you will need to define a latin name for the plant you are looking for... do you have any info beyond old memories???

maybe you can glean one from the link below ....

then take that name back to the search. and add 'price' after such.... and see what you find ...

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffcm&q=Japanese+strawberry&ia=web

Try Kitazawa Seeds in CA

Thank you kitasei2 but they have everything but strawberry :(

It’s very likely that seed is unavailable for the cultivar you ate in Japan, even in Japan. Named cultivars are propagated vegetatively not by seed.

The deal is that everything is testier in Japan. Even if you go to a French restaurant in Kyoto the food is better than in Paris! The strawberry which we bought were the bulk strawberry - not the very expensive one and we paid something very reasonable - like $5 per 500 gr. I believe that any popular strawberry common in Japan is better than the one which we can get in USA. Here we care about productions - which means that we can get a lot of fruit from square foot which not always go together with quality.

This article says that Tochiotome is the commonest cultivar in Japan. https://www.agrinet.pref.tochigi.lg.jp/strawberry-kingdom-tochigi/lineup.php

maybe you could Google that particular cultivar.

btw I’m not sure I’d agree with your estimate that Japan doesn’t care about high production or cultivate intensively. Quite the opposite applies in a country with relatively little agricultural land compared with the USA. Most strawberries produced in Japan are artificially forced in greenhouses, not grown by merry peasants in an extensive bucolic setup.

Well this is an interesting topic! First I concur that Japanese fruit is superlative - in taste as well as aesthetics. They are miles above American fruit, snd even better than English strawberries. I agree they are intensively planted, but on a small scale not an industrial scale which is what I think the OP was comparing them to. There is labor intensive attention to care at each step of the growing process through distribution and final sale. The fruit is offered at its perfection of ripeness, blemish free. Strawberries there now seem to be grown in hanging troughs or baskets rather than sprawling on the ground. The information on the cultivar is a great starting point. Try them in your locale and be prepared to love them tenderly. As I intend to do with my Momotaro tomato seeds ( 12 seeds in a packet!).

What I didn’t like about fruit in Japan was the amount of packaging used. Even single apples were wrapped in multiple plastic layers. In fact everything in shops was wrapped to excess. There didn't appear to be any concern about waste. Btw we visited a specialist fruit farm and bought some of their super-hyped apples. They looked perfect but proved insipid.

What?!?! Are you guys comparing store-bought fruit across countries? Because home-grown, plant-ripened fruit will knock your socks off and will beat store-bought from any country any day of the week. No need to hunt down "Japanese" strawberry seed -- pick up some strawberry starts, which are readily available this time of year, and have at it.

@mxk3 - I am taking about supermarket bought strawberry in Japan which is much (!) better then any strawberry I was able to find at farmers markets, pick your strawberry etc. I am trying to grow myself but something tell me I am not going to get the same fruit after I spoke to experts at Burpee etc.

I've tried growing strawberries a few times and quit. I grow organically and I've had trouble with the health of the plant, the lack of taste in the fruit and managing the work it takes to keep them growing in the bed. And let's not forget having to net them right so the birds don't get them and get that done in time. And I ordered from a reputable fruit nursery and chose all the most recommended varieties. As much as we enjoy strawberries, it's just not the same as it was years ago.

@prairiemoon Which varieties did you grow? Why do you think it was better in the past?

The last time I grew strawberries the varieties I tried were 'Sparkle' and 'Earliglow'. Why was it better in the past? Because I started gardening 40+ years ago and I remember. I also am old enough to remember what strawberries growing in the yard tasted like when I was a kid, which was an even longer time ago. [g] I ordered from Nourse Farms which has a solid reputation and 174 positive reviews right now.

Prairie: No doubt there's differences between cultivars, but I wonder if we perceive things as tasting better and smelling better when we were younger because as we age our senses decline. Although I think stuff bought in the store did taste better way back because we pretty much only bought things in season other than bananas, apples, and oranges, stuff wasn't shipped from all over the country, let alone the world -- we *never* saw a watermelon or strawberries in the market in the middle of winter when I was a kid. Remember when getting "sweet corn" was a big deal to look forward to every summer? It sure was for my dad!

Absolutely mxk3 - I agree, probably has something to do with our senses not being as good as when we were young. But even taking that into consideration, 60 years ago, when I was a kid, agriculture was done a lot differently and better IMO. And as you point out, we bought more locally, in season. And there were a whole lot more local growers where you could pick up a few quarts of strawberries at a stand. And yes, waiting for sweet corn every year...it was great. Now a large percentage of corn is GMO. Waiting for watermelon, it was so sweet!

I was watching Gardener's World and they were talking about the laws that are now in place in the UK to keep foreign plant material out of their country. I think they said there were x amount of new diseases and pests being discovered in the past 10 years. This is a link to some discussion on it but not the exact information I was referring to...

New pest and disease risk

Some of the problem is the importing of plants expecting to be able to keep out the diseases and bugs. It can't be done. Now they're restricting importing, but it's sort of like shutting the barn door after the cows are already out.

If you want to know what strawberries used to taste like 150 years ago order a jar of "Little Scarlet" strawberry preserves from wilkin &Sons LTD. England and the only place they're commercially grown. The berry originals were brought to England centuries ago from North America and never altered. The berries are almost considered a national treasure in England but here they're considered wild strawberries.

Strawberries are native to North America, not japan. I really don't think they have any special better hybrid variety than the rest of the world just maybe different cultivation practices, maybe mineral rich volcanic soil but who knows. I have two different kinds of sol on my land, Muck and Sandy loam. The potatoes I grow in the Muck have a distinctive unique flavor much better than the same seed grown the same way in the Sandy loam which tastes like any other store bought tater. I really think it's the same with your Japanese strawberries and now they grow them.

Vidalia onions are only called Vidalia in the southern counties of Georgia and protected by trademark and people think they taste better, but are just Granex varieties which grown any other place are just called sweet onions. Ooh one more; The sun shines the same around the world, but seems to shine brighter when you're in Hawaii, could this be a plausible explanation caused by the euphoria of just being in the Japanese sunshine?

After some research it looks like the tastiest strawberries available in the USA is Mara Des Bois variety. Can somebody verify this?

Taste is subjective and influenced by so many variables that I don’t think anyone can tell you which variety has the ‘best’ flavour. Did you read the article I linked to which discusses Japanese cultivars and production methods?

"Tastiest" is subjective, as is "better". Flavor can vary year to year even when growing the same cultivar, depending on growing conditions that year.

Tastiest also varies by individual taste. I like sweet with a touch of tartness and softer verities, my wife likes super sweet, no tartness and firm. We both agree good aroma is required. It comes down to trials based on the description of the verities and the process of elimination. I had a keeper once but decided to use the patch for something else and then couldn't remember what I had. I have to verities growing now and not happy with either one, and don't remember the names. Daa..........me.

"But even taking that into consideration, 60 years ago, when I was a kid, agriculture was done a lot differently and better IMO."

But here again, "better" is subjective. If better means being able to produce more food per acre, modern farming practices are far better, but if better means less harmful effects on environment then I would tend to agree with you (not just the farming practices, but the environmental effects shipping of food very long distances). I certainly am no expert, though, and I find it an interesting topic for discussion.

I live where strawberry farms used to be a very big deal. Started by Japanese immigrants at the turn of the last century, at one time they covered over 300 acres on my somewhat tiny island. The variety they grew was the heirloom Marshall, considered to be "the finest eating strawberry in America". They were still widely grown here until after WWII but production declined due to virus issues and increasing population reducing the available arable land.

Marshalls are beginning a regeneration of popularity and disease-free stock is becoming more widely available from specialty growers. You will never find these in stores - maybe farm stands or farmer's markets - because their brix (sugar content) is so high they neither transport nor store well. They are a "pick and eat same day" berry :-)

I can say in all honesty that the berries grown here on local farms are like eating the nectar of the gods!! They have spoiled me for any store-bought strawberry from any source. Very sweet, very juicy and with a strong fragrance. There are still some Marshalls being grown but most of the local farms grow Hood, Shuksan, Rainier or Tillamook. I can't tell them apart - they all taste wonderful!

I have no idea how any of these would work in a different location but do know that Marshall was originally imported to here from Massachusetts.

I just searched for Marshall Strawberry plants. $11.99 for a single 4” potted plant. I ate my first home-grown strawberry, of some easily-obtained variety, yesterday, and it was divine. Everything is relative, but locally grown, freshly harvested produce goes a long way to improve quality, compared to any commercial or supermarket stuff. I would also warn against assuming farmer’s markets provide fresh picked produce. I have a farmer’s market less than one mile form home, but they import produce to sell at a premium, implying that they grow the produce locally. Buyer beware.

"I would also warn against assuming farmer’s markets provide fresh picked produce."

Interesting comment. I have been sorely disappointed in farmer's markets in my area, I don't even bother going any more. The stuff doesn't taste any better than stuff I get at the supermarket for a much lower price. Have always been apprehensive to post that for fear of getting verbal tomatoes throw at me. LOL! I guess it probably just varies based on where you live.

There are some locally-owned markets that carry state-grown produce (they usually prominently mark it), and I find the vegetables I buy there very good both in taste and price.

For Best travel to Japan and buy seeds (or fresh berries inkl their seeds ;) ) there, but also think about how strawberries are grown there: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/2054112/ - Trails to Oishii Tokyo, 28m 00s Broadcast on May 13, 2020 Available until May 13, 2023 - "Japanese strawberries are known for their large size and sweet flavor, and are mainly eaten fresh. We visit Tochigi Prefecture, Japan's largest production site, home to a farm popular with sightseers where you can eat strawberries to your heart's content! We also check out a unique strawberry research center where thousands of strawberries are carefully selected to create brand-new varieties. Plus, we discover some unique strawberry-themed Japanese sweets!"

Or, as somebody told from the NY strawberries, try some fresh from there https://www.oishii.com/shop and try to grow the seeds from the fruits - but also grow them like the Japanese ;)

Tempting Jae but not something I'd throw $40 at for one root that may not even be what they claim or even make it without a guarantee. And location, "Portugal, Romania"?

I actually was thinking of this thread a couple of days ago and was going to find it, and try to find one or more of the varieties people suggested. When someone states a berry is the "nectar of the gods" I want it.

I've been growing Tristar and think it tastes wonderful. The berries are on the small side which a lot of people complain about but IMO who cares with berries that juicy and taste that sweet!

Tristar comment saved, along with all the rest. I just don't want the garbage my wife hauls home from the grocery stores and not looking for big, but juicy red all the way through which tastes like strawberries I grew at 10 years of age over 55 years ago. May be a hard find.

Another reason I like the Tristar is they are an everbearing variety.

Tristar is by far the most popular cultivar grown and sold in my area. Even the commercial u-pick strawberry farms grow Tristar almost exclusively. Small but very sweet, very juicy and very prolific berries!!

Living in the epicentre of the strawberry growing industry, it has been fascinating to observe the changes in cultivation methods. I used to do a bit of fruit picking seasonal work when strawberry fields featured long lines of strawbs, growing in the ground (it is all table-top growing these days, often under glass). It is always best to pick a homegrown strawberry, still warm from the sun. The best varieties are rarely offered for sale as they do not survive packaging and transport. Choosing early, mid-season and late varieties gives me a couple of months of strawberries.One of the nicest is Cambridge Favourite but I also grow mara des bois, Tenira, Cambridge Late pine (my favourite) and various alpines. I have never really gotten into ever-bearers...but I prefer summer raspberries to the insipid, but long blooming autumn varieties.

O...and the tragedies known as white strawberries (urk) or those grown for their (pink and red) flowers... just nope.

There is just something WRONG with white strawberries.......

Just saw this on NPR recently: How science and history created the delicious Oregon strawberry - OPB

ETA: I do not consider my fall-bearing (primocane) raspberries insipid. Not in the least. I grow "Caroline", and she blows the doors off any supermarket berry any day of the week and is very prolific. I cut her down completely to the ground so don't get any summer berries at all -- it's easier for me to manage that way, don't have to fiddle around with determine which canes to cut and which to keep.