Eat Local Kobe Farmers’ Market

Kobe Farmers’ Market is a regular weekly market that has been organized by the Eat Local Kobe organization since 2015. The market features a variety of stalls by local farmers, fishermen, restaurants, cafes, and other food producers.

Usually held on Saturday mornings the market is a good place to get breakfast or lunch, buy fresh local produce, and get to know some of the unique local food and drink available in this city.

Originally held in Higashi Yuenchi Park in Sannomiya, the market was forced to move when that park was renovated, so for the last few years it has been moving around various sites about the city. Although Higashi Yuenchi Park is now once again available as a market location the market still moves around the city.

Different stallholders participate each time, so you are sure to find something new whenever you visit. In the pictures below are some of the stalls that took part one day when the market was held at Suma Beach.

The stall pictured above represents several restaurants in Kobe Chinatown and sells some of the most popular street food from that area.

Yakigashiya Conoca is a stall selling baked sweets such as cakes, cookies and muffins. You can eat them on the spot, or take them home — but because they are so nicely wrapped, you might want to give them as a gift for someone special.

Conoca isn’t the only stall selling sweet stuff. Kosaji (or “Teaspoon”) is a stall selling all kinds of marmalades and jams as well as cakes.

There are usually a few stalls selling fresh vegetables. This stall from Kobe West Healthy Farm sells only organic produce at very reasonable prices.

Niu Farm runs another stall selling vegetables grown with natural methods.

Sho-Uchu Shokudo sells southern Taiwanese-style home-cooked food.

Kitasaka Poultry Farm (Kitasaka Yokei-jo) sells fresh eggs from free-range chickens.

Kitasaka Poultry also sells sweet egg-based puddings made in the shell!

Kitayama Shokuhin is a company founded in 1926 which produces yuba, or tofu skin, a delicacy, rich in protein, which is commonly used in Japanese cuisine.

The Sumaura Fisheries (Sumaura Suisan) stall sells smoked salmon and a variety of products made from nori – a kind of edible seaweed.

Kaariman is run by Tetsuya Nitta, a hunter, who sells meat products made from wild deer he has caught and butchered himself. You can find a variety of sausages on his stall, as well as products for pets such as deer ribs for dogs to chew on or deer jerky for cats and dogs. Here he is cooking up some chorizo sausages for customers to buy and eat right away.

IN THA DOOR BREWING is a small craft beer brewery based on Rokko Island in Kobe that uses local natural spring water and other local materials to make a variety of tasty beers. The brewery also frequently collaborates with other Eat Local Kobe participants such as farmers and beekeepers to create unique original beers using a variety of vegetables and even honey!

Very often there will be some activities or events organized alongside the market. On this occasion a yoga class was being held on the beach.

When and Where?

The market takes place most Saturdays in different locations around the city of Kobe such as Higashi Yuenchi Park in Sannomiya, Suma Beach or Minatogawa Park in Hyogo Ward.

During the summer months of July, August and September the market is usually held from 9.30 to 12.30. In other months the market is from 10.00 to 13.00. However, there are sometimes night markets as well.

For the latest information on the market’s opening hours and location, please check the official Eat Local Kobe website or the official Instagram page. Occasionally the market is cancelled due to bad weather, so it is always a good idea to check for updates before going.

Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.