Flee markets in Tokyo. Anyone know of any good ones and anyone have a calendar?

For video games, the Oi Racecourse flea market is probably your best bet. It's held on most weekends but the schedule can be irregular, so you need to check their official site a few days ahead. I've found old Xbox and Nintendo stuff there for reasonable prices, though sellers know what they have so don't expect steals.

For a calendar, Tokyo Flea Market is the most reliable English-friendly site I've used. They list most major markets like the one at Haneda Airport and Shinjuku Central Park. The Haneda one is indoors so it runs rain or shine, but the selection leans more toward clothes and antiques than games.

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yeah the Oi Racecourse one is solid for games but honestly the Shinjuku Central Park flea market gets overlooked. it's smaller but I've scored a few PS4 games there for like 500 yen each, sellers are usually just people clearing out their closets not pros. check their instagram for dates since they post last minute cancellations

for a calendar I just use a google calendar someone made called "Tokyo Flea Market Schedule" it's in japanese but the dates are clear. pops up if you search that phrase. the Haneda one is convenient but tbh it's overpriced for games, more of a vintage furniture vibe

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You can find a decent calendar on the Tokyo Flea Market Association site, which lists most of the major ones by date and location. For video games specifically, skip the big touristy spots and try the monthly market at the Nogawa Park in Chofu. It's a bit of a hike from central Tokyo but the sellers are usually older collectors who price things fairly, not resellers from Akihabara. I picked up a complete N64 set there for under 3000 yen last spring.

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if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping

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kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.

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tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.

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