It is said that the morning market in Katsuura, Chiba Prefecture, one of the three major morning markets in Japan, was established in 1591 by Yasutada Uemura Tosanokami, who was a lord of Katsuura Castle and related to the Shogun of Japan, Ieyasu Tokugawa, to encourage local agriculture and fishery and as a place to exchange agricultural and marine products for the residents.
Back then, the morning market was held in any weather condition throughout the year. And the market moved from one location to another in the three towns of the city every 10 days, with many goods being carried on Backpack panniers, large hand-drawn carts, and Cow carriages. With its development, the morning market in Katsuura was even said to be “Katsuura Sancho Edo Masari(Superior to that of Edo)”.
With such a history, the morning market in Katsuura is now held on the street of Shimo-honcho Asaichi-dori from the 1st to the 15th of each month and on the street of Nakamoto-cho Dori from the 16th to the end of the month closed every Wednesday and New Year’s Day.
With many vendors, including local farmers, fishmongers, and merchants, the market seems to be more crowded on weekends and holidays than on weekdays.
日本三大朝市の一つと言われる千葉県勝浦の朝市が始まったのは1591年(天正19年)、当時の勝浦城主にして徳川家康に所縁のあった植村土佐守泰忠（うえむら とさのかみ やすただ）が地元の農業と漁業の奨励とともに、農水産物の交換の場として開設したものと伝えられています。
当時は1年中いかなる天候でも朝市が開かれ、10日を区切りとして市内3町で場所を移動し、出店のために背負い篭、大八車、牛車を使い、多くの品物を運んでいたそうです。そしてその発展と共に勝浦の朝市の様子は「勝浦３町江戸勝り」とまで言われました。
そのような歴史のある勝浦の朝市は現在、毎月1日～15日は下本町朝市通り、16日～月末は仲本町通りで開催され、定休日は毎週水曜日と元日、地元の農家、魚屋や商店など多くの出店者により、平日よりも土日祝日が賑わうようです。
Katsuura City Tourism Association/勝浦市観光協会
https://www.katsuura-kankou.net/asaichitop/
Vendors for the market/朝市出店者一覧
https://www.katsuura-kankou.net/asaichitop/tenants/
Music: 魔王魂