Did you know that 15 January is Strawberry Day (イチゴの日 Ichigo-no-hi) in Japan? It comes from a word play on the date (“ichi” = one and “go” = five) and the word for strawberry (苺 ichigo) in Japanese. Indeed, Japanese strawberries are well-renowned for their sweetness, and deserving of a special day of their own. Beloved and enjoyed not only by the Japanese, but also by a lot of people around Asia, in recent years, many tourists look forward to strawberry-picking on their travels to Japan.
In Japan, strawberries are usually grown in greenhouses, enabling them to be enjoyed for almost half a year, as they can be picked from December to early May. According to Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (農林水産省 Nōrinsuisanshō), Japan has over a whopping 312 varieties of strawberries!
While we cannot list all 300+ varieties of Japan’s strawberries, in preparation for Strawberry Day, let’s take a closer look at four of the main strawberry varieties, plus take a peek at the rare white strawberries!
① Amao あまおう
Main area of production: Fukuoka Prefecture
Sugar content: ~11%
Price per packet: ¥600–¥1,000
Amao at a supermarket | Photo by Carissa Loh
Probably one of the most famous varieties of Japanese strawberries, Amao, also known as Amaou (あまおう Amaō), is notorious for its large size. Registered as a strawberry variety in 2005, Amao strawberries are only cultivated in Fukuoka Prefecture (福岡県), and its name is said to have come from abbreviating “Akai, MArui, Ookii, Umai” (赤い、丸い、大きい、うまい), which means “red, round, large, tasty”. Another meaning of the name is “King of Sweetness” as “ama” (甘) means “sweet”, while “ou” (王) means “king”.
Amao strawberries can come in uniform shapes, as well as large, unique shapes | Photo by ぱくたそ
Not just visibly much larger than other common varieties of strawberries in the market, Amao strawberries also have a very strong strawberry flavour, with mild acidity (low on the sour scale), making it one of the hot favourites around the country. Due to its unbeatable popularity and big size, Amao is also known as the “King of Strawberries”.
Regular strawberries are around 15g each, but on average Amao are at least 20g, with larger ones around 30–40g each. Up until 2022 when the record was broken, the World’s Heaviest Strawberry, as registered in the Guinness World Records, was a 250g Amao strawberry.
While its harvest season lasts from November to late May, the best time to enjoy delicious Amao is said to be between March and early April.
② Sagahonoka さがほのか
Main area of production: Saga Prefecture
Sugar content: 10–12%
Price per packet: ¥500–¥600
Sagahonoka strawberry farm | Photo by photoAC
Next up, we have the juicy Sagahonoka (さがほのか), which was registered as a strawberry variety in 2003. Mainly farmed in Saga Prefecture (佐賀県) on the island of Kyushu, Sagahonoka strawberries are known for their juiciness and well-defined conical shape, low acidity and strong sweetness.
Saganohoka are bright red with a conical shape | Photo by ぱくたそ
Due to its beautiful conical shape and shiny red colour, combined with a hard exterior and good shelf life, Sagahonoka strawberries are often used for decorating cakes.
The harvest period for Sagahonoka is between December and late May, but the best time to enjoy picking them is said to be in March.
③ Tochiotome とちおとめ
Main area of production: Tochigi Prefecture
Sugar content: 10–13%
Price per packet: ¥300–¥500
Tochiotome at a supermarket | Photo by Carissa Loh
Hailing from Tochigi Prefecture (栃木県), we have Tochiotome (とちおとめ), the strawberry variety with the highest production yield in Japan. Its name comes from combining “Tochigi” and “Otome” (乙女 maiden), as the strawberries are said to have a feminine appearance. First registered as a strawberry variety almost 30 years ago in 1996, its popularity has not waned, and still remains high.
Unripe Tochiotome with white tops (left) versus ripe Tochiotome that are a uniform red all over (right) | Photo by photoAC
Did you know? Over 90% of the strawberries grown in Tochigi Prefecture are of the Tochiotome variety. Some recognisable characteristics of Tochiotome are its dark red exterior, bright pink flesh, and well-balanced flavour profile: juicy, with a high sugar content and the right amount of acidity.
Although Tochiotome can be harvested from late November to late May, the best time to enjoy picking them at a farm is said to be between February and April.
④ Beni Hoppe 紅ほっぺ
Main area of production: Shizuoka Prefecture
Sugar content: 12–13%
Price per packet: ¥400–¥700
Small versus medium-sized Benihoppe | Photo by ぱくたそ
Rounding up the list of the four most common strawberry varieties in Japan is Benihoppe (紅ほっぺ), which has a name that literally means “red cheeks”. Mainly grown in Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県), Benihoppe was registered as a strawberry variety in 2002. Aside from Shizuoka, it is also grown in Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県), Aichi Prefecture (愛知県), and various prefectures in Kyushu.
Left to right: Sagahonoka, Tochiotome, Benihoppe | Photo by ぱくたそ
Benihoppe strawberries are on the larger side (though not as large as Amao), with a shiny red exterior, high sugar content, and strong acidity. If you enjoy sweet strawberries with a touch of sourness, this is the variety for you.
The harvest season for Benihoppe lasts from December to May, but the best time to pick them in-person is said to be between March and April, when the strawberries reach their peak sweetness.
⑤ White Strawberries
White strawberries come in a range of colours | Photo by photoAC
Finally, while not a single variety, some of the rarest varieties of strawberries you can find are the white strawberries (白い苺 shiroi ichigo). Not to be mistaken for unripe strawberries which later turn red, white strawberries have a uniform colour, and are much paler than the regular red strawberries. The colour of white strawberries is not just limited to white, but ranges from milky white, to light pink, to ivory, to light orange, depending on the variety. Rather than for everyday eating, these strawberries are more for gifting on special occasions.
Pearl White (left) and Awayuki (right) strawberries | Photo by photoAC
Some famous varieties of white strawberries include:
- Shiroi Hoseki (白い宝石) from Saga Prefecture, which has a milky white colour, and is one of the pioneers of white strawberries
- Awayuki (淡雪) from Saga Prefecture, which has a pale peach colour
- Pearl White (パールホワイト) from Nara Prefecture (奈良県), which has a pearly white colour
- Hatsukoi no Kaori from Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県), which has a pale pink colour
On average, white strawberries are larger and sweeter than regular strawberries. Due to their pale colour, white strawberries are harder to cultivate than regular strawberries, as blemishes and imperfection are more easily visible. For this reason, it is said that only a small percentage of white strawberries grown make it to the market in packages, contributing to the premium prices of ¥3,000–¥8,000+ per packet.
Sweet strawberry treats
With over 300 registered varieties of strawberries in the country, it’s no secret that Japan loves their strawberries. Not only can you easily find a large assortment of strawberry fruit in the supermarkets, but you can also encounter many strawberry confectioneries, candies, and desserts all around Japan.
Fresh strawberries
Fresh strawberries with condensed milk | Photo by photoAC
If you love strawberries, don’t miss out on the experience of picking fresh strawberries at a farm! Many farms have all-you-can-pick-and-eat packages, where you are free to roam the greenhouses to pluck and eat as much as you want within the time limit (usually 30 minutes). A popular way to enjoy freshly-picked strawberries is by dipping them in condensed milk.
Ichigo daifuku
Ichigo daifuku | Photo by photoAC
Aside from the fresh fruit, strawberries can also be enjoyed in a variety of desserts. One of the most common desserts you’ll find strawberries in is ichigo daifuku (苺大福), a Japanese-style dessert where a whole strawberry is covered with red bean paste and mochi. Due to their large size, Amao strawberries are commonly used in ichigo daifuku.
Strawberry shortcake
Strawberry shortcake is one of the most beloved cakes in Japan | Photo by photoAC
If you have passed by a bakery in Japan, you might have noticed a disproportionately large number of strawberry shortcakes. Strawberry shortcake is not only the default “Christmas cake”, but also a crowd favourite for birthday cakes and anniversary cakes, so you are sure to see them around. As mentioned earlier, Sagahonoka strawberries and Tochiotome strawberries are often used for decorating cakes due to their beautiful appearances and good shelf life.
Ichigo ame
Ichigo ame | Photo by photoAC
Another favourite strawberry dessert, especially among children, is ichigo ame (いちご飴), or candied strawberries. These fresh strawberries on a skewer, coated with a layer of hard sugar, make the perfect sweet treat, and are usually enjoyed from late spring to early summer.
Strawberry snacks in JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s “Ichigo Ichie” Omiyage Snack Box”
Speaking of sweet strawberry treats, have you checked out the strawberry snacks in JAPAN RAIL CLUB’s latest snack box? As a play on the word “ichigo”, you can enjoy three delicious ichigo snacks in January’s “Ichigo Ichie” Omiyage Snack Box—from flavourful strawberry jelly from Fukuoka to soft madeleine filled with strawberry jam from Aomori, you are in for a “berry” sweet indulgence.
What are you waiting for?! Here's a promo code "ICHIGO10" to get your 2024 started with strawberry-licious goodies from Japan—apply this discount code during checkout and you're all set!
