The Nijusseiki pear was discovered in 1898 in Chiba Prefecture, but Tottori became its primary production hub due to favorable soil and climate conditions.
The museum houses a massive, spreading pear tree indoors that acts as a living exhibit representing the history of local fruit farming.
Tottori Prefecture accounts for a significant portion of Japan's total Nijusseiki pear output.
The museum offers comparative tasting sessions that highlight the textural and flavor differences between various pear cultivars.
Nashikkokan is Japan's only museum dedicated exclusively to the study and exhibition of pears. The centerpiece is a 20-meter-diameter grafted Nijusseiki pear tree, which serves as a living specimen of the region's agricultural history. Visitors can explore the life cycle of the Nijusseiki pear from pollination to harvest through interactive educational displays. The facility features a tasting corner where guests can sample multiple varieties of local pears, with availability shifting based on seasonal harvest cycles. It provides a technical look into the cross-breeding and cultivation techniques that define Tottori's fruit industry. The museum building itself is notable for its unique architectural design that incorporates pear-themed motifs.
The sprawling, expansive branches of the giant indoor pear tree in the museum's atrium.
Check the seasonal harvest calendar before visiting to ensure a wider variety of pears is available for tasting.
Allocate time to walk through the adjacent outdoor orchards if visiting during peak harvesting months.
Visit the gift shop for unique pear-based processed goods such as juices, jellies, and dried fruit snacks.
Do not skip the tasting counter, as it is the most informative way to understand the flavor nuances of the local produce.
Closed on Mondays, or the following day if Monday is a national holiday. Closed during year-end and New Year holidays.