Just a 20-minute walk from central Asakusa, the grounds of Tamahime Inari Shrine are now lined with dozens of stalls selling shoes and leather goods, drawing large crowds of visitors.
This is the Kutsu no Megumi Matsuri Ichi (kutsu means “shoes” in Japanese), a two-day footwear and leather market held from today, the 22nd, through the 23rd.It is a long-running event that began in 1974, hosted by the down-to-earth Tamahime Inari Shrine in Tokyo’s old downtown district.
A Shrine Loved by Shoemakers
For decades, this area was home to clusters of leather workshops and shoe factories.
After World War II, the wider Asakusa district grew into one of Japan’s densest concentrations of small shoe and leather workshops, and Kiyokawa became the everyday living quarter for many of those craftsmen—simple homes that often doubled as their workspaces.
Although the number of factories has decreased over the years, the district still remains one of Japan’s leading production hubs for leather shoes.
Because so many shoemakers lived and worked nearby, Tamahime Inari Shrine naturally came to be known as a “guardian shrine for shoes.”
The festival, which began in 1974, has grown into one of the largest shoe markets in Japan.
In recent years, even travelers visiting from Asakusa have started to stop by.
Why the Deals Are So Good—and So Unique
Over the two days of the event, more than 100,000 pairs of shoes go on display.
Stalls selling bags, wallets, belts, and other leather accessories line the shrine grounds and nearby streets.
The market runs only until 5:00 PM, and the best items tend to disappear early in the day.By around 4:00 PM, many stalls are already running low on goods, and you can feel the atmosphere of vendors beginning to pack up.
This is not a typical festival market that simply piles together discounted goods.
Many vendors are actual manufacturers and workshops, and industry associations are involved in running the event.
As a result, the products are high in quality—yet offered at 60–80% off regular prices.
Curious why the prices were so low, I asked several sellers.
They explained that many items were:
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Sizing or component mistakes from made-to-order production
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Dead stock that had remained in storage
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Prototype items created during product development
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Factory pieces that were perfectly well-made but rejected because they didn’t match the final specifications
In other words, these products were not unsold because of inferior craftsmanship;
they simply did not meet the buyer’s requirements.
Because of that, their condition is excellent, the construction is solid, and they look beautiful—yet they are surprisingly affordable.
Many high-quality leather shoes are sold for under 10,000 yen, giving them the feel of “secret treasures” you can find only here.
There are also many unique items such as wallets and small cases that appear to be made from factory offcuts, and some regular visitors come specifically for these pieces.
They may be unbranded, but that is exactly why each one feels like a “once-in-a-lifetime encounter”—a special item you can obtain only here, and only today.
Rituals You Can See Only Here
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| A ceremony honoring old shoes stacked high. |
If you look at the people visiting the market, you may notice some carrying old shoes in their hands.
Alongside the market, the shrine conducts rituals such as the shoe memorial service, in which well-worn shoes are respectfully burned.
This reflects a uniquely Japanese sensibility—the idea of expressing gratitude toward tools and everyday objects that have been used for a long time.
Japan has similar memorial rites for needles, brushes, knives, and more, and many shrines enshrine deities associated with crafts and tools.
In that sense, honoring shoes is perfectly natural within this cultural landscape.
A vivid symbol of this devotion is the enormous shoe-shaped mikoshi (portable shrine).
There are two modern-design mikoshi: one representing men's shoes, and the other women's shoes, inspired by Cinderella's slipper.
A Perfect Detour from Asakusa
This festival is held every November, and this year it takes place on November 22 and 23.
It is also held once more in April.
Although the event attracts a large number of visitors, there are still relatively few foreign tourists.
Despite being within walking distance from Asakusa, it remains little known among overseas travelers—making it a small hidden gem where you can enjoy the feeling of “blending into real local life.”
The lively sales talk from craftsmen and vendors is also part of the charm. Sometimes they can be a bit persistent, but that too is one of the enjoyable aspects of this festival.
If your visit to Asakusa happens to coincide with these dates—and if you can stop by before 5 PM—you may find yourself holding a one-of-a-kind leather item that you can obtain only here, and only on this day.
That “lucky encounter” may be waiting for you just around the corner.
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