The Farm Universal
| Garden center chain | |
| ISIN | 🆔 |
| Industry | Retail (Horticulture), Leisure |
| Founded 📆 | April 2015 (rebranding of Osaka location) |
| Founder 👔 | |
Area served 🗺️ | Japan |
Key people | Takumi Morisaka (森坂拓実) (Chairman) |
| Members | |
Number of employees | |
| Parent | Universal Engeisha Co., Ltd. (株式会社ユニバーサル園芸社) |
| 🌐 Website | the-farm |
| 📇 Address | |
| 📞 telephone | |
The Farm Universal (Japanese: ザ・ファーム・ユニバーサル) is a Japanese chain of large-scale garden centers and "plant entertainment" complexes operated by Universal Engeisha Co., Ltd. (株式会社ユニバーサル園芸社). The brand distinguishes itself from traditional nurseries by incorporating leisure elements such as cafes, children's playgrounds, and animal interaction zones, marketing itself as a "plant paradise" for all ages.[1]
The flagship location is in Ibaraki, Osaka (大阪府茨木市), with additional major branches in Chiba Prefecture (千葉県) and Tokyo (東京都).
History
The parent company, Universal Engeisha Co., Ltd., was founded in 1968 as "Universe Engei" (ユニバース園芸) by Takumi Morisaka (森坂拓実) and formally incorporated in 1974.[2] The company initially focused on rental greenery and landscaping.
In April 2015, the company renovated the garden center at its Osaka headquarters in Ibaraki, Osaka (大阪府茨木市), rebranding it as the Farm UNIVERSAL.[2] This marked a shift towards a consumer-facing "theme park" retail model. Following the success of the Osaka location, a second large-scale branch was opened in Chiba City (千葉市) in March 2016 within the Frespo Inage (フレスポ稲毛) shopping center.[3]
The brand has since expanded into the Tokyo metropolitan area, opening a location at Grandberry Park (グランベリーパーク) in Minamimachida (南町田) and a smaller urban shop inside Ginza Loft (銀座ロフト).[4]
Concept and facilities
The Farm Universal locations are designed to be more than retail stores, functioning as leisure destinations. They are typically divided into various themed zones, such as "Sekai no Shokubutsu" (世界の植物; Plants of the World) and "Ohi-sama no Niwa" (おひさまの庭; Sun Garden).[5] Common facilities include:
- Farmer's Kitchen (ファーマーズキッチン): An on-site restaurant and cafe serving vegetable-centric meals, sandwiches, and botanical-themed drinks.
- Animal Interaction: The Osaka and Chiba locations feature areas where visitors can view and interact with animals such as goats, rabbits, and owls.[1]
- Playgrounds: Designated play areas for children are integrated into the garden setting.
- Strawberry Farm No. 15 (いちご園): Located at the Osaka branch, this facility offers strawberry picking experiences during the harvest season (typically winter to spring).[5]
Locations
Osaka (Flagship)
Located in the mountainous area of Ibaraki, Osaka (大阪府茨木市), this is the largest location and serves as the brand's headquarters. It features extensive grounds, a strawberry farm, and a wide variety of rare plants, including large Baobab trees and imported cacti.[2]
Chiba
Located in Inage-ku, Chiba (千葉市稲毛区), this branch opened in 2016. It was designed to integrate with the surrounding Frespo Inage (フレスポ稲毛) shopping complex and includes a "kurenai" (crimson) bridge and an open-air atmosphere.[3]
Tokyo
- Minamimachida: A store and "Farmer's Kitchen" located within the Grandberry Park (グランベリーパーク) mall in Machida, Tokyo (東京都町田市).
- Ginza: A boutique-style "plant shop" located on the first floor of the Ginza (銀座) Loft store, focusing on indoor plants and succulents suitable for urban living.[4]
Operating company
Universal Engeisha Co., Ltd. (株式会社ユニバーサル園芸社; 6061) is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. In addition to its retail operations, the company engages in corporate greening, landscaping, and the wholesale of horticultural products.[2] The company has expanded internationally, acquiring subsidiaries in the United States and Singapore.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The area around Aigawa Dam is hot! Strawberry picking, horseback riding... and bungee jumping!". Osaka Info. Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "History". Universal Engeisha. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "the Farm UNIVERSAL CHIBA 2016/04". Drawers Design. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "THE OUTLETS KITAKYUSHU and AEON MALL Yahatahigashi: Kyushu's Largest Commercial Facility". MATCHA. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Farm Universal Osaka". Wanderlog. Retrieved 2025-01-23.
