Japanese Citrus Season Calendar
When Japanese Citrus Fruits Are in Season
Discover when Japanese citrus fruits are in season. From sweet mikan in winter to premium varieties like Setoka and Dekopon, this guide shows the best time to enjoy each fruit.
Japan has many unique citrus fruits that are harvested at different times of the year. This calendar shows when the most popular Japanese citrus varieties are in season.
When Is Japanese Citrus in Season?
Japanese citrus season typically runs from October to April, with peak availability in winter (December–February).
- 🍊 Early season: October – November
- 🍊 Peak season: December – February
- 🍊 Late season: March – April
Quick Japanese Citrus Season Guide
The quick guide below shows when major Japanese citrus fruits are typically harvested and available. For a more detailed list, see the full 100-variety harvest calendar further down this page.
| Month | Citrus in Season |
|---|---|
| October | Mikan (early), Sudachi, Kabosu |
| November | Mikan, Yuzu |
| December | Mikan, Iyokan, Beni Madonna, Yuzu |
| January | Mikan, Iyokan, Dekopon, Beni Madonna |
| February | Dekopon, Setoka, Hassaku |
| March | Setoka, Kanpei, Kiyomi, Hassaku, Amanatsu |
| April | Kanpei, Kiyomi, Hassaku, Amanatsu |
Japanese Citrus by Season
Autumn (Early Season)
The Japanese citrus season begins in autumn. Early mikan varieties appear first, followed by aromatic citrus such as sudachi, kabosu, and yuzu. These fruits are often fresher, brighter, and more refreshing in flavor.
Winter (Peak Season)
Winter is the peak season for Japanese citrus. This is when many of the most popular fruits are widely available, including mikan, iyokan, and dekopon. Winter citrus is often sweeter thanks to natural sugar development during cooler weather.
Spring (Late Season)
In spring, premium late-season varieties such as setoka, kanpei, kiyomi, hassaku, and amanatsu become the highlight. These citrus fruits often have richer sweetness, lower acidity, and deeper flavor complexity.
Japanese Citrus Harvest Calendar (100 Varieties)
Looking for a more complete Japanese citrus season chart? The calendar below shows the typical harvest season of around 100 Japanese citrus varieties throughout the year.
This extended citrus harvest calendar is designed for readers who want to explore not only popular fruits like Mikan, Setoka, Dekopon, Kanpei, and Iyokan, but also many lesser-known Japanese citrus varieties.
Use this table to compare harvest timing across the year and discover when each citrus is generally in season in Japan. Harvest timing can vary by region, weather, cultivation method, and specific strain.
Looking for citrus available right now? Use this calendar to find what’s in season.
How to read this chart: ● = typical harvest season / – = off season
Swipe sideways to view all months on mobile.
| Variety | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unshu Mikan（温州みかん） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● |
| Setoka（せとか） | – | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dekopon（デコポン） | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Kanpei（甘平） | – | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Iyokan（伊予柑） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Yuzu（柚子） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● | – |
| Sudachi（すだち） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● | – |
| Kabosu（カボス） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● | – |
| Hassaku（八朔） | – | ● | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Amanatsu（甘夏） | – | ● | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Beni Madonna（紅まどんな） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kiyomi（清見） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Harumi（はるみ） | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Natsumikan（夏みかん） | – | ● | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Anseikan（安政柑） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Buntan（文旦） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kawachi Bankan（河内晩柑） | – | ● | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Amakusa（天草） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Harehime（はれひめ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Beni Princess（紅プリンセス） | – | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Blood Orange（ブラッドオレンジ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Navel Orange（ネーブルオレンジ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Sweet Spring（スイートスプリング） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Haruka（はるか） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Hime Koharu（媛小春） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Nishinokaori（西之香） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Ponkan（ポンカン） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tankan（タンカン） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Shiranui（不知火） | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Oroblanco（オロブランコ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Hyuganatsu（日向夏） | – | – | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sanbokan（三宝柑） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kinkoji（金柑子） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Keraji（ケラジ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kabuchi（カーブチー） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kunenbo（クネンボ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Tosa Buntan（土佐文旦） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kiyomi Tangor（清見タンゴール | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Okitsu Wase（興津早生） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● |
| Miyagawa Wase（宮川早生） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● |
| Aoshima Mikan（青島みかん） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● |
| Seinannohikari（西南のひかり） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Asumi（あすみ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Reiko（麗紅） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Tamami（たまみ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Shiranuhi Early（早生不知火） | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tsunokaori（津の香） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Banpeiyu（晩白柚） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Chandler Pomelo（チャンドラポメロ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Egami Buntan（江上文旦） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Fukuhara Orange（福原オレンジ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Golden Orange（黄金柑） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Hirado Buntan（平戸文旦） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Iyo no Hikari（伊予のひかり） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Izu no Haru（伊豆の春） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kawanonatsudaidai（川野夏橙） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Kusumoto Buntan（楠本） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Mihaya（みはや） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Minneola Tangelo（ミネオラ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Murcott（マーコット） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Nova Mandarin（ノバ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Okitsu Ponkan（興津ポンカン） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Page Mandarin（ページマンダリン） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Owari Satsuma（オワリサツマ） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● |
| Shunkokan（春光柑） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Shiranuhi Premium（不知火プレミアム） | ● | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tosa Gold（土佐黄金柑） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Ujukitsu（宇樹橘） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Yamabuki（山吹） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Yamato Buntan（大和文旦） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Yoshida Navel（吉田ネーブル） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Hanayu（ハナユ） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Tada Nishiki（多田錦） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Zabon（ザボン） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
| Nagato Yuzukichi（長門ゆずきち） | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● | ● | ● | – |
| Iyo Gold（伊予ゴールド） | ● | ● | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ● |
Legend: ● = typical harvest season / – = off season
Not sure which citrus to try this season? See the best Japanese citrus →
Explore Popular Japanese Citrus
How to Choose Citrus at the Right Season
Seasonal timing affects sweetness, acidity, juiciness, texture, and price. Winter citrus tends to be sweeter due to natural sugar development, while late-season varieties often offer richer sweetness and more complex flavor. If you are looking for refreshing and aromatic citrus, autumn varieties can also be a great choice.
FAQ
When is mikan season?
Mikan season usually runs from October to January, with the peak in winter.
What is the sweetest Japanese citrus?
Setoka and Kanpei are known for their exceptional sweetness.
When is Japanese citrus at its peak?
Japanese citrus is at its peak between December and February.
Learn how these citrus fruits taste:
Japanese Citrus Flavor Wheel