A Complete Guide to Japan’s Picking Experience Travel (2026 Edition) Japan has four distinct seasons, and different fruits ripen in each season.Picking experience is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Japan. Whether it is a family outing, a couple’s date, or a solo trip, you can enjoy the fresh fun of picking and eating by hand.This article will provide a comprehensive introduction to picking experiences across Japan, including how to participate, how much it costs, and the best seasons. 🍓 Strawberry Picking Best season: January to May (some facilities start in December) Price guide: 1,500 to 2,500 yen/person (30 minutes to unlimited time) Strawberry picking is Japan’s most classic and popular picking experience.Japan has a rich variety of strawberries – “あきひめ” (Aki), which has a balance of sour and sweet, “とちおとめ” (Touchotome), which is sweet and juicy, “あまおう” (Agan King), which is large and rich in flavor, as well as high-end varieties such as “あまりん” (Amrin), which has become very popular in recent years. Main picking locations 📍 Tochigi Prefecture—Japan’s largest strawberry producing area 📍 Saitama Prefecture 📍 Yamanashi Prefecture How to participate in strawberry picking Reservation: Popular farms must make reservations in advance!Through the official website, phone or reservation platform (Asoview, Klook, etc.) Arrive at the store: pick up the picking box and scissors (or pick directly by hand) Picking: You will usually be given 30 minutes to unlimited time to pick and eat in the greenhouse. Note: You cannot take it away (or you need to pay extra). It is recommended to wear shoes that are convenient for exercise. 🥇 Recommended reservation platform: アソビュー!Strawberry Picking Special 🍒 Cherry Picking Best season: June to mid-July Price reference: 2,000~4,000 yen/person Cherries are called “rubies” in Japan and are expensive (a box of high-grade Sato Nishiki cherries in a supermarket can cost up to 10,000 yen!).But the picking experience is much more cost-effective – you pay once and you get all you can eat! Main places of origin: How to participate: Most cherry orchards require reservations in advance, and ladders and picking guides are provided on site.Some farms also offer interesting activities such as “seed vomiting competitions”. 🍇 Grape Picking Best season: August to October Price reference: 1,500~3,500 yen/person Japan has a rich variety of grape varieties – “Kyoho” is large and rich in flavor, “Pione” is sweet and juicy, and the most popular in recent years is Shine Muscat (Shine Muscat) – seedless, eaten with the skin, and extremely sweet! Main places of origin: How to participate: Vineyards are usually trellised and harvesting is done in the shade, making it comfortable even in summer.Many vineyards provide seating areas under the grape trellis, where you can sit and eat when you are tired of picking. 📌 Recommended bus tours: Yomiuri Travel, Travel Road, HATO Bus, etc. all offer grape picking day return tours, usually combined with hot spring or factory study tours, about 8,000 to 15,000 yen. 🍑 Peach picking (ももkari) Best season: July to August Price reference: 1,500~2,500 yen/person Japanese peaches are represented by “Hakuto” – the flesh is white and soft, the juice is rich, and it is extremely sweet and melts in your mouth.One bite and you’ll exclaim “This is summer!” Main places of origin: Picking Tips: Peaches are very delicate, so hold them gently when picking and do not pinch them hard.Usually picking gardens provide cushioned boxes for you to put your picked peaches in. 🍎 Apple Picking Best season: August ~ November Cost guide: 500~1,500 yen/person (the higher charge is per piece or weight) The king of apples in Japan is of course the “Fuji apple” – bright red, sweet and crisp.In addition, varieties such as “つがる” (Tsugaru), “Orin”, and “こうぎょく” (red jade) are also popular. Main places of origin: 🍊 Citrus picking (みかん杀り) Best season: October to December Price reference: 500~1,500 yen/person Main places of origin: 🍈 Other picking experiences fruits/crops best season Fee reference Main origin Blueberry (ブルーベリー) July ~ August 1,000~2,000 yen Saitama, Gunma, Nagano Cantaloupe (メロン) June ~ September 2,000~3,000 yen Ibaraki (most famous), Hokkaido Yubari Pear(なし) August ~ October 800~1,500 yen Chiba, Ibaraki, Tottori chestnut (くり) September ~ October 500~1,000 yen Ibaraki, Kumamoto Sweet potato digging (さつまいもdigり) September ~ November 500~1,000 yen Chiba, Ibaraki, Kagoshima Picking mushrooms All year round (indoor cultivation) 500~1,000 yen Available everywhere Mango June ~ August 2,000~4,000 yen Miyazaki, Okinawa 🚌 How to participate in the picking experience Method 1: Drive to the farmhouse by yourself (the most free) Search for nearby farms on くだものナビ or アソビュー Make an appointment in advance via the official website or by phone Go to the farm, pay on-site and participate Method 2: Join a bus tour group (the most worry-free) All major bus companies have day-trip tours that include picking experience, including transportation + picking + lunch + sightseeing, which is cost-effective. bus company Examples of popular routes price Reservation URL トラベルロード Cherry Picking + Ikaho Hot Spring + Fukiwari Falls 8,980 yen~ travelroad.co.jp はとバス Grape Picking + Fruit Picking Special 8,000 yen~ hatob
