Near ideal weather in Hokkaido during this year's potato growing season has led to some of the tastiest spuds the prefecture has produced in recent memory. | SIMON DALY

Hidaka, Hokkaido – When one of my neighbors gifted me potatoes recently, I was surprised how perfect they all seemed, especially for something homegrown.

In recent years, the potatoes grown in Japan’s most northern prefecture have been underwhelming — in both quality and quantity. But not this year: The caliber of 2026’s potatoes might be some of the best produced in a decade, a boon for snack food makers and home cooks alike with supermarket shelves sure to be well-stocked.

As recently as last autumn, high temperatures and inconsistent rain caused a sharp decline in harvest volume and potato quality.…