A Family-Friendly Fruit Tour in Hokkaido: Yubari Melon, Cherries & More

There are many people wishing, “I want to enjoy Hokkaido’s delicious fruit to the fullest.” Or “I want to have a nice family trip in Hokkaido.” In this article, presented by “Hokkaido Treasure Island Travel Company,” a company that specializes in Hokkaido tours, we will introduce the best places to travel with delicious fruit at the core of the trip. The strong point of our company, is that because of our full-time service of travel consultants, we can support our customer’s Hokkaido tours in every area. From your arrival at the airport to seeing you off at the airport, our full-time service drivers and English translators will accompany you with great service.

Hokkaido’s fruit and the Fruit Road

Did you know that Hokkaido is also famously known as a fruit kingdom? Although Hokkaido may have a strong image for its potatoes and seafood, it’s actually a special place that can cultivate sweet and delicious fruit due to the intense temperature differences between day and night. For example, some of the main fruits being cultivated that represent Hokkaido are:

・Yubari Melon and Furano Melon

・Yoichi Town’s Apple

・Hokkaido’s local Haskap

Fruit cultivation is being carried out over a wide area in Hokkaido. Among these areas is a street called, “Fruit Road,”famous for its many fruit farms located in Yoichi Town and Niki Town. Along the roadside of Fruit Road are many fruit fields, tourist farms and farmers’ markets giving you many options to get fresh fruit. Yoichi Town and Niki Town are located next to Otaru City which is famous for its canal, and Sapporo is just about an hour away by car making it comparatively easy to travel to both areas.

Furthermore, there is a side of Hokkaido known as the fruit kingdom, and is actually the region of the beginning of the fruit industry in Japan. We will explain more in detail later in this article, so please have a look if you’re interested.

Best fruits in Hokkaido

In this section we will introduce Hokkaido’s 10 best seasonal fruits. Each fruit is in order by season, so please keep it in mind in the case of wanting to go fruit picking.

1. Strawberry （Season: Early June ～ Early July）

【Kentaro】

・A good balance of sour and sweet flavors

・Originated in Hokkaido

【Hokowase】

・The fruit is soft and juicy

・Hard to get even in Toyoura Town

【Yukirara】

・Large in size

・Good sweetness and juicy texture

【Tochiotome】

・The sour flavor characteristic is just right
・Very juicy

The harvesting periods differ depending on the type of strawberry as well as the method of cultivation, so we recommend researching in advance if you are interested in trying certain types. At the Farmers’Markets in Toyoura Town, you can find strawberries all lined up when they are ripe and in season. Each Farmers’Market’s strawberries are very popular and are usually sold out right away on the weekends. It would be nice to also take a drive and make your way around the various Strawberry Farmers’Markets.

2. Cherry （season: Late June～Early August）

【Satonishiki】

・The main type of cherry

・Beautiful vibrant crimson color

・The balance of the strong sweetness and the sour flavor is exquisite

・Very juicy

【Suimon】

・This type originated in Hokkaido

・Large in size

・Soft with a good flavor

・A strong combination of sweet and sour

【Benishuho】

・The second most produced next to the Satonishiki type
・The fruit has a hard and firm texture
・Rich taste with very little sourness

【Nanyo】

・Cute appearance with a saffron pink color
・The fruit is firm
・Very juicy

Cherries are quite a popular fruit among fruit picking, so please check it out. Please have a wonderful trip and enjoy cherries to the fullest along with the refreshing summer of Hokkaido.

 3. Haskap （season: End of June～Beginning of July）

You may not be familiar with the word “Haskap.” It’s a plant that’s a member of the honeysuckle family with a purple color like blueberries. It’s a long and narrow shaped berry about 1.5cm in length. It is known for being sweet and sour, juicy, and has a jelly-like texture. In Japan, it is only cultivated in Hokkaido and is especially famous for being grown on the outskirts of Sapporo in regions such as Chitose City and Bibai City. As well as Atsuma Town in the Iburi region.

The name of Haskap originated from the Ainu language “Hashikapu = many fruits on branches,”and has long been associated with perpetual youth and longevity. The Haskap season is very short with the harvesting period lasting only about 3 weeks within a year and is so popular that many many fans visit during this time from all over Japan. One nice point about this fruit is that it grows on a shrub, which makes it easy for even small kids to pick the fruit by themselves. The whole family can have a good time.

Haskap can be eaten fresh and unskinned or eaten covered with sugar. It is also used to make jams, cakes and alcohol. “Yoitomake”is especially famous, which is a high quality castella roll with Haskap jam coiled around inside and is a confectionary that represents Hokkaido. It has a peculiar sweet and sour flavor that you will surely be attracted to. Haskap is also attractive for having lots of great health benefits as it is plentiful in nutrients. The main nutrients that Haskap is known for giving are Vitamin C, Iron and Anthocyanin. It can give women and pregnant women the iron intake they may be lacking, and may also bring you more energy during your travels. Furthermore, the Anthocyanin is comparable to what blueberries contain, so it’s safe to say that nobody would pass this up.

4. Raspberry （season: June～July, October～November）

As for regions that cultivate raspberries in Japan, it is said that there are only 3 places including Hokkaido, This makes domestically produced raspberries very precious. On top of the season being so short, it is an extremely delicate fruit that can get damaged easily, which makes it a rare experience being able to eat seasonal raspberries on the actual field. Furthermore, there is a type of raspberry can be harvested twice a year, in summer and fall, making it an attractive type. You can have a delicious and fun time together with kids because of the low stature of the plant.

The raspberries that are being cultivated in Japan, are almost all of North American or European origin. Hokkaido University then developed the “Hokudai Raspberry,” which is a combination of the “kiichigo”raspberry that naturally grows in Japan and the foreign type. It is known for being easier to grow, handle and harvest. The Hokudai raspberry is being managed in Yoichi Town’s “Kurumi no ki,” Sunagawa Orchard and Yoichi Doi Farm.

It is widely known that raspberries contain an abundance of nutrients. For example, vitamin C, which is useful in preventing the common cold and other sicknesses. It can help you have a healthy body and enjoy your travels to the fullest! Another good point is that raspberries also contain dietary fiber. On your travels you’ll be eating local foods different from your everyday diet back home and may sometimes find yourself eating a little too much. The dietary fiber can help with digestion and the condition of your stomach.

5. Melon（season: Beginning of June～End of September）

When it comes to Hokkaido, melons are a signature fruit. The melon with red flesh on the inside, the “Red Melon” is very sweet, juicy and extremely popular. The main producing areas are Yubari and Furano. These areas are known for having big temperature differences between day and night.In these areas, the low nighttime temperature causes low energy expendeture and during the day they are able to store up and retain nourishment, which results in being able to cultivate melons with a rich sweet flavor. The Yubari Melon is especially known as being called the “Red Melon” and when it comes to Red Melons, above all else the Yubari Melon comes to mind.
The season is in summer from June to August, and around this time you can see these exquisite items in the markets with the sweet and firm flesh of the fruit on display. The shipping season continues until around late September, giving us a nice long season to enjoy.
When it comes to the big three melons in Hokkaido,
・ The Yubari Melon
・ The Furano Melon
・ The Raiden Melon
There are various types of melons. Below we will introduce the characteristics of each type.

The ultimate representative melon of Hokkaido is Yubari Melon’s “Yubari King,” which is so popular that every year’s first of the season melons can sell for up to 1,000,000〜3,000,000 yen. King Melty boasts of being highly popular among the green melons. It is known as a high-class melon because the season period is short and the amount distributed is few. The Raiden Melon is being cultivated in Kyowa Town on the west side of central Hokkaido and has a distinct smooth texture. Also perfect for giving as a gift.

Of course, eating melons just as they are is an exquisite item, however, we also recommend the “Santa no Hige” (Santa’s Beard), a luxurious kind of sweets offered by the Nakafurano Popura Farm, located in the Furano area. The halfcut melon with soft serve ice cream in the middle is quite impressive. It’s perfect for a fun family memory and also substantially filling.

Along with when the melons are most delicious and in season, it’s also the season for the beautiful lavender and flower fields. It would be good to find a travel company that can design a customized plan including all of your wishes and needs.

 6. Blueberry （season: Late June～Middle of September）

Blueberries are one of the pillars of Hokkaido’s fruit industry. Actually, Hokkaido is recognized as “berry land,” as many types of berries are being cultivated. It is said that berry type fruits stay strong in cold weather and are easy to grow in cold districts. The main type of blueberry cultivar is the Highbush type, strong to cold temperatures, and is being cultivated within a wide area in Hokkaido.

【Weymouth】
・ Fast to ripen
・ Strong sweet flavor with very little sourness
【Rancocas】
・ Strong sweet flavor
・ Long harvesting period

You can eat it raw just as it is with a sweet and sour flavor. Or you can have it as jam, in a smoothie, in shaved ice and more. One of the good things about blueberries is that it can be enjoyed in a wide variety of ways.

Introducing a few farms where you can enjoy blueberry picking in Hokkaido.
・ Blueberry Sapporo
・ Berry Farm Toyoura
・ Nayoro Blueberry Farm Sunberry Muraoka
Blueberry Sapporo is a farm located about 30 minutes by car from the center of Sapporo City. Kids can enjoy it too as the farm doesn’t use any agricultural chemicals or chemical fertilizers.
Because the period when blueberries are in season is long, you can even stop by sometime during your travels in the beginning of fall.

7. Plum （season: Beginning of August～Middle of September）

Plums in Hokkaido are mainly cultivated in Niki Town, Ashibetsu City and SobetsuTown. Ashibetsu City is about 2 hours by car from Sapporo, and Sobetsu is located near Lake Toya, a small town surrounded by nature.
The harvesting season differs depending on the plum type, but the general characteristic of plums is that the harvesting period is short. The characteristics of the main types of plums are consolidated in the list below.

Niki Town has been cultivating plums since long ago and many fans come to visit for the original smell and taste. Furthermore, the Takashina Kanko Fruit Farm located in Sobetsu is near Lake Toya and other famous sight-seeing spots. When traveling, try requesting a plan designed to take you along a driving course where you can stop by the fruit farms.

8. Prune （season: Beginning of August～Middle of October）

Although prunes are a relatively new cultivated item in Hokkaido, we take pride in being the second largest producer in Japan. Some of the main producing areas are Yoichi Town, Niki Town, Mashike Town, and Nanae Town.  Mashike Town is located in the north of Hokkaido and Nanae Town in the south.

People simply call them prunes but, there are more than 10 different types. If you look at it like this, they are quite profound. Each type differs in

・  size

・  smell

・  sweetness

・  sourness

・  flavor

so there is fun in finding the type of prune that you like best.

Although prunes are typically eaten as a kind of dried fruit, there are also types that can be eaten raw so please have a try. The harvesting period differs depending on the type of prune, so please consult with a tour company if there is a certain type you are interested in.

9. Grape （season: Beginning of September～Late October）

Did you know that the “Shine Muscat”grape which originated in Japan is gaining popularity abroad, and that various high quality grapes can also be enjoyed even in Hokkaido? Actually, grapes take up the largest farming space in all of Hokkaido. The main producing areas are Yoichi Town, Niki Town and Urausu Town. There are also other wide areas where grapes are being cultivated. Urausu is located in the northeast of Hokkaido and is famous for the Tsurunuma Winery.

There are various types of grapes. We have consolidated the characteristics of the main types in the list below.

【Delaware】
・ The strong sweet flavor isits biggest characteristic
・ Comparatively small in size
・ Brown grapes
【Buffalo】
・ Strong sweet taste with a rich flavor
・ Elegant scent
・ The most popular type of grape
・ Produced in Hokkaido
【Portland】
・ Juicy with a strong sweet flavor
・ Fragrant
・ Small in size with a slight sour flavor
【Niagara】
・ Peculiar scent
・ Sourness fades as it ripens and becomes easy to eat
・ Yellow-green
【Shine Muscat】
・ Seedless and can be eaten unpeeled
・ Smells like Muscat
・ Great flavor

Yoichi Town is known as a “fruit town” and it is said that grapes are its biggest product. In the same way, Niki Town is a thriving area in Hokkaido where fruit is being cultivated with many farmers’markets and fruit picking farms. Furthermore, grape cultivation for wine and other products is thriving and takes up the largest area for cultivation in the country. There are many famous wineries in Otaru City and Yoichi Town. Please have a look at the link below if you would like to know more about “Yoichi Town’s” fruit town winery.

https://hokkaido-treasure.com/column/004/

Also, on the outskirts of Sapporo there is the famous Hakkenzan Winery and the “Wine Castle” in Ikeda Town located in the Tokachi area. Please have a look at the link below for more information on the Hakkenzan Winery.

https://hokkaido-treasure.com/column/091/

Our travel company is well informed about Hokkaido and can design a travel plan around fresh grapes and wine that can be enjoyed from kids to adults.

10. Apple （season: Middle of September～Beginning of November）

Apples are being cultivated in many areas around Hokkaido and have a characteristic of having many types and being different from the types of apples cultivated on the mainland. Yoichi Town is famous for producing the most outstanding apples in Hokkaido.

Yoichi cultivates wonderful apples and the range of production is quite extensive. For example, products such as:

・ Apple cheek (juice)

・ Apple cheek (hard cider)

・ Softcream)

Furthermore, Yoichi Town is flourishing in production of alcoholic drinks and various other products as well. Nikka Whiskey, wine and other alcohol based tours can also be incorporated into your travels. Please check the articles below that introduce Yoichi Town’s alcohol themed tours.

Enjoy Hokkaido and its wines, beers, spirits and other drinks.

Fruit cultivation in Japan started in Hokkaido

It is actually said that fruit cultivation in Japan started in Hokkaido. Over 140 years ago during Hokkaido’s reclamation period, farms on the outskirts of Hakodate are where the first western fruit seedlings were planted. The main crops were apples and grapes introduced from America. Hokkaido was a perfect fit for fruit cultivation because of its cold climate. Apples and berries are especially suitable as they have a strong resistance to cold temperatures and can withstand freezing temperatures of up to -20 degrees celcius.

At that time, certain areas on the mainland of Japan were regarded as the only areas with fruit cultivation, which made Hokkaido a cutting edge area for cultivating fruit on a full-blown scale. During this time, the seedlings that were introduced and the cultivation expertise was spread to other parts of Japan, and just like that, it spread on a large scale.

Now efforts for tourist farms are spreading and popping up all over Hokkaido giving people the opportunity to enjoy various fruit picking at each location.

Let’s enjoy traveling Hokkaido with a hint of seasonal fruit

In this article, we’ve carefully selected some of Hokkaido’s fruit to introduce. You might have found a fruit that you’re interested in. Hokkaido’s fruit cultivation has become very popular. Such as apples and berries that can withstand cold temperatures, and the melons and grapes that become sweet due to the temperature differences between day and night. The fruit is especially sweet when it’s in season, and the flesh of the fruit is very juicy and filling, which would make for a satisfying Hokkaido travel purpose. Including a tour with seasonal fruit picking is something that can be enjoyed by everyone from kids to adults, and would definitely add satisfaction to your travel plans. We especially recommend Yoichi as it has a fullness of more than just fruit, such as whiskey, wine seafood and other delicious gourmet foods.

If you’d like a trip that includes the delicious fruit of Hokkaido, please choose our tour company, “Hokkaido Treasure Island Travel Company”as we specialize in Hokkaido tours. We can freely create a customized itinerary that includes fruit and other aspects of Hokkaido that you might be interested in. We can also show you farms where you can do fruit picking, explore sightseeing spots around the area, and be flexible in corresponding to very specific activity plans you may have. If you would like to have peace of mind and a highly satisfying trip in Hokkaido, please leave it up to us, “Hokkaido Treasure Island Travel Company.”