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Mashiko’s Strawberry Delight: A Tasty Experience

by BELONGING JAPAN
Yoshimura-Farm

Do you like strawberries in Japan? In Mashiko Town, you can pick fresh, seasonal strawberries yourself. Yoshimura Farm in Mashiko Town offers a variety of strawberries. We visited the farm and learned about its charm from Soichi Yoshimura, the third generation owner.

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Profile of Writer

ambassador

Yukiyo Kaneko
Mashiko, Tochigi

The owner of the blueberry farm “Blueberry, Satoyama and…”. Bathed in plenty of sunlight, the farm features around 40 varieties of blueberries, offering a fresh, juicy taste straight from nature. While savoring the delicious berries, visitors can paint on a large canvas, relax, and soak in the serene beauty of the surroundings. Under the bright blue sky, people return year after year to create unforgettable summer memories.

A One-Hectare Farm Improving Every Day

Yoshimura Farm, founded in 1986, follows the mission of the previous generation: “Growing strawberries that everyone loves, enjoys, and brings smiles.” Over the years, the farm has added more strawberry varieties and made paths easier to walk on while picking. The farm works hard to make the strawberry picking experience even better for visitors. There are 40 strawberry greenhouses in total, with 20 for harvesting (for direct sales and shipping) and 20 for the picking experience, allowing visitors to enjoy strawberry picking throughout the season.
Soichi-Yoshimura

A Variety of Delicious Strawberries

Strawberries grow best at a specific temperature, and Yoshimura Farm carefully manages both air and soil temperatures to grow the tastiest strawberries. The farm’s most popular varieties include:

  • Tochiotome: A well-known variety in Japan, with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
  • Tochiaika: A new variety from the Reiwa era, known for its sweet, non-acidic flavor.
  • Skyberry: Large strawberries often used for gifts. They have a refreshing, sweet taste with high moisture content.
  • Kaorino: Named after the word “kaori” (fragrance), these strawberries have a refined, pleasant aroma, and a peach-like flavor.
  • Berry Pop Suzu: A sweet, rich strawberry with little acidity.
  • Oi C Berry: This variety is high in sugar and vitamin C, with excellent taste.
  • Koi Minori: A variety from Nagasaki, with a rich taste, little acidity, and a light sweetness.
  • Mikunoka: Known for its good fragrance, balanced acidity, and refreshing sweetness, with plenty of juice.
  • Milky Berry: A white strawberry with both sweet and sour flavors, reminiscent of kiwi rather than typical strawberries.

It’s also fun to taste different varieties and find your favorite.

Strawberries

Further Attractions at Yoshimura Farm

Yoshimura Farm also has a cafe where you can fully enjoy strawberries. The cafe serves smoothies, parfaits, and more, all made with freshly picked strawberries in the morning. In Japan, strawberries with minor imperfections that can’t be displayed for sale are often discarded. However, Yoshimura Farm has created these delicious menu items to reduce food waste and let visitors enjoy these perfectly tasty strawberries.

Essential Information for Strawberry Picking

Main Experience Flow

  1. Check-in (Pre-payment): Staff will explain the strawberry picking area and the process.
  2. Strawberry Picking Begins:
  • Unlimited time for picking.
  • You can bring your own condensed milk, forks, plates, etc.
  • No reservations accepted; visitors are served on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • The best time to visit is between 9 AM and 10 AM (after that, the registration may fill up for the day).

Strawberry Picking Season

From December 1st to early May.

What to Bring and Dress Advice

Wear comfortable clothes for easy movement. Since the picking takes place in greenhouses, there is no need to bring an umbrella or raincoat, even if it rains.

After the Interview

When I picked and ate the large strawberries, I was amazed by their deliciousness and the luxury of the experience. I felt both full and happy. With so many varieties, I could enjoy each type and feel the joy of being full from strawberries. There were sweet ones, rich-flavored ones, and those with a perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. The different tastes and textures were fun to explore. Plus, you can bring your own toppings like condensed milk, which made it even more enjoyable for kids. I recommend visiting with family or friends to fully enjoy the taste of strawberries.

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