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“Its mellow fragrance and luscious juicy texture make the La France simply the best European pear.”

Naotoshi Sato, Mitaka Pear Garden

La France farmer

We are cultivating La France pears in an area of town called Sanjonome. La France pears originated here in Takahata. The pear tree saplings were imported by the Japanese government, and when they were distributed to several farmers around 1902, this farm was also given some to grow. In the early days, the commercial value of the La France was still unknown, and the cultivation process was difficult, so the pears did not gain popularity as a food.

However, the fifth owner of this pear garden quickly realized that the pears developed a pleasant fragrance and delicious taste when allowed to “ripen” (given time to mature after harvesting). Since then, we have gradually increased our acreage. Some of our trees, planted during the Meiji era, are more than 100 years old, and we continue to nurture and protect them.

Its mellow fragrance and luscious juicy texture make the La France simply the best European pear. The selling point of the pears produced here in Takahata is their especially fine-textured flesh and a melt-in-your-mouth taste—a testament to the excellent combination of soil quality and climate, and cultivation techniques developed over generations. We are continuing to communicate with our consumers on a daily basis, driven by a desire to further expand the Takahata La France.