It is said that today's tekiya date back to traders of lotus leaves (dealing with seasonal goods) who sold lucky charms of the season at markets (morning markets and seasonal markets) and fairs, magicians performing street performances on the main streets, and acrobatic artists also known as daikagura (lion dancer) and kyokugomashi (spinning trick performers).
古くは市（朝市、定期市）や縁日などで時節の縁起物を売っていた蓮の葉商いや、その目抜き通りで大道芸などを行っていた手品師、太神楽とも言われる曲芸師や曲独楽師などが、現在の的屋の源流ともいわれる。