Across Japan, you’ll find fruit-picking spots where you can handpick seasonal delights like strawberries, mandarin oranges, and apples. Thanks to advances in cultivation and breeding, these farms offer a wide array of flavors—making these experiences especially popular even among international travelers. Visiting local farms also offers a chance to meet growers, connect with the region’s nature, and discover Japan’s rich food culture firsthand.
Here are five special spots to savor the sweetest harvest moments!
Japan’s Fruit Season Calendar
*This calendar is for reference only.
① Hirosaki Apple Park (Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture)
Aomori Prefecture is Japan’s top apple-producing region, and Hirosaki City is at its heart. Spanning about 9.7 hectares, this park is home to 2,300 apple trees of 80 varieties, where visitors can pick apples from August to mid-November. At the “Ringo no Ie” (Apple House) inside the park, apples are available year-round, along with apple-themed crafts and sweets. The “Hirosaki Cidre Factory kimori,” also located in the park, offers cider tastings for 500 yen per glass, a nice oppotunity for sampling and comparing flavors.
Access
JR Hirosaki Sta. → 20 min by bus → Tokiwazaka Iriguchi stop → 7 min walk (Buses to Soma between 8:00–16:00 stop inside the park grounds.)
Business hours
9:00–17:00
Regular holiday
Open 365 days (may close temporarily)
② Dragon Farm (Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture)
Even near Tokyo—in Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa—there are plenty of fun fruit-picking spots! Located about 40 minutes by car from Narita Airport, Dragon Farm is a popular tourist farm featuring strawberry picking and tasting of over 20 varieties. The farm also offers warm oden and roasted sweet potatoes, making it a perfect outing for both kids and adults. In summer, visitors are welcome to pick over ten types of blueberries.
Access
JR Tsuga Sta. → 10 min by taxi, Chishirodaikita Sta. (Chiba Urban Monorail) → 20 min walk
Business hours
Strawberry picking: January–mid-May, 10:00 and 14:00 (twice daily)
Blueberry picking: June–late August, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 14:00 and 15:00 (six times daily)
Regular holiday
Open on Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays (may close temporarily)
③ Nakagomi Orchard (Minami-Alps City, Yamanashi Prefecture)
From early June to November, Nakagomi Orchard offers a rich variety of fruits to pick, including grapes, peaches, pears, and persimmons. Even on rainy days, you can relax and appreciate fruit picking under covered tents and domes. On clear days, the scenery is breathtaking, with views of Mt. Fuji, the Yatsugatake Mountains, and Mt. Kayagatake surrounding the area.
The orchard also runs year-round hands-on programs where guests can learn about fruit cultivation and experience the charm of rural life in Japan.
Access
JR Kofu Sta. → 30 min by bus → Sangai stop → 7 min walk
④ Hirata Tourist Farm (Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture)
Hirata Tourist Farm grows as many as 150 varieties of fruit throughout the year. During the strawberry picking season from January to late May, visitors can take part in activities like making fruit pizzas or feeding animals with strawberry leaves. The on-site traditional-style cafe serves unique dishes made with fresh fruits, such as fruit burgers and fruit curry. The farm is also home to various fruit trees and cherry blossoms, making it a lovely place for spring flower viewing or a peaceful stroll through nature.
⑤ Yuhouen Fruits Land (Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture)
Kumamoto is one of Japan’s leading mandarin orange regions. At Yuhouen Fruits Land, from October to early December, mandarin oranges nurtured under the region’s warm climate and abundant sunshine are ready for picking. Thanks to the area’s warm climate, fruit picking is available almost all year round, with strawberries from December to May, and grapes and pears in summer through autumn. The farm also has a fishing pond, and at the on-site restaurant, you can savor your own grilled trout or try flowing somen noodles (reservation required).
Access
Sakuramachi Bus Terminal → 30 min by bus (bound for Kawachi Onsen Center) → Kamikawadoko stop → short walk
Business hours
9:00–17:00 (until 16:00 in December and January)
Admission until 15:30 (15:00 in December and January)
I am from Shizuoka, with Mount Fuji in the background. I lived in Korea for four years and in China for 11 years. I majored in literature for my undergraduate and graduate degrees. I love strolling around in a city, listening to pop music, taking a ride in trains and cars, and visiting observatories in high-rise buildings. I have a sweet tooth.
