Cabbage

キャベツ

An essential vegetable in Japanese cooking, available year-round. In 2023, Gunma led national production at 282,900 tons with Aichi second at 272,700 tons. Gunma specializes in summer-autumn cabbage while Aichi handles winter-spring supply. Widely used as a side for tonkatsu, in okonomiyaki, and more. Spring cabbage is tender and sweet, great for eating raw

Taste & Texture

Sweet flavor with a pleasant texture. Spring cabbage is especially tender and sweet. Winter cabbage has firm leaves with a crisp bite

Season

MONTHLY AVAILABILITY

Mar - May

PEAK

※ Season is based on domestic field-grown availability

How to Choose

  • Choose cabbages that feel heavy and tightly packed.

  • The outer leaves should be vibrant green and the cut stem white and moist.

  • For spring cabbage, loose leaves are normal.

How to Store

  • Remove the core, fill the cavity with a damp paper towel, wrap in plastic, and store in the refrigerator vegetable compartment.

  • Use cut cabbage promptly, wrapped tightly.

Shelf life 2-3 weeks refrigerated (whole), 3-4 days when cut

Nutrition Facts

Wholesale Market Data

MARKET INSIGHTS

CHEAPEST Dec ¥79/kg
BUSIEST May 61,139t
Volume (t)
In season
Price (yen/kg)

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

Retail Price

Price Trend

Cheapest Sep ¥153/1kg
Most Expensive Apr ¥275/1kg

Annual Average

¥201/1kg

Source: Statistics Bureau Retail Price Survey (2026)

Production Ranking

100% Domestic
Gunma20.3%
Aichi19.6%
Chiba8.3%
Ibaraki7.3%
Kagoshima5.2%
Others39.2%
10%+
5%+
2%+
0.1%+
None

Map data: National Land Numerical Information (MLIT Japan)

#
Prefecture
Harvest (t)
Share
1
282,900
20.3%
2
272,700
19.6%
3
116,000
8.3%
4
101,600
7.3%
5
72,900
5.2%

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics / Agricultural Census (2023)

Top 5 Prefecture Harvest Trends (2018-2023)

Gunma
Aichi
Chiba
Ibaraki
Kagoshima

Consumption Ranking

National Average (annual spending per household)

¥3,240 /year
#
City
Annual Spending
1
Miyazaki Miyazaki
¥4,206
2
Matsue Shimane
¥3,919
3
Kochi Kochi
¥3,818
4
Kagoshima Kagoshima
¥3,731
5
Okayama Okayama
¥3,715

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