Potato

じゃがいも

Hokkaido accounts for about 85% of national production. Year-round supply is maintained through Hokkaido's autumn harvest (Sep-Nov) and spring crops from Nagasaki and Kagoshima (May-Jun). An essential ingredient in Japanese home cooking: croquettes, nikujaga stew, potato salad, and more. Knowing when to use Danshaku versus May Queen is considered a cooking fundamental

Taste & Texture

Texture varies by variety: floury and fluffy (Danshaku) or smooth and waxy (May Queen). Sweet and savory, with enhanced flavor after cooking

Season

MONTHLY AVAILABILITY

May - Nov

PEAK

※ Season is based on domestic field-grown availability

How to Choose

  • Choose well-shaped potatoes with no wrinkles, cracks, or sprouted eyes.

  • Avoid green-tinged areas, which contain solanine.

  • Select firm, heavy potatoes.

How to Store

  • Store in a paper bag in a cool, dark place to prevent greening.

  • Refrigeration boosts sweetness via low-temperature sweetening (excess sugar accumulation) — not ideal for frying.

  • Freeze only after cooking, as raw potatoes become grainy when frozen.

Shelf life Cool dark storage: 1-2 months; refrigerated: 2-3 months; frozen (cooked): 1 month

Nutrition Facts

Wholesale Market Data

MARKET INSIGHTS

CHEAPEST Dec ¥114/kg
BUSIEST May 32,972t
Volume (t)
In season
Price (yen/kg)

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

Production Ranking

100% Domestic
Hokkaido84.9%
Nagasaki3.8%
Kagoshima3.7%
Ibaraki2.0%
Chiba1.3%
Others4.3%
10%+
5%+
2%+
0.1%+
None

Map data: National Land Numerical Information (MLIT Japan)

#
Prefecture
Harvest (t)
Share
1
1,916,000
84.9%
2
85,000
3.8%
3
83,900
3.7%
4
44,600
2.0%
5
28,300
1.3%

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics / Agricultural Census (2023)

Top 5 Prefecture Harvest Trends (2018-2023)

Hokkaido
Nagasaki
Kagoshima
Ibaraki
Chiba

Consumption Ranking

National Average (annual spending per household)

¥2,870 /year
#
City
Annual Spending
1
Gifu Gifu
¥3,677
2
Niigata Niigata
¥3,468
3
Yokohama Kanagawa
¥3,454
4
Saitama Saitama
¥3,400
5
Toyama Toyama
¥3,383

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