Yamagata's Delicious Cherries! Different Types, Cherry Picking Spots and More

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Cherries are sometimes likened to jewels. In early summer, fresh cherries start lining up in stores. In Yamagata Prefecture, cherries are designated as the prefectural tree and are also beloved as the prefecture's symbol. In this article, we will introduce cherries, a specialty of Yamagata.

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Yamagata City

Yamagata City is the prefectural capital of Yamagata Prefecture. Surrounded by mountains, the city offers beautiful scenery throughout the four seasons. Famous sightseeing spots include "Zao", which is popular for its frost-covered trees and hot springs, and "Yamadera", a place related to Basho Matsuo. In terms of food culture, dishes that make use of Yamagata's abundant ingredients, such as ``Yamagata imoni'', ``cold ramen'', ``dashi'' and ``ball konjac'', have been passed down. Yamagata City has many images of such nature and history, but in fact, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants, and there are many places where you can relax. On this page, we will post recommended spots and articles to introduce the attractions of Yamagata City, such as popular spots, hidden attractions, and delicious restaurants, in more detail and in an easy-to-understand manner! (Images and videos on this page: Provided by Public Relations Division, General Affairs Department, Yamagata City)

Table of Contents
Cherries from Yamagata Prefecture
A cherry variety cultivated in Yamagata Prefecture
Let's go cherry picking in Yamagata City!
summary

Cherries from Yamagata Prefecture

Yamagata Prefecture is famous as the largest cherry producing region in Japan, accounting for about 70% of the national production. Cherries are mainly grown in Higashine City, Tendo City, and Sagae City. The season in Yamagata Prefecture is from May to mid-July, and you can enjoy a variety of varieties.

Please see here for more information about cherries in Yamagata Prefecture.

A cherry variety cultivated in Yamagata Prefecture

・Sato Nishiki : It is about 7g in size and has a bright red color with yellow undertones. It has a good balance of sweetness and sourness, and the flesh is milky white and of very good quality.

・Benishuho : It is large, weighing around 10g, has firm flesh, and keeps well. It has a good appearance and is colored a bright red. It is very sweet and has a good taste, and is a variety that tends to produce a lot of fruit.

・Beni Sayaka : It is 5-7g in size and is on the larger side among varieties that ripen earlier than normal. The skin color is crimson red, but turns purple-black as it ripens. It is more sour than "Sato Nishiki", but is of good quality for an early-ripening variety.

・Beni Temari : Harvested very late, from mid-July onwards. The fruit is very large, weighing over 10g, with a sugar content of over 20% and firm flesh, making it a variety that keeps well.

・Benikirari : A very rare self-compatible cherry variety, it produces fruit using only its own pollen. The fruit is large, weighing 8-9g, with good coloring and appearance, and a good taste with little sourness.

・Beniyutaka : This is an early-ripening variety that can be harvested in mid-June, a few days earlier than Sato Nishiki, and it is easy to produce fruit. The fruit is about 6 to 9g in size, and is Otama for a variety that ripens earlier than normal.

Nanyo : The fruit weighs about 8 to 10g and is a variety with dense, sweet flesh.

*Quoted from Yamagata Prefecture official website (Cherry variety introduction)

https://www.pref.yamagata.jp/140032/sangyo/nourinsuisangyou/nogyo/nousambutsu/sakurambo/sakuranbohinsyu.html

Let's go cherry picking in Yamagata City!

*We are introducing cherry orchards that have agreed to be featured in the pamphlet created by the Yamagata City Green Tourism Promotion Council.

Kisaburo Cherry Picking Garden

kisaburo cherry-picking farm

319-1 Kurosawa, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture 990-2311

A cherry orchard located in Kurosawa, Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture. Cherry picking started in 1979. The park opens from early June to early July. No holidays during the period. 9:00 to 16:00. The season starts with ``Beni Sayaka'', the popular ``Sato Nishiki'' is in season, and the big balls ``Taisho Nishiki'' and ``Beni Shuho'' are at their best. In the park, you can also find nostalgic "Napoleon" and "Takasago". Please enjoy eating comparisons unique to the garden, such as differences in varieties and maturity. Why don't you look for your favorite one while walking freely in the large farm?

Why we recommend it : Feel free to wander around the spacious grounds and find your favorite things.

Cherry varieties : Benisayaka, Sato Nishiki, Takasago, Yamagata Bijin, Benishuho, Taisho Nishiki, etc. depending on the season

Scheduled opening period (cherry picking period): Early June to early July

Reservations required : You can enter the park without a reservation. When it is crowded, we will give priority to those who have made a reservation, and we may refuse entry to those without a reservation.

Learn more about Kisaburo Cherry Picking Garden

Contact : 023-688-5885

To foreign visitors to Japan : We do not have staff who are fluent in foreign languages, but we look forward to welcoming people from all over the world with our translation apps and enthusiasm.

summary

This time we introduced cherries, a specialty of Yamagata. In addition to cherries, there are many other fruits produced in Yamagata, such as peaches, grapes, and La France pears. There are also orchards where you can pick fruit, so why not check them out?

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Yamagata City

Yamagata

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