Yamanashi · Kawaguchiko · Market
Aozora Ichiba — literally the “blue-sky market” — is a covered open-air greengrocer on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchi, where fruit and vegetables sell at bargain prices: on our visit a whole pineapple was ¥106 and a bag of roughly 15 kiwis was about ¥500. It trades 10:30–17:00 at Kawaguchi on the lake’s north shore, and the honest trade-off is simple — the quality tracks the price.
I’m Nobu, and I’ll always point budget travellers toward a market like this. Aozora Ichiba (the “super-cheap” sign out front is not shy about it) is a shed full of crates — strawberries, mandarins, cabbages, tomatoes, corn — priced to move. It is not a polished farm-stand of hand-picked premium produce; it’s a stack-it-high discount market, and if you know that going in, it’s brilliant for self-catering a few days by the lake. Here’s what to expect, what we came home with, and how to use it on a Fuji trip.
A blue-sky market on Fuji’s north shore
The market sits on the north side of Lake Kawaguchi, in the Kawaguchi district, under a long covered roof rather than the open sky the name suggests. Inside it’s all crates and hand-lettered signs: fruit stacked at the front, vegetables filling the aisle, and prices that make you check the tag twice. In season you’ll see Yamanashi’s own grapes and peaches; otherwise it’s a broad, cheap mix of everyday produce.
What we came home with
We were buying to eat ourselves, so we loaded up. Strawberries, mandarins, a napa cabbage, tomatoes, carrots and peppers went in the basket, and the two things that stuck with me were the near-giveaway prices on some fruit and the corn — genuinely sweet, the kind you can eat almost as-is. Market prices move day to day, so treat these as what we happened to see, not a fixed rate card.
| What we bought | On our visit |
|---|---|
| Pineapple (whole) | ¥106 each |
| Kiwifruit | ~15 in a bag for about ¥500 |
| Corn | Very sweet — the surprise of the haul |
| Strawberries, mandarins, tomatoes | All at bargain prices |
| Napa cabbage, carrots, peppers | Everyday veg, stacked cheap |
Prices observed on our visit; fresh-market prices fluctuate daily and seasonally.
The honest catch: you get what you pay for
I’d rather tell you straight: the low prices come with a trade-off, and the quality tracks the cost. For eating yourself or feeding a family over a few days, it’s completely fine and often a bargain — the corn proved that. But this isn’t the place for flawless, gift-grade fruit to hand to someone; for that, a proper roadside station or a premium fruit shop is the better call. Come with the right expectation and you’ll leave happy and a little smug about the receipt.
How to shop it. Come by car (it’s a north-shore drive, not a walk from the station), and buy for the next day or two rather than the week — this is fast-moving fresh produce, best eaten soon. Cash is the safe bet at a market like this.
Using it on a Fuji trip
The market earns its place if you’ve booked a room with a kitchen or a fridge around the Fuji Five Lakes. A bag of fruit and some sweet corn turns a lakeside evening into a cheap, easy picnic, and it pairs naturally with the low-key north-shore sights rather than the busier lakeside spots. If you’d rather browse a more polished local market, the Tabi-no-Eki Kawaguchiko Base on the same shore leans premium; Aozora Ichiba is the budget end of the same idea.
Bases around Lake Kawaguchi
Tabi-no-Eki Kawaguchiko Base
The polished “travel station” market and restaurant on the same north shore — the premium counterpoint.
Ōishi Park
The north-shore park with lavender and seasonal flowers framing Mt Fuji across the water.
Pandian
A wood-fired, natural-yeast bakery across the lake on the south shore — hard Jomon-style loaves and soft koji buns.
Mt Fuji travel hub
How the lakes, viewpoints, transport and seasons around the mountain fit together.
Visitor tip: pair the market with the quieter north-shore loop — Ōishi Park’s flower beds and the lake views — and keep the fruit for a picnic when the mountain finally clears. On a bright day, Kawaguchi’s north side gives you Fuji across the water, away from the busiest spots.
What is Aozora Ichiba?
It’s a covered open-air discount greengrocer (“blue-sky market”) on the north shore of Lake Kawaguchi, in the Kawaguchi district of Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi. It sells fruit and vegetables — local grapes and peaches in season, plus a broad, cheap mix of everyday produce — at prices well below the cities.
How cheap is it, really?
Very. On our visit a whole pineapple was ¥106 and about 15 kiwis went for roughly ¥500, with strawberries, mandarins, tomatoes and vegetables all stacked cheap. Market prices change day to day, so those are examples rather than fixed rates — but the general level is genuinely low.
Is the quality good?
It’s proportional to the price. For eating yourself or feeding a family over a few days it’s fine and often a bargain — the corn was excellent. It’s not the place for flawless, gift-grade fruit; for that, a roadside station or a premium fruit shop is a better choice.
What are the hours, and how do I get there?
It trades 10:30–17:00 at Kawaguchi 3131-2 on the lake’s north shore. It’s easiest to reach by car rather than on foot from the station. Cash is the safe bet at a market like this.
Is it worth a stop for tourists?
Mainly if you’re self-catering or love a cheap market. If you’ve got a kitchen or fridge at your Fuji Five Lakes base, a haul of fruit and sweet corn makes an easy, cut-price picnic. If you only want a polished browse, the nearby Tabi-no-Eki Kawaguchiko Base is the premium alternative.
Join 1,000+ travelers discovering Japan's hidden side
Weekly dispatches from off-the-beaten-path Japan — spots and stories you won't find in guidebooks.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Welcome aboard!
You're in. See you in your inbox soon.
