Tokyo Suburban Fruit Picking Day Tour | Jan. Strawberry Picking and Thirty Hammer Icicles

*This article was created for scheduled travelers visiting Japan, but it can also be read by people in Japan countries.

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, you can also enjoy a lunch buffet using local ingredients, purchase souvenirs unique to the area, visit a shrine rich in history, and more. This tour allows you to experience the charms of the area throughout the day. This "enjoyable structure" is the reason why it is 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 strawberry varieties in Japan, but "Tochiotome," "Amaou," and "Benihoppe" are widely known as representative varieties of Japan. All have an excellent balance of sweetness and fragrance, and Japanese strawberries are recognized worldwide for their high quality. These varieties can be found in a variety of places in Japan, including supermarkets and tourist farms. "Tochiotome" is characterized by its high juice content and moderate acidity, "Amaou" is large and richly sweet, and "Benihoppe" is appealing with its rich sweetness and vibrant color.

While there are strawberries that are famous nationwide, there are also varieties that can only be tasted by visiting the local area. A prime example is "Amarin," which originated in Saitama Prefecture. It is characterized by its pleasant fragrance, juiciness, and strong sweetness. Because production is limited, it is rarely distributed on the market, and it has gained attention as a "strawberry unique to the local area" that can be tasted at tourist farms and the like.

Strawberries are in season from Dec. to Mar., and Jan. is said to be the time when the sugar content is stable and the taste is the best. Tokyo Nearby tourist farms mainly use greenhouse cultivation with controlled temperature and humidity, so you can enjoy strawberry picking comfortably even in winter. Being able to taste freshly picked strawberries on the spot is also a pleasure unique to traveling.

Saitama Prefecture is easily accessible from central Tokyo, just an hour by train, and is a thriving fruit-growing area that takes advantage of the different climates and soils in each region. In addition to strawberries, many other attractive fruits unique to Saitama are grown.

Winter fruit picking tours are not only a great attraction for you to enjoy the seasonal flavors, but also to encounter the unique scenery and experiences of the season. On the tour I participated in this time, in addition to all-you-can-eat strawberries in a sweet and ripe state, I enjoyed the spectacular view of Chichibu 's winter, "Thirty Hammers of Icicle Illumination". In addition, at "Chichibu Shrine", we had a worship experience. The unique point of the tour is that you can fully enjoy the nature and taste unique to Saitama Chichibu throughout the day. This tour is recommended not only for fruit lovers, but also for those who want to see and experience the unique scenery of Japan in winter.

[Tour name]
"All-you-can-eat strawberry picking & roast beef at Chichibu Lunch buffet of about 20 kinds of fantastic winter view! Thirty hammers icicle illumination" [Shinjuku departure]

【Itinerary】
● Shinjuku Departure from the station
● Lunch buffet at Hanazono Forest
● All-you-can-eat strawberry picking at Wado Farm
● Chichibu Free worship at the shrine
● Thirty hammered icicles (illuminated viewing)
● Shinjuku Return to the station

The main attraction of this tour is strawberry picking at Wadou Farm. Inside the greenhouse, rows of bright red strawberries are lined up, and the biggest attraction is being able to compare and taste seven varieties: Akihime, Suzu, Amaotome, Star Night, Hoshi Urara, Beni Hoppe, and Yotsuboshi. Information on the flavor characteristics of each variety is provided, so you can enjoy finding the strawberry that suits your taste, whether it's sweetness, balance with acidity, or aroma.
Another great thing about the elevated cultivation is that you don't have to crouch down, and you can easily harvest while standing. When you pick the berries crisply from the stem and put them in your mouth right away, the sweetness spreads along with the juice, allowing you to experience the freshness that only freshly picked berries can offer. You can eat as much as you like within the time limit, so another great thing about this is that you can take your time savoring your favorite varieties.
The farm's direct sales corner sells rare varieties such as "Amaran" and "Sayurin" that can only be found in Saitama, and you can also purchase souvenirs such as strawberry jam, sweets, and strawberry liquor. The unique enjoyment of a strawberry farm is that you can not only eat the strawberries but also take them home to enjoy.

Chichibu historic shrine "Chichibu Shrine" is a spot with a good location, just a short walk from Chichibu Station. The brightly colored main hall is a sight to behold, and if you look closely, you can see various carvings such as "Tiger of Raising Children", "Three Monkeys of Genki", "Owl of the North Star", and "Dragon of Connection". Each has its own meaning, and you can enjoy looking around while looking for sculptures. In addition, in the precincts, you can also experience "water fortune-telling", where the results are revealed by floating paper in the water.
It was a time when I was able to walk freely, including visiting the shrine, so I was able to take time to look around the station for local gourmet food and souvenirs. There is also a local sake corner at the station where you can enjoy it for one coin, and one of the pleasures of traveling is to try the unique flavors of Chichibu.

At the "Thirty Hammers of Icicles", I was able to enjoy the beauty of the illuminated icicles. The best time to see them is a limited period from mid-Jan. to mid-Feb.. It is the art of ice created by nature, which is born only in the harsh winter environment where the temperature rises and falls repeatedly. The sight of icicles reflected in the river surface illuminated by colorful lights and shimmering on a quiet winter night is an impressive moment that you will want to capture in photos and videos. The clear air and silence that are hard to find in the city remain in my heart.
Here, there are artificially grown icicles and icicles naturally formed by spring water gushing out of the rocks, and it is also worth comparing the differences. The large icicles, which can reach a maximum height of about 8 meters, are so powerful that you can't help but look up at them.
In addition, the attached café shop warmed up my body from the cold of winter. Chichibu The famous "miso potatoes" are crispy on the outside and freshly fried on the inside. A slightly sweet miso sauce goes well with potatoes. Other also offers food and drinks to take a breather, and the deliciousness of enjoying it in the cold will permeate you.

・I want to enjoy seasonal fruit experiences such as strawberry picking
・I want to see the unique winter scenery of Japan
・I'm interested in Japanese shrines
・I want to do sightseeing efficiently on a day trip.
・I'm looking for a tour that I can easily participate in even during the cold season.
・I want to travel 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》
線上報名 https://www.knt-taiwan.com/contact.php
來電報名 02-87717551(月～金 09:15～18:00〈假日除外〉)
電子郵件 info@knt-taiwan.com

Winter strawberry picking is a popular experience that offers a sweet and fresh taste of Japan's seasonal charm. Jan. is the time when strawberries are at their most delicious, and strawberry picking, where you can enjoy ripe fruits on the spot, will increase the satisfaction of your trip. In addition, the tour is unique to the fact that you can visit the spectacular scenery and nature spots unique to winter in one day, such as the illumination of the 30 icicles surrounded by fantastic light. In addition to the courses introduced this time, there are also plans that combine seasonal fruit picking with seasonal highlights. Tokyo Please experience a trip unique to Japan winter that you can enjoy on a day trip to the suburbs.