15+ Most Popular Japanese Fruits To Try 2023

The excellent Japanese fruits are popular options for tourists to experience when they step into this gorgeous country. The diversity in the cultivars of fruit in Japan creates advantages for attracting tourists.

Japan is famous for its long-standing culture and cuisine. The fantastic fruits are indispensable in many mouthwatering Japanese foods. So, let’s immerse yourself in the world of wonderful Japanese fruits.

Stroke Your Taste Buds With Amazing Japanese Citrus Fruits

There are many unique fruits in Japan, but you do not ignore the distinctive flavor of excellent citrus fruits. These are the options you can select when coming to Japan.

1. Yuzu

Yuzu is an iconic member of the Rutaceae family. This fruit is well-known in East Asia, Spain, Australia, and France. It originated in China and appeared in Japan during the Asuka Period (538 to 710).

You can find Yuzu easily on Shikoku island, and this place is the leading producer of yuzu in Japan. Its appearance is similar to a small grapefruit. The uneven, yellow, or green skin of yuzu will captivate you right away.

The succulent and aromatic flesh of yuzu will be a good choice for making juices, jams, and seasoning many delectable Japanese recipes. Meanwhile, the Japanese will use its rind to decorate dishes. Moreover, the natives will put yuzu into a hot bath to take advantage of its health benefits.

There are many types of yuzu in Japan. Hana yuzu is an ornamental type. If you want to taste sweet yuzu, you can choose the yuko variety. Shishi yuzu is a famous Japanese yuzu with a distinctive knobby rind.

Let’s try Japanese yuzu to feel the authentic flavor of this fruit.

2. Mandarin Orange – Mikan

Mandarin orange or Mikan is one of the excellent fruit varieties with citrus taste you have to try in Japan. Many people say that this fruit originates in both China and Japan. However, some opinions say that China is actually the homeland of this fruit, and it is brought to Japan from China.

Its cultivation began in Japan 400 years ago. In 1878, this excellent fruit appeared in the West. Generally, Japan accounts for a high amount of mandarin oranges worldwide. It is planted widely in Ehime and Wakayama of Japan.

Compared to other citrus fruits, the sweetness level of mandarin oranges is the highest. Like other oranges, it is covered by a leathery rind, and you can peel it easily. Beneath the skin, you will catch about 10 to 12 small and juicy segments.

The shade of this fruit will be different depending on the various climate conditions. It has green skin in humid regions. The rind will be reddish-orange when this fruit grows in cool night temperature areas. Plus, the Mikan grown in cold regions are sweeter.

Unlike other various orange varieties, mandarin orange will not contain any seed. This fruit is a suitable option to end your parties. Moreover, you will love the fantastic taste of jams, juices, and other desserts made from mandarin oranges.

3. Japanese Lemon – Sudashi

Japanese lemon or Sudashi is an indigenous fruit of Japan. It is derived from the Tokushima Prefecture of Japan, and it is a specialty of this place. This fruit resembles yuzu, but it is smaller. It has become an essential part of Japanese cuisine for a long time.

It is simple to acknowledge this fruit because it has a small size, round shape, and distinctive green skin. Because of the intense sourness, people rarely eat Japanese lemon raw. Japanese usually use its juice to season fish, meat, and other dishes.

This fruit is a hybrid result between yuzu and Tachibana oranges. It is an indispensable accompanion to consuming matsutake mushrooms in Japan. Furthermore, it often appears in soba, udon, nabe, and alcoholic beverages as a garnish.

Take a trip to Japan to discover all things about Japanese lemon.

4. Kumquat – Kinkan

When talking about the famous citrus fruits in Japan, I have to mention Kumquat or Kinkan. This unique fruit is a section of the Rutaceae family. Southern China is the homeland of this fruit. Also, you can find it in Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and India.

You can confuse this fruit with a small orange. Its size is the same as a large olive. Its name comes from the word “kamkwat”, which means “golden mandarin orange” in Cantonese. Depending on the variety, kumquat will have different shapes.

Round kumquat is also known as marumi kumquat. It has a typical oval shape, sour flesh, and a mildly sweet rind. Significantly, its rind is edible. In Japan and other Asian countries, it is considered the symbol of luck, so it is an ordinary gift during the New Year.

Furthermore, you can try oval kumquat, Hongkong kumquat, Meiwa kumquat, and other types. Compared to sudashi and yuzu, their sourness is lower. You can feel its flavor in marmalade and other sweet liqueurs in Japan.

Wonderful Japanese Pome Fruits You Do Not Miss

Japan is famous for many types of excellent pome fruit, such as apples, pear, and persimmon. They have unique and characteristic features compared to other classes in other countries. Let’s discover right away.

5. Japanese Persimmon – Kaki

Kaki or persimmon is a local Chinese fruit as this fruit originated in China over 2000 years ago. This fantastic fruit appeared in Japan in the 7th century. Japan, China, and Korea are the leading persimmon producers globally.

The shape and size of persimmon resemble pear and apple. Ripe persimmon looks attractive on red-orange or yellow-orange skin. The color and size vary depending on the different persimmon species. It is often eaten fresh after peeling.

The orange, yellow, or deep brown flesh of persimmon will bring a sweet and mild taste. You can think of the flavor of honey while eating persimmon. In addition, you can feel a hint of astringent taste from this fruit. You will be addicted to the crispy texture of this fruit.

If you want to change your taste buds, you can choose dried or cooked persimmon to eat. The dried persimmon is also known as Hoshigaki in Japan.

Follow these directions to make delicious dried persimmon (Hoshigaki).

6. Apple – Ringo

Apple is a worldwide fruit because it is grown everywhere globally. You can consume apples after eating delicious and heavy Japanese foods. Apple’s cultivation has taken place for thousands of years in European and Asian countries.

You can enjoy about 7500 different cultivars of apples worldwide. In Japan, people started planting apples in the Meiji Period. Gradually, apples have become the main exported product of Japan. Commonly, the folks will eat fresh apples to enjoy the authentic flavor.

Because of the diversity in type, you can see apples in many shapes, colors, and sizes. Most apples will appear in red, green, pink, yellow, or russeted skin. Its flesh ranges from yellowish-white to green, yellow, and pink.

Fuji apple is the favorite variety in Japan. This type is often more significant than other common apples. It looks eye-catching in the red peel. In particular, the crispy texture of the apple will make you flutter.

Its name comes from the name of Mount Fuji in Japan. Actually, Aomori Prefecture town is the origin of its name since this apple was grown for the first time in the 1930s in this place. Nowadays, this town is the top producer of Fuji apples in Japan.

7. Japanese Pear – Nashi

Nashi is a refreshing Japanese sweet treat and is loved by many natives and tourists. Besides Nashi, you can call it Japanese pear, Asian pear, or sand pear. This fruit is common in East Asia and other regions, such as Nepal, India, Australia, and New Zealand.

In Japan and other East Asian countries, the flower of Nashi is a sign of spring. It has green skin with numerous tiny spots on the surface. It looks like famous Western pears. However, you can find some differences between them.

Japanese pear will be more oversized and have a milder flavor. In terms of texture, if you love crispy pears, you should choose Nashi as it is more crunchy than Western pears. You can realize this variety quickly, thanks to the spherical shape of this fruit.

It is a long-standing fruit since it has existed in Japan since pre-historical times. Due to the high water content, it is rare to be used to make pies or jams. Typically, people in Japan love to consume raw pear or add it to sauces and savory dishes.

Learn the ways to consume Japanese pear right away.

Fall In Love With Japanese Fruits In Drupe Group

The drupe category includes fruits with a single seed or stone in the middle of the fruit. This section will introduce a group of delicious drupe fruits you can see in Japan.

8. Japanese Plum – Ume

Besides Ume or Japanese plum, you can call it Chinese plum or Japanese apricot. The popularity of this fruit in East Asian countries is powerful. The Yangtze River in China is the homeland of this delicious fruit.

In addition, its flowers are the inspiration for poetry and painting in Vietnam and East Asian countries. This fruit has appeared in Japan for a long time and was consumed in the Nara Period (710-784).

You will fall in love with the eye-catching appearance of this fruit with the yellow or red skin. The distinctive taste of its yellow flesh will be a perfect choice for cuisine. You can taste many varieties of plum in Japan, including hibai (red), yabai (wild plum), and bungo.

Bungo is a specialty of the Bungo province. It is a hybrid fruit between apricot and Prunus mume. Nankoume is another famous type in this East Asian country. This fruit is common in the rainy season, so the locals call it “tsuyu”, which means “plum rain” in Japanese.

You can join in the plum blossom celebration in Japan. It often takes place before the fruit starts being ripe. Typically, many people use this fruit in pickled food like Umeboshi. Moreover, you can consume plum wine (Umeshu) in Japan.

9. Cherries – Sakuranbo

It is not difficult to enjoy Japanese cherry in Japan, Korea, China, and Russia. And the Satonishiki variety is one of the most common kinds which was brought to Japan from the West in the Meiji period. Sato Esuke was the first person who planted Japanese cherries in the 1900s.

Basically, Satonishiki has the same shape and size as common cherries. You will be impressed by the beautiful bright red color of these cherries. You have to remove the seed while consuming Satonishiki.

Yamagata Prefecture is the primary producer of Japanese cherries in this country. In addition, it is a specialty and symbol of this region. The typical way to use this fruit in Japan is to eat raw cherries. Also, you can see it with ice cream, cakes, and other desserts.

Listen to some essential information about the differences between American and Japanese cherries.

10. Peach – Momo

There are a lot of kinds of peaches from West to East. Japanese peach or Momo is one of the iconic fruits of this East Asian country. Originally, peaches came from the Zhejiang province of China in the Neolithic period.

Peach cultivation existed in Japan from 4700 to 4400 BC during the Jomon period. Peach contains a single pit in the center. It is surrounded by whitish or yellow flesh with a delicate flavor. The white flesh version will be sweeter than the yellow one.

To classify peach, people will rely on its stone and flesh structure. If the stone attaches to the flesh, the peach will belong to the clingstones category. While it is a freestone peach if the stone will separate from the flesh.

Unlike Western peaches, Japanese peaches will be larger and have a more tender texture. You can eat raw peaches to enjoy the charming sweet and slightly sour taste – people in Yamanashi and Fukushima have grown this fruit abundantly in Japan.

In fact, the peach in Kanechika of Japan is the sweetest type worldwide because it contains about 22.2 percent of sugar content. It received recognition for the sweetest peach by Guinness.

Other Incredible Japanese Fruits For Your Party

After trying all fruits in the above sections, you can change the palate with these other Japanese fruits in this part. I hope you will love their flavor.

11. Kiwi

Kiwi is a healthy fruit and famous in Japan and many other countries. This fruit is native to China. It appeared in New Zealand in the 20th century and became famous worldwide later. The natives grew and consumed kiwi in the 1960s.

Generally, Japanese kiwi is similar to many other kinds of kiwi globally. This fruit seems beautiful in the hairy and brown rind. The locals often peel the skin before enjoying it. The green and succulent flesh will make you want to try this fruit instantly.

The tartness is the dominant flavor of Japanese kiwi. It is acceptable to consume fresh kiwi. Furthermore, juices or baked goods made from kiwi also bring a fantastic taste. Kiwi is a loved food of women to recover after giving birth.

Go to the farm in Japan to try excellent kiwi directly.

12. Strawberries – Ichigo

It would be a mistake not to mention strawberries or Ichigo in this excellent list. This amazing fruit appears widely in many parts of the world. It originates in the West, and the first strawberry garden was established in the 1750s in Brittany, France.

The bright red hue of strawberries will captivate you right away. In particular, It is hard to refuse to consume sweet, aromatic, and succulent strawberries. Ichigo existed in Japan in the mid-1800s, and the Japanese began cultivating this fruit in 1900.

The variety of strawberries in Japan is similar to the Western type. However, people will love the sweet, appealing, big, and expensive strawberries more than other common types. When you come to Japan during the spring, you can pick strawberries directly at farms.

People commonly combine strawberries with pastries, cakes, jams, ice cream, and milkshakes. And you can consume fresh strawberries. Also, it is a common element in lip gloss, perfume, and soap.

13. Japanese Melon – Meron

Melon is a luxury fruit in Japan. For example, you need to pay 20000 dollars to buy 2 Yubari King melons (Cantaloupe). It is the most expensive melon in Japan. People often use this delicious fruit with a gray color as a present during the Buddhist festival (Chugen).

Its cultivation arose in greenhouses in the Taisho Period. Hokkaido is one of the top melon producers in Japan. It is easy to consume abundant species of melon in Japan. They are diverse in shapes, colors, and flavors.

Typically, you will see Japanese melons in round shape and smooth peel. Its flesh color is diverse depending on the different types of melon. The muskmelons will have green meat, while the orange will show up in the flesh of the cantaloupes variety.

Moreover, yellow and white-fleshed melons are other common types of this fruit. Usually, the Japanese will consume raw melon after each meal. Also, it appears in smoothies and other desserts. People will sell this melon in slices or whole fruit.

Discover the reasons why Japanese melons are expensive.

14. Grape – Budo

Grape is the following fruit I want to introduce to you in this post. And you have to try this fruit on your trip to Japan. This fantastic fruit was born in the Middle East 6000 to 8000 years ago. It was brought to Japan during the Nara Period from China.

Its shade ranges from black to deep blue, green, orange, yellow, and crimson. The jelly-like and juicy texture of the grape will passionate you. It has some tiny bitter seeds inside. Japanese grapes have thicker skin than other common types of West.

So, people often peel the skin before consuming it. The enchanting sweetness of the grape will make you want to eat more and more. In addition, the appearance of slight tartness will highlight its flavor.

There are numerous delicious grape varieties in Japan, but the deep purple Kyoho grape is the most loved type of Japanese. You can eat fresh or dried grapes. Grapes are the main ingredient in making wine in Japan. This fruit is grown widely in the Yamanashi Prefecture.

15. Watermelon – Suika

When referring to the yummy and refreshing Japanese drinks, you must taste the fantastic juices made from watermelon. This fruit will cool your body on summer days in Japan. This fruit grows well in the tropical and subtropical regions worldwide.

In Japan, this delicious fruit has popped up in the country since the Edo Period from the 17th to 19th century. Gradually, it has become a staple fruit in this country. Japanese cultivated the seedless version for the first time in the 1930s.

Nowadays, you can see watermelons in a square shape in Japan easily. And this type will have a high cost. One thousand different types of watermelon have been discovered worldwide. Japanese watermelon is also large and has a thick rind like other varieties.

The flesh of watermelon has many colors. Red and yellow are the popular shades of its flesh. The sweet taste and juicy texture of watermelon will relieve your thirst immediately.

Suika-wari is a traditional game related to watermelon in Japan. This activity often happens on the beach. People will stand around a watermelon and use a stick to split the fruit with a stick while blindfolded.

Expand your knowledge with fantastic information about square watermelon in Japan.

16. Fig – Ichijiku

Fig has been grown in the Mediterranean and western Asia since ancient times. This fruit was shown to Japan from the Mediterranean in the 1600s. People often called it “foreigner’s kaki” at this time.

Typically, the shape of a fig resembles a tear, and it is protected by a green peel when unripe. The shade will turn brown and purple when mature. You will find countless crunchy seeds inside the sweet and reddish flesh.

Masui Dauphine is the most well-known type of fig in Japan. This variety has a characteristic large size. Masui was the first person who cultivated this famous type in the 1900s. So, its name is taken from his name.

You will be addicted to the crunchiness of fig when consuming it raw. Moreover, people will dry this fruit to eat as a snack. And do not forget to try the fantastic taste of fig jams in Japan.

17. Akebia – Akebi

Akebi is a member of the Lardizabalaceae family. You can find its name in Japanese literature. This fruit has 5 different varieties in different countries like Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan. It is considered the strangest fruit in Japan.

You can consume the white flesh of akebi. The semi-translucent gelatinous flesh has a distinctive sweet. Its taste is similar to the flavor of passionfruit, lychee, and banana. The appearance of its pulp resembles white dragon fruit.

Akebi is an essential part of many excellent Japanese drinks and foods. Japanese often add it to tea or consume it as a fruit dessert. Moreover, people in Yamahata Prefecture use this fruit as a vegetable in many meat dishes.

It Is Time To Check These Fruits Out!

Japan is one of the favorite destinations of many people worldwide. So, if you are about to travel to Japan, do not forget to try these excellent fruits I have suggested in this article. It is the chance to verify everything I have talked about in this post.

This post will be helpful for many people, so let’s share it to convey supportive information to other people right now. I am looking forward to seeing your opinions in the comment section. Thanks a lot!