Welcome to the “Open Kitchen” of Japan. Yes, the Asaichi or the Morning Markets of over 100 food vendor stalls lining up a main street all over Japan from 7:00 am to noon. Is a very exciting sight to view for anyone already living here and tourists alike. If you have been to the Union Square morning farmers market in New York or the market in Portland Oregon at PSU, even the KCC Farmers Market in Honolulu, it is just like this but bigger and with a history of over
100 years. Local growers, fishermen with their catch of the morning, vendors making homemade pickles, miso, dried foods, a great variety of wonderful foods. Great place to take interesting photos for your travels. There are many of these Asaichi Markets, small, having few stalls, possibly around your area where you are living.
There is an elderly farmer’s wife attending to her produce even in the Hiroo shopping area near Picards, every Friday morning. Her fresh tomatoes are wonderful.

The bigger ones have over 100 vendors and are very well known and attended. Such markets are the following:

In the southern area of Kochi is the Sunday Nichiyo Ichi which has a history of over 300 years.

Yobuko Morning Market in Karatsu located in Saga prefecture, held daily on a long street at a small port town.

Wajima Morning Market on the Noto Peninsula, not only fresh produce but this area is known for the local lacquerware.

Takayama Morning Market, held daily in 2 different areas , is one of the famous markets.

Hakodate Morning Market in Hakodate, Hokkaido is one of the largest markets spanning over four city blocks, main vendors are the fish vendors with their great catch of the morning. You can even go around with a large bowl of rice and fill it up with fresh sashimi and other seafood as toppings for your donburi.

Niigata Morning Market, which you will view on this blog the photo taken there, has a variety of vendors.

Of course there are markets everywhere that are always there all day with open or covered stalls, such as the Nishiki Market in Kyoto or Omicho Market in Kanazawa, Kuromon Market in Osaka, all which are colorful, vibrant and people friendly. Enjoy this kind of moment while in Japan.