Market Fresh Magazine Article Page
Fresh fruit and vegetables are not only good for your health, they’re also much tastier than canned and frozen varieties. But in Okinawa, shopping for produce can be costly and frustrating. Not to worry—we’ve found 6 of the many farmers markets on island, offering fresh local produce at often deeply discounted prices.
Veggie Jungle Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Near Courtney and just a block west of where Routes 75 and 8 intersect, Veggie Jungle is a small indoor-outdoor farmers’ market with lots of fantastic deals. We scored a bunch of bananas, lettuce, a small pineapple, two eggplants, and a couple tiny plums for less than ¥800. Google Map
Yasai Batake Hours: 10 am – 7 pm
On 329 south of expressway Exit 5, Yasai Batake (which means “vegetable farm”) features different deals every day, based on what the farmers deliver in the morning. When we went, we saw rock bottom prices for avocados at 3 for ¥100, plus cheap potatoes, eggs, and pineapples. Google Map
Yasai Batake Raimu Market Hours: 9 am – 7:30 pm
This little market features lots of different lettuces, inexpensive oranges, bananas, bell peppers, potatoes, and more. To get here: from 58, make the left for Futenma’s main gate. Before going up the hill, take the side street that veers to the right, and follow it until you see a Family Mart on the right, and a Jimmy’s. The market is across the street from the Family Mart. Google Map
Ginowan Yui-Marche Hours: 9 am – 9 pm
This large market near Uniqlo and Don Quixote offers a grocery store experience at farmer’s market prices. We found deals on mushrooms, cucumbers, onions, carrots, potatoes, and goya (bitter melon); packages of mint, rosemary, and basil were about ¥150 or less. Fresh meat, snacks, bento, and Okinawan goods make this a fun one-stop shop. Google Map
Market Tsanchokukan Hours: 9 am – 6 pm
Across the parking lot from Navel Kadena on 58, this farmer’s market recently combined space with the fish market to make room for packaged goods. Though the selection is smaller, we still saw good prices on bags of apples, potatoes, garlic, plus novelty items like fresh eda mame (soybeans) still on the branch, and aloe leaves for cooking or soothing sunburn. Google Map
Champuru Ichiba Hours: 9 am – 7 pm
Near Chibana, Champuru Ichiba (which translates to “mixture market”) is a large indoor market offering loads of produce to look through, and good prices on bags of small bell peppers, different lettuces, huge radishes, sprouts, and more. To get there, take Route 26 (Kadena Gate 3 street) almost to 329, and turn at the pink Cocos! convenience store; the market is on the left. Google Map
