Expo ’70 Commemorative Park

Expo ’70 Commemorative Park is home to two of Osaka’s most popular and best-attended flea markets, one in its Festival Square and one in its East Square. The Expo Garage Sale is noted for the wide range of goods its vendors sell. Expect handmade items, accessories, antiques, bric-a-brac, and plenty of second-hand and vintage clothes.  Most importantly, expect bargains. The organisers pride themselves on the market being a true-to-its-name ‘out of the garage’ sale. That means you’ll need to bring cash, and that bargaining – albeit politely – is encouraged. If you prioritise low prices over being particular about the products, know that in the afternoon, the crowding calms down and many of the amateur vendors lower their prices.  The market also attracts food trucks, and the park has several cafés and restaurants so there are plenty of options for a picnic in the park. The Expo Garage Sale takes place up to three times a month but on irregular dates and is subject to weather conditions, so make sure to check the website for an up-to-date schedule.

Bakushoku Onsai is a major international food and music festival held from March 13 to 15 at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. Running from 9.30am to 5pm daily, it showcases the cuisine of over 40 countries alongside live performances by Brazilian artists, a diverse line-up of African musicians and dancers, Kyrgyz traditional dancers, Muay Thai martial arts performers and a choir singing Beethoven’s Symphony No 9. The festival also includes a small market with stalls selling distinctive items from each participating country – think handwoven rugs, colourful décor, cutlery and glassware, jewellery and accessories. Admission to the festival is free, but you’ll need to pay a separate admission fee to Expo Park: ¥260 for adults and ¥80 for elementary to high school students.

Get ready for a weekend of fish frenzy. The Sakana Japan Festival is one of the nation’s largest annual seafood events, celebrating the abundance of Japan’s ocean bounty and supporting the fishing communities along the country’s coastlines. The Osaka leg of the festival will take place from March 19 to 22 at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park, where the main highlight will be a live tuna-slicing show. As for the eats, you can look forward to tuna, salmon and salmon roe, nodoguro (black-throated seaperch), sea urchin, scallops, oysters, crab and more in the form of traditional fisherman’s meals in various regional styles, plus seafood delicacies from Western, Chinese and other international cuisines.  Vendors at the event accept most credit cards, electronic money and cash. Admission costs ¥500 per person, but note that a separate admission fee (¥260 for adults, ¥80 for children in junior high school and younger) for the park is also required.

The Expo Vintage Market is Osaka’s biggest vintage and antiques market. Held at Expo ’70 Commemorative Park’s East Square, the three-day market takes on a festival feel, with more than 150 stalls, food and drink, and live music. Weather permitting it takes place twice a year, in spring and autumn.  The market specialises in antiques, with almost a hundred stalls dedicated to finds with good old-fashioned charm – from swanky Scandinavian furniture, delicate china and glassware to Mexican Zapotec rugs and extensive collections of memorabilia and Americana. Around 30 of the stalls are for second-hand clothing, but don’t expect the kind of bulk-bought clothes you find in many vintage shops. Instead, the festival is a place for vendors who take pride in personally purchasing the pieces they sell and the price that comes with that. Speaking of money, many of the vendors do accept cards, but to be on the safe side remember to bring cash.   The variety of items available at the market is also reflected in the food and drink on offer. In between bargain hunting you can sample baked goods, pizza and burgers, or a drink from one of the craft breweries, cocktail bars or speciality coffee roasters on site.