Apple

りんご

One of Japan's most iconic fruits. Aomori Prefecture accounts for about 60% of national production. Peak season runs from autumn to winter, with harvest timing varying by cultivar

Taste & Texture

Well-balanced sweetness and acidity, with flavor profiles varying significantly by cultivar

Season

MONTHLY AVAILABILITY

Oct - Nov

PEAK

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

※ Season is based on domestic field-grown availability

Apple Varieties

Fuji Apple

Fuji is a Japanese-bred apple cultivar developed in 1939 at the Ministry of Agriculture's Tohoku Horticulture Research Station in Fujisaki, Aomori Prefecture, and officially registered in 1962. It accounts for roughly 50% of all apples grown in Japan and is now the most widely planted apple cultivar in the world by volume, grown commercially in China, the United States (Washington State), Chile, Italy and beyond. Key traits: Brix 14–16°Bx, large fruit (250–400 g / 8.8–14 oz), characteristic honey-spot (mitsu) sweetness, and a firm, crisp bite that holds well in cold storage.

How to Choose

  • Choose apples with thick, firm stems.

  • The skin should be taut and glossy, and the fruit should feel heavy.

  • Full red coloring extending to the bottom indicates ripeness.

How to Store

  • Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator's vegetable compartment.

  • Keep separate from other fruits as apples emit ethylene gas.

  • At room temperature, keeps 1-2 weeks in a cool place.

Shelf life 1-2 months refrigerated, 1-2 weeks at room temperature

* High ethylene producer — store separately from other produce.

See shelf life ranking →

Nutrition Facts

per 100g

ENERGY CONTENT

56

KCAL

0.2g

Protein

0.3g

Fat

16.2g

Carbs

1.9g

Fiber

6mg

Vitamin C

120mg

Potassium

0.1mg

Iron

4mg

Calcium

27μg

Beta-carotene

3μg

Folate

Source: Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (8th ed.) 2020

Wholesale Market Data

2023

MARKET INSIGHTS

CHEAPEST Feb ¥288/kg
BUSIEST Mar 24,937t
Volume (t)
In season
Price (yen/kg)

Source: MAFF Wholesale Market Survey for Fresh Produce (2023)

Retail Price

2026

Price Trend

Cheapest Nov ¥810/1kg
Most Expensive Aug ¥1,059/1kg

Annual Average

¥879/1kg

Source: Statistics Bureau Retail Price Survey (2026)

Production Ranking

Aomori62.5%
Nagano17.9%
Iwate5.3%
Yamagata5.1%
Fukushima3.1%
Others6.2%
10%+
5%+
2%+
0.1%+
None

Map data: National Land Numerical Information (MLIT Japan)
#
Prefecture
Harvest (t)
Share
1
Aomori
374,400
62.5%
2
Nagano
106,900
17.9%
3
Iwate
31,600
5.3%
4
Yamagata
30,300
5.1%
5
Fukushima
18,500
3.1%

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics / Agricultural Census (2023)

Top 5 Prefecture Harvest Trends (2018-2023)

Aomori
Nagano
Iwate
Yamagata
Fukushima
Explore more produce from Aomori

Consumption Ranking

2024

National Average (annual spending per household)

¥4,788 /year
#
City
Annual Spending
1
Morioka Iwate
¥9,262
2
Aomori Aomori
¥7,748
3
Fukushima Fukushima
¥7,327
4
Akita Akita
¥7,028
5
Yamagata Yamagata
¥6,927

Source: Statistics Bureau Family Income and Expenditure Survey (2024, two-or-more-person households, prefectural capital cities)

Related Ingredients

Grape

ぶどう

Fruit