Sweet! Go Fruit Picking All Year Round in These Spots Near Tokyo
Throughout the year, a wide variety of fruits become ripe for harvest in Japan. In autumn, grapes and pears are in season. Meanwhile, in December, you’ll find an abundance of strawberries along with other fruits and vegetables available in markets.
It is during these colder seasons that fruit picking becomes a popular activity. Since high-quality Japanese fruits are best enjoyed at their freshest, harvesting them then savoring them on the spot sounds quite good, right?
If you’re looking to try your hand at farming juicy fruits, try fruit picking near Tokyo. There are a number of easily accessible fruit farms in Japan that offer these experiences to both locals and tourists. Visit them on your trip to make fun memories with your families, friends, and even partners.
Read more: Must-visit destinations in the Kanto region
1）Tokyo Strawberry Park
Did you know that you can pick strawberries at Tokyo Strawberry Park all year round? It has an all-electric greenhouse where the surrounding temperature is completely controlled, allowing you to harvest seasonal strawberries any time of the year.
When you visit, try its Normal Course, which lets you pick all the strawberries that you can, as long as they fit in a 300-gram cup. The park is located at Yokohama, just around an hour away from Shinjuku, so you can head over here for a day trip and stroll around the city while you’re at it.
Munching on your fresh picks is highly recommended, but do leave a bit of room for other sweet treats before you leave! After strawberry picking in Tokyo Strawberry Park, you can also buy a variety of desserts such as ice cream topped with strawberries and frozen strawberries drizzled with rich chocolate and condensed milk.
Facility Information
| Name: Tokyo Strawberry Park Location: 11-1 Daikokucho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Operating hours: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. (Advanced reservation required) ※Open only on weekends and holidays Fruit picking fee: ¥1,980 Access: From JR Tsurumi Station, which takes about 50 minutes to reach from Shinjuku Station, take the Yokohama Municipal Bus (No.181) for approximately 15 minutes to reach the park. Website: Tokyo Strawberry Park (Japanese) |
2） Orihara Orchard
Want to explore more of the Kanto area? Head over to Orihara Orchard in Kasukabe, Saitama, which can be reached within one hour by car from Tokyo or an hour and a half by train. This fruit farm in Japan utilizes the latest equipment that adjusts the water, fertilizer, and carbon dioxide to thoroughly control cultivation round the clock.
Orihara Orchard cultivates a number of seasonal fruits year-round such as kiwi, shine muscat grapes, persimmons, and blueberries. In the middle of October, it also plants 10 varieties of pears including the Kosui Asian Pear. And of course, from December to May, visitors are invited to pick the strawberries available for harvest.
Before you leave, make sure to check out its shop where you can get delectable souvenirs. Your family and friends would surely appreciate farm-processed products like fruit juices and jams.
Facility Information
| Name: Orihara Orchard Location: 3888 Uchimaki, Kasukabe City, Saitama Operating hours: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. (Advanced reservation required) ※Closed every Tuesday and Thursday. (Please refer to the official website as holidays are subject to change depending on the month.) Fruit picking fee: 【Junior high school student and above】¥2,200 【65 years and above】¥2,000 【Elementary school student】¥2,000 【3 years old - pre-school child】¥1,100 【2 years old and under】Free ※In Japan, elementary school students are approximately 6-12 years old, junior high school students are 12-15 years old, high school students are 15-18 years old, and university students are 18-22 years old. Access: About a 20-minute drive from Kasukabe Station on the Tobu Skytree Line Website: Orihara Orchard (Japanese) |
Tips for a successful harvest
Check what’s in season
In Japan, the fruits available for harvest vary each season, and most farms are only open for fruit picking during particular seasons. Also, as the exact harvest season changes depending on the climate of the year, make sure to confirm in advance what kind of fruit can be picked when you come and make a reservation. Check out this guide on fruit-picking seasons in Japan for more info.
If you are coming to Japan specifically for picking fruit, we recommend coming in autumn when lots of fruit such as grapes, apples, pears, and persimmons are in season!
Confirm logistics and fees in advance
There are various types of fruit-picking plans depending on the farm, such as an all-you-can-eat plan and a purchase-based plan where you pay for what you eat and what you take home. If you want to go for the all-you-can-eat plan, make sure to check in advance to see whether there is a time limit or whether an entrance fee is required.
Remember to also check the directions on how to access the location before your trip. Getting lost might cause you to miss your scheduled reservation.
Mind your items and your manners on the farm
We recommend wearing sneakers and long-sleeved shirts and trousers, even in the summer, to protect yourself against insects and the sun. It is also convenient to have an insect repellent spray, sunscreen, a water bottle, and a towel when you visit.
Finally, when fruit picking, be careful not to touch the fruit unnecessarily or damage other fruits surrounding your pick to preserve their quality.
Your Bucket List:
Enjoy Seasonal Activities in Japan
3 Sightseeing Spots to Check Out in Tokyo During the New Year Holidays
—
