Urban Farm DB
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RooftopActiveSince 2016

Nihonbashi Honey Bee Club

Tokyo, Japan · Operator: 三越伊勢丹(日本橋三越本店)

Overview

Urban beekeeping launched March 2016 on the rooftop of Mitsukoshi's Nihonbashi flagship — a clear example of a for-profit (department store) using city ecology and local food culture for its own branding.

Citizen participation

A department-store-led urban beekeeping project; the 'Nihonbashi honey' it produces is sold at the L'ABEILLE shop and used in collaborations with confectioners.

Operating model

Department-store local branding/CSR, using in-house honey sales and product development to promote the district.

Impact

In its 8th honey season by 2023, linking urban beekeeping to department-store placemaking and product development.

Land tenure

Owned

Uses the rooftop of the company's own department-store building.

Crops

  • honey

Scale

日本橋三越本店 新館屋上に巣箱8箱。

Sources(2)

Related cases

Nihonbashi Honey Bee Club — Urban Farm DB