What can I do ?
Guide

Page １ [２] ３ ４

Food

2) Eat locally:

Due to Japan’s high population density, finding locally raised fruits, veggies, eggs, etc, is in most cases much easier and closer than back home. The only difficult part is finding exactly where in your neighborhood they’re located.

Here are some words that can help you:

直売所 [chokubaisho]

place (indoor/outdoor) to buy directly from farmers

(朝)市場 [(asa)ichiba]

(morning) market, usually weekends

自家製 [jikasei]

homemade

地元 [jimoto]

local

有機(栽培) [yuuki(saibai)]

organic

農薬 [nouyaku]

fertilizer (chemical)

無添加 [mutenka]

no additives

遺伝子 [idenshi]

GMO (Genetically Modified)

Arm yourself with these words and ask away! Don’t be surprised if at first you meet a lot of scratching heads, and try not to get frustrated if someone says, “there aren’t any.” (One thing I’ve learned about living in Japan is that if someone can’t give you the answer you’re asking for, they will often just say, ‘no,’ or ‘that doesn’t exist.’ It most like does, so people don’t give up if you run into a wall or two). The majority of people in Japan––and all industrialized countries––buy their food at supermarkets and have little contact with farmers. Eventually you’ll hopefully find a good place nearby where you can buy your fresh, seasonal veggies, and for much less than at Seibu or Kintetsu. Here’s your chance to refuse the lost link with the land.

Read farther... The Michi no Eki : Buy Direct from Local Farmers