Japan B2B Food Provisioning — Seasonal Procurement Window v2
Purpose: B2B procurement decision reference with precise month + origin + Toyosu wholesale average price
1. Hokkaido Sea Urchin (Uni) Procurement Window
| Variety | Optimal Procurement Months | Main Production Area | Toyosu Average Wholesale Price (¥/kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse粪Uni (Bafun Uni) | March-April | Rebun Island, Rishiri Island | ¥22,000–¥30,000 | Yellow-orange, rich sweet flavor |
| Purple Uni (Murasaki Uni) | June-August | Shakotan Peninsula | ¥8,000–¥14,000 | White board additive-free, highest grade |
| Ezo Horse粪Uni | July-August | Nemuro, Monbetsu | ¥18,000–¥25,000 | Fed Rishiri kelp, premium quality |
| Northern Purple Uni (Kita Murasaki Uni) | September-November | Iwate Sanriku, Miyagi | ¥6,000–¥10,000 | Autumn alternative |
Toyosu Spot Reference: February 2025 domestic white Uni high-end at ¥226,800/250g per board (approx. ¥907,200/kg retail premium), wholesale auction average approx. ¥21,982/kg (2023 average).
2. Matsubayashi Crab (Matsubakani / Zuwaigani) Procurement Window
| Indicator | Data |
|---|---|
| Season Opening Date | November 6 annually (unified for San'in region) |
| Fishing Season | Early November – mid-March of following year |
| Main Production Areas | Sakaiminato (Tottori), Shimane, Tajima (Hyogo), Tango (Kyoto) |
| Toyosu Wholesale Price | ¥6,000–¥12,000/kg (varies significantly by quality grade) |
| Best B2B Procurement Period | Late November – January (stable quality, ample supply) |
| Closed Season | March 21 – November 5 |
3. Tiger Pufferfish (Torafugu) Procurement Window
| Indicator | Data |
|---|---|
| Best Consumption Season | December – February (Peak Winter Fat Content) |
| Fishing Season | Late September – Late March |
| Main Production Areas | Shimonoseki (Yamaguchi), Nagasaki, Ehime |
| Toyosu Wholesale Price | ¥8,000–¥20,000/kg (Highest for Live Fish) |
| Optimal B2B Procurement Window | November – January (Peak Pre-New Year Stocking Period) |
| Remarks | Handling Requires Licensed Certification (Fugu Chef License) |
4. Matsutake ( Matsutake) Procurement Window
| Indicator | Data |
|---|---|
| Harvest Season | Mid-September – Late October (Brief) |
| Peak Shipping Period | October (National Average) |
| Primary Production Area | Nagano Prefecture (65% of domestic production, 42.5 tons in 2016), Iwate Prefecture Iwaimizu Town |
| Secondary Production Area | Kyoto Prefecture Tanba, Okayama Prefecture |
| Tokyo Metropolitan Central Fish Market Wholesale Price (Domestic) | ¥50,000–¥200,000/kg (Highly Variable by Grade) |
| Imported Matsutake Average Price | ¥3,000–¥8,000/kg (South Korea/China/Canada) |
| B2B Procurement Best Window | Week 3 of September – Week 2 of October |
| Remarks | Matsutake huts open in Nagano Prefecture Ueda City late September; small quantities available from July in earlier years |
5. B2B Procurement Calendar Overview
| Month | Seasonal Ingredients | Procurement Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Feb | Tiger Pufferfish (Peak), Crab (Consistent) | New Year Stocking, Peak Fat in Cold Season |
| Mar–Apr | Bafun Sea Urchin (Prime) | Spring Launch, Early Access |
| May–Aug | Purple Sea Urchin (Jun–Aug) | Summer Mainstay |
| Sep–Oct | Matsutake, Northern Purple Sea Urchin, Tiger Pufferfish Season Opens | Multiple Varieties in Season |
| Nov–Dec | Snow Crab Season Opens (Nov 6), Tiger Pufferfish Peak | Year-End Peak Season Full Stocking |
Data source as of 2026-05-10. Wholesale average prices are reference ranges; actual transactions are based on daily Toyosu auction prices.
Data Sources / Related Verification
This document is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (JP_datatable_B2B食材供應_v2.md), referencing JP district public official materials and industry documents. For verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Hokkaido sea urchin the cheapest?
Purple sea urchin (June–August) and northern purple sea urchin (September–November) are the cheapest, with wholesale prices of ¥8,000–¥14,000/kg and ¥6,000–¥10,000/kg respectively. Horse dung sea urchin (March–April) is the most expensive, reaching ¥22,000–¥30,000/kg.
When does Matsutake crab start being supplied?
The fishing ban lifts on November 6th each year, and the season runs until mid-March of the following year. The optimal B2B procurement window is late November through January, when quality is stable and supply is abundant.
Does selling tiger puffer fish require special qualifications?
Yes, handling tiger puffer fish requires a license (fugu cooking license). The optimal procurement period is November through January, when the fish has rich fat content and stable pricing.
What is the price difference between imported and domestic matsutake?
Domestic matsutake wholesale prices range from ¥50,000–¥200,000/kg, while imported matsutake (from Korea/China/Canada) costs only ¥3,000–¥8,000/kg—a price difference of over six times.
How long is the matsutake procurement season?
The harvest season is very short, lasting only from mid-September to late October. The optimal procurement window is the third week of September through the second week of October, with supply highly limited by seasonal factors.
