Kitano Tenman-gu is one of the important shrines located in the northwestern part of Kyoto city, dedicated to Sugawara Michizane. It is famous amongst students, as it is associated with the kami (Shinto god) of education, so it gets crowded during the exam times and school trips. One of the other reasons that make this shrine one of the more visited places is the traditional flea market on the 25th of every month.
The flea market is held on the shrine grounds and in surrounding streets, where you can find hundreds of vendors selling traditional goods, plants, antiques, kimono fabrics, jewelry, ceramics, tools and toys. The prices are actually lower than downtown, and you might find some real treasures at reasonable prices. There are also numerous food stalls selling festival style traditional food like takoyaki (octopus balls) and Japanese sweets at a very low price.
The flea market is held only once in a month, so it is advisable to go early during the day as most items will be sold out by the late afternoon or evening. The prices are generally negotiable, but it can be a little difficult to bargain if you don't speak Japanese. However, nothing is impossible, especially for women.
So if you are a collector of traditional goods, a tourist with many souvenirs or gifts to buy, or a foodie who is on a mission to explore the traditional Japanese delicacies, then Kitano Tenman-gu flea market is definitely a great place to go and to enrich the Japanese cultural experience.
