Dec 29, 2025

Growing Mushrooms

Here's for a weird hobby. I just saw a video by an American Youtuber that I plan to watch about growing shiitake mushrooms. From what I've seen, it probably needs a bit of space. There was a local market in Fukuoka Prefecture that had a "mushroom room" where they grew and sold mushrooms like maitake and eringi. I also saw a video of a couple in Paris that built a mushroom growing shower room! The local hardware store sells "seeded" logs and shiitake mushroom growing kits. I have seen the logs around people's homes on occasion. It seems like a very odd, but sustainable hobby. Has anyone tried it, or is anyone interested to try this? I wonder how involved or beginner friendly it is.

1 8

helloalissa

Kanji and design nerd.

8 Answers

Best Answer

BigfamJapan

on Jan 1

You know, I actually thought about growing mushrooms before, because my husband eats them daily and they seem like a fairly easy to grow vegetable, even for someone like me who historically doesn't have a good record when it comes to growing vegetables! Thanks to you, I am going to give this some thought again.

0

genkidesu

on Dec 30

My dream (eventually) would be to have a house with a big enough yard to grow a bunch of fruits, veggies, herbs, and the like, so growing mushrooms sounds appealing to me! I haven't tried mushrooms yet, but when we lived in Tokyo before Niigata we had a small yard area. I managed to grow cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and some herbs. I like the sustainability element of the mushrooms growing on logs, you've inspired me to research it a bit more!

0
TonetoEdo

on Jan 9

I'd love to try this on my veranda, but I'm afraid it's too hot as it's south-facing. Some sources I see say you can grow mushrooms indoors, but sensitivity to spores can be an issue. Hm, I'm going to research this a bit more...

0
helloalissa

on Jan 29

@BigfamJapan I wonder how many logs you'd need to be able to harvest mushrooms daily...hmm. It seems like it takes months for them to get started too. Let us know if you do try it out!

0
BigfamJapan

on Apr 14

Did you try Alissa? I haven't yet.

0
genkidesu

on Apr 15

Would love to hear if you had any luck as well!

0
TonetoEdo

on Apr 25

@helloalissa Did you take a crack at growing them?

0
helloalissa

on Oct 8

It seems this Q&A was abandoned, sorry. I haven't tried growing mushrooms at home because we're renting and I don't think we have a good space for it. I did recently hear about some aquaintances collecting wild shiitake and would love to have some Japanese elders who could teach me how to safely do that. (Along with other traditional cultural things here in Japan!) Do blog about it if any of you try this out - either a log at home or wild collecting.

0

Awaiting More Answers

7 Answers

Do you have a very good breakfast!?

Today is "Very Good Breakfast Day" in Japan. Do you eat breakfast every day? Japanese or Western? The day also encourages families to eat together, which unfortunately just isn't practical in my home due to all 6 of us having very different schedules. Do you get to eat breakfast with someone or do you eat alone?

BigfamJapan

on Oct 11

5 Answers

What Traditional Japanese Culture Would You Like to Learn?

I'd love to be part of a club where I could learn some traditional plant growing, harvesting, and cooking. Learning Japanese calligraphy (shodo) and previously flower arranging (Ikebana) is great too. I've always thought it would be awesome to learn bamboo crafts, more than a short experience making a small already prepared basket. I'm wondering what you'd be interested to learn that is in danger of disappearing if young people (including foreign residents) don't learn it. There are small local efforts to teach students how to grow and harvest rice for a seasonal example. It's a tiny experience that could influence the future supply of an important staple food. I've never had the chance but that would be great and potentially helpful to local farmers.

helloalissa

on Oct 8

4 Answers

The Big Light, yea or nay?

I love Gavin Noone's Big Light Protocol, complete with restitution. Do you use the big overhead lights in your rooms? When do you use it? Personally, it only goes on for spills and lost items. Hate the thing.

TonetoEdo

on Oct 4

9 Answers

Favorite Japanese artists, past or present

With Yayoi Kusama's passing being covered in the media today, I wanted to know about your favorite Japanese artists, past or present. Obviously Kusama is one of mine, but I always like hearing about other artists that I haven't been introduced to before.

genkidesu

on Aug 27

10 Answers

What do you most associate with Shizuoka?

Today, is also Shizuoka Citizen's Day, so - the same as Fukushima - what first comes to mind / do you most associate with Shizuoka Prefecture?

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

10 Answers

Car Essentials for a Road Trip?

I feel like this may have been asked before, but I can't find it through a search. Or maybe I thought of asking it and never did! Either way, tell us what things you like to have in your car when you are going on a road trip?

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

6 Answers

What do you MOST associate with Fukushima Prefecture?

Given that today is Fukushima Prefecture Citizen's Day; what is the FIRST thing that comes to mind when you hear Fukushima? And / or what do you most associate with the prefecture?

BigfamJapan

on Aug 21

5 Answers

Summer Festival Changes - Yay or Nay?

Earlier I wrote about how my neighborhood's "summer" festival has been moved to autumn. I also wrote a separate post about a summer festival in Kasukabe that has been moved indoors. I know there is a bittersweetness about these changes, but some would argue that something needs to change in the face of rising temperatures. So, I am curious, what would you vote for: 1) Leaving Summer Festivals exactly as they are - same date, same set up etc. 2) Shifting the time of day the festival is on, say for example, from afternoon until after dark 3) Moving the festival from summer to another season or at least to earlier in summer, such as June 4) Moving summer festivals indoors - not really possible for the larger festivals especially those with large floats etc. but maybe they could shift some elements indoors

BigfamJapan

on Aug 3

7 Answers

Which movie will you see this summer?

I am not a movie-goer at all, but every year I bring the kids to see a film (and they often go with their friends too) during the summer holidays. There seems to be a good choice this year, including Toy Story 5, the Chiikawa movie, the real live action adaption of Moana and the usual annual Crayon Shinchan movie among others. Which movie are you planning to see this summer? Or have you already been to see one (or more)? If so, which one?

BigfamJapan

on Jul 30

5 Answers

What are our consumer rights in Japan?

Do you know your consumer rights in Japan? And if so, would you be willing to share anything about them? For example, what is the policy on returns? I am very familiar with my consumer rights in my home country, and they are very widely publicized back home, but information doesn't seem to be as transparent or readily available here. Or is that just me?

BigfamJapan

on Mar 15

18 Answers

What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture?

Today, February 20th, is Ehime Prefecture Day. What do you most associate with Ehime Prefecture, what is the very first thing that comes to mind when I say "Ehime Prefecture"!?

BigfamJapan

on Feb 20

8 Answers

Do you have a favorite mascot?

The other day, on "Strawberry Day" I wrote about "Yoshimin", the strawberry mascot of Yoshimi. I thought it might be fun to introduce a few others, so I've just written about "Tokimo" the mascot of Kawagoe. And I plan to introduce a couple of my favorites. It begs the question, do you have a favorite mascot? And how about writing a post on City-cost about your favorite or a local mascot? Pictured "Umerin" who I plan to write about next!

BigfamJapan

on Jan 17

Growing Mushrooms

8 Answers

Best Answer

Awaiting More Answers

Share Your Experience