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Japan is a unique country with a rich cultural heritage. The country is divided into 47 prefectures – administrative divisions similar to districts. Of these 47, three of these prefectures produce the best ume plums in Japan.
Here are the top three prefectures of Japan famous for producing the best ume plums.
Wakayama Prefecture
Ume plums from the Wakayama prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan are some of the best ume plums produced in all of Japan. It is also the highest producer of ume plums, producing about 65% of Japan’s total ume plum produce. Nanko ume is the main variety of plums produced in the Wakayama prefecture. The plums are so popular here that the plum blossom is regarded as the official flower of the Wakayama prefecture.
Gunma Prefecture
The Gunma Prefecture is mountainous lying on the Honshu island surrounded by land on all sides. The Gunma Prefecture is the second-largest producer of ume plums in Japan, accounting for about 5% of Japan’s total plum produce. The prefecture organizes the renowned Misato Ume Festival each year throughout March, where visitors can enjoy the spectacular view of over 100,000 ume trees in bloom and buy ume sweets, snacks, umeshu drinks, etc.
Mie Prefecture
The third-largest producer of ume plums in Japan is the Mie prefecture. This prefecture accounts for about 2% of the country’s total plum produce. The Mie prefecture lies along the coastline, near the Wakayama prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The Mie prefecture also hosts a plum festival like the Gunma prefecture, called the Inabe Plum Festival at the Inabe Plum Grove, located in the Agricultural Park in Inabe. This park is one of the best spots in Japan to catch a view of the gorgeous plum blossoms.
Wakayama, Gunma, and Mie are thus the top three plum-producing prefectures of Japan, accounting for about 70% of Japan’s total plum production. They produce the finest ume plums in the country, which are used to make the delicious umeshu. To produce good umeshu, you need good ume plums, and these three prefectures grow the perfect plums for this.
