Japanese honeybee-made Honey A rarity produced only in Japan

Only 0.1% of all honey in Japan.
A “phantom honey” rarely found even in Japan—and almost never seen in the world.

Get a free PDF about the charm of Japanese honeybees when you sign up.

You can enjoy raw honey

Honey must have a sugar content of at least 80°.
Our honey is pure and raw—never heated, never blended with sweeteners.

Compared to honey made by Western honeybees, it is sweeter and richer in flavor.
Its exquisite taste comes from natural enzymes created by the bees during honey production.
Japanese honeybees produce enzymes of a different quality, resulting in a uniquely clean and profoundly deep flavor.

For reference, commercial honey is regulated to a minimum of 18° sugar content before it can be sold.

A rare raw honey with no heating or added sweeteners.
Our honey is never heat-treated, preserving its natural flavor, nutrients, and enzymes.
Enjoy the full nutritional value of our pure raw honey.

大山はちみつ 日本みつばちの生はちみつ(※現在在庫切れ 予約販売のみ)

We are the only site selling Japanese honeybee honey outside Japan.
Currently sold out — available by pre-order only.
Because harvests are small, the annual quantity is very limited.
Shipping begins around October 2025, fulfilled in the order received.
※You may cancel your reservation any time before shipment.

Flat rate: ¥4,000 from Japan.
The final amount is charged in your local currency at checkout (approx. $26 USD; varies with exchange rates).

Get a free PDF about the charm of Japanese honeybees when you sign up.

Rare Japanese honeybee honey

Hello—we’re Bee Boys, Japanese honeybee beekeepers!
Have you heard of, or ever tasted, honey made by Japan’s native honeybee?
Most people haven’t—and we’re here to change that.

Japanese honeybees live only in Japan, and their honey makes up just 0.1% of the country’s production—making it exceptionally rare.
With one taste, you’ll notice how different it is from Western honeybee honey: richer, more aromatic, and deeply flavorful.
This rare and remarkably delicious honey, crafted by Japan’s native bees, is something we want people around the world to experience.

Get a free PDF about the charm of Japanese honeybees when you sign up.

Why is raising Japanese honeybees so difficult?

The main reason raising Japanese honeybees is so difficult is that they produce very little honey.
On top of that, they are more delicate than Western honeybees: sudden temperature changes can cause the colony to abscond (leave the hive), and mites can wipe out entire hives.

While yields are low, the labor required is high, so from an economic standpoint many beekeepers choose Western honeybees, which are hardier, easier to manage, and produce far more honey.

However, from an ecological perspective, the loss of Japan’s native honeybee would be a serious blow to the natural environment and could lead to significant problems.

Through this Japanese honeybee honey, we hope people around the world will learn about this extremely rare resource, actually taste honey made by Japan’s native bees, and experience its delicate flavors and aromas—while also understanding the challenges beekeepers face.

Characteristics of the Japanese honeybee

Japan has only two honeybee species: the Western honeybee and the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica).
About 99.9% of honey on the market comes from Western honeybees, while Japanese honeybee honey is just 0.1%—hence it’s called “phantom honey.”

The Western honeybee—an introduced species—excels at gathering large volumes.
Because a colony often visits the same flower source, it commonly produces monofloral honeys such as acacia or lavender.
By contrast, the Japanese honeybee, a native species, forages across many kinds of blossoms, yielding multifloral “wildflower” honey (hyakkamitsu). The blend shifts with the season and environment, creating a fragrant, richly layered flavor.

However, beekeeping with Japanese honeybees is highly challenging and yields are very limited, which is why this honey is both rare and premium-priced.

Over its entire lifetime, a single Japanese honeybee gathers only about one teaspoon of nectar.
With its tiny body, it works tirelessly to collect it.
These little creatures are irresistibly endearing.

Our Beekeepers’ Story

We keep bees amid the lush natural environment of Mount Daisen in Tottori Prefecture.
Recognized as one of Japan’s celebrated peaks, Daisen is truly remarkable—and our honey proudly bears its name.

Why we harvest only once a year
Japanese honeybees bring in very small amounts of nectar, so we can harvest only once a year—just once in September–October, before winter in Japan.

If there is too much honey in the hive, Japanese honeybees expend so much energy managing it that the colony may fail to survive the winter.

Is honey exploitative from a vegan perspective?
Some vegans avoid honey, saying it exploits bees’ labor.
 In the case of Japanese honeybees, Japan has cold winters, and bees collect honey as an energy source to get through that season.
However, when there is excess honey, they end up using too much energy to manage and maintain it, which can lead to colony collapse over winter.
In this sense, harvesting helps protect Japanese honeybees.

That’s why beekeepers of Japanese honeybees harvest only once in autumn, before winter sets in.
We always leave enough honey in the hive for the colony to survive the winter.

By doing so, the bees have less work managing their stores, while still having ample food to make it through the cold months.

If we refuse to harvest honey on the grounds that it “exploits” bees, Japanese honeybee colonies can perish.
Without a careful autumn harvest, they expend too much energy managing excess stores and may not survive the winter.

As artisans of Japanese honeybee beekeeping, we practice bee-friendly, low-stress methods.

For these reasons, we harvest only once a year, and the yield is very small—resulting in an exceptionally rare honey.

Get a free PDF about the charm of Japanese honeybees when you sign up.

Our Commitment to Ecosystem Conservation

Proceeds are used to grow Japanese honeybee populations and protect ecosystems

Albert Einstein is often quoted as saying, “If bees disappeared, humanity would have only four years left.”
Bees are that vital to nature. In recent years, studies have reported steep declines—around 50%—in bee populations, and the Japanese honeybee is particularly vulnerable.

Our mission is to protect Japanese honeybees and the ecosystems they support through beekeeping.
We work alongside beekeepers who share this goal; our mentor even serves as chair of a Japanese honeybee conservation organization.

Accordingly, the proceeds from our honey are directed to activities that increase Japanese honeybee numbers and safeguard local ecosystems.

We don’t just keep Japanese honeybees—we also reclaim fallow fields and plant rapeseed/canola, chestnut trees, and other flowering plants to rebuild bee-friendly habitats.

This creates a virtuous cycle:more bees → more flowers and trees → more bees → more flowers and trees—gradually turning abandoned land back into living, natural landscapes.

Through these efforts, we hope to increase Japan’s native honeybee population, even if only a little.
Many of our customers choose us because they share this mission.

Testimonials

Our Raw Honey

Honey must have a sugar content of at least 80°.Our honey is pure and raw—never heated, never blended with sweeteners.

Compared to honey made by Western honeybees, it is sweeter and richer in flavor.Its exquisite taste comes from natural enzymes created by the bees during honey production.Japanese honeybees produce enzymes of a different quality, resulting in a uniquely clean and profoundly deep flavor.

For reference, commercial honey is regulated to a minimum of 18° sugar content before it can be sold.

A rare raw honey with no heating or added sweeteners.
Our honey is never heat-treated, preserving its natural flavor, nutrients, and enzymes.
Enjoy the full nutritional value of our pure raw honey.

大山はちみつ 日本みつばちの生はちみつ(※現在在庫切れ 予約販売のみ)

We are the only site selling Japanese honeybee honey outside Japan.
Currently sold out — available by pre-order only.Because harvests are small, the annual quantity is very limited.
Shipping begins around October 2025, fulfilled in the order received.
※You may cancel your reservation any time before shipment.

Flat rate: ¥4,000 from Japan.
The final amount is charged in your local currency at checkout (approx. $26 USD; varies with exchange rates).

Not only a pick-me-up on low-energy days, it’s also perfect stirred into tea when you’re feeling under the weather.
Natural honey has long been cherished for its comforting qualities.
Just one small teaspoon can help you power through the day.
Add it to hot tea for a gentle, natural way to soothe a scratchy throat.

100% natural, nothing added—pure goodness from nature.
Unlike synthetic supplements or processed “health foods,” our honey is additive-free and unheated, ideal for ingredient-conscious diets.

If you hold organic certification, you may say: Certified organic and free of impurities.

FAQ

🌸 Join our mission

Join us in protecting Japan’s native honeybee and preserving it for future generations.Sign up and receive our free PDF guide, “The Hidden Charm of the Japanese Honeybee.”

🐝 Will you help protect this “legendary honey”?

Your step helps secure the future of Japan’s native honeybee.

Tsuki to Suppon Co., Ltd.
〒667-1511
Hyogo Prefecture, Mikata District, Kami Town, Ojiro Ward, Kamimizu 744-1

© 2025, Japanese Honeybee.