Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum

Multiple prefectures in Japan cultivate pears, but only Tottori boasts a museum dedicated to this fruit: the Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum in the small city of Kurayoshi. Here, anyone can enjoy learning about how Asian pears became a famous regional food through interactive and edible exhibits. 

Pear Cultivation in Tottori

Photo by: PIXTA/ papa88

Tottori is Japan’s largest producer of Nijisseiki (20th Century) pears—a variety known for its apple-like shape and texture as well as a mildly sweet taste.

Nijisseiki were introduced to Tottori in 1904, but initial cultivation efforts struggled due to diseases spreading among farms. Eventually, disease prevention methods were implemented thanks to collaboration between farmers and institutions such as Tottori University. From then on, pears became a thriving local industry. Today, Nijisseiki pears are so synonymous with Tottori that the prefectural flower is a Nijisseiki blossom.

The best time to eat fresh Nijisseiki pears is in August and September. Other varieties cultivated in Tottori are best enjoyed from August through November.

Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum Highlights

Photo by: PIXTA/ Yama

The first exhibit visitors encounter at the Tottori Nijisseiki Pear Museum is an outdoor orchard. Several pear varieties grow here, offering a glimpse of what local farmers see throughout the seasons.

Inside the museum, animatronics and other displays educate visitors on topics such as pears grown around the world and a typical farm in Tottori. One exhibit, the Garden of Wonder, doubles as a children’s play area. Featuring oversized sculptures of trees, pears and animals, children playing here can pretend they have shrunk down to the size of a bug and are exploring a farm.

Sampling Pears and Exploring Nearby Destinations

Photo by: PIXTA/ dekoboko

The museum’s most popular exhibit is edible. At the Pear Kitchen Gallery, visitors can sample three different varieties of Asian pears. Meanwhile, a cafe near the museum’s entrance called Fruit Parlor sells desserts such as Tottori pear soft serve, parfaits and cake. Museum admission is not required to enter this cafe.

A visit to the pear museum can take about one and a half to three hours. Nearby attractions include the Tottori Prefectural Museum of Art, Ustubuki Park or the Kurayoshi White Wall Warehouses.