Yubari King Melon (夕張メロン): The Royal Sweetness
The Yubari King Melon (夕張メロン) is one of Japan’s most luxurious and highly prized fruits, grown exclusively in Yubari, a small town in Hokkaido. This hybrid melon is a cross between two cantaloupe varieties—Earl’s Favourite and Burpee’s “Spicy”—carefully cultivated in greenhouses under controlled conditions to ensure perfect sweetness, texture, and shape.
What sets the Yubari King Melon apart is its smooth, netted rind, flawless roundness, and incredibly sweet, juicy orange flesh. Farmers dedicate meticulous care to each fruit, often trimming the vine to allow one melon per plant, ensuring all nutrients go into producing a single masterpiece.
These melons are regarded as a status symbol and are frequently gifted during Japan’s traditional “Ochugen” summer gift-giving season. The best specimens are auctioned at premium prices—sometimes fetching thousands of dollars—and packaged in ornate boxes like fine jewelry.
The Yubari King Melon’s reputation is not just about luxury, but also a symbol of Japanese dedication to craftsmanship, agricultural pride, and aesthetic perfection. Its flavor profile is a perfect balance of sweetness and aroma, offering a melt-in-your-mouth experience that makes it one of the most sought-after fruits in the world.
🍈 4 Fun Facts About the Yubari King Melon (夕張メロン)
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💰 Record-Breaking Price Tag
A pair of Yubari King Melons once sold at auction for a jaw-dropping ¥5 million (over $45,000)—making them the most expensive melons in the world! -
👑 Only One per Plant
Farmers in Yubari are so committed to perfection that they grow only one melon per vine to ensure all the nutrients create the juiciest, most flawless fruit possible. -
🎁 The Ultimate Gift
In Japan, Yubari King Melons are considered luxury gifts, often given during formal gift-giving seasons like Ochugen. They’re presented in elegant boxes and treated like precious treasures. -
🏆 Melon Beauty Contests Exist
Every season, the melons are graded in appearance, sweetness, and shape. Only the most perfect-looking melons make it to auction and elite gift shops!
