Japan’s fruits are famous for being beautifully presented but sometimes they can be very expensive! Yet you do not need to visit a luxury department store to taste them. At orchards across the country, you can pick strawberries, cherries, peaches, grapes, apples and other seasonal fruit directly from the plant. Plan a trip to an orchard is easy, especially when you know the harvesting season or fruit picking calendar.
Known in Japanese as kudamono-gari (果物狩り), fruit picking is a popular weekend activity for families, couples and groups of friends or even for a solo traveler. Some farms offer all-you-can-eat sessions, while others charge according to the weight or number of fruits collected.
The experience is easy to add to a Japan itinerary, particularly if you are visiting Yamanashi, Hokkaido, Aomori or another major fruit-growing region. The most important thing is choosing the right destination for the season.
Fruit-Picking Calendar for Japan
Harvest dates vary by region, weather and fruit variety. Seasons generally begin earlier in warmer parts of Japan and later in northern or mountainous areas.
| Fruit | Typical picking season |
| Strawberries | December to May |
| Loquats | May to June |
| Cherries | June to July |
| Blueberries | June to August |
| Melons | June to August |
| Peaches | June to September |
| Plums | June to September |
| Figs | August to October |
| Grapes | August to October |
| Japanese pears | August to October |
| Apples | August to November |
| Persimmons | October to December |
| Mikan mandarins | October to January |
| Kiwi fruit | October to January |
Please take note that this calendar should be treated as a general guide. Farms occasionally open late or close early depending on rainfall, temperature and the amount of ripe fruit available.
What Fruit Can You Pick in Japan?
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Strawberries
Strawberry picking is one of Japan’s best winter and spring food experiences. Most strawberries are grown inside greenhouses, making this a good activity even on a cold or rainy day.
Visitors usually receive a small tray for condensed milk before entering the greenhouse. Sessions commonly last between 30 and 60 minutes, although the exact rules vary by farm.
Popular Japanese strawberry varieties include Amaou, Tochiotome, Benihoppe and Akihime. The peak season generally runs from January to April, but some farms open as early as December.
Cherries
Japanese cherry picking takes place mainly in June and July. Yamagata is particularly famous for cherries, including the highly regarded Sato Nishiki variety.
The season is short, and weekends can fill quickly. Make a reservation if cherries are the main reason for your visit. In Hokkaido, the harvest often starts later than in Yamagata or Yamanashi.
Peaches
A ripe Japanese peach is soft, fragrant and incredibly juicy. Peach picking usually runs from late June until August or early September, with Yamanashi being the country’s best-known destination.
Peaches bruise easily, so follow the farmer’s instructions. You will normally be shown how to hold the fruit gently and twist it away from the branch without pulling.
Grapes
Grape picking is one of the best things to do in Japan from August to October. Depending on the orchard, you may find Kyoho, Pione, Delaware or the hugely popular Shine Muscat.
Large Kyoho grapes have a rich flavor and dark skin, while Shine Muscat grapes are crisp, sweet and usually eaten with the skin. Premium varieties can be expensive, so check whether the farm’s admission price covers every type of grape.
Apples
Apple picking begins in late summer in some regions but is at its best during autumn. Aomori and Nagano are the two most famous apple-producing prefectures in Japan.
Visitors can often try several varieties during the same trip. Some orchards charge by weight, allowing you to pick a few apples and carry them away rather than eating everything on-site.
Japanese Pears, Persimmons and Mikan
Japanese pears, or nashi, are round, crisp and especially refreshing in late summer. Persimmons become available in autumn, while mikan mandarin picking is a popular activity from late autumn into winter.
These fruits may receive less international attention than strawberries or peaches, but they are worth trying if their harvest matches your travel dates.
Best Places for Fruit Picking in Japan
1. Yamanashi Prefecture
Yamanashi is arguably the best fruit-picking destination near Tokyo. Orchards cover parts of the Kofu Basin, where visitors can find strawberries, cherries, peaches, plums, grapes, pears, apples and persimmons.
Nakagomi Orchard in Minami-Alps City is particularly welcoming to overseas visitors. Its 2026 fruit-picking programme is expected to run from June until late November, beginning with cherries and peaches. Some staff there can assist visitors in English, Mandarin or Cantonese.
Access: Travel by train from Tokyo to Kofu Station. From central Kofu, a taxi or rental car is the easiest way to reach orchards around Minami-Alps City. If traveling without a car, ask the farm about the latest bus connection before visiting.
Best for: Cherries, peaches, grapes, apples and persimmons.
Yamanashi is truly one of the hidden gems of Japan. In spring, many visitors come to see the famous Fuji Shibazakura Festival.
2. Hirosaki Apple Park, Aomori
Aomori is Japan’s leading apple-growing region, and Hirosaki Apple Park is an easy place to experience its orchard culture. The park contains numerous apple varieties, a shop, a restaurant and exhibits related to local production.
Apple picking normally takes place from early August to mid-November. Instead of an all-you-can-eat arrangement, visitors pay for the apples they harvest by weight. Aomori’s official tourism guide publishes the current season and visitor information.
Access: Take a bus from JR Hirosaki Station; the journey takes approximately 20 minutes. Alternatively, take a local bus to Tokiwazaka Iriguchi and walk for around seven minutes.
Best for: Apple picking during an autumn trip to Tohoku.
3. Nitori Fruit Farm, Hokkaido
Located in Yoichi, near Otaru, Nitori Fruit Farm grows strawberries, cherries, plums, peaches, blueberries, grapes, pears and apples. The selection changes throughout Hokkaido’s relatively short growing season.
Yoichi and neighbouring Niki are among Hokkaido’s most productive fruit-growing areas. Combining an orchard visit with Otaru, Yoichi’s wineries or the Nikka Whisky distillery makes an enjoyable day trip.
Access: Take a JR train from Sapporo or Otaru to Yoichi Station. A taxi or rental car is the most convenient option for reaching farms outside the town center.
Best for: Travellers who want several fruits in one region between early summer and autumn.
Read our guide on the best places to enjoy fruit picking in Hokkaido, Japan.
4. Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika, Shizuoka
Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika is more than a simple orchard. The large park grows many types of fruit and includes playgrounds, restaurants and family-friendly attractions.
Harvesting is generally charged separately from park admission, and visitors pay according to the fruit they collect. The available selection changes frequently, so check the official harvest calendar before traveling.
Access: Take the Tenryu Hamanako Line to Fruit Park Station and walk for approximately eight minutes. Drivers can reach the park in about five minutes from the Hamamatsu SA Smart Interchange.
Best for: Families and travelers looking for fruit picking between Tokyo and Kyoto.
5. Kaga Fruit Land, Ishikawa
Kaga Fruit Land offers strawberries, cherries, blueberries, grapes and apples at different times of the year. Sessions generally provide 30 to 40 minutes of all-you-can-eat fruit, although arrangements vary according to the harvest. Reservations are required for certain fruits.
The farm can be combined with Kaga Onsen, making it an appealing addition to a Hokuriku itinerary. Current details are available from the official Ishikawa tourism website.
Access: The farm is approximately 20 minutes by taxi from Kagaonsen Station. Driving is more convenient if you also plan to explore the surrounding hot-spring towns.
Best for: Fruit picking near Kanazawa and the Hokuriku region.
6. Kobe Fruit and Flower Park Ozo, Hyogo
This spacious roadside park in northern Kobe offers seasonal fruit picking from summer through autumn. Depending on the harvest, visitors may find peaches, grapes, Japanese pears and apples.
There are also restaurants, a farmers’ market, play areas and an adjacent hotel with hot springs. It is therefore easy to spend more than an hour simply picking fruit. Visit Kobe publishes seasonal event information, so you can rely on it.
Access: Public transport connections involve local buses, so traveling by car is usually easiest. The park is accessible from central Kobe and can also be paired with a visit to Arima Onsen.
Best for: Families staying in Osaka, Kobe or the wider Kansai region.
How Fruit Picking Works in Japan
Orchard systems generally fall into three categories:
- All-you-can-eat: Eat as much as you like within a fixed period, usually 30–60 minutes.
- Pay by weight: Pick your fruit and pay after it has been weighed.
- Admission plus harvesting fee: Pay to enter the farm, then pay separately for what you collect.
Do not assume that you can take uneaten fruit home. All-you-can-eat plans often cover only fruit consumed inside a designated area. Takeaway fruit may require an additional payment.
Useful Tips Before Visiting
Reserve ahead during weekends, national holidays and peak harvest periods. Strawberry, cherry and Shine Muscat sessions are particularly popular.
You should wear comfortable closed-toe shoes and clothing suitable for a farm visit. Bring sun protection in summer, but avoid carrying large bags into the orchard. Picking early in the day is often more comfortable and gives you a better selection of ripe fruit.
Most importantly, check the farm’s website or contact it shortly before departure. Fruit can run out even when the advertised season has not officially ended.
Fruit picking in Japan offers something that a supermarket cannot: the pleasure of tasting produce exactly where it was grown. Whether it is a warm peach in Yamanashi, a cluster of grapes beneath the vines or a crisp apple in Aomori, the experience makes an easy and memorable addition to a Japan trip.