If you have visited a Japanese supermarket, you would have seen fruits packaged in luxurious plastic wrappings, or in a wooden box with hefty price tags. Fruit in Japan is more than just a snack, they are like a luxury that are often given as gifts on special occasions. There is no surprise that fruits such as melons in Japan can cost up to 10,000 Yen. Let’s dive further to see what makes them so special.

Firstly, Why are They so Expensive?

Well, to put it simply, fruits in Japan play a very different role than fruits from the rest of the world. In many other countries, fruits are often consumed daily as snacks or in between meals. They are highly nutritious and often comes with various health benefits. You can often buy them at your local supermarkets, and they are quite affordable. However, in Japan, fruits can also be seen as a precious gift given to someone you respect, have gratitude to, or wish well. Also, fruits are often served at the end of a high-end kaiseki meal (Traditional multi-course Japanese dinner). Therefore, fruits are premium products that must maintain high quality to be worthy for gifting. Japanese farmers take extra measure to ensure that these fruits are perfectly round and blemish-free, while radiating colours and plumpness, which is the reason behind its expensive price!

A Farmer’s Dedication

It should be noted that Japan only has 12% farmland that are used for agriculture. Therefore, with such a small number, farmers are able to produce way less fruits than in those other countries. Many Japanese fruit farmers are small scale family-owned, and they often dedicate all their resources towards producing and perfecting one kind of fruit. Farmers spend their entire career cultivating the perfect fruits, season after season, they are treated with premium care which also drive up the price.

Top 5 Most Premium Japanese Fruits  

5. Square Watermelons

Photo: ja.wikipedia.org

This is the cheapest on our list, these strange looking watermelons can cost around 15,000 Yen per watermelon. These watermelons are grown with special care that make them so exclusive. They are grown in a special cube box that forces the melons to grow into a unique square shape. These melons are better used for decorations than for consuming, as they are usually sold unripped with almost no sweetness at all. Don’t expect to see anything unusual when you cut the melon, it looks almost identical to normal watermelon when you cut it into slices.

4. Taiyo no Tamago Mangoes

Photo: konpeki-no-umi.jp

Next up on the list are the Taiyo no Tamago Mangoes, which are special kind of mangoes that can cost up to 13,000 Yen. They are usually harvested in Miyazaki Prefecture; these rare mangoes have bright red skin which is reminiscent of the sun. When eaten, it has a strong sweetness that spreads nicely in the mouth. In Japan, a variety of mangoes are imported from India, the Philippines or Thailand, these are usually more affordable kinds. However, locally grown mangoes are considered as premium product that comes with hefty price tags.

3. Densuke Watermelon

Photo: g-call.com

Another rare type of melon, the Densuke Watermelon has set a record price of 650,000 Yen in 2008. They have extremely dark skin and has a much sweeter taste than normal watermelons. These fruits have a high price due to their exotic rare type that make them so exclusive. These watermelons can only be grown in Hokkaido, and only about 100 are produced each year. These are known for their black and shiny skin as well as for their crunchy texture.

2. Ruby Roman Grapes

Photo: is.zennoh.or.jp

Ruby Roman Grapes are produced from Ishikawa Prefecture, the price can start from 40,000 Yen per brunch. These luxury grapes are known for its perfectly round shape, sugar content at least 18 percent and a weight of around 20 grams per grape. Red in colour, their size is close to the size of a ping pong ball. They are also extremely rare, with juicy and sweetness that make it worth the price.

1.Yubari King Melon

Photo: tenki.jp

Yubari King melons are named after the city in Hokkaido where they are grown. The usual price for these melons is usually 10,000 Yen, however it was sold at a record price in 2016 for 3,000,000 Yen. They are expensive because it requires a high amount of effort to produce and transport. These juicy melons satisfied all your five senses with its refreshing orange flesh that almost melt-in-your-mouth with its sweet aroma. 

Source

Allabout-japan

Nippon

Newsphere

H-stylebook