The time is ripe for picking strawberries in Kansai. Kid-friendly, u-pick greenhouses and berry patches are open from mid-December to late spring/early summer based on availability. Families indulge on luscious, red berries during timed all-you-can-pick-and-eat sessions. Some places offer extras like condensed milk for dipping or the option of paying more to take home an extra serving (priced on availability by gram, 12 oz (350g)—roughly a pint —for about 500 yen.) Add-ons like outdoor restaurants with barbeques or petting zoos make an enjoyable and unforgettable day trip away from the busy city bustle.
Take your pick from this list of strawberry farms in Kansai (websites in Japanese only). Call ahead or make an online reservation, as places need to confirm availability before you come.
** Denotes additional information such as organic farming or ecological practices, wheelchair/stroller accessibility, or easy train access.
SOURCE: (In Japanese): http://sp.walkerplus.com/ichigo/list/ar0700/
All photos used with permission from the lovely Mori family. The photos were taken at Ōmi Maiko Strawberry Farm in Shiga Prefecture.
Strawberry picking farms in Shiga;
☆ Ōmi Maiko Strawberry Farm (近江舞子いちご園)
TEL: 090-1155-1515
SEASON: Early May to early June
**walking distance from JR station
☆ Pure Vegetable Kingdom/Jyun Yasai Ōkoku (純野菜王国)
URL: http://junoukoku.com/junyasai
TEL: 090-8822-8360
SEASON: Early January to mid-May
☆ Rock Bay Garden (ロック ベイ ガーデン)
URL: http://www.rockbaygarden.com/
TEL: 080-1487-5996
SEASON: January 15 to mid-May
☆ Kafuka Strawberry Garden (鹿深いちご園)
URL: http://www.technos-farm.com/ichigo.html
TEL: 0120-115-747
SEASON: Early January to late May
**Stroller and wheelchair friendly
☆ Kōga Strawberry House (甲賀いちごハウス)
URL: http://www.kouka15.com/strawberry.htm
TEL: 0748-88-4149
SEASON: January 5 to May 31
**10 minute walk from JR Kōga Station
☆ Strawberry & Blueberry Farm Felice (いちご&ブルーベリー園 フェリーチェ)
URL: http://www.minamide-farm.com/
TEL: 077-589-5917
SEASON: Mid-December to May 31st
**Ten-minute cab ride from Yasu Station, stroller and wheelchair friendly
☆ T-Berry Farm
URL: http://tberryfarm.web.fc2.com/
TEL: 090-7362-9211
SEASON: Early January to early June
**Greenhouse does not use artifical heating and lighting
Strawberry picking farms in Kyoto;
☆ Momota Farm (百田農園)
URL: http://www.momota-nouen.com/
TEL: 075-582-3128
SEASON: End of December to mid-May
☆ Osazen Farm (おさぜん農園)
URL: http://osazen.com/ichigo/index.html
TEL: 075-982-6757
SEASON: December 1st to mid-June
**Stroller and wheelchair friendly
Strawberry picking farms in Osaka;
☆ Sakai Green Museum Harvest Hill (堺・緑のミュージアム ハーベストの丘)
URL: http://farm.or.jp/
TEL: 072-296-9911
SEASON: Early January to May 31st
☆ Strawberry Sakai (いちごの堺)
URL: http://www.ichigonosakai.com/
TEL: 070-5347-4115
SEASON: January 21 to late May
☆ Kishiwada Tourist Farm (岸和田観光農園)
URL: http://www.kishiwada-f.jp/
TEL: 072-479-2256
SEASON: January 4 to June 15th
☆ Strawberry Fields Haru (いちご畑 はる)
URL: http://www.haru-ichigo.com/
TEL: 072-440-0200
SEASON: Early January to early June
☆ Tawawa (たわわ)
URL: http://tawawa3081.sakura.ne.jp/index.php
TEL: 072-446-8000
SEASON: January 17th to May 24th
☆ GrandBerry
URL: http://www.grandberry.net/gb/
TEL: 090-6732-8072
SEASON: December 13th to end of May
**10 minute walk from Kintetsu Ondzi Station
☆ Savor Farm at Tonda Agricultural Park (富田林市農業公園サバーファーム)
URL: http://www.savor-farm.or.jp/
TEL: 0721-35-3500
SEASON: December 6 to early June
☆ Izumi Ogawa Strawberry Farm (いずみ小川いちご農園)
URL: http://kogawa-ichigo.com/
TEL: 0725-92-3232
SEASON: March 1st to May 31
☆ Strawberry En Nakagawa Tennou House (いちご縁中川(天王ハウス)
TEL: 090-5660-0928
SEASON: Late December to late June
**Additional location near Hase listed on website. (いちご縁中川(長谷ハウス)
Strawberry picking farms in Hyogo;
☆ Buranko Strawberry Farm (ぶらんこいちご園)
URL: http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~e3079810/
TEL: 090-8046-0015
SEASON: Early January to mid-May
☆ Hanaoka Farm (花岡農園)
URL: none
TEL: 079-232-0093
SEASON: Early March to mid-May
☆ Shinoda Strawberry Farm(篠田いちご園)
URL: none
TEL: 0795-25-8888
SEASON: Early January to late-May
☆ Uraraka Farm Misato (うららか・のうえん実里)
URL: http://uraraka-misato.jp/
TEL: 049-297-7909
SEASON: January 10th to late-May
☆ Shiitake Land Kasaya (しい茸ランド かさや)
TEL: 079-568-1301
SEASON: Early January to early June
**Stroller and wheelchair friendly
☆ Inakagi Farm (稲鍵ファーム)
URL: http://www.takuminoichigo.jp/
TEL: 090-3994-3479
SEASON: Mid-January to end of June
☆ Awaji Farm Park England Hill (淡路ファームパーク イングランドの丘)
URL: http://www.england-hill.com/
TEL: 0799-43-2626
SEASON: Late December to late May
☆ Awaji Island Fruit Farm (淡路島フルーツ農園)
URL: http://awajishima-fruits.jp/
TEL: 0799-85-2696
SEASON: Mid-December to mid-June
☆ Takai Farm (髙井農園)
URL: none
TEL: 0790-23-1992
SEASON: Mid-January to mid-May
Strawberry picking farms in Nara, by area;
☆ Hari Terrace Berry Farm (針テラス ベリーファーム)
TEL: 0743-82-1717
SEASON: December 21st to late June
☆ Shimomura Berry Farm (下村ベリー園)
URL: http://www.ac.auone-net.jp/~bfshimo/
TEL:0747-24-3830
SEASON: January 17 to May 31
☆ Nodoka Village Sigisan Agricultural Park (農業公園信貴山のどか村)
URL: http://www.sigisan-nodokamura.com/
TEL: 0745-73-8203
SEASON: January 4 to early June
☆ Asuka Strawberrry Picking Park (あすかいちご狩りパーク)
URL: http://www.asukadeasobo.jp/
TEL: 0744-54-1115
SEASON: January 10 to May 31
Strawberry picking farms in Wakayama, by area;
☆ Hidaka Tourist Farm (観光農園ひだか)
TEL: 0738-29-2348
SEASON: January 5 to mid-May
☆ Kinokuni Farm (農園紀の国)
URL: http://www.kinokunikko.com/
TEL:0738-29-3070
SEASON: January 5 to mid-May
** Stroller and wheelchair friendly
☆ Kinokawa Fruit Farm (紀の川フルーツファーム)
URL: https://www.facebook.com/pages/紀の川フルーツファーム/652021044829258
TEL: 090-3729-5245
SEASON: January 1 to May 31
☆ Kishigawa Tourist Strawberry Picking Farm (貴志川観光いちご狩り園)
URL: http://www.kanko-kinokawa.jp/member/7212/
TEL: 0736-64-7212
SEASON: February 1 to mid-May
**Stroller and wheelchair friendly
☆ Ichigo Land Kapuri
URL: http://www.ichigoland-kapuri.jp/
TEL: 0736-54-3506
SEASON: January 10 to end of May
**Greenhouse uses ladybugs for pest management
Amelia enjoys art, food, and travel. She is a freelance translator living in Kyoto with her husband and two daughters.
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