05-05-2025
Learn how to join a community garden in Japan
By Melanie Barnes
Since moving to Tokyo last year, I have missed growing vegetables, a hobby I used to love. Living on the third floor in a small apartment means I can have a couple of pots of herbs on my balcony, but there is no space for a proper vegetable garden. That all changed earlier this year, when some friends invited me to join them in renting a plot in a community garden nearby!
I love gardening because it helps me connect with nature, release stress and learn some practical skills. I also love the pleasure of eating freshly picked food. The veggies I grow are so much tastier and crisper than the ones I buy in the supermarket.
As climate change continues to alter our world, there has been a resurgence of interest in urban gardening. It's one way to live a more sustainable life and to learn skills that previous generations took for granted. Community gardens, also known as allotments, are an excellent option for people who don't have space to grow food at their own house.
How My Community Garden Works
Accessing The Garden
Size & Price
Perfect For Beginners
Nature School For Kids
Finding Your Community Garden
Tips For Non-Japanese Speakers
How My Community Garden Works
The community garden I'm involved in is located on a small, privately owned farm in Kunitachi, western Tokyo. The farmer has divided the farm into about 40 separate lots.
My family shares a plot with two other families. Sharing a plot is great because we split up the workload, which means that I can take a few days off if I need to! Even more importantly, we share whatever we grow, which means that I don't have to worry about what to cook with 16 eggplants when they all ripen in the same week.
During summer, when the veggies ripen quickly, it's necessary to visit at least two or three times a week to pick the quickly ripening vegetables. However, during the change of season, the workload drops significantly, and we may only need to visit two or three times a month.
Right now, we are close to harvesting beans, radishes, eggplants, onions, potatoes, lettuce, capsicum and cucumber. We also have tomatoes and corn on the way. Despite sharing, the amount of vegetables we harvest each week is more than enough. It has replaced about half of the vegetables we used to buy.
Accessing The Garden
Members can access the garden at any time of the day, which is great. This means I can visit when it suits me, either early in the morning before it gets too hot or late in the afternoon. Importantly, during these times, the garden is rarely busy, which allows for some well-deserved quality time for myself and my family.
Size & Price
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