Yubari King Melon: The Crown Jewel of Hokkaido Fruits 🍈

Among Japan’s most luxurious agricultural treasures, the Yubari Melon stands out as a world-renowned symbol of sweetness, craftsmanship, and terroir. Grown exclusively in the small city of Yubari (Hokkaido Prefecture), the Yubari King Melon is not just a fruit—it is a cultural icon and a benchmark of premium produce. Whether you’re a gourmet enthusiast or a curious traveler, understanding the origins and unique qualities of this melon helps you appreciate why it often fetches sky-high prices at auctions.

A Brief History: Yubari City, Hokkaido Prefecture

Yubari is a small city in central Hokkaido, Japan, once known as the Coal Capital. Despite being a geographically small city, it was home to 120,000 people in the 1960s. A gradual shift away from coal as an energy source resulted in the closure of coal mines that employed the majority of the labour force. Coupled with financial mismanagement and failed investments in tourism, the city was forced to declare bankruptcy in 2007. Today, the city is home to less than 10% of the population in the 1960s. It’s population pyramid is extremely skewed, and it is said to have more residents above the age of 80 than below 40 years of age.

Forced by the need to reinvent post-bankruptcy, Yubari City sought new economic lifelines in the form of agriculture. Leveraging on the unique terroir of the region, local farmers focused on the cultivation of produce, particularly – the luxurious Yubari King Melon. This was a cumulative financial effort from local agricultural cooperatives (JA Yubari) and private auctions, individual farmers, as well as regional and local tourism boards. The Yubari King Melon became a new found source of revenue but beyond that, it is a symbol of the city’s resilience and craftsmanship, which has helped Yubari reposition itself on the global map through agriculture.

What is the Yubari Melon?

The Yubari Melon (officially called the Yubari King Melon) is a hybrid cantaloupe bred from two types of muskmelon: Earl’s Favourite and Burpee’s Spicy Cantaloupe. It goes by several names, including:

• Scientific Name: Cucumis melo var. reticulatus

• Common Names: Yubari Melon, Yubari King Melon, Hokkaido Melon

Origin and Terroir: Where Perfection Begin

The Yubari King Melon was first cultivated in 1961 as a way to help revitalize the region after the decline of its mining industry. Local farmers began experimenting with melon hybrids, eventually producing a cultivar that would become a global sensation. Every spring, the first harvest melons are sold at auction—often commanding prices in the thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars. In 2019, a pair of Yubari Melons sold for a record ¥5 million (over $45,000 USD at the time).

The fruits are meticulously cultivated through hand pollination, and are shaded with paper hats before ensuring optimal shape, webbing and textures. Beyond care and skill sets of the farmers, the exceptional flavour of the Yubari Melon is a product of terroir of Yubari City, Hokkaido. Key elements include:

• Volcanic Soil: Rich in minerals, the farms sit around Mt Yubari. Volcanic activity in the past has given rise to ideal soil conditions for melon cultivation

• Sharp Diurnal Temperature Swings: Temperatures influence sugar development in fruit. Swings in temperature, namely – the warm summer days and cool nights help concentrate sugar in the fruit

• Clean Glacial Water: Water content in fruits are high. In Cantaloupe Melons, it is said to be some where in the ranges of 80%. Pristine irrigation contributes to the Melon’s clean, pure taste.

How to Enjoy Yubari King Melon

Yubari Melons are typically sold in in high-end department stores or fruit parlours in major cities in Japan. Make sure to look for the official sticker of authenticity, which verifies that it’s a certified melon grown in Yubari. While sometimes used in desserts and parfaits, the fruit is best enjoyed as is. Once chilled, slice and enjoy fresh!

[Pro tip: Refrigerate for 2–3 hours before slicing to fully appreciate its juicy texture and aroma.]

Pre-Order – Premium Japanese Melons Delivery in Singapore

At Soshinsen, we have flight arrivals 4x per week. Pre-order your Yubari King Melons with us today and receive within a week. Only available for a limited duration every year, which generally begins at the end of May and ends in mid August. Pre-order your melons here!