Ginza Celebrates Two Decades of Beekeeping in Urban Tokyo

Tokyo's Ginza district celebrates the 20th anniversary of its urban beekeeping initiative, which has seen honey production rise dramatically from 150 kilograms to 2.8 tons. This project aims to create a balance between urban life and nature and has inspired similar efforts across Japan. A project member expressed hope that it encourages reflection on urban environments. In March 2006, volunteers established three hives on the roof of an 11-story building, and now approximately 50 hives are located on rooftops in Ginza and the adjacent Otemachi area, home to around 500,000 to 600,000 bees. Honey is harvested from April to July, with 2.8 tons collected last year, some of which is sold online and utilized in local stores and restaurants.