Step outside from the comfort of your Homat apartment and homes onto the busy streets of Tokyo, you will come across some great finds. Looking for some wonderful fresh organic produce, you are sure to find them close by.
Origins of modern Japanese organic farming dates back as far as 1970. Since 2009 organic farming has grown over 20% in Japan. Around the Tokyo area there are many organic grocery stores , regular supermarkets and basement food halls in department stores that have a corner filled with vegetables and fruits from all over Japan, even as far south as Okinawa. Not only is it a trend but more younger generations are cautious about what they eat.
As paddy fields still cover 27% of the land and 47% are mountainous, only 2% are used for organic farming. But still the growth of the word Sustainability has drawn much attention, more farmers are challenging, making their land better for organic farming.
You have probably noticed that there are many small organic shops around your neighborhood. The open marches have entered the marketplace in recent years, on Saturdays and Sundays drawing a good crowd to the venues covered with white tents. Here are 4 of my favorite open markets in Tokyo.
AOYAMA FARMERS MARKET
Located on the grounds of the United Nations University in Jingumae
Saturday and Sunday * every week
10:00 to 4:00
YEBISU MARCHE
Ebisu Garden Place in Meguro
Sunday * every week
11:00 to 4:00
MACHE OF THE SUN
Kachidoki View Tower
Saturday and Sunday * 2nd week of the month
10:00 to 5:00
HILLSMARCHE
Ark Hills in Akasaka
Saturday * every week
10:00 to 2:00
Good place to purchase fresh herbs such as Thai basil, fennel and other herbs not regularly found. Many Italian and French vegetables line up the stall counters. There are homemade
honey vendors, jam, fresh squeezed bottled juices, olive oil from Shodoshima, fresh sourdough Odin bread from Brod bakery and many others for you to view and choose.