Most mornings, Kashiwa Public Market (柏市公設市場) is a place for chefs, greengrocers and florists to buy their stock. On Saturday, October 24, 2026, Kashiwa City opens it to the general public for a few hours, and entry is free. You can buy fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, flowers and groceries straight from the market stalls.
This round is called Kashiwa Market Open Day: Autumn Seasonal Tour (柏市場一般開放デー～秋の旬めぐり～), and it is the first one with activities aimed at families. Here is what is on, how the stamp rally works, and how to get there without a car.
Event at a glance
| Event | Kashiwa Market Open Day: Autumn Seasonal Tour |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 24, 2026 |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Fruit, vegetable and flower sales start at 9:00 a.m. |
| Admission | Free |
| Venue | Kashiwa Public Market 69-1 Wakashiba, Kashiwa, Chiba |
| Nearest station | Kashiwanoha-campus Station (TX), East Exit, 10 min walk |
| Organizer | Kashiwa City |
| Contact | Kashiwa Public Market Management Office 04-7131-2620 |
New this year: crab fishing and a fish touch session
The big change this time is a set of activities for children, held for the first time. Both take place in the seafood building:
- Crab fishing (さわがに釣り): kids try to catch small freshwater crabs from a tank.
- Fish touch and photo session (お魚タッチ＆撮影会): children can touch real fish and have their picture taken.
Over in the food-shop building, there will be street performers too, which helps if younger kids get restless while you shop.
Chiba brand seafood: tastings and where to buy
Chiba Prefecture certifies certain local catches as Chiba brand seafood (千葉ブランド水産物). At the open day you can meet them three ways:
- Tasting and promotion booth run by the Chiba Prefecture Fisheries Division.
- For sale at wholesale stalls in the seafood building. Planned items include Choshi Tsuri Kinme (銚子つりきんめ), a line-caught splendid alfonsino from Choshi, and Edomae Funabashi Shunjime Suzuki (江戸前船橋瞬〆すずき), a quickly bled sea bass from Funabashi.
- Limited menus using Chiba brand seafood at the restaurants inside the market.
How the stamp rally works
Collect three stamps and you can enter a prize draw. The prizes are picked by the market’s own experienced buyers.
| Where | How to get the stamp |
|---|---|
| Seafood building | Spend ¥1,000 or more |
| Related food building | Spend ¥1,000 or more |
| Chiba Prefecture Fisheries Division booth | Free, just visit |
One stamp is free, so in practice it comes down to two purchases. If you were already planning to buy fish and some groceries, you will likely qualify without changing your shopping list.
Produce, flowers and the food hall
Fruit and vegetables: the produce booth has special sales of seasonal fruit and vegetables. The popular stuff-a-bag deal (詰め放題) for onions and potatoes is back, where you pack as much as fits into a bag. Produce sales start at 9:00 a.m.
Flowers: potted plants and cut flowers in autumn colors, plus bedding plants for the garden such as garden cyclamen. Flower sales also start at 9:00 a.m.
Related food building: a wide range of meat, nori seaweed, tea, seasonings, snacks and household goods.
Getting there and parking
- Train: Tsukuba Express to Kashiwanoha-campus Station, East Exit, then about 10 minutes on foot.
- Bus: Tobu Bus to Kashiwa Oroshiuri Shijo-mae (柏卸売市場前), 2 minutes on foot, or Wakashiba (若柴), 6 minutes on foot.
Tips for the morning
- Split the timing. Seafood and the food hall open at 8:30, while produce and flowers wait until 9:00. Start with fish, then head to the produce booth for the stuff-a-bag deal.
- Bring a cooler bag. If you plan to buy fresh fish, keeping it cold on the way home is worth the effort.
- Plan your stamp purchases. Two ¥1,000 purchases in two different buildings, plus the free booth visit, get you into the draw.
- Check payment options on the official page. The announcement does not list which payment methods each stall accepts. If you are still sorting out cards in Japan, our guide to credit cards for foreigners in Japan covers where to start.
Looking for more autumn outings? See our Musashino Art University Festival guide, and if you are planning paid family days out, the Asoview campaign with up to ¥3,000 off is worth a look.
Rules on the day
- The whole market is non-smoking.
- Pets are not allowed.
- Watch out for working vehicles such as forklifts and turret trucks moving around the market.
- The market does not accept responsibility for accidents or theft on the premises, so keep an eye on children and belongings.
FAQ
- Is admission free?
- Yes. Admission is free. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
- When do produce and flower sales start?
- Fruit, vegetable and flower sales start at 9:00 a.m. Some shops may close early if they sell out.
- Can I drive to the market?
- Parking is limited, so visitors are asked to come by public transport, bicycle or on foot. On the day, vehicles can enter through the main gate only. Do not park at nearby shopping facilities.
- Can I bring my dog?
- No. Pets are not allowed inside the market.
- How do I enter the prize draw?
- Collect three stamps: one for spending ¥1,000 or more in the seafood building, one for spending ¥1,000 or more in the related food building, and a free one for visiting the Chiba Prefecture Fisheries Division booth.
- Will the Chiba brand fish definitely be on sale?
- Not guaranteed. Depending on the weather and sea conditions, some items may not arrive.