Anzu no Sato Farmers’ Market

Anzu no Sato is a farmers’ market selling local fruits and vegetables, fresh fish, and other products such as sauces, pickles, snacks, and boxed lunches. Fukutsu has a warm climate with frost-free winters, making it an ideal location for cultivating flowers and produce year-round. Products are displayed at the market with photos and messages from the local growers, makers, and fishermen.

Local crafts and souvenirs are also sold in the market, and sightseeing pamphlets for tourists are displayed in this area. A restaurant and a community center are connected to the market. Visitors can take part in cooking classes and craft workshops at the community center.

Anzu no Sato is named after the apricot (anzu) orchard that spreads across the hills above the market. Steps lead from the parking lot through the orchard to Anzu no Sato Park at the top of the hill. The large park has views over the Genkai Sea. There are 2,500 apricot trees in the orchard. Visitors can enjoy apricot blossoms and cherry blossoms in spring. In summer, the market sells fresh apricots and apricot jam.

The market started in 1994, when a group of farmers’ wives gathered at a spot on the highway to sell their farm produce from the backs of pickup trucks. Two years later, it developed into a permanent market, selling local produce and products.