A Taste of Chiba’s Delicious Fruits

The Strawberry Road, a stretch of route 126 that runs through Chiba’s Sanmu City, is known as one of the largest strawberry producing areas around Tokyo. About 20 different strawberry farms line the road, and many of them offer strawberry picking, a great activity for groups and families. In the spirit of ichigo-gari, the Japanese word which means literally “strawberry hunting,” you can forage for the unique varieties of strawberries that are grown here like the “Chiba Berry” or the delectable “black” strawberry. Come hunt for your favorite and get your fill!

These fruits have a gentle sweetness, but also some tangy accents for a unique flavor and aftertaste. Similar in size and texture to a plum or apricot, it can be plucked, bitten into, and enjoyed right off the tree. Chiba has an abundance of loquats, so it’s also quite common to see them packaged and prepared in other ways; dried, preserved in jams, and of course used in cookies and other sweets.

The Biwa Club is a great place to jump into the world of this unusual but special fruit: //www.visitchiba.jp/things/biwa-club/

Chiba is the “pear prefecture” of Japan! The type of pear grown here is usually called an “Asian pear” in English. They are known to have a satisfying crunch, yet burst with moisture and sweetness. The “Kousui” variety is perhaps the most popular, as it combines rich flavor and gentle acidity into a refreshing treat. Ichikawa City, which borders Tokyo, is famous for its many producers of pears, as well as the sweets shop “Montpellier” which is highly renowned for having incredible sweets making use of the fruit: gelatin and bouchée to name a couple famous ones.

More details on Montpellier: https://www.visitchiba.jp/things/montpellier/

Chiba Prefecture is the second-leading producer of watermelons in Japan. Tomisato City is the prefecture’s hub for watermelon production, growing especially sweet and juicy melons that are revered nationwide. Tomisato City started producing their brand of watermelons in the 1930’s, and after a well-received gift of watermelon to the royal family from the city, Tomisato watermelons became an instant national sensation. The watermelon continues to be a symbol of the city, as they host an annual Watermelon Road Race, and a Watermelon Festival.