Thank You Melon (サンキューメロン)

Japan’s most famous gift melons wear a fine white net. Thank You Melon (サンキューメロン) does not. Instead, this pale, smooth-skinned melon with green flesh grows only in the Hachiryu district of Mitane Town. That district lies on the Sea of Japan coast of Akita Prefecture. Outside a short early-summer window, you will struggle to find one at all. This guide explains what Thank You Melon is and how it relates to the wider family of Hachiryu melons. It also covers how sand dunes became melon country and what the fruit tastes like. Finally, it shows where travelers can buy one. TOCWhat Is Thank You Melon? Thank You Melon is a melon variety that, according to Mitane Town, farmers grow only in its Hachiryu district. Japan’s tourism agency calls it a particularly prized variety in an area already known for sweet melons. Its season is also short, and you mainly find it at local farm stands or through limited seasonal sales. That is why so few people outside Akita have tasted it. Quick Facts Japanese nameサンキューメロン (Sankyū Meron) Where it growsOnly in the Hachiryu district of Mitane Town, Akita Prefecture RegionSea of Japan coast, northern Tohoku Main seasonJune to July, according to Japan’s touri...