Going antiquing or vintage shopping is like embarking on a treasure hunt, and there’s heaps of treasure to be found in Fukuoka! The range of items on display at these shops is too long to list, but there’s furniture, household accessories, toys, tableware, and other items that are old, rare, and valuable. Seek and you shall find and maybe be surprised too!
Older things are nostalgic, quaint, lovable and in many cases, one-of-a-kind. You might presume that Japanese antiques and vintage goods are out of reach. In fact, they are more affordable than you might think. This guide introduces several shops that mostly sell antiques and retro items from the Showa period and earlier, all worthy of your attention. Why not take an adventure to the vintage shops and discover some old-world charm!
Did we miss anything? If you know of any similar shops, please let us know in the comments section. Share the wealth!
Interested in vintage clothing? Check-out our guide to vintage clothing shops in Fukuoka.
Booty Market
Self-described as an “antique mall”, this place is one of the largest in our list and features a unique collection of antiques, collectibles, and flea market finds. Converted from a warehouse, the unique architectural details of the mall set the mood for an authentic vintage shopping experience. From 1920s American collectibles to Showa furnishings, you can find variety of antiques which are collected in one mall as the owner rent out spaces to other 10 vintage shops. Some of the offerings were typical vintage finds but there are also several unusual items, such as retro neon bar signs, dart machines and more.
• Shop name: Booty Market
• Address: 6-11-1 Yoshizuka, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 12:00~19:00
• Closed: Tue.
• Tel.: 092-629-8762
• Specialty: Furniture, ceramics, fashion items, toys, tableware, interior goods, magazines, etc.
• Origin: Japan, Europe, America
• Period: nothing in particular
• http://booty-market.net/
Aozora Ningen
The lively and colorful decor of Aozora-Ningen distinguish it from the other vintage shops in Fukuoka. Specializing in Showa period items painstakingly selected by the store manager, the shop is filled with ostentatious furnishings and cute accessories guaranteed to put smiles on visitors’ faces. Feel free to rummage through the drawers around the store to find your favorite vintage items! Be sure to try some of the Japanese penny candies – you might get lucky and win cash between ¥50 ~ ¥200.
• Shop name: Aozora Ningen
• Address: 2-1-21 Takamidai, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 12:00~18:00
• Closed: Wed., Sun.
• Tel.: 080-6435-7714
• Specialty: Furniture, glassware, fashion items, toys, tableware, interior goods, magazines, snacks, etc.
• Origin: Japan
• Period: Showa period (1920s to 1980s)
• http://aozora-ningen.ocnk.net/
Katsu
The shop name “Katsu” has two meanings in Japanese; one is “daily life” and the other is “to make use of something.” The shop’s passion to help vintage goods recycled from the Showa period be used in the current day is inspiring. Household appliances and pieces of furniture are patched up and repaired up by the shop owners. One cool example is a fully operational vending machine from 1975. Other items include vinyl records, toys and stationery, as well as Showa-period advertising display boards that might be hard to find elsewhere.
• Shop name: Katsu
• Address: 2-8-27 Shimizu, Minami-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00~19:00
• Closed: Thu.
• Tel.: 092-542-9082
• Specialty: Furniture, glassware, toys, tableware, interior goods, vinyl records, stationery, etc.
• Origin: Japan
• Period: Showa period (1950s)
• http://www.retoro-katsu.jp/index.php
Akutokuya
Walking down a backstreet off of Konya-machi Shopping Street in Daimyo, you’ll find a cozy shop offering a variety of retro interior items. The shop owner maintains a Showa lifestyle and never buys anything under 30 years. From old analog telephones in useable condition to antique dolls, you can spot stunning vintage home furnishings including collectible antique clocks from the Taisho and Showa periods. Enjoy your treasure hunt here while listening to chimes and tick-tocks of clocks from long ago.
• Shop name: Akutokuya
• Address: 1-3-4 Daimyo, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 12:00~20:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Tel.: 092-781-9610
• Specialty: Furniture, glassware, tableware, interior goods, etc.
• Origin: Japan
• Period: Taisho (1910s to 1920s) and Showa periods (1920s to 1980s)
Furudogu no Sasaya
Stocking beautiful and genuine vintage pieces, this shop is home to a collection of furnishings, unique glassware, and interior goods from both the Taisho and early Showa period. The shop also hosts seasonal events focusing on a genre of collectibles such as lacquerware or toys. The owner maintains a policy of only sourcing stock from local residents directly, instead of bidding on items in auctions. He does so to ensure quality and also to learn and to be able pass on the stories affiliated with each item.
• Shop name: Furudogu no Sasaya
• Address: 1-12-2 Hirao, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 14:00~19:00
• Closed: Mon.
• Tel.: 092-531-4373
• Specialty: Furniture, glassware, tableware, ceramics, wall clock, etc.
• Origin: Japan
• Period: Taisho (1910s to 1920s) and early Showa (1920s to 1940s) periods
• http://furudougunosasaya.com/
Furudogu Lugoro
Located inside the second floor of an old apartment, this shop provides customers with a pleasant and comfortable experience while searching for vintage items. Carefully selected nostalgic pieces of furniture, old magazines, lovely glassware and tableware from mid-Showa period (1950s to 1960s) with reasonable prices are what you can find here. The antique chairs, found on the second floor, are particularly popular.
• Shop name: Furudogu Lugoro
• Address: Sakuraso 1, 2-1-44 Sakurasaka, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 11:00~19:00
• Closed: Tue., Wed., and Thu.
• Tel.: 090-8353-5330
• Specialty: Furniture, glassware, ceramics, magazines, interior goods, etc.
• Origin: Japan
• Period: nothing in particular
• http://lugoro.net/
Mochamony
Behind the entrance awaits a wondrous world with an amazing array of cute and silly Showa period toys. From Showa period pencil cases and Kamen rider figures to the out-of-print Sanrio character goods, these little toys and things can conjure up stories from the period. It’s not only adults who come to yearn for their childhood memories; teenagers also check out these interesting items that are reversely new to them.
• Shop name: Mochamony
• Address: 3-12-31 Yakuin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka
• Open: 13:00~20:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Tel.: 092-521-0231
• Specialty: Character goods, toys, stationery, accessories, etc.
• Origin: Japan
• Period: Showa period (1920s to 1980s)
• https://www.facebook.com/mochamony.2012.11.10/
Text and photos by Doris Chan.
