Long ago in Japan, fruits were called "water sweets." They were popularly categorized as confections in Japanese culture.  Such fruits included persimmons, nashi pears, peaches, ume, Chinese apples (Malus asiatica), grapes, and so on.  Prior to the Meiji era (before 1868), persimmons and nashi were the main fruits that people enjoyed.

From the Meiji era on, many types and varieties of fruit were introduced from abroad and started being cultivated in Japan in a form adapted to the Japanese climate.  A number of Japanese citrus fruits are grown in or strongly associated with Japan.  Many of these fruits are of Chinese origin, but have been modified or specially bred for cultivation in Japan.

Japan is a long, narrow country with much steep, rugged terrain.  The amount of arable land per farming household is small and the high-mix, low-volume production comes with high costs.  So there is a focus on selecting and cultivating varieties that both look and taste good, which is important for table fruits.  Also, because of the custom of giving fruits as gifts, they are presented and sold as regional specialty items at luxury fruit stores located in the most prestigious urban areas, and even handled as luxury goods overseas.

The volume of fruit production in Japan 2006, including fruit trees, watermelons, melons, and strawberries, totaled approximately 3.85 million tons.  In order of higher production, the fruits were mandarins (mikan), apples, watermelons, nashi, persimmons, melons, grapes, strawberries, peaches, and ume.  In terms of fruit production volume, the most commonly grown fruits in Japan is also produced widely in other parts of the world.

In apples, the variety with the largest production in Japan since 1981 is the Fuji apple, which has won worldwide attention for its quality.  Japan currently has the largest production and consumption of dessert strawberries in the world.  Their color and shape are truly outstanding and they are available almost anytime throughout the year, although the best season is from January to March.

Melons are the prototypical luxury fruit in Japan, and is often given as a high-priced gift.  Nonetheless, moderately priced melons are more common.  A wide variety of melons is available in Japan, including green fleshed melons like muskmelons, orange fleshed melons like cantaloupes and even white and yellow fleshed varieties.