Why is pineapple so popular in Ishigaki Island? Introducing popular souvenirs and recommended stores where you can taste pineapple.

If you go to Ishigaki Island, you must eat pineapple!

Ishigaki Island is known as a paradise in the southern garden, but it is actually a pineapple paradise with numerous pineapple farms.

Pineapples grown in a warm climate and in the great outdoors are characterized by their rich sweetness and refreshing acidity, making them a unique delicacy.

In this article, we will tell you about the appeal of Ishigaki Island pineapples and the varieties available, which you must try when you visit Ishigaki Island!

If you are wondering what to enjoy in Ishigaki Island, please check out Pineapple.

 

When is the pineapple harvest time?

The pineapple harvest season on Ishigaki Island starts early, in mid-April, and peaks around July.

The harvest season starts mainly with the Bogor pineapple and peach pineapple, which are in season around spring.

 

How to harvest pineapples?

When the harvest season arrives, pineapples are harvested when about 30% to 50% of the fruit has begun to change color, starting with those with a strong aroma and soft flesh.

To harvest, cut off the stem at the bottom of the pineapple.

After harvest, pineapples do not last long, so they are usually shipped early and placed on store shelves.

 

Main pineapple varieties harvested on Ishigaki Island

A wide variety of pineapple varieties are grown on Ishigaki Island, each with a different flavor.

Therefore, if you are going to eat pineapples in Ishigaki Island, it would be fun to compare not only one variety but several.
Here are some types of pineapples available on Ishigaki Island.

Please find your favorite pineapple and try it locally.

The pineapple you taste there will be even more delicious!

 

Smooth Cayenne

We begin with the Smooth Cayenne, a pineapple native to Hawaii.

 

About Features

Smooth Cayenne, known for its balance of sweetness and acidity, is a pineapple native to Hawaii and a staple in Okinawa.

If there are no typhoons, you can enjoy it from June to mid-August.

The smooth cayenne is also very satisfying because the fruit itself is large and has a high sugar content!

 

peach pineapple

Introducing the Peach Pineapple, a pineapple with a peach-like aroma.

Check it out if you want to enjoy the rich aroma!

 

About Features

This pineapple was named peach pineapple because of its peach-like aroma.

They are shipped from around spring to summer, so you will be able to enjoy them for a relatively long time.

Peach pineapples have a lovely small appearance and the flesh is soft enough to be eaten down to the core.

 

Bogor pine

Introducing the Bogor pineapple, a pineapple that can be torn and eaten.

 

About Features

Like the peach pineapple, this one will be ready to enjoy in the spring.

The Bogor pineapple is also famous as a pineapple that can be torn into pieces, and its skin is soft and the fruit is edible to the core.

Pineapple has a hard skin that is difficult to cut, but Bogor pineapple can be eaten without cutting.

Furthermore, the high sugar content and low acidity make it easy to eat.

 

summer gold

Summer Gold, with its elegant taste, is introduced here.

 

About Features

Summer Gold is a relatively new variety, cultivated in small numbers, and is a valuable pineapple.

The taste is not the rich sweetness typical of tropical pineapples, but a moderate combination of sourness and sweetness, combined with a fresh aroma that gives it an elegant flavor.

Try it if you don't like high sugar content or if you are tired of sweet pineapple.

 

gold barrel

Introducing Gold Barrel, a valuable variety that is difficult to cultivate.

 

About Features

This is another new variety, but it is a rare pineapple that is said to grow well only if it is grown with particular attention to the number of years.

It has a very delicious flavor with a concentrated sweetness.

It is a rare variety, but if you find it in a store or elsewhere, please pick it up.

 

Honey Bright

Introducing Honey Bright, a pineapple with virtually no thorns.

 

About Features

The first noticeable characteristic is that it is easy to handle with very few leaf thorns, which are present in other pineapples.

In addition, while the pulp itself is firm, it has a rich sweetness with little acidity.

It is a pineapple with such a fine taste, sweet but not too strong.

 

julio star

Julio Star is the best place to eat pineapple starting in August.

 

About Features

Late in the shipping season, Juliostar is a new variety of premium pineapple, but its popularity is expected to make it widely available in the market in the future.

Juliostar is very juicy with even higher sugar content and more juice than Gold Barrel.

 

sandaluce

Introducing the very sweet pineapple, sundoche.

 

About Features

The most important characteristic of Sandorche is its extremely high sugar content.

In addition to its high sugar content, it has low acidity, which fully enhances its sweetness.

Since it is excellent when eaten chilled, eating it in the hot summer will surely give you a tropical feeling.

 

Recommended places to buy and taste pineapple in Ishigaki Island.

From here, we will introduce stores where you can enjoy pineapples in Ishigaki Island!

All of the restaurants have attractive menus, so check them out before your trip.

 

pineapple diner

We introduce Pineapple Shokudo, a collaboration of Ishigaki Island pineapple and cafe lunch.

 

Features of the restaurant and popular menu

Opened in 2022, this restaurant has a tatami room inside the restaurant, so families and children can spend a relaxing time together.

Popular menu items include Ishigaki beef curry with grilled pineapple boldly placed on top of rice and pineapple smoothies.

The sweet Ishigaki Island pineapple spices up the delicious dish and enhances its flavor.

 

Basic Information

Open 11:30-17:00 (last order 16:20)

Closed: No regular holidays

Address: 1F Corpo Kaneshiro, 728-11 Okawa, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan

Parking Yes

 

Cape Nobare Tourist Farm

We will introduce you to Cape Bale Tourist Farm, which has a café with a spectacular view.

You will be satisfied with the food you enjoy while feeling the nature of Ishigaki Island.

 

Features of the restaurant and popular menu

Cape Nobare Tourist Farm offers a menu using pineapples grown on the farm at its on-site café.

Resh juice, in which you can enjoy whole pineapples, and Yaeyama soba (buckwheat noodles) and soki soba (buckwheat noodles), which are standard Ishigaki Island gourmet dishes, are also popular.

With the Pacific Ocean spread out before you, you can enjoy a moment of healing far removed from everyday life.

 

Basic Information

Business hours: 10:00-16:00

Closed: Thursday

Address 165-395 Momosato, Ishigaki City, Okinawa

Parking Yes

 

SHAVESHAKE

If you want a pineapple shake, SHAVESHAKE is the place to go.

 

Features of the restaurant and popular menu

SHAVESHAKE specializes in fresh shakes.

The Ishigaki Island Pineapple Shave Shake, made with plenty of Ishigaki Island pineapple, is very popular.

You can enjoy a new kind of shake topped with shaved pineapple fruit that has been flash-frozen and shaved into a shake.

You should definitely visit on a hot day during sightseeing.

 

Basic Information

Business hours: 9:00-17:00

Closed: No regular holidays

Address: 913 Kabira, Ishigaki City, Okinawa

Parking Yes

 

Hikarirakuen

Kourakaku is a store that offers seasonal fruits in the form of smoothies and juices.

 

Features of the restaurant and popular menu

Here you can enjoy fresh juices, frappes, and smoothies made with seasonal tropical fruits from Ishigaki Island.

During the season when pineapples begin to appear, pineapple smoothies that take full advantage of the flavor of the ingredients are very popular.

An open terrace is also available, so you can enjoy a stylish moment with a smoothie in hand.

 

Basic Information

Business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Closed: No regular holidays

Address: 1535-19, Aza-Heitoku, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan

Parking Yes

 

Pineapple Juice Yuntaku

Introducing Yuntaku, a store specializing in "island pineapple" juice.

 

Features of the restaurant and popular menu

The green-toned store with an open terrace has an appearance that would look great on SNS.

The popular menu item is pineapple juice, where you can taste the whole juice of Ishigaki Island pineapples at a reasonable price.

They also ship pineapples regionally, making them a great souvenir for relatives and friends.

 

Basic Information

Business hours: 9:00-17:00

Closed: No holidays

Address: 165-130 Momosato, Ishigaki City, Okinawa, Japan

Parking Yes

 

Pineapple is a popular souvenir

Pineapples are also popular as souvenirs, and pineapples for souvenirs are sold at various places for visitors to Ishigaki Island.

Why not buy a pineapple as a souvenir of this fascinating pineapple that you can only taste here?

 

peach pineapple

The peach pineapple is small enough to buy as a souvenir to take home.

Many people use it not only for eating but also for interior decoration, and it has a lovely appearance.

They are also reasonably priced, so you can buy a lot of them.

 

Where to buy

Peach pineapples can be purchased at JA Okinawa's direct sales store, Yuratiku Market.

Mailing service is also available if you are unable to bring it back yourself.

Other peach pineapples can be purchased at souvenir stores and unattended sales points.

 

Pineapple Cake from Ishigaki Island, Okinawa

Easy pineapple cakes are also available to share the deliciousness of Ishigaki Island pineapples with a wider audience.

Pineapple cake is made with Ishigaki Island pineapple jam wrapped in soft cookie dough and baked savory.

The rich, addictive taste will make you want to eat so many of them that you will become addicted.

 

Where to buy

Pineapple cake can be purchased at the souvenir shop at Ishigakijima Airport and at stores of each brand.

 

dried fruit

Dried fruits are also very popular as souvenirs in Ishigaki Island.

By drying pineapple in its most delicious state to make dried fruit, the flavor of pineapple can be concentrated.

Also used in dried fruit is a mix of peach pineapple and Bogor, which is characterized by its high sugar content and therefore softness.

It is of course delicious eaten as is, but we also recommend mixing it with homemade sweets and herbal teas.

 

Where to buy

Ishigaki Island SUN Farm (address: 1662-79 Hirate, Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture), souvenir shop in the airport, and other online stores.

 

Can I enjoy the harvest experience on Ishigaki Island?

You can not only buy and eat pineapples in Ishigaki Island, but also experience harvesting them yourself.

It is rare to experience pineapple harvesting in daily life, so when you visit Ishigaki Island, please enjoy the local pineapple harvesting experience!

You can even eat the pineapple you harvested yourself, which will surely be a memory of a lifetime.

 

native pineapple (Pinus nipponica)

Nai Cha~Pine offers a harvest experience tour during the summer season.

The farm boasts pesticide-free and pesticide-reduced pineapples, which are popular for their natural sweetness.

You can pick those delicious pineapples and eat them on the spot, but they also come with a souvenir to take home.

Why not experience it to create memories of your trip?

 

summary

On Ishigaki Island, there are many places where you can enjoy various kinds of pineapples!

Depending on the variety, whole ones can be purchased at reasonable prices.

Enjoy the sweet pineapples of Ishigaki Island and forget about the heat during your trip!