Machida's Local Specialty "Machida Silk Melon" Is in Season Now, a Premium Melon Born from Local Factories with 21-Degree Sweetness
Walk around Machida these days, and you'll often hear people talking about "Machida Silk Melon."
This premium melon, grown using hydroponic techniques adapted from local factory technology, has just come into season from June through July.
Here's a look at the secret behind its sweetness, said to reach 21 degrees, and how it's creating a buzz locally.
A Premium Melon Grown by Local Factories
"Machida Silk Melon" is a branded melon born from applying precision-machining technology held by small and midsize businesses in Machida to agriculture.
The cultivation and sales are handled by Machida Silk Farm Co., Ltd., based in Kamikoyamada-cho, Machida City.
The unique hydroponic method led by Makoto Matsuura, the company's president, is known as "Machida-style hydroponics" (Machida-style new farming method). It's said to work by circulating liquid fertilizer radially inside cultivation tanks, preventing root rot.
While soil cultivation typically yields about 1 to 4 melons per plant, the Machida method reportedly can produce up to 60 melons from a single plant.
The sugar content is said to reach as high as 21 degrees at its peak, earning praise for a taste that combines juiciness and sweetness.
Led by the Machida Chamber of Commerce, a Challenge Continuing Since 2009
The roots of Machida Silk Melon trace back to 2009, when the Machida Chamber of Commerce and Industry called on 10 partner companies from inside and outside the city to take on farming, an entirely different industry for them.
Starting with no one experienced in melon cultivation, the group repeated trial and error to establish its own growing system, finally achieving its first harvest in 2015.
The name "Machida Silk Melon" reportedly comes from Machida's history as a relay point on the "Silk Road" that once carried silk from Hachioji to Yokohama Port.
The smooth texture of the melon is also said to be a fitting nod to the name's origin.
Impact on the Community, Pride Born from the City's Technical Skill
What sets Machida Silk Melon apart is that it applies technology cultivated by Machida's local factories, in fields like precision machinery and medical equipment, to a completely different industry: agriculture.
It has been introduced by the Machida Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as a regional resource by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, as an example of local small and midsize businesses taking on a new field and creating high-value-added agricultural products.
Within Machida City, the use of Machida Silk Melon in processed products such as cakes and parfaits is also expanding.
How to Buy It and Things to Keep in Mind
Orders for the 2026 Machida Silk Melon opened on May 20.
Grades are divided into categories such as Bronze (12+ degrees sugar content, 4,320 yen) and Gold (14+ degrees sugar content, 8,640 yen), though prices and sales periods may vary by year.
For accurate pricing, stock availability, and retailer information, it's best to check the Machida Silk Melon official website or the Machida Chamber of Commerce and Industry for details.
If you're considering buying at a direct-sales stand or retailer, it's a good idea to check stock availability in advance.
A Taste of Summer, Grown by Machida's Technology
Machida Silk Melon is a specialty unique to Machida, crystallizing the technical skill of its local factories and the community's spirit of challenge.
If you spot it at a supermarket or direct-sales stand in Machida City during this in-season period, be sure to try the sweetness born from local technology.
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