Burdock Root

ごぼう

Eating burdock root as a regular vegetable is a uniquely Japanese food culture, rare worldwide. Aomori Prefecture accounts for about 40% of national production. A root vegetable rich in dietary fiber (inulin), featured in kinpira gobo, tonjiru pork soup, and mixed rice dishes

Taste & Texture

Characterized by a distinctive earthy aroma, slight bitterness, and crisp texture. Rich in dietary fiber; soaking in water removes harshness. Long-simmered burdock develops a mellow sweetness

Season

MONTHLY AVAILABILITY

Jan - Dec

PEAK

※ Season is based on domestic field-grown availability

How to Choose

  • Choose burdock with uniform thickness and no cracks or blemishes.

  • Oversized roots may be hollow inside.

  • Mud-covered roots stay fresh longer.

  • Select firm, heavy roots that do not bend.

How to Store

  • Store unwashed mud-covered burdock wrapped in newspaper in a cool dark place or the refrigerator vegetable compartment.

  • Washed burdock should be wrapped and refrigerated.

  • After soaking to remove harshness, keep submerged in water and use the same day.

  • For freezing, dry after soaking.

Shelf life Mud-on refrigerated: 2-3 weeks; washed: 4-5 days; frozen: 1 month

Nutrition Facts

Wholesale Market Data

MARKET INSIGHTS

CHEAPEST Nov ¥175/kg
BUSIEST Oct 8,636t
Volume (t)
In season
Price (yen/kg)

Source: MAFF Wholesale Market Survey for Fresh Produce (2023)

Retail Price

Price Trend

Cheapest Jan ¥1,069/1kg
Most Expensive Jun ¥1,193/1kg

Annual Average

¥1,120/1kg

Source: Statistics Bureau Retail Price Survey (2026)

Production Ranking

97.3% Domestic
Aomori48.4%
Ibaraki10.9%
Hokkaido9.8%
Miyazaki8.3%
Kagoshima6.4%
Others16.3%
10%+
5%+
2%+
0.1%+
None

Map data: National Land Numerical Information (MLIT Japan)

#
Prefecture
Harvest (t)
Share
1
49,600
48.4%
2
11,200
10.9%
3
10,000
9.8%
4
8,480
8.3%
5
6,550
6.4%

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics / Agricultural Census (2023)

Top 5 Prefecture Harvest Trends (2018-2023)

Aomori
Ibaraki
Hokkaido
Miyazaki
Kagoshima

Consumption Ranking

National Average (annual spending per household)

¥993 /year
#
City
Annual Spending
1
Akita Akita
¥1,314
2
Saga Saga
¥1,253
3
Fukuoka Fukuoka
¥1,225
4
Nagasaki Nagasaki
¥1,220
5
Matsuyama Ehime
¥1,205

Source: Statistics Bureau Family Income and Expenditure Survey (2024, two-or-more-person households, prefectural capital cities)