Hokkaido Travel Guide

Fruit Picking in Hokkaido | Where to go?

Fruit picking is a fun outdoor activity, which you can try in Hokkaido. The fertile land and favorable climate on the island is suitable to grow different types of seasonal fruits.

You can visit any time of the year, depending what fruit you are interested in. Note that fruit picking season can be enjoyed from early summer to late autumn. Every autumn, we love to visit fruit farms in Yoichi town from Sapporo by car and enjoy picking fresh fruits!

While traveling around Hokkaido, be sure to visit at least one fruit picking spot. Take a stroll through the orchards and farms; and enjoy the rural scenery with your family while picking fresh fruits by hands.

If you are looking for a fun day trip for the whole family, then think of visiting one of the following orchards and farms that are located throughout the Hokkaido region of Japan.

1. Nitori Sightseeing Orchard, Yoichi

Strawberries
Juicy strawberries at Nitori Sightseeing Orchard. Photo Credit: fruits-nitori.jp

Formerly known as Yamamoto Tourist Orchard, Nitori Orchard is located in the town of Yoichi. One of Japan’s top wine producing regions, Yoichi sits alongside the Sea of Japan.

In Yoichi town you will find some of the best farms growing seasonal fruits. Here, you can spot many hillsides that are lined with vineyards. One of the best whisky makers in Japan is Nikka whiskey and it has its main distillery in Yoichi.

The farm grows strawberries, pears, grapes, plums, chestnuts, blueberries, peaches, cherries, and apples. Visitors can pick fruits throughout the fruit picking season which usually beings in mid June and ends in early November.

Photo Credit: NITORI Sightseeing orchard.

No agricultural chemicals are used on the fruits so they are safe to eat and very healthy. Here, every fruit is grown by using organic compost.

The area has a rest house, where you can enjoy Genghis Khan (Jingisukan) dish with vegetables and try other food including apple jam, pie, soft ice cream, and drinks. Don’t forget to buy some souvenir as well.

The updated price of “All-you-can eat course” and “All-you-can-eat and take home fruits you pick course” are shown here.

Souvenir shop is filled with things you would like to buy and take home.

We recommend you check the fruit picking calendar before heading towards this orchard. This helps you get to know what fruits are available for picking on the day you will visit there.

If you are planning to visit the Shakotan Peninsula from Sapporo, make sure to visit this orchard for a great fruit picking experience.

Yoichi is about one hour drive by car from Sapporo via the Shiribeshi Expressway. The orchard is a 10-minute drive from Yoichi Station.

Visitors can also reach Yoichi town from Otaru either by bus or train.

2. Sakuranbo Yama Kankou Nouen, Niki

Cherries are ready to be picked! Photo Credit: sakuranboyama.net

Now, let’s see what we have got in the town of Niki, located not far from Yoichi town in Hokkaido. The town is famous for producing quality cherries of different kinds. 

With over 4,000 cherry trees, this fruit farm is arguably the best for picking cherries in Hokkaido. There are also hundreds of fruit trees include apples, peaches, and plums and vineyard.

This vast 20 hectare orchard is visited by many tourists on the weekends during the fruit picking season. Though for fruit picking, advance reservation is not required. So, just drive there and park your car in the free parking lot it offers and enjoy fruit picking in the field!

Cherries can be picked from mid-June to mid-August. If grapes and apple picking is what you want to experience, then pay a visit to this orchard between mid-September and late October.

For those wanting to try the meals, such as curry rice, and Gengiskhan at the farm have to make a reservation in advance.

Fruit picking policy is straightforward, offering you unlimited time and all-you-can-eat opportunity. Note that you can’t take home unless you pay for it separately based on the weight of the picked fruits. To see the fruit picking cost, visit their website: https://www.sakuranboyama.net/fruitshunt

3. Takashina Fruit Farm, Sobetsu

Look at the color of these Kentaro Strawberries! Photo Credit: タカシナ観光果樹園

This fruit farm is located at the foot of Mt. Usu. Next to the farm is a beautiful lake called Lake Toya, one of the most scenic caldera lakes in Hokkaido. The farm grows one of the rare varieties of Japanese strawberries named Kentaro, known for its sweetness, which you can pick in the summer.

Visitors can also pick fruits like cherries, grapes, apples, prunes, and pears. If you come to Hokkaido in autumn, especially between mid-September and early-November, you can pick varieties of apples in the farm.

On the other hand, cherry picking season is open for visitors from early July to early August in summer. Besides you can embark on a grape-picking adventure from early September to mid October. Enjoy freshly picked fruits and admire the great outdoors.

Before you go there, make a reservation in advance by calling at this number: 0142-66-2155. Use the same number for any inquiries (if you have) regarding your visit to the farm.

And visit this page to see fruit picking cost for each individual.

4. Jozankei Farm, Sapporo

Apples picking at Jozankei Farm is one of best outdoor activities you can do when visiting Jozankei Onsen. Photo Credit: JOZANKEI FARM

Where to fruit picking in Sapporo? Jozankei Farm is the perfect answer for this question, no doubt about that.

The farm is located near the famous Hoheiyo Dam in the area of Jozankei Onsen, one of the popular hot spring resorts in Hokkaido. It is going to be a memorable trip if you can do both, fruit picking at Jozankei Farm and taking a bath at one of the hotels offering hot springs.

Many visitors visit Jozankei in autumn to see its gorgeous fall foliage. So, if you happen to be there in autumn in October, be sure to enjoy apples and grapes picking at the farm.

Visitors can see different kinds of flowers throughout the farm. Photo Credit: JOZANKEI FARM

Besides, depending on the season, the farm grows strawberries, plums, cherries, peaches, blueberries, apples, prunes, and so on. The fruit picking season beings in June and can be enjoyed until November.

Want to enjoy a cooking experience here? Seasonal pizza and jam making experience will add a unique travel vibe for sure.

The area where the farm is situated boasts great nature throughout the year. Many kinds of flowers bloom in summer. Get there for some amazing fun time with your family and you will never regret it.

Jozankei can be reached either by bus or car, check out the few options here.

5. Ohashi Cherry Farm, Ashibetsu

Every tried this kind of cherry? Visit Ohashi Cherry Farm if you have not before. Photo Credit: www.oh-cherry.com

If you have not done cherry picking before, Ohashi Cherry Farm might be the ideal place to go, especially if you are sightseeing around Furano area in summer.

Cherry harvest time is in the summer. On the other hand, Furano is famous for its beautiful flower fields including lavender.

Those of you thinking of doing some fun activity alongside viewing flower fields in Furano area can pay a visit to Ohashi Cherry farm, located in Ashibetsu.

Try this cherry cheese tart at the farm!

Ashibetsu is a 30-minute drive from Furano city. Due to short distance between Furano and Ashibetsu, it makes easy for tourists to reach the site and come back Furano after having a great time at the farm.

The farm is known as one of the largest cherry farms in Hokkaido, growing more than 35 different varieties of cherry.

Although visitors can enjoy cherry picking starting from early July through late August, mid-July is the best time to pick cherries here.

Official webpage: https://www.oh-cherry.com/

6. Yokoyama Fruit Farm, Abashiri

They are looking delicious. Photo Credit: yokosuta.com/fruit

If you are searching for a fruit orchard in Abashiri, located on the northeastern coast of Hokkaido, visit Yokoyama Fruit farm. It is about 8 km from the nearest station – JR Yobito Station.

Haskap (hasukappu), native to Hokkaido, high in Vitamin C is grown here along with other kinds of fruits, such as grapes, blueberries, pears, cherries, prunes, strawberries, apples and plums.

Visit the farm in July for cherry picking. There are about 200 cherry trees of different varieties. Feel your stomach with those juicy delicious cherries.

Reservation is required for group visitors but no reservation is needed for individual traveler. Entrance fee includes the fruit you eat when you are on the farm. You just pay for the fruit that you take home with you.

For harvest time and fee, visit its official website.

7. Maruzan Sato Orchard, Mashike

Apples at Maruzan Sato Orchard. Photo Credit: sato orchard

Located in Mashike town in Rumoi Subprefecture of Hokkaido, Maruzan Sato Orchard is a great place to discover, especially if you are travelling around Rumoi city and want to experience fruit picking.

It was founded in 1919. Organic fertilizers are used to grow many kinds of fruits here, such as strawberries, apples, grapes, prunes, cherries, blueberries and other different varieties.

Enjoy All-you-can-eat without time limit for a reasonable price, check out the pricing list.

When you are done with fruit picking, buy some processed goods from its souvenir shop.

8. Kudamononoka Hamada Orchard, Sobetsu

Grapes. Photo Credit: www.hamada-en.com

With more than 20 varieties of cherries and other fruits to harvest at this farm, it makes a popular fruit picking spot in the area of Toyako Onsen in Hokkaido. This is one of the best orchards in Sobetsu area for fruit picking.

The farm began its journey in 1886, making it one of the oldest fruit farms in Hokkaido, which covers 3 hectares of land. It is a big sightseeing orchard that grows not only cherries but also strawberries, grapes and apples.

The oldest “apple tree” (over 120 years old) in Sobetsu town is located at this farm.

From the store you can buy many kinds of fruits grown at their orchards.

The farm store sells locally made jams, cake, juices and apple pies made out of fresh fruits grown in their orchards.

Visitors can enjoy fruit picking here from June to November. Experience the superb freshness of each fruit that you will pick and feel lucky to be at one of the best fruit picking spot in the region.

Please note the orchard is a 15-mintue drive from Toyako Onsen. Phone number: 0142-66-2158.

Website: http://www.hamada-en.com/

9. Sunberry Muraoka Farm, Noyora

Blueberries. Photo Credit: www.sunberry-muraoka.com

Located in Noyora town, Sunberry Muraoka Farm is a blueberry farm, which grows about 20 varieties of tastiest blueberries.

With plenty of resting space, kid’s playground and numerous small flower beds, the farm would be a best place to spend a day.

The blueberry picking season is from late July to early September. Pick the dark purple ones for better taste. The owner of the farm also sells frozen blueberries, so try them if you want.

If you are going to visit the farm with your family, then make sure you enjoy a picnic there as you are allowed to bring your food and drinks inside the farm area.

Here you can also enjoy all-you-can-eat fruit picking package with no time limit.

Website: https://www.sunberry-muraoka.com/

10. Sobetsu Kudamono Mura/Sobetsu Fruit Village, Sobetsu

The area of Sobetsu is said to be one of Hokkaido’s leading fruit producers. Here comes another interesting fruit farm called Sobetsu Kudamono Mura.

It grows a large number of apples every year and here you can also harvest cherries, strawberries, grapes, plums and more, depending on the time of year.

Unlike the above fruit farm, this offers only a 60-minute all you can eat fruit experience. For some visitors this seems not enough time to experience fruit picking to the fullest.

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