- July 11, 2023
- 2 min read
Agriculture is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Tokyo, but the urban, mountainous, and island areas of the prefecture are in fact home to a thriving farming sector. About 60% of Tokyo’s agricultural land is located in urban areas, where it enriches the lives of residents and contributes to a balanced living environment. The main products grown in urban Tokyo are vegetables (such as Japanese mustard spinach, cabbage, tomato, and broccoli), fruits (such as pear, kiwi, and persimmon), and cut flowers.
Tokyo prefecture also contains diverse environments that range from the mountains of Okutama to the subtropical islands of Ogasawara. These regions add greatly to the diversity of Tokyo’sagricultural output. The mountainous regions provide wasabi, potatoes, and plums while the island regions offer products like tropical flowers, taro, angelica keiskei, and passion fruit.
In sum, the products that make up most of Tokyo prefecture’s agricultural output are:
- Japanese mustard spinach (8.8%)
- Tomato (6.4%)
- Spinach (6.1%)
- Japanese pear (5.4%)
- Raw milk (3.7%)
Where to find produce from Tokyo
If you’re interested in tucking into some local produce, look out for Tokyo Specialty IngredientsRestaurants (とうきょう特産食材使用店) and Tokyo Island Local Foods Restaurants (東京の島じ まん食材使用店) where you can enjoy dishes made with ingredients from mainland Tokyo and the island areas respectively. It’s also possible to buy Tokyo-grown products in JA direct sale stores and at farmers’ markets.
Try it yourself!
There are a number of farms and ranches in Tokyo where you can harvest vegetables and fruits, interact with livestock, and more! Options include:
- Berry Cottage in Ome City, which offers kiwi, raspberry, and blueberry picking.
- Inosuma Milk Farm in Hachijoji, which offers milking and butter-making experiences.
About the author:
Diarmuid O'Connor
Diarmuid is a writer and musician from Ireland, based in Tokyo. When not working on music in studios around the city, Diarmuid can be found in the bouldering gym, at the cinema, or enjoying a cold one in the local izakaya.
1 Response
Habtamu Alemu
April 07, 2024
I love you Japan and I appreciate your working habits.
Leave a comment (all fields required)
Comments will be approved before showing up.
Related Blog Posts
At Japan's southern tip,Kagoshima prefectureis home to stunning natural wonders and diverse local cuisine.This 1-day itinerary recommends activities like watching thesunrise over Sakurajima volcano, visiting Sengan-en (a historic samurai residence), and sampling regional specialties like shochu.
The fusion food category known as 'Itameshi', which blends Italian and Japanese culinary elements, rose to prominence in the 1990s and offers creative dishes like wafu pasta and unique pizzas that combine traditional Italian flavors with distinctively Japanese ingredients.
Golden Week in Japan is a series of four national holidays within a week, creating a popular vacation period marked by travel and cultural festivities.