Shun (旬) : Seasonal Food Guide in Japan -Why Eat Seasonally?

In Japan, we can enjoy seasonal foods along the four seasons. Here we will look at the benefits of eating seasonal foods and also introduce when they are in season.


What are seasonal foods?

Seasonal food refers to the time of year when certain foods are relatively fresher and tastier than at other times of the year. Sometimes it simply refers to seasonal foods at the time it can be harvested, but sometimes it refers to the time when seasonal foods are at their best. So there are some foods that are in season after they have been stored for a while rather than when they are harvested.


The benefits of eating foods that are in season

What are the benefits of eating foods that are in season?


The best tasting and most nutritious foods

According to an article published in the Asahi Shimbun and other media on March 15, 2010, tomatoes harvested in July contain 18 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams, compared to 9 mg per 100 grams for tomatoes grown in greenhouses in January which is out of season. In the case of spinach, it contained 73 mg in February compared to 9 mg in July which is also out of season(1)


Inexpensive

The price of vegetables grown in facilities is several percent to twice as high as that of vegetables grown outdoors in season. (1) As technology for transportation has evolved, transportation costs have become lower and lower, and overseas produce can be sold at lower prices, but seasonal foods are easily available at lower prices.


Saving energy used in transportation and growing environment

Crops grown and harvested in their original season do not require additional energy input to change the growing environment by regulating temperature, etc., as in the case of cultivation using glasshouses. (1) Compared to vegetables grown outdoor during the season, vegetables grown in greenhouses during the off-season requires several to nearly ten times as much additional energy. (1)


Enriching the local economy and community

Money circulates in the community by buying food produced by local farmers. You will be able to hear about the condition of the crops and how they were grown, so you will be able to enjoy your meal with more affection.


Feeling seasons

By actively incorporating seasonal foods, we can feel the seasons in our daily lives. As the social infrastructure and technology for transportation and growing vegetables have improved, supermarkets now offer a wide variety of vegetables regardless of their season.
In other words, it can be said that the sense of season has disappeared.


Seasonal foods Lists in Japan

Here is a list of vegetables and fruits that are eaten in Japan at different times of the year.


Spring


Leaf and stem vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Cabbage 12345612
Asparagus 456
mustard greens 23
Cauliflower 1231112
Mizuna (Potherb mustard) 12312
Watercress 3456
Crown Daisy 1231112
Seri / Japanese Parsley 123412
Celery 123412
Bamboo shoots 456
field mustard 123
Chinese chive 345
garlic 5678
Parsley 34
Mitsuba (edible clover) 34
Arugula 456101112
lettuce 45678101112
Wakegi Green Onion 341112
broccoli 123
Angelica keiskei 3456789


Root vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Burdock 12451112
Potatoes 12451112
Chinese yam 1451112
Turnips 3451011
Onions 34


Mountain Vegitables

3 <
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Japanese butterbur scape 2
Udo 345
Kogomi (fiddlehead orstrich fern) 45
Tara-no-me (Aralia Sprout)45
Japanese butterbur 45
Bracken 234
Royal fern 456


Wild vegetables are well known as a spring specialty in Japan.

Sansai In Japan : How People Enjoy Spring In Snow Country

In Japan's heavy snowfall areas, people live surrounded by snow for almost half a year. In spring, Sansai (Wild vegetable) appear from the mountains when the snow melts. Japanese people feel and enjoy the arrival of the spring season by eating Sansai. There are many kinds of wild vegetables that have been familiar to the Japanese people since ancient times. What is Sansai? Among edible plants, vegetables grown by humans in fields are called "vegetables (Yasai / 野菜)" while those that grow wild in the natural environment are called "Sansai (山菜)". Vegetables have been improved through repeated breeding, so they ...

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Fruits

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Sweet watson pomelo 345
Strawberry 45
Orange 123
Grapefruit 45
Dekopon 234
Natsumikan 456
Hassaku 23
Melon 5678


Beans

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Green peas 456
Field peas 456
Fava bean 456


Mashroom

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Shiitake mushroom 34591011
Wood ear mushroom 45678


Summer


Fruit vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Green chilli 789
Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) 456789
Okura 6789
pumpkin 789101112
Cucumbers 678
Shishito peppers 45678
Zucchini 6789
Wax gourd 78910
Corn 78
Tomato 678
Eggplant 789
Bitter melon 789
Paprika 678
Bell peppers 678


Leaf and stem vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Asparagus 456
Cabbage 12345612
Watercress 3456
Shiso (perilla / Japanese basil) 6789
Indian spinach 678910
Garlic 5678
Myoga (Japanese ginger) 678910
Jew’s mallow 78
Pickled scallion 67
Arugula 456101112
Lettuce 456781112


Root vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Taro 8 9 10 11 12
Potatoes 5 6 10 11
Pickled ginger 6 7 8


Mountain Vegitables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Royal Fern 4 5 6


Fruits

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Apricot 6 7
Fig 7 8 9 10
Ume / Umeboshi 6 7
Kabosu (type of citrus fruit) 8 9 10
Cherries 6 7
Shekwasha 1 8 9 12
Watermelon 7
Sudachi (Japanese citrus fruit) 8 9 10
Pear 8 9
Natsumikan 4 5 6
Pineapple 6 7 8
Loquat 6
Grape 7 8 9
Mango 3 4 5 6 7 8
Melons 5 6 7 8
Peach 7 8


Beans

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Green beans 6 7 8 9
Edamame (green soybeans) 6 7 8
Green peas 4 5 6
Field peas 4 5 6
Fava bean 4 5 6


Mashroom

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Wood ear mushroom 4 5 6 7 8


Fall


Fruits Vegitable

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Green pepper 7 8 9
Okura 6 7 8 9
Pumpkin 7 8 9 10 11 12
Zucchini 6 7 8 9
Wax gourd 7 8 9 10
Eggplant 7 8 9
Bitter melon 7 8 9


Leaf and stem vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Cauliflower 1 2 3 11 12
Arrowhead tuber 1 2 11 12
Shiso (perilla / Japanese basil) 6 7 8 9
Crown Daisy 1 2 3 11 12
Bok choy 9 10 11 12
Indian spinach 6 7 8 9 10
Green Onion 1 2 11 12
Nozawana (pickled turnip greens) 1 2 11 12
Napa cabbage 1 2 11 12
Broccoli 1 2 3 11 12
Spinach 1 2 11 12
Myoga (Japanese ginger) 6 7 8 9 10
Arugula 4 5 6 10 11 12
Lettuce 4 5 6 7 8 11 12


Root vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Turnips 3 4 5 10 11
Burdock 1 2 4 5 11 12
Potatoes 5 6 10 11
Sweet potatoes 9 10 11 12
Taro 8 9 10 11 12
Radish 1 2 11 12
Chinese yam 1 4 5 11 12
Carrots 10 11 12
Renkon (Lotus root) 1 2 11 12
Bulbil 10 11
Lily Root 1 2 3 11 12


Fruits

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fig 7 8 9 10
Kaki (Japanese persimmon) 10 11
Kabosu (type of citrus fruit) 8 9 10
Chinese quince 10 11
Chestnut 9 10
Shekwasha 1 8 9 12
Sudachi (Japanese citrus fruit) 8 9 10
Pear 8 9
Grape 7 8 9
Mandarin orange 1 11 12
Yuzu 7 8 10 11 12
Apple 10 11 12
Ginkgo nut 10 11


Beans

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Ginkgo nut 10 11


Mashroom

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Enoki mushroom 10 11
Shiitake mushroom 3 4 5 9 10 11
Shimeji mushrooms 9 10
Nameko mushroom 10 11
Maitake mushroom 9 10
Matsutake mushroom 9 10


Winter


Fruit Vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Pumpkin 7 8 9 10 11 12


Leaf and stem vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Mustard greens 2 3
Cauliflower 1 2 3 11 12
Cabbage 1 2 3 4 5 6 12
Mizuna (Potherb mustard) 1 2 3 12
Komatsuna (Japanese mastered spinach) 1 2 12
Crown Daisy 1 2 3 12
Seri (Japanese Parsley) 1 2 3 4 12
Celery 1 2 3 4 12
Bok choy 9 10 11 12
Green Onion 1 2 11 12
Field mustard 1 2 3
Nozawana (pickled turnip greens) 1 2 11 12
Napa cabbage 1 2 11 12
Broccoli 1 2 3 11 12
Spinach 1 2 11 12
Brussels sprouts 1 12
Arugula 4 5 6 10 11 12
Lettuce 4 5 6 7 8 11 12


Root vegetables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Burdock 1 2 4 5 11 12
Arrowhead tuber 1 2 11 12
Sweet potatoes 9 10 11 12
Taro 8 9 10 11 12
Radish 1 2 11 12
Chinese yam 1 4 5 11 12
Carrots 10 11 12
Renkon (Lotus root) 1 2 11 12
Lily Root 1 2 3 11 12


Mountain Vegitables

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Japanese butterbur scape 2 3
Bracken 2 3 4


Fruits

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Iyokan (Japanese orange) 1 2
Orange 1 2 3
Shekwasha 1 8 9 12
Dekopon 2 3 4
Hassaku (Japanese orange) 2 3
Mandarin orange 1 11 12
Yuzu 7 8 10 11 12
Apple 10 11 12
Lemon 1 12 


Reference:
(1) Takahiro Hori, 旬の野菜の選択による環境配慮効果と主要野菜の消費実態

Seasonal food lists Reference: 
旬の食材カレンダー

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