Nyuzen Jumbo Suika: Where to Eat & Prices (Toyama)

A giant rugby-ball-shaped watermelon representing the town of Nyuzen, reaching about forty centimeters long and over fifteen kilograms. With more than a century of history, it is a brand crop registered as a Geographical Indication. Its overwhelming size leaves an impression at a single glance.

Highlights

It is grown in the sandy soil of the vast alluvial fan formed by the Kurobe River, using own-root cultivation without grafting. It offers the crisp bite of a true watermelon along with a juicy, refreshing, and refined sweetness. An oval giant, it reveals vivid red flesh when cut. Fittingly, the town of Nyuzen holds a friendship exchange with the city of Hami in China, itself known for the Hami melon, a bond that this giant watermelon helped forge.

Enjoying the Seasons

The season is summer, with the harvest peaking around July and August. Cherished as a summer treat to bite into after chilling, its large size makes it perfect for slicing and sharing among family and friends. As a rare brand melon with limited shipments, it can mostly be enjoyed only for a short window in summer.

Access and Basic Information

The town of Nyuzen, its home, is a rural area spreading across the Kurobe River fan. Nyuzen Station on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway is the nearest, and farm stands and roadside stations line up the melons in season. The spring water of the Kurobe River and the rural scenery of the fan offer a landscape rich in water and greenery to enjoy alongside.

Practical Travel Notes

• Season guide: summer, around July and August; because shipments are short and limited, visiting the source in summer is the surest way to try it.
• Buying: since it is large and heavy, using home delivery shipping eases the burden of carrying it; buying at farm stands or roadside stations is the guide.
• Size: about forty centimeters long and over fifteen kilograms, so it suits slicing and sharing among a large group.
• Nearby spots: the rural fan landscape and spring-water spots around Nyuzen offer scenery rich in water and greenery.

A Quick Tip

Because shipments are limited, visiting the area early in summer is the surest bet. Since it is large and hard to carry, using home delivery shipping is convenient.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• GI registration: Registered as Geographical Indication (GI) No. 53 on 15 December 2017 (Heisei 29), the first GI product in Toyama Prefecture. The registered producer body is the Minaho Agricultural Cooperative, and the production area is Nyuzen Town, Shimoniikawa District.
• Size: The GI registration details give an average weight of 17 to 19 kg. It is rugby-ball shaped, about 40 cm long and about 30 cm in diameter, and is shipped protected by a woven straw "santawara" cover.
• Best season: Harvested and shipped from mid-July to around early August. The window is short, so aiming for this period is the surest bet.
• Public facility where you can buy it: JA Minaho's farm shop "Aisai Hiroba" (3489-1 Nyuzen, Nyuzen Town / 0765-72-1192). Open 9:00 to 17:30 from April to November and 9:00 to 17:00 from December to March. Closed from 31 December to 3 January (with one closed day a month from January to March). Telephone orders are also accepted at the JA Minaho Farming Centre (0765-74-1699).

*Opening hours and prices at individual shops vary from shop to shop.

(Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Geographical Indication (GI) registered product "No. 53 Nyuzen Jumbo Watermelon"; official website of Nyuzen Town; Nyuzen Town tourism information site "Nyuzen Mania"; official website of JA Minaho)

Information Sources

This article is compiled from tourism guidance for Toyama Prefecture and information published by each shop. Prices, menus and seasons may change, so please check the official information of each shop for details.

Sightseeing Checklist

• Budget guide: From several thousand yen for a whole melon (depending on size)
• Where to eat it: Farm shops and roadside stations around Nyuzen Town, and shops across the prefecture
• Recommended time of day: During the day. Best in summer (July to August), when it is in season
• Avoiding the crowds: Popular in season; for gifts it is safest to order early
• Enjoy it together with: Mail order direct from the producing area, the Sugisawa no Sawasugi cedar grove in Nyuzen, the Kurobe River alluvial fan and Hisui (Jade) Coast