Cold tolerance was compared among the three ‘Saijo’ persimmon strains “Abe”, “Endo”, and “Izumo”. We also determined the carbohydrate and non-tannin flavans content (mainly anthocyanins) in the stems and buds of 1-year-old twigs of the three strains. In “Abe”, the total sugar content in stems in early spring, just before sprouting, was significantly lower than those of “Endo” and “Izumo”. This was because the amounts of sucrose and sorbitol contained in “Abe” were significantly lower than those in the other two strains. The glucose content of “Abe” buds in early spring was likewise significantly lower than that of the other two strains. The non-tannin flavan contents of the buds and bark tissues of “Abe” stems were lower than those of “Endo”, while in mid-March the electrolyte leakage of stems and buds of “Abe” during treatments at -3 and -6°C was found to be significantly higher than in the other two strains. Browning was observed in “Abe” on stems after treatment at -3°C, and on cambiums after treatment at -6°C. Our results showed that “Abe” is the least tolerant to cold among the three strains. The sprouting disorders frequently observed in “Abe” may result from slight freezing injuries to buds.