at 5:59 pm
I like Osaka shopping better, and the vintage markets in Kyoto where you can buy ancient kimonos by the meter, or by piece, your choice. I bought 7 last time and paid the equivalent of about 20 dollars, plus the lady threw in some extras for free. I think it is the one by the Toji Shrine, if I remember correctly.
In Osaka, there is a store that sells only red things. Anything from funky boots to kitchen goodies, in different shades of red only. I have to look up where it is exactly.
In Tokyo, I like the little stores in Setagaya, but not for shopping, just for looking at stuff.
Oh, and there is one place in Ameyoko that I like. They sell Carhart really cheap!
And of course as any woman, I am partial to the outlet malls