Taste & Texture
Flavor, sweetness, and aroma vary greatly by cultivar. Shine Muscat offers muscat fragrance and intense sweetness, while Kyoho is known for its rich, deep sweetness
Season
Grape Varieties
Kyoho
Known as the "King of Grapes," Kyoho is a large, deep purple-black grape developed in Shizuoka Prefecture in 1942. It transformed Japan's grape industry in the postwar era and remains one of the country's most iconic cultivars, celebrated for its rich sweetness and abundantly juicy flesh.
Pione
A deep purple-black large-berry grape developed in Japan as an offspring of Kyoho. Named and registered in 1973, Pione is larger than Kyoho with firmer flesh, and is widely marketed as seedless "New Pione" (ニューピオーネ), with Okayama Prefecture as its leading production hub.
Ruby Roman
Ruby Roman is a large-berry red grape developed by the Ishikawa Prefecture Agricultural Research Center. Every certified berry must weigh 20 g or more, reach Brix 18+, and hit color level 3–4 on the proprietary Ruby Roman color chart. Its annual opening auction at Kanazawa Central Wholesale Market regularly generates global news headlines — in 2023 a single bunch sold for ¥1,600,000 (roughly $11,000 USD), securing its reputation as one of the world's most expensive fruits.
Shine Muscat
An overview of Shine Muscat — origin, peak season, major production areas, and how to select and store it. A PVP-registered Japanese cultivar that has surged in popularity for its Muscat aroma, seedless convenience, and edible skin.
How to Choose
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Look for evenly-sized berries with a white bloom (natural waxy coating) covering the whole bunch.
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The stem should be green and firm, with densely packed berries.
How to Store
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Wrap in paper towel, place in a plastic bag, and store in the refrigerator vegetable compartment.
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Do not wash before storing; rinse just before eating.
Nutrition Facts
ENERGY CONTENT
69
KCAL
Source: Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (8th ed.) 2020
Wholesale Market Data
MARKET INSIGHTS
Source: MAFF Wholesale Market Survey for Fresh Produce (2023)
Retail Price
Price Trend
Annual Average
¥2,775/1kg
Source: Statistics Bureau Retail Price Survey (2025)
Production Ranking
Map data: National Land Numerical Information (MLIT Japan)
Source: MAFF Crop Statistics / Agricultural Census (2023)
Top 5 Prefecture Harvest Trends (2018-2023)
Consumption Ranking
National Average (annual spending per household)
Source: Statistics Bureau Family Income and Expenditure Survey (2024, two-or-more-person households, prefectural capital cities)