Japan Farmers Markets

Shigetaka Murakami of Farmer's Ship at the UNU Market. A broker, Murakami offers a variety of organic and conventional fruit and veg. It may be the end of the month, but it is certainly not the end of the markets! Don't miss the chance to head on out to one of these great events and see what the growers and producers have in store. Winter veg should be making a strong showing this weekend, and it will be a nice time to do a little holiday gift planning. (Hello, jam and pickle, my old friends...) See you at the market! Kamome Marche Saturday, November 24 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 Osonbashi Marche Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24 This new market in Yokohama is one I have only seen a poster and website

Kinue Yamaguchi of Yamakine Farm at the UNU Market. The middle of the month always brings a bounty of markets to visit and choosing can be difficult. The markets this weekend vary in size, but the quality will always be good in terms of fun and the food. Head on out to see what seasonal bounty is in store! Koenji Farmers Market Saturday, November 17* Spotted a handful of years ago while riding the Chuo Line,  this little market  is still going strong. A circle of red awnings in front of the  Za-Koenji Public Theatre  marks the spot where friendly folks with good food and interesting stories await. *A wee bit of a best guess here as they haven't updated  their blog  yet. Do check before making the trip over there. 11am - 6pm Map Oiso Farmers Market Sunday, November 18 This little gem of a community shindig is one of the best things going outside of the Earth Day Market. Started a handful of years ago, it blossomed into a full-on monthly festival that just happens

Kohei Satu, me, and Takuma Ogawa at the UNU Farmers Market last week. Chef-farmers from Chiba, their stall offers some tasty organic veg and no plastic! Rain and cold are part of the November scene, but farmers and gardeners alike know that the blue skies of winter will soon dominate. This weekend promises to be sunny and pleasantly cool, which is perfect for venturing out to one of these great markets. The Market of the Sun is a bit of a trek, but totally worth it for the nice selection of vendors on hand and all the fun activities they always have planned. Don't miss the fun and the chance to stock up on some great locally grown food! Market of the Sun Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11 It's hard to believe this 'new' market is already five years old!  Market of the Sun (a.k.a. Taiyo Marche)  professes to be one of the largest, and it is certainly a good one. A short walk from Tsukiji Market and its wonderful surrounds, this market is worth a

Hiraga Hisakatsu of Cranc Brewing at a little beer festival in Koenji. His kaboucha beer was awesome! Leaves are turning, and temperatures are dropping. Autumn seems to be making inroads at last. No hard frost yet here in Kanagawa, but I imagine it must be on the way. Meanwhile, early winter crops are coming in and that means nabe pots are coming out! It also means that apples, pears, chestnuts, and squash are all waiting at the market, too. This is, I have to say, my favorite time of the year to cook. So, head on out to the market and dig in to see what seasonal wonders you can find! Market of the Sun Saturday, November 10 and Sunday, November 11 It's hard to believe this 'new' market is already five years old!  Market of the Sun (a.k.a. Taiyo Marche)  professes to be one of the largest, and it is certainly a good one. A short walk from Tsukiji Market and its wonderful surrounds, this market is worth a visit for its lovely selection of foodly and crafty i

GoKuRaKu Farm at the UNU Market. Done for this year, I look forward to their beets and kale in 2019! Autumn is one of the best seasons for hitting the farmers markets in Japan. I'm a big fan of everything that's rolling in this time of year - winter greens, sweet potatoes, first harvest rice, apples, and fun varieties of squash - and find it hard to resist buying everything I see. Recipes abound for the things in season, so don't be shy about shopping. If you buy something and you're not sure what to do, drop me a note , and I'll help out! Kamome Marche Saturday, October 27 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 Osonbashi Marche Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21 This new market in Yokohama is one I have on

The McFerrins ready to hit the road. A while back my fellow farmers market enthusiast and blogger, Askans, wondered on Twitter why there weren't more recipes affiliated with farmers markets information. I'm paraphrasing him a bit, but essentially his idea was that if we want people to shop at farmers markets, they need to know what to do with the items they purchase.  Over the years, I've posted a number of different recipes that use seasonal ingredients. They often came from my own garden or the farm where I helped out in Tokyo . The recipes were either my own creative concoction or taught to me by neighbors, friends, or farmers. I've enjoyed making them all and look forward to them as the seasons come in turn. The following recipe is the first in a series aimed at helping people find a use for all those wonderful things they see at the markets. Made for us and subsequently taught to me by a Canadian family of five on the last bit of their year-long, ro

The Romantic Market in Shibuya. I'm always on the hunt for new markets, and so when I saw a posting about something called The Romantic Market I made a note to visit. While the description made it sound more like an antique and craft market, there was also mention of organic food and produce. Those two items put it on the agenda for the weekend! Just up the hill from Shibuya, but in the opposite direction from the UNU Market, The Romantic Market is tucked in a corner of the Shibuya Garden Tower Building. A well-placed sign on the sidewalk signaled where to turn in, and there I found a charming little set of tables and stalls. The first grouping offered primarily crafty items of the artisanal sort. Beautiful jewelry that was very difficult to resist as well as an assortment of clever items made from textiles, ceramics, and wood. Further in were booths offering a fascinating array of Japanese and European antiques ranging from kimono and yukata to ceramics and a portable wri

Kai Kato and his wife at the UNU Market with their chemical-free produce. Located not far from Odawara, they arrive every Sunday with tasty treats! Welcome to the most farmers-markety weekend of them all! This lovely weekend there is an excellent array of markets to choose from, and there will be no shortage of fresh produce, rice, and other delights to tuck under your arm for the trip home. While the UNU Market is always good fun, give some thought to trying some of the other markets scheduled this weekend. Koenji is small and fun, and the Kichijoji Market is similarly wonderful, albeit early. Those looking to venture further afield will find the Oiso Market a good excuse to get out, while the Nippori Market is in a fun section of the city. The possibilities really are endless, so head out and see what you can discover! Koenji Farmers Market Saturday, October 20* Spotted a handful of years ago while riding the Chuo Line,  this little market  is still going strong. A circle

Gourds and squash at the Roundy Family Farmstand. Partly cloudy, partly sunny, the weekend promises to cooler and perhaps a bit damp. Who knows, though? Pack an umbrella and head on out to one of these lovely markets for a fresh harvest of sweet potatoes , early winter greens and l ate summer veg . Don't forget that rice is rolling in fresh from the fields, too. While it is delicious any time of year when bought directly from the farmer, there is something a bit special about getting a taste of the first harvest of the year. See you at the market! Market of the Sun Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14 It's hard to believe this 'new' market is already five years old!  Market of the Sun (a.k.a. Taiyo Marche)  professes to be one of the largest, and it is certainly a good one. A short walk from Tsukiji Market and its wonderful surrounds, this market is worth a visit for its lovely selection of foodly and crafty items that rivals the goodies found at

Chef Cole pausing for a moment at Locale. Farmers markets are a passion of mine, but I also know that farmers, especially organic farmers, need to drum up multiple outlets for their produce. Some get people to sponsor the ducks on their farm, others network to sell at a local grocery or a recycle shop, and others supply restaurants. Chef Katy Cole works with two or three organic farmers to source her produce, meat, and fish. She is excited about them, their work, and the results, which she gets to serve to her guests five days a week at Locale in Meguro. Read my profile of her over at Tokyo Weekender, and then pay Chef Cole a visit. The farmers and your tastebuds will thank you.

A visit to the Roundy Farm Farmstand in September. Typhoons, flooding and earthquakes filled many of the days in September, and October seems to be starting off on something of a similar foot. Farmers are some of the most affected by these events as harvest is either completed early or damaged while still in the field. One of the best ways to support them and keep tasty food on your table is to head out to one of these great markets. Market of the Sun Saturday, October 13 and Sunday, October 14 It's hard to believe this 'new' market is already five years old!  Market of the Sun (a.k.a. Taiyo Marche)  professes to be one of the largest, and it is certainly a good one. A short walk from Tsukiji Market and its wonderful surrounds, this market is worth a visit for its lovely selection of foodly and crafty items that rivals the goodies found at the UNU Market. 10am to 4pm Step out of Kachidoke Station at Exits A4a or A4b and look for the tents. Koenj

Leipzig Farmers Market, September 2017. September brings slightly cooler temperatures and typhoons, although we've had no shortage of those the past months. However, don't be shy to head on out to the markets to see what bounty is going to be rolling in this month. Autumn crops will be coming even as summer ones continue their steady appearance. It is a wonderful time to eat, to say the least! Market of the Sun Saturday, September 8 and Sunday, September 9 One of Tokyo's newer markets,  Market of the Sun (a.k.a. Taiyo Marche) , professes to be one of the largest. A short walk from Tsukiji Market and its wonderful surrounds, this market is worth a visit for its lovely selection of foodly and crafty items that rivals the goodies found at the UNU Market. 10am to 4pm Step out of Kachidoke Station at Exits A4a or A4b and look for the tents. Koenji Farmers Market Saturday, September 15* Spotted a handful of years ago while riding the Chuo Line,  this