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RooftopActiveSince 2010

Umeda Honeybee Project

Osaka, Japan · Operator: NPO法人 梅田ミツバチプロジェクト (Umeda Honeybee Project NPO)

Overview

Launched Osaka's first urban beekeeping on the rooftop of the Yanmar Building in Umeda's Chayamachi district in March 2010. Rather than honey itself, its aim is promoting local greening through bee pollination and providing food and environmental education. It has expanded with an experience-based apiary in Hattori Ryokuchi park.

Citizen participation

Runs honey-harvest experiences, lectures, and workshops for citizens at its rooftop apiaries. Partners with companies such as Yanmar, the Osaka prefectural greening program, and Shitennoji temple, giving residents hands-on ways to connect with urban nature through beekeeping.

Operating model

NPO-run. The rooftop space is provided free by Yanmar; activities are funded through honey sales, workshops and experience programs, corporate partnerships and sponsorship, and crowdfunding.

Impact

Raised public interest in urban greening and biodiversity and became a pioneer of urban beekeeping in Osaka and a member of Japan's nationwide urban-beekeeping network, using several hundred kilograms of honey per year as a local resource.

Crops

  • honey
  • herbs (nectar sources)

Scale

Rooftop apiary on the Yanmar Building in Chayamachi, Umeda; up to 200,000+ bees at peak, ~300-400 kg of honey harvested per year across multiple apiary sites

Sources(2)

Related cases

Umeda Honeybee Project — Urban Farm DB