Yanaka Antique Market November 2025: Complete Guide to 8 Must-See Events & Autumn Experiences in Tokyo

Yanaka is an area that developed as a temple town (monzenmachi - a town formed around influential temples and shrines) during the Edo period, where many temples gathered. Since it suffered minimal damage from earthquakes and war disasters, narrow alleys and wooden houses built long ago still exist today, making it famous for preserving streetscapes that vividly retain the atmosphere of old times.

Yanaka, together with neighboring Nezu and Sendagi, is called "yanesen" and attracts foreign tourists for its retro atmosphere. This article will introduce events you can enjoy in and around the Yanaka area, including highlights, event schedules, and access information to venues.

Magical Trip's tour earned Tripadvisor's 'Best of the Best' award

November in Yanaka Features the Autumn Tradition: "Yanaka Antique Market"

In November, Yanaka hosts the autumn tradition known as the "Yanaka Antique Market." Antique products that harmonize with Yanaka's charming old streetscape gather here, offering visitors the joy of discovering wonderful vintage items.

After strolling through the antique market, why not explore the surrounding area? The vicinity is dotted with attractions such as Yanaka Ginza, historic temples, and stylish cafes, allowing you to fully enjoy the Yanaka area throughout an entire day.

What is the Yanaka Antique Market?

The Yanaka Antique Market is an antique market held several times a year in the parking lot of Enmei-in Temple, which has continued in Yanaka since the Edo period.

The venue is packed with a diverse array of products including Japanese and Western antiques, cats that symbolize Yanaka, and retro miscellaneous goods - it's enjoyable just to browse. I have visited the antique market many times, and each time I enjoy the sensation of treasure hunting while searching for items.

Admission is free, so please feel free to visit.

Yanaka Antique Market Schedule

There are 3 Yanaka Antique Market events scheduled for October, November, and December 2025:

- 17th Market: October 4th (Saturday) & 5th (Sunday)
- 18th Market: November 1st (Saturday) & 2nd (Sunday)
- 19th Market: December 6th (Saturday) & 7th (Sunday)

The market runs for two consecutive days from 10:00-15:30. Events are cancelled in case of rain.

The Appeal of Yanaka Antique Market and Three Reasons I Recommend It

Here, I'll explain the appeal of the Yanaka Antique Market and three reasons why I recommend it.

Discover Rare Antique Items from Various Japanese Eras

The first reason is that you can find rare antique goods made during various Japanese eras. Various antique items from as far back as the Edo, Taisho, and Showa periods are displayed, so walking around the venue feels like strolling through a museum.

Many items are one-of-a-kind or hidden gems, so I recommend visiting right after opening or in the morning. Arrive early at the venue to get your hands on precious items!

Not Only Japanese Items, But Also Numerous Rare Western Antiques

The second reason is that not only Japanese items but also numerous rare Western antiques are exhibited.

The venue sells various items including Western pottery, accessories, and antique toys. My niece, who visited the Yanaka Antique Market with me, purchased a gorgeous hair accessory like one a princess would wear. The hair accessory embedded with pearls and colorful stones was glamorous and felt worth more than its price.

Western antiques often have a glamorous impression and offer charm different from Japanese items!

Obtain Cat-Related Antiques Characteristic of Yanaka, Known as Cat Town

The third reason is that you can obtain cat-related antiques characteristic of Yanaka, known as Cat Town. During the Edo period, the Yanaka area became a place where cats could be seen throughout the town after shrines gathered cats for the purpose of rat control. Along with this, shops with cat concepts increased, and it became known as Cat Town.

The cat goods sold at the venue include various items such as maneki-neko (lucky cat figurines for business prosperity), cat figurines, and tableware. I once fell in love at first sight with a maneki-neko that was the only one being sold and bought it on the spot. I still display it at home, and I'm healed every time I see its adorable face.

Since this is a valuable opportunity where many cat antiques are available, cat lovers should definitely visit.

Basic Information and Access for Yanaka Antique Market

- Address: 3-10-1 Nishi-Nippori, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo
- Access: 3-minute walk from Nippori Station (multiple lines), 10-minute walk from Sendagi Station (multiple lines)
- Phone: 070-9056-1266
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.yanaka-antique-market.com/

To Deeply Enjoy One of Tokyo's Premier Local Towns, Local Guide Assistance is Essential!

To deeply enjoy one of Tokyo's premier local towns, local guide assistance is essential. The Yanaka Historical Walking Tour in Tokyo's Old Town is a tour where you can learn history while strolling through Yanaka, which has gained popularity for its retro streetscape. The tour visits five tourist spots:

・Nezu Shrine
・Snake road (winding alleyways that curve like a snake)
・Local gallery
・Maneki-neko (beckoning cat) painting experience
・Yanaka Ginza

During the tour, you can fully enjoy Yanaka's charms through activities like exploring historic shrines, experiencing maneki-neko painting (one of Japan's traditional cultures), and tasting local cuisine at Yanaka Ginza.

Please join the tour to experience the emotionally rich Tokyo that you won't find in Shibuya or Shinjuku.

Information:
- Meeting place: Nezu Station
- Area: Yanaka
- Meeting time: 1:30 PM

Click here for more details

7 Must-See Events You Can Enjoy Around Yanaka in November

Here we'll introduce 7 must-see events you can enjoy around Yanaka in November - perfect Yanaka Event November 2025 experiences for visitors.

Asakusa Tori-no-ichi Fair is a traditional event held every November on the days of the Rooster (the 10th sign of the Chinese zodiac, occurring every 12 days) at Otori Shrine and Chokokuji, where people pray for business prosperity and good fortune.

At the venue, "engi-kumade" (lucky rakes - tools with many curved prongs attached in a bear-paw shape at the end of a long handle) are sold with the meaning of "raking in good fortune," and food stalls also set up shop, bustling with many people. Over 100 kumade merchants set up stalls in the shrine grounds and surrounding areas, selling various designs of "engi-kumade," so try to find your favorite one.

Various sizes are available from small to large, so why not purchase a smaller, easy-to-carry size as a souvenir memento?

- Date: November 12 & 24, 2025
- Access: 8-minute walk from Iriya Station (Hibiya Line), 11-minute walk from Asakusa Station (various lines)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://torinoichi.jp/

Bunkyo Chrysanthemum Festival

Bunkyo Chrysanthemum Festival is one of the "Five Major Flower Festivals of Bunkyo," an event where you can see about 2,000 chrysanthemum works including chrysanthemum dolls (human figures expressed with chrysanthemum flowers) and senrinzaki (blooming numerous flowers from one stock) at Yushima Tenmangu Shrine.

The chrysanthemums displayed at the venue, colored in yellow, pink, white and other hues, are spectacular to see, and I ended up spending more time than expected thoroughly enjoying the festival.

During the event period, besides the chrysanthemum displays, chrysanthemum sales, cultivation consultation corners for beginners, and sales of Bunkyo Ward original goods are also held. Free workshops and photo spots allow children to enjoy together too, making it recommended for families with children.

- Date: November 1-23, 2025
- Access: 2-minute walk from Yushima Station (Chiyoda Line), 5-minute walk from Ueno-hirokoji Station (Ginza Line), 5-minute walk from Ueno-okachimachi Station (Oedo Line)
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.city.bunkyo.lg.jp/b014/p007619.html (2024 site)

Shosoin THE SHOW - Feel. The miracle that exists here and now.

Shosoin THE SHOW -Japanese Imperial Treasures Experience the history and the miracle!- is an event that displays the history of the Shosoin in Nara Prefecture and the treasures that the Shosoin has protected for 1,300 years, themed around "Love, Beauty, and Connection."

The highlight is that treasures are 360-degree scanned and projected onto screens as high-definition 3D digital data, allowing you to see works in detail and even feel their realistic texture. Watching the lifelike treasure images displayed on giant screens will give you the sensation of being enveloped by the beauty of the treasures.

In the venue, you can smell the phantom famous incense that Oda Nobunaga favored and hear the tones played by the actual Mother-of-pearl and rosewood five-stringed biwa, making it an event packed with highlights. Please experience Japan's history firsthand at this event.

- Date: September 20 - November 9, 2025
- Access: 3-minute walk from JR Ueno Station, 5-minute walk from Tokyo Metro/Keisei Ueno Station
- Admission: Adults ¥2,300, High school/university students ¥1,700, - Elementary/middle school students ¥1,100
- Website: https://shosoin-the-show.jp/

30th Anniversary Exhibition "ALL OF EVANGELION"

The 30th Anniversary Exhibition "ALL OF EVANGELION" is an event held to commemorate the milestone of Evangelion, popular both domestically and internationally, reaching its 30th anniversary in 2025 since the TV anime was first broadcast. At the venue, you can see precious materials related to the work, including TV anime cel art and original drawings that have never been displayed together before, as well as digital materials from theatrical versions.

The highlight is the large Evangelion Unit-01 figure displayed at the entrance, which offers panoramic views of Tokyo Tower and Tokyo Bay. The figure, created specifically for this exhibition, has an authentic sense of weight, and taking photos with Tokyo's magnificent scenery as a backdrop will surely result in a photogenic shot.

This is a must-see event not only for Evangelion fans but also for Japanese anime enthusiasts.

- Date: November 14, 2025 - January 12, 2026
- Access: Directly from Roppongi Station (Hibiya Line), 4-minute walk from Roppongi Station (Oedo Line), 5-minute walk from Azabu-juban Station
- Admission: TBD
- Website: https://allofevangelion-ex.roppongihills.com/

KAKUUCHI (Liquor Store Stand) Festival

The "KAKUUCHI" (liquor store Stand) Festival is an event where historic liquor stores gather to serve Japanese sake, shochu, wine, beer, and other alcoholic beverages in "kakuuchi (standing drinking)" style. At the venue, visitors can enjoy not only professionally selected alcoholic beverages but also snacks that pair perfectly with drinks and stage shows, allowing them to fully experience "alcohol, food, and entertainment."

My recommendation is the "sake tasting experience" where you can learn about the varieties and characteristics of Tokyo's local sake. During sake tasting, you taste multiple alcoholic beverages while examining their "color, aroma, and flavor" to identify the brands. This experience booth has a reputation for helping people rediscover the charm of alcoholic beverages through sake tasting. With an admission ticket, you can experience it for free, so please try participating.

Why not occasionally enjoy pairing drinks with meals from lunchtime and savor alcohol to your heart's content?

- Schedule: November 14-16, 2025
- Access: Just from JR Ueno Station, 5 minutes on foot from Tokyo Metro Ueno Station and Keisei Main Line Keisei Ueno Station
- Admission: 500 yen (includes free 2-type sake tasting experience)
- Website: https://kakufes.com/

Yamanashi Nouveau Festival

The Yamanashi Nouveau Festival is an event held annually on November 3rd to celebrate the release date of the new wine "Yamanashi Nouveau," where wineries throughout Yamanashi Prefecture conduct tastings and sales of new wines. At the venue, you can taste over 60 varieties of new wine brewed using grapes "Koshu" and "Muscat Bailey A" from Yamanashi Prefecture.

I have participated in the event myself, and I received a wine glass and tasting tickets at the entrance and enjoyed various wines. The new wines are all fresh and light in taste, making them easy to drink, and you'll find yourself drinking more and more!

The flavors range from sweet to dry, including cloudy wines in a diverse lineup, so please find a brand that suits your taste!

- Schedule: November 3, 2025
- Access: 2 minutes on foot from Mita Line Onarimon Station
- Admission: 3,500 yen
- Website: https://nouveau.wine.or.jp/

Fire-walking Ritual (Akiba Shrine)

The fire-walking ritual (Akiba Shrine) is an event held at Akiba Shrine where people walk barefoot over a fire bed made of charcoal to pray for good health and fire prevention.

At the event, first the shrine priests (people who perform festivals and purification ceremonies at shrines) perform fire-walking with the meaning of purification, followed by local participants, and then general worshippers can also challenge it.

I have also tried fire-walking. Before crossing, I was scared that I might burn the soles of my feet, but when I actually walked barefoot, it wasn't as hot as it looked, and following the advice of experienced people, I could cross without getting burned by walking quickly.

There are few places in Tokyo where you can do fire-walking, so if you're interested, please try challenging it.

- Schedule: November 6, 2025
- Access: 5 minutes on foot from Hibiya Line Iriya Station
- Admission: Free
- Website: https://www.city.taito.lg.jp/event/kanko/hiwatarinoshinzi.html

When You Come to Tokyo, Enjoy Exquisite Food at Shops Loved by Locals!

The Tokyo Bar Hopping Night Tour in Shinjuku allows you to visit three bars and pubs in Shinjuku, one of Tokyo's premier entertainment districts, that locals confidently recommend.

The tour visits "Omoide Yokocho," "Kabukicho," and "Shinjuku 3-chome" within Shinjuku, where many restaurants gather, and you can taste Japanese cuisine such as yakitori, gyoza, and agedashi tofu that pair well with alcohol. During meals, you can enjoy quizzes and local games with friendly guides, so even solo travelers can participate without hesitation.

Since all the shops are crowded with locals, why not enjoy Tokyo's nightlife like a local?

〈Information〉
- Meeting point: Next to the black pillar beside Uniqlo Shinjuku West Exit Store
- Area: Shinjuku
- Meeting times: 17:00, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00

Click here for more details