Japan Farmers Markets

Maria Grazia Santovito and her hand-painted bottles at the UNU Marche! Snow is again in the forecast for this weekend, but let that be a motivator to get you out the door and to one of these lovely markets. Ask a vendor for their favorite recipe and sip a bit of hot something or other as you listen. You won't be disappointed by the result. From yuzu to a fun assortment of winter vegetables , great food awaits! Kamome Marche Saturday, January 26 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

Majimena Honey at the UNU Market! Another brilliant winter weekend for visiting regional farmers markets is in store, so don't miss the opportunity. It is worth reminding folks, too, that this is the boomingest weekend of the month for markets. so if there is a New Year's resolution out there to eat better, buy local, or even practice Japanese, this is a great time and way to put it in action. Best things to look for are citrus, winter vegetables , and satoimo along with the usual items such as rice, tea, honey, pickles, nifty bakery items, and jam. Koenji Farmers Market Saturday, January 19* 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. I have

Yuzu ready to be harvested! One of the things that often comes up for people whether they are new to Japan or have lived here a long time is what to do with the various items they find at farmers markets. People are often surprised, too, to learn that there are a wide variety of fruits and vegetables available in winter. Most people, wrongly, believe that nothing is growing in Japan during these cold months. Certainly, further north in Tohoku, there is some truth there, but from Saitama on down, the fields are alive with various greens and root crops, and many an orchard is bursting with fruit. So, to get folks feeling brave, I'm going to list a few recipes for items found on vendor tables everywhere these days. It seemed logical to start with yuzu, a beloved citrus found almost nowhere else, that is in full swing at the moment. There are a number of varieties, but yuzu is yuzu, and you can have a wonderfully delicious time with it no matter what form you see. Some look al

Keisuke Nakanishi from Nara and his amazing plums! Ebisu Marche More on his cool stuff at this Instagram post . Chill winds and perhaps even some snow are forecast for this weekend, which means it is absolutely imperative to get out there and get some good grub. Head one over to the Market of the Sun for some lovely treats or go earlier in the week to the Kamakura Market. Ebisu is small but steady and the Ark Hills Marche never disappoints! It is also worth noting that this weekend is the first time it will be open in the New Year, so dig in! Market of the Sun Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13 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 the former 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

Shizouka Organic Market in December. The New Year is already a week old as I get around to writing this. December was busy with visitors and holiday preparations, but if I said that was the only reason I didn't post I would be lying. And lying is unbecoming, so I'm going to tell the truth. I'm feeling a bit meh about things here at JapanFarmersMarkets. I love the markets, the growers and producers, the food I get to sample, and everything about them. I love meeting the new vendors and trying their wares (homemade coca-cola, why yes!) and talking with those I've met countless times before to see what's new, find out how their families are, and share a laugh or two. I should be inspired. I should be excited. I should be typing my fingers off to share the news. But I'm not. Or at least I haven't been this past year. I could blame politics, long train rides, my old friends, Procrastination and Laziness, but that doesn't seem quite right, either.

A little wacky fun at The Greenmarket Sumida in December! Holy Begonias. Somewhere in these past few weeks a new year arrived. I can only say I am totally stunned to find myself in 2019 and with a fresh set of markets to ponder and visit. As always, the UNU Market, a.k.a. the Aoyama Market, has hit the ground running and is offering scrumptious treats this first weekend. Except for The Greenmarket Sumida and the Earth Day Market everything is scheduled as usual. Get out there and enjoy that winter veg while it's here! Market of the Sun Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13 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 4p