Bags of Snacks

Entering the market grounds, you encounter many forklifts and trucks driving around, making you feel like you are in the wrong place. Normally just for wholesalers and business owners, on special “Citizen Appreciation Days” anyone can go to the market and shop for local goods. Companies from Kashiwa sell everything from vegetables to snacks, meat, and even house wares. Buy one head of lettuce for 30 yen or buy a whole box for just 150 yen. A great chance to strike a bargain on food and drinks and buy in bulk. Customers are especially interested in cheap snacks. One elderly woman seemed really into potato chips. Selling for about half the supermarket price, her basket was filled with at least 10 bags. Once you are in the mood, the cheap offers are tempting. I did not want to buy anything at first but went home with two bags filled with greens and sweets for around 1200 yen.

Kashiwa Ichiba-Market

Address: 69-1 Wakashiba, Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture

URL: kashiwa-ichiba.com (Japanese only)

TEL: 04-7131-2620

Opening Hours: Citizen Appreciation Day(市民感謝デー) every 2nd Saturday of the month, 8am – 11am (Check Homepage for time and date confirmation)

Access: Tsukuba Express Kashiwa No Ha Campus Station East Exit Bus Stop No. 1
▶ Take a bus going to キャンパス駅ライフタウン循環 Campus Eki Lifetown Junkan (Bus No. 8) ▶ Get off at 柏卸売市場前Kashiwa Oroshiuri Ichiba Mae ▶ 5-minute walk