Fruit for thought

Last November we saw some pyramid shaped persimmons in a Tokyo supermkt and wanted to buy a couple of cartons to take home but the supermkt could not deliver in time to our hotel. This November we will be in Osaka and I would really want to buy Japanese persimmons as omiyage. How do you say in kanji those pyramid shaped persimmons ? Does anyone know where we may buy those for a good price (ie: not from a departo) near JR Osaka station ? Can we have them delivered to Itami airport or Haneda (transit) or must we carry the cartons ourselves ? Is there a particular type of persimmons which is the best and tastiest (since we are buying as omiyage). I know in Japan, persimmons are eaten fresh as fruit but mostly they are hung dry and then ?? but I have never had those dried ones, should we buy those as want to buy something tasty and exotic as omiyage.

can you bring fresh fruits into your country ? I think most countries prohibit it.

No problem.

I think there are several kinds of pyramid-shaped Kaki, among which most famous is Atago-gaki (ˆ¤“†Š`).

You can buy it everywhere, but if you do not bother the price, yes, department stores around JR Osaka station (Hankyu, Daimaru, Isetan, Hanshin) are good places. You may be able to use Airport TA-Q-Bin.

http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/personal/airport/

Thanks a lot frog1954 you made my day. Did not know before TA-Q-Bin could deliver to major airports in Japan as I always thought there would be no one to sign for it. So happy as we could shop in future and just TA-Q-Bin to the airport.
Do you know Japanese as I have a question I would like to ask relating to shipping the persimmons by TA-Q-Bin ?

Do you know Japanese as I have a question I would like to ask relating to shipping the persimmons by TA-Q-Bin ?

Yes, I am a Japanese confident with Japanese skill (though not confident in English command :).

The only problem I am afraid is since persimmons are fruits so that there might be some restrictions, such as delivery date, storage period.

Want to return to the Tokyo supermarket we visited last November as their fruits were fresh and tasty, pay and then ask them to TA-Q-Bin to Haneda DOMESTIC terminal. Only problem is Tokyo is our FIRST stop this year and on the last day we just fly from Osaka to transit in Haneda.
So could we trouble you to write in Japanese to the effect that ..."We will pay for the fruits now together with the TA-Q-BIN charge but could you get us the fruits on Nov 30 to make sure they are the freshest but then the fruits must arrive Haneda Domestic Terminal on Dec 3 + please ask the shop staff to tell me where to collect the fruits in the Domestic terminal.
Thank you, hope it works out

We will pay for the fruits now together with the TA-Q-BIN charge but could you get us the fruits on Nov 30 to make sure they are the freshest but then the fruits must arrive Haneda Domestic Terminal on Dec 3 + please ask the shop staff to tell me where to collect the fruits in the Domestic terminal.

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You should specify your flight No and departure time (will you use domestic flight?). There are two blanches in Haneda domestic terminals (Terminal 1 or Terminal 2). You should specify which terminal your flight will use. Or you actually use international flight but for some reason you would like to receive it in the domestic terminal? I understand you can bring Kaki to your country if it is Canada or Singapore. Maybe there are other countries which can allow you to bring Kaki from Japan.

Thanks a lot frog1954 again you have been a great help !

semi dried persimmon

In most of the department store, there is a "service center" which will help the customer, for example, to send goods they bought at the store. I think some of the staff understand some English, especially in a written form. Department stores are expensive in general, but some of the cost is for this kind of service.

You can buy dried persimmon or Hoshi-gaki (Š±‚µŠ`). As far as I know Hishi-gaki is made from Shibu-gaki (astringent persimmon?) which has strong tannin taste so you can not eat it raw. Finest Hoshigaki is very expensive, all the more if you know it is made from Shibu-gaki. If you have raw Shibu-gaki, you can make it rather easily. I like not-too-dried Hoshigaki, which is very soft, sweet and juicy.

Oh, I read the Wikipedia now and learned that Atago-gaki is a kind of Shibu-gaki, which is sold after Shibu-nuki (doing away with tannin). When Kaki is sold, it is Ama-gaki (with no Shibu) or Shibugaki after shibu-nuki. When I bought Atago-gaki, it has no shibu, so I thought it is Amagaki :).

You are right, I should try some Hoshi-gaki too as it is easier to carry but the Atago-gaki is not available in my country so would make a nice omiyage for our friends who like Japanese food. Thanks for the tip, you have any other suggestions ?

I have no idea what a "pyramid shaped persimmon" is, but I hope everyone is talking about the same thing. Anyway, I hope it's not a persimmon version of the following photo things, because these are very rare.
https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=%E3%83%94%E3%83%A9%E3%83%9F%E3%83%83...

Thanks Uco but since we will be in Japan end Nov to beginning Dec, don't think watermelons will be in season altho I could be wrong.

Larry,

I didn't mean you are looking for watermelons. As you may see, there are watermelons that are deliberately shaped like a piramid, just for show. I couldn't find photos of deliberately-piramid-shaped persimmon, so I set a watermelon as an example. Watermelon or persimmon, piramid-shaped fruits like these are very difficult to find. That's what I wanted to point out.

Uco, No problem. Actually thought your watermelon suggestion was in response to my 2014/8/28 15:31 post "..any other suggestions ?" So far the suggestions we have are pyramid shaped persimmons and Hoshi-gaki. Am looking for other omiyage ideas for friends and relatives--people who have been to Japan several times already so would NOT be excited to receive the touristy Japanese biscuits etc. Since they know we come to Japan often, they kind of expect something different from us.
As for the pyramid shaped persimmons, don't worry as I said in 2014/8/26 05:00 post, I know exactly WHERE to go, in Tokyo at least to buy them (assuming that same supermarket will stock them again this yr but I have their tel no. so could have my hotel call them before I go there).

Atago-gaki ˆ¤“†Š` is a special kind from Shikoku, not very common even in Tokyo.
http://www.ts.zennoh.or.jp/engei/atagogaki.html
http://www.iyokannet.jp/front/gourmet/detail/gourmet_id/10
It's extremely bitter and not fit to be eaten raw, but thses days they succeeded in making them sweet with CO2 gas. Before that it was made into dried fruits which is sweet and good.
Texture of atago gaki is crunchy.
Fuyuu-gaki •x—LŠ` is more common and popular.
http://www.aoki-nouen.com/list.cgi?ctg_id=F00
http://www.ohno-nouen.com/huyuu.html
Fuyu gaki can be firm at the beginning but gets soft whem well ripen.
OP should go to a major fruits specialist like Senbikiya or Takano or Nishimura. Basement floor of department stores is also good. Ask them which kaki is the best at the time of your stay.

We may have to cancel our koyo trip end Nov-beginning Dec as my wife's boss is thinking of coming during the last week of Nov. My wife says I should go by myself but how much can you eat by yourself + no fun.
Re the persimmons, how can we order online+courier & pay with an overseas credit card, at a reasonable price around end Nov ?
Have checked out Senbikiya, the link below gives some very expensive prices :

http://www.buzzfeed.com/kevintang/inside-japans-most-insanely-expensiv...

Re Takano, not so great feedback on Tripadvisor's site below :

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g1066457-d1027334-Reviews...

Nishimura seems to be a fruit parlor rather than a fruit seller.
Help anyone ?

Nishimura is primarily a fruits seller since Meiji era, just its fruits parlor section is far more popular/well-known.

I suggested these places because atago-gaki is not so common here in Tokyo, and those famous (but pricey) places should have them. Try some supermarkets first, then department stores, then those specialists.