Japan's finest fruit is a seasonal affair: each variety has a short window when it's at its best, straight from its home region. This page tracks what's ripe now and what to plan for next.
In season this month, shipped from the region that's known for it.
Cherry
Yamagata's Higashine is the home of Sato Nishiki — a short season, with the last of it through early July.
Melon
From Tomamae on Hokkaido's Sea-of-Japan coast — a fine, juicy summer melon at its peak now.
Melon
Grown in the day–night temperature swing at the foot of Mt. Yotei — a rich orange-fleshed melon at its best in summer.
Melon
Hokkaido's orange-fleshed melon ships June–August and peaks in high summer — Japan's byword for a premium gift fruit.
Watermelon
Tottori's signature watermelon — dune-side sun and drainage build high sugar; at its best in high summer.
Watermelon
Chiba's Tomisato is a noted watermelon town — sweet and crisp, shipping from early to high summer.
Watermelon
Toyama's oblong giant watermelon, often over 15 kg apiece — a short window opening from late July.
Peach
Bagged on the branch to a pale, delicate blush — Okayama's flagship gift peach, at its best in July–August.
Ripening over the next few weeks — worth bookmarking before the window opens.
Grape
Ishikawa's Takamatsu is a noted Noto grape district — large-berried and full-flavoured from August.
Pear
Kumamoto's Arao pears — large and juicy from the mild Ariake coast, in season late summer into autumn.
Pear
Pear-growing in Chiba's Ichikawa goes back over three centuries — juicy and crisp, August–October.
Pear
Imari pears from Saga — harvested August–October, balancing sweetness and juice.
Pear
Kariya pears from Yamagata's Mogami riverbank soil — coming into season in early autumn.
Pear
From Oita's Hita basin, where the temperature swing lifts sugar — harvested August–October.
Pear
Chiba's Shiroi is one of the Kanto region's leading pear towns — fine-fleshed, harvested August–October.
Fig
Sea-facing sun on Shimane's Taki coast makes these figs — soft and richly sweet, in season through autumn.