16 Ways To Enjoy Japanese Strawberries
posted by John Spacey, June 17, 2015
Japan grows plenty of strawberries. Strawberries are one of the country's largest crops. In fact, the Japanese produce more high quality dessert strawberries than any other country.Dozens of unique regional varieties of Japanese strawberry are grown year-round both outdoors and in greenhouses. There are plenty of ways to experience strawberries in Japan:
1. Strawberry Season
The best and cheapest time to enjoy Japanese strawberries is in season. Strawberries grown outdoors are in season from May ~ June.Japan also has a massive crop of greenhouse strawberries that enjoy a long season from December ~ April. The two seasons put together mean that strawberries are in season for half the year.
2. Luxury Strawberries
Japanese strawberries are carefully graded by type, region, color, shape, size and imperfections. The best become luxury strawberries sold at Japanese department stores. These can easily cost 1000 yen ($10) per berry.Strawberries tend to be considered a romantic gift. Many varieties of Japanese strawberries have romantic sounding names such as "First scent of love" (Hatsukoi no kaori).
3. Strawberry Picking
Strawberry picking is offered by farmers all over Japan in strawberry season (both the outdoor and greenhouse season). It's usually all-you-can-eat by the half-hour. The best strategy is to look for the highest quality strawberries and eat slowly. It's quite possible to fill up on strawberries in 5 minutes.
4. Candied Strawberries
Candied strawberries are a Japanese festival food. 
5. Ichigo Daifuku
Daifuku with an entire strawberry inside. A seasonal dessert for Spring.
6. Strawberry Sandwich
Strawberry Sandwiches are commonly found at Japanese convenience stores. They are also served at cafes.
7. Strawberry Chocolate
The Japanese are unusually fond of strawberry chocolate. Classics include Strawberry Pocky and Apollo, a brand of cone shaped strawberry chocolate.
8. Strawberry Ramune
Ramune is a classic Japanese soft drink that dates back to 1876. These days, it mostly makes appearances at festivals. Strawberry is a common Ramune flavor.
9. Strawberry Crepes
It's difficult to throw a rock in Tokyo without hitting a crepe truck. Crepes are everywhere in Japan. Strawberry is a top ingredient.
10. Cute Strawberries
It's little secret that the Japanese have a wonderful sense of the cute aesthetic. Strawberries are often involved.
11. Tochiotome Strawberries
Tochiotome is a variety of strawberry from Tochigi prefecture. Perhaps the most common Japanese strawberry.
12. Moikko
Moikko, literally: "one more", are a roundish strawberry from Miyagi prefecture.
13. Benihoppe
Benihoppe, or "red cheeks", are a popular cultivar from Shizuoka prefecture.
14. Amaou
Unusually large strawberries from Fukuoka prefecture.
15. Aiberi
Aiberi ("love berry") are vaguely heart shaped strawberries from Aichi prefecture. Amongst the most expensive varieties.
16. Hatsukoi No Kaori
A strawberry developed in 2006 with pink skin, white flesh and red seeds on the outside. Initially very expensive. Marketed under the name Hatsukoi No Kaori, literally "scent of first love."
Season
| Start | End | |
2024 | December | May |
2025 | December | May |
Rankings
| Japanese Strawberries are ranked | #1 of 15 Japanese Fruits #6 of 9 Japanese Flavors For Western Desserts #20 of 22 Japanese Festival Foods |
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