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Hello - my husband and I will be traveling to Tokyo and I would like to find the shopping district that is more where the locals go. I guess it would be what used to be called the black market area? I was in Hong Kong last year and they had some great markets - street markets. Surely there is an area in Tokyo similar to this? Thanks, Pianolover
Black market area?? Japan is a developed country and I don't remember any like the markets in Hong Kong there.
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I do not know specifically what you are shopping for, but I have been to two markets in Tokyo. One was the market right next to Ueno Station which I believe, and could be wrong, once was the black market area. The other was in Sugamo - there is a market there nicknamed old ladies Harajuku. Harajuku being the young trendy fashion area. Here is part of a tip I wrote about this market on my Tokyo page: For an unusual trip in Tokyo, take the train to Sugamo Station and go to Jizo dori. This street is known as Harajuku for old ladies. While Harajuku is a trendy young people's shopping area with all the latest in fashion, Jizo dori sells everything the elderly could ever want, including shop after shop of rather large bright red thermal underwear. Red is thought to have heat inducing properties. There is also an interesting temple in this area - Kogan-ji Temple. the temple has a statue outside it. Legend states that if your afflicted with pain on part of your body and wash the corresponding part of the statues body the pain will disappear. You'll see a long line of people next to the statue waiting to do just this.
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Most people already answered the "black market" area. Ameyokocho, Ameyoko for short, was a black market area in Tokyo just after the war. It is pretty much a regular market these days. You can get a lot of good deals in that area. It is just south of Ueno Station (between Ueno and Okachimachi Stations). The tourist market is Nakamise Shopping Street going from Asakusa Station all the way to Sensoji. You can find a lot of stuff there, but it is all geared for tourists. You also have a few other shopping areas in Asakusa if you head west and north of Sensoji. If you want electronics, just go to Bic Camera or Yodobashi Camera. They are the two most popular places to shop. Akihabara has the largest Yodobashi Camera and it is pretty tourist friendly. Also mentioned are the department stores. They are a bit more expensive than a "market" but they are good for shopping. The basement floors usually have lots of food and you can try a lot of stuff there. Otherwise, just mention what you want to buy and I can tell you where you can go.
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Japan is to be commended for it's efforts to crack down on organized crime's efforts to steal the work of others and sell it as their own. Counterfeit goods do exist in Japan, but they are not often on display as counterfeits. This means that they are often sold as the real thing. Be a smart consumer, know who is the proper dealer for the goods you want to buy. Know where where your money is going before you buy. And, of course, if a deal seems too good to be true - it is.
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