Japanese Strawberry Guide: 5 White Varieties and 2 Red Favorites

Walk into a Tokyo department store food hall in February, and the fruit counter can look more like a jewelry case. Glossy red berries sit in neat rows beside strawberries so pale they look almost unripe. Some shops even sell them one at a time. Breeders develop Japanese strawberries for sweetness, aroma and looks, and those pale berries are not unripe at all. Short on time? For a first white strawberry, Awayuki is a sensible pick, while Hatsukoi no Kaori suits aroma lovers. On the red side, Amaou and Tochiaika are easy places to start. Below, we compare five white varieties and two red favorites, then cover strawberry season in Japan, prices and where to buy them in Tokyo. Along the way, we flag what official records confirm and what is simply marketing. TOCWhat Makes Japanese Strawberries Special? Japanese strawberries stand out because prefectures and private breeders compete hard to create new varieties. Breeders aim them mainly at eating fresh. As a result, size, sweetness, aroma and appearance matter as much as yield. Shops sell most of them from winter to spring, when greenhouse fruit ripens slowly. Quick Facts: Japanese StrawberriesMain seasonDecember to May; Tokyo market ar...