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Tokyo Farmers’ Markets Bask In The Bounty Of Fall Produce

Look for these in-season items at markets around the city

By Nina Peacock |
October 5, 2024 |
Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Out & About

Tokyo has an abundance of fresh-from-the-farm produce at different types of markets both downtown and around town.

The best part about walking through Tokyo farmers’ markets in the fall is viewing the mountains of colorful produce piled at each stand. They remind me of memories I have of urban and rural farmers markets in the northeastern United States, such as the Union Square Greenmarket held weekly in New York City or the many farms up and down the East Coast that open their gates to visitors in autumn.

Big, Small & Tucked-Away

Farmers’ Markets

Traditional farmers’ markets are held on a blocked-off street or in a park, with open-air stalls set up by farmers who directly sell their own products. There are a number of these markets on weekends in downtown Tokyo (you’ll find the full list in the next section of this article). The biggest and most popular is the Farmers’ Market @UNU, which is held every weekend.

Direct Sales Farmers’ Centers

Another type of market where consumers can buy directly from the farmers is direct sales markets, such as the JA Group’s various farmers’ centers all over Tokyo and Japan. Farmers bring their produce in the morning, and it is sold at the center throughout the day. The store is open almost every day. It doesn’t have the same feeling as a weekend open-air market—it’s more like a giant vegetable stand—but the tastiness of the fresh produce is the same, and the convenience is excellent.

Garden Centers and Cafes

Keep an eye out in the garden centers of large hardware stores like Joyful Honda. In some shop locations, you can find a “Joy Marche Market” that sells locally produced products including freshly made pastries or bread. Some cafes that serve farm-to-table menus actually host their own farmers’ markets, too. Mr. Farmer’s Komazawa Olympic Park Store holds a market on every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. So next time you’re at your favorite farm-to-table cafe, check to see if they have any local supplier produce on sale or if they have any flyers up about an upcoming stall or market.

10 Farmer’s Markets in Tokyo

Here is where to go if you’re looking for some fresh produce this fall.

1. Farmers’ Market @UNU

When: Every Sat and Sun, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: 3-3-11 Midori Aobadai, Meguro-ku, Tokyo

2. NKB Marche Markets

When: Various dates and times; see website for next date
Where: Tokyo Locations: Nerima Ward Office, Ebisu Garden Place, Keio Crown Street, Tsuruma Park

3. Taiyo No Marche (The Sun Market)

When: Second Sat and Sun every month
Where: Tsukishima 2nd Children’s Park, 1-9-8 Kachidoki, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

4. Earth Day Market

When: Held irregularly; see website for next date
Where: Inside Yoyogi Park, 2-2-1 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

5. Ark Hills Marche

When: Every Sat, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: ARK Karajan Place, 1-12-32 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

6. Futakoza Market

When: Monthly, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Futako-Tamagawa Rise Galleria, 2-21-1 Tamagawa, Setagaya City, Tokyo

7. Chigasaki Story Marche

When: Second Sat of the month, once every two months, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Matsuo Construction Co., Ltd., 3-1-15 Higashikaiganminami, Chigasaki City, Tokyo

8. Zanoichi

When: Third Sat every month, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Za Koenji, 2-1-2 Koenjikita, Suginami City, Tokyo

9. Hadanowa Earth Market

When: Held irregularly; see website for next date
Where: Shirasasa Inari Shrine, 1089 Imaizumi, Hadano City, Kanagawa

10. Yokohama Kitanaka Market

When: Third Sat and Sun every month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: The Tower Yokohama Kitanaka, 5-57-2 Kitanakadori, Naka Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa

What To Buy at Tokyo Farmers’ Markets

So, what should you look out for at Tokyo farmers’ markets? I didn’t expect to find cider donuts, but instead, I found many unrecognizable Japanese vegetables. After asking for some advice from farmers about what to buy at Tokyo farmers’ markets in the fall, here were their recommendations:

Kaki (Persimmons)

To find a ripe persimmon, look for a bright orange color and the feel of a ripe avocado: it gives a bit to pressure when pushed. The inside flesh is juicy and sweet. The skin can be eaten or peeled with a vegetable peeler.

Root Vegetables (Turnips, Radishes, Carrots & Ginger)

Look for their variety this season, such as the Shinagawa radish, which is shaped and colored like a white daikon radish but is about the size of a large carrot, or look for yellow carrots in addition to the usual orange.

Mixed Greens

Ome Farm, at the Farmers’ Market @UNU on Saturdays, sells bags of mixed greens, often containing komatsuna (Japanese spinach), Chinese greens, wasabi leaves or rocket, a small-leaf green with a peppery bite. If you’re not at UNU, purchase a variety of greens for the same effect. This season, you can also find varieties of kale and shungiku (edible chrysanthemum leaves).

Kabocha & Butternut Squash

Butternut squash is an American vegetable, but I have seen it sold at Tokyo farmers’ markets. When I bought it, it produced the sweetest butternut squash soup I’ve ever made in my kitchen. Kabocha, also called Japanese pumpkin, looks like a green pumpkin, but inside, it’s bright orange. Use it in any savory recipe requiring pumpkin or squash.

Honey

Though honey can be harvested in summertime, farmers sell a variety of raw honey this season that goes well with autumn recipes.

Yakiimo (Japanese Roasted Sweet Potatoes)

The annou imo sweet potato (安納芋 or あんのういも) is an especially sweet variety of potato and roasts nicely at home. Alternately, yakiimo is a sweet potato that is already roasted for you and ready-to-eat. I’d say yakiimo are to Japanese markets what cider donuts are to American ones. It’s hot and fresh, it’s a treat you can pick up and eat right away with your hands, and it has a delish, seasonal smell. In later years I may walk through northeast America’s farmers’ markets again, smell a cider donut, and yearn for the smell of yakiimo instead.

Don’t forget to also look out for these five seasonal vegetables to buy this autumn.

Have you been to any of these Tokyo Farmers’ Markets? Let us know what you got!

This article has been updated with the latest and additional information by the Savvy Team for 2024.