Nijisseiki Pear and Tottori Pear Agriculture: Autumn Sweetness at Japan's Top Producing Region

Tottori Prefecture ranks first in Japan for production of the "Nijisseiki" (Twentieth Century) pear, and the Nijisseiki pear is known nationwide as the brand fruit that represents Tottori. Its appeal lies in its juiciness, its crisp bite, and the balance of refined sweetness with refreshing acidity. Tottori, famous for its sand dunes, is in fact also a kingdom of pears, and many people visit from summer into autumn in search of the fruit at its seasonal best.

Nijisseiki Pears and Pear Growing in Tottori

The Nijisseiki pear is a variety discovered in Chiba Prefecture during the Meiji era, later introduced to Tottori, which developed into a major growing region. The well-drained soil is suited to its cultivation, and the pears raised with great care are characterised by pale yellow-green skin with an almost translucent quality and juicy flesh. Growers continue to protect quality through labour-intensive work such as bagging the fruit and thinning, and Tottori's pears are highly regarded as a brand fruit the region is proud to send across Japan.

Over a Century of Cultivation History

The Nijisseiki pear, discovered in Matsudo City, Chiba Prefecture, is said to have been introduced to Tottori Prefecture in 1904 by the hand of Kitawaki Eiji, and from there the history of the growing region began. According to the Tottori City tourism site, the history of cultivation within the prefecture already numbers more than 100 years, and as the representative green pear variety it maintains the top position in Japan for domestic wholesale volume. The Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum (Acepack Nashikko-kan) in Kurayoshi City displays a giant Nijisseiki pear tree, and exhibitions such as the "Living with Pears: The Story Theatre of the Nijisseiki Pear" trace the history of the growing region.

Not Only Nijisseiki: Tottori's Pear Varieties

Tottori has a range of distinctive varieties besides the Nijisseiki pear, so pears can be enjoyed over a long period from summer to winter.

• Shinkansen: An original variety bred in Tottori Prefecture, born in 2008, from a cross of "Chikusui x Osa Nijisseiki." The fruit weighs around 400g and the sugar content is around 14 degrees (sometimes reaching 15 in the sweetest fruit), making it top class in sweetness for an early-season red pear. Its qualities are overflowing juice and a crisp texture, and it is harvested from late August to early September.
• Natsuhime: A Tottori Prefecture-bred variety born from the same "Chikusui x Osa Nijisseiki" cross as Shinkansen. The fruit weighs around 350g with a sugar content of around 12 degrees, and is characterised by less acidity and stronger sweetness than the Nijisseiki pear.
• Oshu: A late-season red pear bred by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2003. A grandchild variety of the Nijisseiki pear, from "Cili (Tsuri) x Nijisseiki" x "Shinsetsu," it has a distinctive oval shape like a rugby ball. Tottori Prefecture boasts the largest cultivation area in Japan.
• Atago: A variety bred by Kikuchi Akio in 1927 from "Nijisseiki x Amanogawa." The largest fruit exceeds 2kg, making it among the biggest pears in Japan, and it is also known as a year-end gift.
• Shinsetsu: A red pear released by the Niigata Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station in 1949 from "Okusankichi x Imamuraaki." It is a rare variety with little production nationally, and Tottori Prefecture grows the most of it.

How to Spot a Good Nijisseiki Pear

The Nijisseiki pear harvest continues from late August to early October, with the peak of shipments in September. According to the Tottori City tourism site, pears in the "tora-ure" (tiger-ripe) state - where the whole skin turns greenish-yellow and yellow patterns appear scattered among the green - are said to have a high sugar content. Fruit that feels heavy in the hand, has no marks on the surface, and is symmetrical in shape are the marks of good quality. If you prefer a crisp bite, choose yellow-green fruit; if you prioritise sweetness, choose fruit with stronger yellow tones.

The Secret of That Juicy Flavour

The greatest appeal of the Nijisseiki pear is above all its abundant juice and crisp texture. One bite and refreshing sweetness with just the right acidity fills your mouth, while plenty of juice quenches your thirst. Eaten chilled, it offers a coolness perfect for the hot season. The clean, refined flavour also has a refreshing aftertaste, so delicious that you want to eat one after another.

Pear Picking and Pear Spots

In Tottori, tourist orchards offering pear picking open in various places when the season comes. Choosing your own pear in the orchard and tasting it freshly picked on the spot is a special experience. At the "Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum (Acepack Nashikko-kan)" in Kurayoshi City you can learn about the history and cultivation of pears in an enjoyable way, and also compare different varieties by tasting. At direct-sales outlets you can buy fresh pears harvested that day, which are also popular as gifts. Combined with a visit to the sand dunes, you can fully enjoy the appeal of Tottori's pears.

Main Areas for Pear Picking

In Fukube-cho, Tottori City, about 30 pear-picking orchards stand in a row about 3 minutes by car from the Tottori Sand Dunes, in what is known as the "Fukube Pear-Picking Highway." The pear fields along the dunes, brushed by the sea breeze of the Sea of Japan, offer a view of both the sea and the orchards at once - a landscape unique to this growing region. "Sankoen," beside Lake Tanegaike, is a long-established tourist orchard founded in 1904, growing more than ten varieties with different harvest times and busy until around mid-November. "Hatto Fruit Kanko-en" in Yazu Town is right beside the roadside station "Hatto," where besides pears you can also taste apples, grapes and chestnuts, with all-you-can-eat apples and pears within the orchard. It is 6 minutes on foot from Tokumaru Station on the Wakasa Railway, so you can enjoy fruit picking even without a car.

How to Enjoy Nashikko-kan, and Pear Souvenirs

The Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum has exhibits such as "Growing Pears" and "Pears and the People of the World" on the 1st floor, and a children's "Wonder Garden" and a materials exhibition room on the 2nd floor, so you can spend a relaxed visit even on a rainy day. In the "today's tasting comparison," where the varieties change daily, you can experience for yourself how completely different the aroma and texture can be between varieties of the same fruit. The signature item at the museum's own fruit parlour is the "Nijisseiki pear soft-serve ice cream," made using puree of Nijisseiki pears from Togo. The "Nashikko mini parfait" topped with pear is also popular (last order 16:40). Even outside the season when fresh pears are on sale, processed products making use of pears - Nijisseiki pear jam and yokan, pear tea, Shinkansen syrup and more - are available all year round at places such as the Tottori City Furusato Bussankan.

Best Season and Access

Nijisseiki pears are in season from late August through September, and pear picking can be enjoyed in the same period. New varieties have increased in recent years, so pears can now be enjoyed over a long period from summer to autumn. For access, head to the tourist orchards by car or bus from stations such as Tottori Station and Kurayoshi Station on the JR San-in Main Line. For the Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum, take a bus from JR Kurayoshi Station. Combining a visit with tours of the prefecture's other famous spots such as the Tottori Sand Dunes is also recommended. Many orchards handle direct-from-the-grower mail order, so you can enjoy juicy seasonal pears at home too. Come and taste the bounty of the season in the home of Japan's number one Nijisseiki pear.

Practical Information

• Best season: Nijisseiki pears are usually in season from late August to September. Pear picking is centred on this period, and some orchards operate from late July to mid-November, changing varieties as they go.
• Fees: The Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum (Acepack Nashikko-kan) costs 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for junior high and elementary school students; free for pre-school children (group discounts for 10 or more and 20 or more). Entry fees for pear picking, whether all-you-can-eat is offered, and charges for fruit taken home differ by orchard, so check each orchard's official information.
• Opening hours: The Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum is open 9:00-17:00 (admission until 16:40). It is closed on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Mondays of each month (or, if that is a public holiday or substitute holiday, the next day that is not a holiday) and from December 29 to January 3.
• Access: The Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum is at 198-4 Dakyoji-cho, Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture (inside Kurayoshi Park Square), with Kurayoshi Station on the JR San-in Main Line as the nearest station. Tourist orchards are dotted around the prefecture, in Tottori City (around the Tottori Sand Dunes), Kurayoshi City and elsewhere, so travelling by car is convenient.
• Parking: Free at the Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum (755 spaces for ordinary cars, 13 for buses).

*Pear orchards are the private property of growers, and during the harvest season many of the fields are actively being worked. Never enter an orchard without permission or pick fruit from pear trees outside the orchard grounds. For pear picking, complete registration at reception before entering, and even where all-you-can-eat is offered, follow each orchard's rules about taking fruit outside. Many orchards require advance reservations for groups and during busy periods, so check by telephone or on the official website before visiting.*

📚 Sources

Acepack Nashikko-kan (Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum) official website, "Visitor information"; Tottori City tourism site (Tottori City Tourism and Convention Association), pear-picking information

*The above is based on information published by each facility and local government. Hours and fees are subject to change, so please check official sources before visiting.*