Tokyo Fruit Picking Day Tour in the Nearby Areas | Nov. Recommended Apple Picking + Sake Brewery Tour to Enjoy Autumn

*This article was created for travelers planning to visit Japan, but readers in Japan may also find it useful.

Tokyo There are many fruit farms in the vicinity that can be accessed in about 1-2 hours. There is no stress of moving around unfamiliar lands, and it is easy to arrive at your destination just by taking the bus. You don't have to carry large luggage and can focus on "enjoying" the energy of your trip.

The types of fruits available in Japan change with the seasons, and tourists often ask, "What's in season now?" Please refer to the table below.

In addition to fruit picking, this tour allows you to experience the charms of the region throughout the day, with a Japanese lunch made with local ingredients, a visit to a popular local roadside station, and a tour of a long-established sake brewery. This "packed-in" experience is what makes it so popular with both first-time visitors and repeat visitors.

Since all transportation and reservations are entrusted to you, even those who are not familiar with the area or are worried about Japanese can participate with confidence. A tour conductor will accompany you and carefully guide you through the necessary information, so it is recommended for those who are enjoying sightseeing spots near Tokyo for the first time. Another advantage is that even if you buy heavy souvenirs such as fruits and drinks, you can leave them on the bus and don't have to carry them around.

There are many apple varieties in Japan, but the most representative ones are "Fuji", "Tsugaru", "Orin", and Gunma's proud "Gunma Meigetsu". "Fuji" has a good balance of sweetness and aroma, and "Tsugaru" is characterized by its large juice and refreshing sweetness. "Wang Lin" is supported by the rich aroma unique to green apples. And "Gunma Meigetsu" is a popular variety with a yellow skin full of nectar and a juicy flavor that spreads the moment you bite into it. Nov. is the perfect time to taste this "Gunma Meigetsu". Tokyo In nearby plantations, the sweetness of apples ripens firmly due to the large temperature difference between day and night. Freshly picked apples are surprisingly fragrant, and you can enjoy a "ripe taste" that you can't taste from those purchased at the supermarket.

In addition to apples, Gunma has many other special fruits.

Fruit-picking tours, where you can enjoy the flavors of autumn, are a great way to experience not only apples, but also the unique charms of each region. On the tour I participated in this time, I was able to fully experience Gunma's food culture and nature throughout the day, from visiting a long-established sake brewery and enjoying all-you-can-eat Gunma Meigetsu apples to experiencing farming rare Maebashi bananas at a roadside station. When I actually joined the tour, I found it to be more packed than I expected, and there were many points that I would recommend not only to fruit lovers, but also to those traveling to the countryside of Japan for the first time.

[Tour name]
"A premium variety that can be eaten whole! Maebashi Banana Farming Experience. Enjoy it in season! All-you-can-eat Gunma Meigetsu Picking" [Departing Tokyo] < Fruit Tasting Experience >

[Itinerary]
●Meet at Tokyo Station
Tour the sake brewery, experience tasting, and fill up on sake lees at Homoku Kunimitsu
All-you-can-eat "Gunma Meigetsu" picking at Harada Farm
Japanese lunch
● Maebashi Akagi Roadside Station
Maebashi Banana Farming Experience
●Return to Tokyo Station

The first thing that caught my eye was the opportunity to pick Gunma Meigetsu apples, a popular variety that Gunma boasts. A hybrid of Fuji and Akagi apples, they have a mild acidity, a strong sweetness, and are full of juice. When light is shone on them, the apples are so ripe that the nectar is visible through them, and with one bite, you're amazed at the sweetness that spreads throughout your mouth. At the farm, they use a special peeler to peel the apples, then cut them into bite-sized pieces and enjoy them on the spot. This experience of "eating freshly picked apples right away" is truly luxurious, and the intensity of the aroma and freshness are completely different from apples you can find at the supermarket. They also sell whole apples in Baumkuchen and apple juice, making it an irresistible experience for sweets lovers.

The brewery where Tsuchida Sake Brewery produces their brand "Homare Kunimitsu" is housed in an old Japanese house with over 150 years of history, and the quaint building alone is worth a visit. Here, staff members provide a thorough explanation of the traditional "kimoto" brewing method, which uses only steamed rice, koji, and water. This method is used by only five of Japan's 1,300 breweries, making it a truly profound experience of sake, instantly enhancing the satisfaction of your trip. We also sampled a variety of rare sakes. The yuzu sake, which is only available directly from the brewery, was also popular, with many people purchasing it as a souvenir. Tour participants also had the opportunity to try their hand at filling up on sake lees.

At the roadside station "Maebashi Akagi," which we visited towards the end of the tour, bananas are being grown in greenhouses. Only about 0.1% of the bananas distributed in Japan are produced in Japan. During the farming experience, we learned about the special cultivation methods for these precious bananas and actually harvested some. They need to ripen further, so you can't eat them right away, but it's something to look forward to after your trip. As a participant in the farming experience, we also enjoyed free gelato made with Maebashi bananas. If you're lucky, you might even be able to purchase ripe Maebashi bananas.

I like fruits like apples and bananas
・I'm interested in old houses and historical spots
・I like sake and amazake
・Want to enjoy casually with family, friends, or as a couple?
・I want to participate safely without worrying about transportation

Related tour examples
・Seasonal flavors that can only be tasted in that season, all-you-can-eat, and a tour to pick fruits
・Tours and Upscale Travel that are particular about food

集合・出発に関する質問について
Q：予約後、集合場所や時間はどのように確認できますか？
A：ご予約後、マイページで「集合場所」「集合時間」「緊急連絡先」を確認できます。出発前にはオンラインで「旅のしおり」もご覧いただけます。

荷物について
Q：スーツケースを持って参加できますか？
A： バス移動の場合は荷物の積み込みスペースを確保していますので、スーツケースも持ち込み可能です。ただし、大きなスーツケースはお一人2個までを目安にしてください。

言語対応について
Q：日本語が話せなくても参加できますか？
A： はい、可能です。ツアーは日本語で運行されますが、重要な案内はAI翻訳機器や書面で英語・中国語（繁体字）に対応します。添乗員やドライバーも翻訳アプリを活用しますので、言語の不安はありません。

支払いについて
Q：支払い方法は？通貨は？
A： お支払いは日本円でのオンライン決済（クレジットカード）です。為替レートはカード会社の規定に準じます。予約時に即時決済が必要です。

現地サポートについて
Q：台湾や海外に実店舗はありますか？
A：台湾ではKNT台湾がクラブツーリズムの総代理店です。現地でのご相談はKNT台湾にお問い合わせください。

台灣地區的旅客，報名可洽《台灣總代理・台灣近畿國際旅行社》
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來電報名 02-87717551(月～金 09:15～18:00〈假日除外〉)
電子郵件 info@knt-taiwan.com

Autumn apple picking is a popular experience that allows you to fully appreciate the charm of Japan's seasons. There are many famous varieties in Japan, but you will have the chance to encounter rare varieties on the tour. In addition, the tour is unique to the tour because you can visit sweet seasonal apples, rare Japan bananas, and spots where you can experience local food and culture in one day. In addition to the courses introduced this time, there are also plans where you can enjoy fruit picking in all four seasons. Tokyo Please experience the seasonal flavors that you can easily enjoy in the suburbs.