Imperial Palace East Garden preserves ancient Japanese fruit varieties

The Imperial Palace East Garden in Tokyo features an orchard dedicated to ancient Japanese fruit varieties. This orchard was established following the wishes of the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita Michiko to preserve traditional fruit species.

These ancient varieties differ significantly from modern fruits in size and shape. Efforts to maintain these orchards are part of broader activities to preserve old varieties and wild species, which are increasingly threatened by habitat destruction, environmental changes, and a loss of biodiversity caused by a reliance on specific modern cultivars.