Japan Farmers Markets

A couple of weeks ago we spent a whirlwind weekend in Aizu Wakamatsu. Located in Fukushima Prefecture, the city is steeped in fascinating history and heaps of good food. Well west of the ailing nuclear power plant, the city like so many others in that prefecture, has seen a dramatic drop in domestic as well as foreign tourists due to the taint of radiation. Hoping to lift that shadow and rebuild trust with visitors far and wide, the city invited us and ten other foreigners to spend some time. My favorite, of course, was the farmer's market. Aizu Wakamatsu is part of the bread basket that is Tohoku - the region filling the north and east of Japan's main island and where the March 11th earthquake and tsunami did the most damage - so it stood to reason there would be a market of some size somewhere in the city. A quick question at Tourist Information in the station got us a map, a location, and off we pedaled on our rented bikes. Looking for all the world like a standard superm

Temperatures are steadily dropping and with any luck you've started on your winter vegetables. (In case you haven't, here's a little primer I wrote for eco+waza reader's that should get you rolling.) Meanwhile, to watch the season's change vegetable by vegetable, check out these great markets around town! (Today's photo of daikon thinnings comes all the way from Aizu Wakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture. We stopped at a market there the likes of which I've never seen before: supermarket-sized indoor vegetable and flower and local product extravaganza! It was a wee bit of heaven.) Gyre Market Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30 11am to 5pm Map Earth Day Market Sunday, October 30 10am to 4pm, Rain or shine! Map UN University Market Every Saturday and Sunday in October 10am to 4pm Map Roppongi Market Every Saturday in October 10am to 2pm Map Kinshicho Market Every Saturday and Sunday in October 11am to 5pm Map Know of a market? Give

Chill winds and clear skies mean the cool season crops are on their way. If you don't grow your own , check out one of the wonderful regular markets happening this weekend. There's more than enough treats to be had from growers happy to share recipes , information on how to grow it yourself, or just swap stories. (Or, as in my case, patiently wade through my basic Japanese to have a chat.) It's all good! (Today's photo is from the Ludlow Food Festival , which still makes me smile every time I think about it. We sampled some of the rhubarb -ginger liqueur from Ludlow Distillery , and my only regret is that I didn't bring a bottle home with me to Tokyo.) UN University Market Every Saturday and Sunday in October 10am to 4pm Map Roppongi Market Every Saturday in October 10am to 2pm Map Kinshicho Market Every Saturday and Sunday in October 11am to 5pm Map Know of a market? Give me a shout and we'll add it to the list!

More beautiful days are afoot and that means it's high time to hit the markets. For Tokyo growers winter isn't the time to hang up the trowel. Daikon , kabu, kaki , daizu ( soy beans ) and an assortment of winter greens are just busting onto the scene, and they are well worth a journey by train , bicycle , or even on foot to find. If you ask me, winter is where it all happens, so head on out! (Today's photo is another from our September trip to England . Taken at the Borough Market in London , I caught the garlic sun-bathing in the late afternoon light sneaking in under the bridge overhead.) Ebisu Market Sunday, October 16 11am to 5pm Map Kichijoji Market Saturday, October 15 and Sunday, October 16 11am to 5pm Map UN University Night Market Saturday, October 17 8pm - ? UN University Market Every Saturday and Sunday in October 10am to 4pm Map Roppongi Market Every Saturday in October 10am to 2pm Map Kinshicho Market Every Saturday and Sunday in October

It is as important for writer's to head out and experience the world as it is to stay glued to the keyboard or notebook and pen until the last word is wrung out of the story. I decided this past weekend to take the advice I'm constantly tweeting to others or mentioning in blog posts , and that is to head out and enjoy some of this amazing fall weather in the lovely environs of a farmer's market. I talked a friend into joining me and we took a journey down to the Roppongi Farmer's Market - a weekly market that often seems to have some interesting event occurring as well - to see what was happening. Roppongi , I will admit, is an area of Tokyo I try to avoid with all my might. Nightclubs and expensive restaurants and bars are not so interesting to me these days. (Those wild days are long over, although they were undeniably fun at the time!) It's the kind of ex-pat scene that doesn't suit me, really, although I do occasionally hear of interesting things happenin

Fall is upon us, and to fully enjoy that good weather I suggest heading out to a farmer's market. (I know you're all just shocked!) There's a nice bundle of events this weekend and tables ought to be heaped full of squash, garlic, and some of those first winter greens. A trip to the UN University Market this past Saturday had my mouth watering at the sight of all those pears, apples, and some of the most amazing pickles ever. Seriously, they were so tasty! Oh, and speaking of tasty, don't forget about C-Cafe's organic brunch this Sunday! Yummy. (Today's photo hearkens back to a market visit in Bridgnorth. It was a lovely, lovely Saturday during our trip to England .) Gyre Market Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9 Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30 11am to 5pm Map C-Cafe Organic Brunch Sunday, October 9 11:30am to 2pm Access UN University Market Every Saturday and Sunday in October 10am to 4pm Map Roppongi Market Every Saturda