Japan Farmers Markets

For the best mochi and homemade onigiri in town, head on over to Miyamotoyama Farm at the Earth Day Market! A sweet little round of markets this weekend to satisfy the hungries for the week. Don't miss the adorable little Kamome Marche in Yokohama, and certainly the Kamakura Market has plenty to serve up throughout the week. Kamome Marche Saturday, October 28 Set on the upper level of the Yokohama Bay Quarter, this little market offers nice variety given its size. Vendors from Yamanashi, Yokohama, and other parts of Kanagawa brave the steady ocean breeze and offer everything up from fruit to wine to fresh vegetables. 11am - 5pm Map Kamakura Farmers Market Every day This market is an absolute treasure of a small local affair featuring Kamakura heirloom fruits and vegetables raised in or nearby another one of Japan's former capitals. Head in early to get the best selection and pick up a loaf of Paradise Alley's charcoal-infused bread while you're there. The

Photo by Robin Lewis I  had the great pleasure of speaking with Robin Lewis about a walk he took on the Michinoku Coastal Trail in northeastern Japan. It runs the coast of the region most affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and was created in part to help recovery efforts still very much underway there. Please do take the time to read about Robin and check out his fantastic photographs. I'm hoping to join him the next time he goes! Other Useful Links Explore Tohoku (Robin's site about the trip) https://www.facebook.com/exploretohoku Michinoku Coastal Trail website (English) http://tohoku.env.go.jp/mct/english/ Sanriku Fukko National Park http://www.env.go.jp/park/sanriku/index.html (English and Japanese available) Japan Foundation Asia Center http://jfac.jp/en/ The Next Challenge http://thenextchallenge.org/ -->

Image courtesy of Soma Tambo Art I can't even begin to say how excited I am to be going up to Soma this weekend to help with the rice harvest there. The food and company will be more than excellent, and the work will be highly satisfying. I should also mention that the onsen is pretty spectacular, too. Don't miss the chance to go ! (Deadline Tuesday, October 24!)

Tasty teas at the Greenmarket Sumida! A nice round of only the tried and true markets this weekend as the Earth Day Market is not running this month. Any and all of these will surely yield tasty treats of the season. Head on out to see what autumn has up for offer and enjoy! Nippori Farmers Market Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22** This  charming market in the heart of old Tokyo  abounds with a sense of community and friendliness as well as good food. This month is their annual Hokkaido Fair. Lots of treats, I'm told, from Kushiro as well as games and other fun. Small but lively, particularly on Saturday, it features a monthly geographical theme although regular vendors include  Tohoku growers  and some of the best steamed manju in the world. No map, but just head out the East Exit and look for the green awnings 10am to 5pm Kamakura Farmers Market Every day This market is an absolute treasure of a small local affair featuring Kamakura heirloom fruits an

A finished loaf of rice cooker sourdough with starter. Good bread is, as I've said before, one of the things that it can be difficult to find in Japan. Japanese bread is tasty, but it tends not to have the heft or flavor I prefer. To be fair, this was also true in the U.S., and I also made my own bread there. In Japan, this proved to be a challenge as I don't have an oven. I've made good use of my rice cooker, though, which you can read all about here along with a recipe for rice cooker yeast bread. My inspiration for sourdough came while watching Michael Pollan's Cooked . Based on the book by the same name, the documentary takes a look at some basic, traditional methods of making food. One segment examines bread and its history particularly as it pertains to the United States. While I was aware of many of the issues discussed, I was still shocked to understand how flour and bread evolved over the years as well as yeast. As farming and milling practices changed (

Tasty breads available at the UNU Market's Annual Bread Festival! Autumn brings it with blooms of color not just in the leaves of trees, but also on market tables everywhere. Look for brightly colored squash, the deep purple of sweet potatoes, and the nearly black skin of the last of the eggplant. Vivid greens, too, will splash over the table in the form of winter greens that go perfectly in the nabe pot or make an excellent salad. Try them all! Kichijoji Harmonica Yokocho Asaichi Sunday, October 15 Early birds on Tokyo's west side should count themselves lucky to find  this little market  in the warren of shops just north of the station. While fruits and veg are a bit lacking, the market is big on craftsmen and women doing interesting work, excellent baked goods, miso, rice, and other tasty treats. It's worth noting that a number of places offer breakfast deals in the market! Look for my review in  Outdoor Japan's Spring Traveler ! 7am - 10am Koenji Farmer

Organic and naturally-farmed grapes from Aiai Farm in Ibaraki Prefecture! October, thankfully, brings with it cooler temperatures and new crops. Winter vegetables (think leafy greens like komatsuna and karashina along with delectable roots like daikon and kabu) are already sprouting. New rice is also, literally, being harvested as I type, and will soon grace market tables everywhere. Take advantage of this lovely autumn to venture out to one of these great markets and reap the benefits! Greenmarket Sumida Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1 Just over the bridge from Senso-ji is the newest market in the heart of the city. A collaborative effort between the local government and the same folks who manage Market of the Sun and Yokohama's Kitanaka Marche,  Greenmarket Sumida  aims to fill the supermarket gap in this old neighborhood. An excellent selection of food trucks nourish weary shoppers while the Beer Truck is often on hand to slake their thirst. 10am to 4pm