Ever tried picking your own fruit in Japan? What kinds of produce have you gone for? Outside of the dead of winter, there’s just about always one variety of fruit or another available in Japan for picking, so read on to hear more about this popular bit of Japanese culture.
Strawberries from Early February to mid-May
At Yoshimura Farm in Tochigi Prefecture you can sample six different kinds of strawberry, from all over Japan. Each one has a unique flavor profile, and a slightly different appearance.
Yoshimura Farm
Address: 520 Hanawa, Mashiko, Haga-gun, Tochigi 321–4216 ( Map)
Admission:
Dec: 1,600
Jan ~ Feb: 1,400
Mar ~ Apr 7th: 1,300
Apr 8th ~ May: 1,000
Cherries from mid-May to mid-July
Most of the cherries grown in Japan come from one region: the prefecture of Yamagata.
Far north Hokkaido produces approximately 1,500 tons of cherries, and Yamanashi Prefecture weighs in with a similar 1,2000 tons, but neither region can compare to Yamagata, where 14,500 tons of cherries are grown each year. They’ve really cornered the market, with a 75% share.
Cherries are rich in anthocyanins which have antioxidant properties, so they have many health benefits!
Ohsho Fruit Farm
Address: 1303 Kawarago, Tendō, Yamagata 994–0103 ( Map)
Hours: 8:30~17:00 (final admission at 16:00)
Picking Time: 30 min
Admission: Adults: 1,620 yen / Children: 1,420 yen / Group tickets: 1,200 yen (15 people or more)
Ohsho Fruit Farm also offers other kinds of fruit picking in different seasons, like apples, grapes, or peaches.
Plus, Yamagata is home to some great sightseeing, like the city of Tendo!
The Ohashi Cherry Farm in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, however, is the farm that started the cherry-picking tradition in Japan! They’ve been growing organic cherries for over 40 years. It also has the largest sheltered farm in Japan, allowing guests to enjoy cherry-picking in the greenhouses even on rainy days. They have over 30 kinds of cherries, and over 1,500 trees.
These carefully picked cherries look like they could be precious gems; rubies and amber lined up in a row.
Ohashi Cherry Farm
Address: 469 Kamiashibetsuchō, Ashibetsu, Hokkaido 079–1371 ( Map)
Hours: 9:00~16:00
Picking Time: No Time Limit
Admission: Adults: 1,500 yen / Children: 1,000 yen
Apples from mid-August to the End of September
Nakano Fruit Farm
Address: 1784–5 Kawarago, Tendō, Yamagata 994–0103 ( Map)
Hours: 8:30~16:30
Admission: Adults: 600 yen / Children: 500 yen / Children (3 to 6): 400 yen
This farm also offers cherry, grape and peach picking depending on the season!
All you can eat apples for just 500 yen!
Hizatsuki Fruit Plaza
Address: 1054 Kamihinata, Kanuma, Tochigi 322–0076 ( Map)
Hours: Weekdays 10:00–18:00, Sat & Sun 9:00–18:00
Closed on Wednesdays
Admission: 500 yen
Grapes from mid-August to the End of October
Tochigi might not be famous for grape picking, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great grapes to be found there. Depending on the season, this particular farm even has a number of different grape varietals.
Watanabe Grape Farm
Address: 392 Nogami, Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi 321–0634 (Map)
Season: mid-August till early October
Looking for more sightseeing in Tochigi? We have some recommendations!
Now there’s something for you to look forward to, no matter what season is on the horizon! Fruit picking in Japan is quite common, and there are way more options around the country than we could have listed in this one article, so keep an eye out for more information on www.japankuru.com!
And let us know if you go fruit picking in Japan, too, on instagram, twitter and facebook.
Originally published at www.japankuru.com on September 3, 2019.
