Wakayama

Wakayama is located in the southwestern part of the Kii Peninsula, and a mild climate influenced by the Kuroshio (Japan Current) forms the foundation of its agriculture. The annual average temperature is 17-18°C in the coastal areas, and the annual precipitation varies greatly from north to south, with about 1,400 mm in Wakayama City in the north and about 2,650 mm around Cape Shionomisaki in the south, making it a particularly warm and rainy region even among the Pacific side of Honshu. The Kinokawa River basin (Hashimoto and Ito areas) has alluvial fan soils with good drainage and sunlight suitable for fruit tree cultivation, and Mandarin Orange, Ume, peaches, and Persimmon are intensively produced. The Arida region (Arida City and Arida District) is the center of Mandarin Orange cultivation, with terraced fields spreading out on steep south-facing slopes, and the reflection from the sea and sunlight hours due to the steep inclination contribute to improving the sugar content of the Mandarin Orange. The southern Tanabe and Nishimuro areas are Ume production areas, with a concentration of Nanko ume (Ume) farmers. The mountainous Koyasan area is located at a high altitude and is cool even in summer, serving as a production area for wild vegetables and mushrooms. Fruit tree cultivation is the center of the prefecture's agriculture, and the fruit output value ranks highly nationwide.

Source: MAFF Crop Statistics (Reiwa 5 / 2023), JMA historical weather data

The agriculture in Wakayama stands out for its 'fruit-tree specialized' production area structure. The proportion of agricultural output value dedicated to fruits such as Mandarin Orange, Ume, Persimmon, peaches, and other citrus fruits is at a high level nationally, and its position as a fruit-producing area rather than vegetables is clear. Especially for Nanko ume, the Ume system in the Minabe and Tanabe regions has received GIAHS (Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems) certification, and it is internationally evaluated as a complex system that includes not only agricultural production but also rural landscape, Binchotan charcoal production, and biodiversity. Arida mikan has a wide harvest season ranging from early-maturing to late-maturing, and having a structure where the production area can supply Mandarin Orange almost year-round is also a structural strength. The mild coastal climate influenced by the Kuroshio current and the terrain of steeply inclined terraced fields create a mechanism that produces fruits of a quality that cannot be reproduced on flat land.