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Tokyo Farmer's Markets This Weekend


Sakakibara-san, Manager of the Nara Organic Farmer's Market



















Just a quick recap to remind folks of the many farmer's markets on this weekend in Tokyo. Things are, literally as well as figuratively, starting to heap up in the city, and the markets will start kicking it. The winter crops are my favorites by far with all their green leafy flavorfulness, but there's great pleasure to be had in a bowl of ripe tomatoes or a bundle of green beans, too. That said, those two aren't on the scene yet unless grown in a hoop-house or shipped up from parts south. Maybe not such a bad thing, either, although it's worth knowing when out shopping. Regardless, get out there, meet some farmers, and eat some veg! 

Sunday, May 6
11am to 5pm
A nice sized market held on the terrace just in front of Ebisu Garden Place that will always be special to me for introducing me to dried natto and tea seedpods.

Every Saturday and Sunday in May
A massive weekend affair that is great fun and features a variety of fruits and vegetables and prepared products from all over Japan. Plus, the curry I had during my last visit from one of the vendors was plate-licking good. (I refrained, but only just.)
10am to 4pm

Every Saturday in May
A recent first visit to this market was well worth the trip for the number of organic growers and getting to meet a Tokyo farmer from just down the tracks in Kokobunji.
10am to 2pm

Every Saturday and Sunday in May
Another nice market not far from the sumo stadium in Ryogoku it's worth casing out for the neighborhood as well as the vendors.
11am to 5pm
Map

Yurakucho Farmer's Market
Every Saturday and Sunday in May
Another great market somewhere in size between Kichijoji and the United Nation's University Farmer's Market, it often features from a particular growing region as well as heaps of farmers and producers from nearby Chiba and Saitama, too.
11am to 5pm
Directions: Turn left out of the station and cross the courtyard toward Tokyo Kouku Keitan. Look for the fun under the overhang!

Know of a market? Give me a shout and we'll add it to the list!
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Comments

Van Waffle said…
Joan, I have been remiss in not reading your blog until now. This has been a busy first week of the blogathon, and I'm scatterbrained. All these descriptions of farmers' markets fill me with wanderlust. We have a small but excellent year-round farmers' market in Guelph, which has not changed much since I started attending university here in the 1980s. Since I became serious about local food last year, we have been buying most of our produce, meat and dairy products there. A few times a year we go to Kensington Market in Toronto; it is worthwhile if you ever visit the city. It is wonderful to think of a city with a number of different markets, but I can't complain about ours.
May 6, 2012 at 9:13 PM
Joan Lambert Bailey said…
Well, that settles it. I guess I'm heading to Guelph! Someday, you should write a profile of it for me. I'd be more than glad to share the news of markets. They're too important (as are farmers) to not do a little free advertising for them.
May 7, 2012 at 2:04 PM
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