6 Farms for Strawberry Picking in and Near Tokyo: Best Season, Picking Tips, Activity Bookings, and Location Map

When is strawberry-picking season in Japan?

Generally, Japan’s strawberry season spans from early December to late May.

Despite having temperatures similar to those in the United States or Europe, where strawberries naturally grow in spring and summer, Japan has chosen to alter the natural growing season of strawberries, transforming them into a winter delicacy. During this season, strawberry shortcake and ichigo daifuku (rice cakes filled with bean paste and topped with a strawberry) are the most popular treats.

The berries are cultivated in temperature-controlled greenhouses using hydroponics and trellising to create optimal growing conditions. This method not only guarantees a consistently successful harvest but also makes fruit-picking much easier while maintaining a flawless appearance without damages caused by neighboring berries, soil, or plants.

Pro tip: As it gets quite warm inside the greenhouses, wear spring clothing such as lightweight long-sleeved jackets and T-shirts.

Things to know before going strawberry picking

Before heading to a local strawberry farm, you’ll want to check certain details on how to make the most of your experience, including whether advance reservations are required, and tips on identifying the most delicious berries. Keep reading for all the details.

Strawberry-picking rules and methods

While the rules and methods of strawberry picking may differ from farm to farm, there are generally two systems in place.

Some places allow you to pick and eat as many strawberries as you like within a specified time limit—usually around 30 minutes. Other farms let you fill a container with as many berries as you desire to take home.

Keep in mind to pick only as many strawberries as you can eat to minimize food loss, and refrain from picking more than the allowed amount to take home.

We’ve highlighted the picking methods of each farm introduced in this article, so make sure to check and confirm the rules and conditions before your visit.

How to find the best strawberries

For the sweetest strawberries, a good tip is to visit two to three days after the berries have been exposed to plenty of sunlight. Make sure to check the weather forecast before your visit.

Additionally, consider visiting early in the morning. If you book a picking slot for the afternoon, there’s a chance that many of the large, perfect-looking strawberries may have already been picked by earlier customers.

Moreover, opt for a visit on a weekday towards the end of the week. Since weekends attract more visitors, going on a weekday allows the strawberries more time to regrow, ensuring a better picking experience.

Identify the best ichigo: To find the sweetest and most delicious strawberries, make sure they have a bright red color, a natural shine, and a strong and sweet fragrance. You can also look out for those with raised seeds and those with a crooked stem. Keep in mind that smaller, red strawberries are sweeter compared to larger, unripe ones.

Pro tip: Start by eating from the tip of the strawberry, which is sweeter than the stem side.

3 best strawberry farms in Tokyo

Tokyo is home to numerous strawberry farms, with one conveniently located near Shibuya. Keep reading for our top three recommendations.

Get around the city with the Tokyo Subway Ticket and enjoy unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.

Setagaya Ichigo Juku

Setagaya Ichigo Juku is the only strawberry farm in central Tokyo, easily accessible from both Shibuya and Jiyugaoka stations. Here, you can enjoy strawberry picking from January to mid-June, making it one of the few farms offering this experience for an extended period until early summer.

Strawberry types: Akihime (soft and lower acidity,) Beni-hoppe (firm and higher acidity,) and Yotsuboshi (soft and moderate acidity)

Picking method: 30-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking

Reservation: Advance reservations are required. The farm only offers strawberry picking on Wednesdays and Sundays, and bookings can be made from 8:00 a.m. one day before the day of the experience.

Fee: It’s JPY 3,000 , and JPY 2,500 for children aged 2 to elementary school age. The fee includes condensed milk in which you can dip your strawberries—a popular way of eating ichigo in Japan.

Setagaya Ichigo Juku
Address: 4-32-1 Nakamachi, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Access: 10-min walk from Kaminoge Station (Tokyu Oimachi Line)
Official website: https://setagaya1519.wixsite.com/setagaya1519 (in Japanese only)

Ichigo House Mitaka

Ichigo House in Tokyo’s Mitaka neighborhood—the area home to the famous Ghibli Museum—offers strawberry picking from December to May. It’s one of the only farms in Tokyo that specializes in both soil and elevated cultivation.

Strawberry types: Ten different varieties, including Koiminori (firm and lower acidity,) Amaotome (softer and low acidity,) as well as the white Sakura (soft and low acidity.) For more information on the varieties, see the official website.

Picking method: 60-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking & picking in bulk to take home

Reservation: Reservations are not required. Refer to the calendar to check the farm’s opening days. The dates for the all-you-can-eat picking sessions will be announced on the farm’s official Instagram account.

Fee: (* The following information is based on 2024 data. Please check the official website for the latest details.)

• For the 60-minute all-you-can-eat sessions, it’s JPY 3,000 on weekdays and JPY 3,500 on weekends and holidays. For children aged 4 to preschool age, it’s JPY 2,500 on weekdays and JPY 3,000 on weekends and holidays. It’s free for children aged 3 and younger. Payments have to be made before heading inside the greenhouse. The fee includes condensed milk and chocolate sauce to enjoy your strawberries with.

• Picking in bulk to take home is priced at JPY 400/100g. The payment will be made after the experience, depending on the amount you’ve picked.

Ichigo House Mitaka
Address: 1-8 Mure, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo
Access: 5-min bus ride from Kugayama Station (Keio Inokashira Line) to Mitake-jinja bus stop, from there it’s a 4-min walk
Official website: https://mitaka.ichigohouse-wegro.com/

Fuchu Strawberry Picking Farm

The Fuchu Strawberry Picking Farm is just a 26-minute train ride from Shinjuku Station on the Keio Line. Here, you can enjoy strawberry picking from around January until the end of May.

The farm also has an on-site cafe that you can visit without making a reservation. Indulge in beautifully crafted strawberry parfaits, tarts, and cakes, as well as ichigo daifuku. Pair your strawberry treat with a fresh ichigo milk or yogurt drink. Note that the cafe is closed on Tuesdays.

Strawberry types: Yumenoka (a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity)

Picking method: 30-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking

Reservation: Reservations have to be made online in advance.

Fee: The cost of strawberry picking varies by plan. Please check the official website for more information.

Fuchu Strawberry Picking Farm
Address: 3-16-2 Miyoshi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo
Access: 8-min walk from Bubaigawara Station (JR Nambu Line, Keio Line)
Official website: https://fuchu-ichigogari.com/en/

3 best strawberry farms near Tokyo

If you’re traveling the greater Tokyo area and want to stop by a strawberry farm, check out our top three picks below.

Kanagawa Prefecture: Morinouen

Morinouen in Kanagawa Prefecture is easily accessible within 30 minutes by train from both Shibuya Station in Tokyo and Yokohama Station in Kanagawa Prefecture. The farm offers strawberry picking from January until May.

Strawberry types: Different types such as Beni-hoppe (firm and higher acidity,) Yotsuboshi (soft and moderate acidity), Akihime (soft and lower acidity,) Koiminori (firm and lower acidity,) and the white Shiro Ichigo (sweet and unusual scent like peach.) Note that the availability varies depending on the growing conditions.

Picking method: 30-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking

Reservation: Book your experience through WAmazing to avoid any potential discomfort with the booking process in Japanese.

Fee: It’s JPY 3,300, and JPY 2,300 for children aged 3-9. Free for younger children.

Morinouen
Address: 4332 Shinyoshida-cho, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture
Access: 20-min walk from Higashi-Yamata Station (Yokohama Municipal Subway Green Line)

Chiba Prefecture: Andersen Strawberry Farm

Andersen Strawberry Farm offers 35-minute strawberry-picking sessions from mid-January to early May. The site is located close to the popular Funabashi Andersen Park, which served as the inspiration for the farm’s name.

Strawberry types: Beni-hoppe (firm and higher acidity,) Yotsuboshi (soft and moderate acidity), Akihime (soft and lower acidity,) and Kaorino (firm and mild acidity)

Picking method: 35-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking

Reservation: Book your experience through WAmazing to avoid any potential discomfort with the booking process in Japanese.

Fee: It’s JPY 2,800, and JPY 1,900 for children aged 3-6. Free for younger children.

Andersen Strawberry Farm
Address: 148 Kusugayama-cho, Funabashi-shi, Chiba Prefecture
Access: 16-min bus ride from Kita-Narashino Station (Shin-Keisei Line) to Kusugayama bus stop, from there it’s a 3-min walk

Saitama Prefecture: Sayama Berryland

Sayama Berryland in Saitama Prefecture offers strawberry-picking sessions between mid-December and May.

At the on-site shop, you can also buy seasonal products, including ichigo daifuku, dried strawberries, strawberry tea, and more. Enjoy freshly made strawberry juice and ichigo kakigori (shaved ice dessert) to round off your visit.

This long-established farm, around since the Edo period (1603-1868,) also offers blueberry picking between June and August, and shiitake mushroom picking between October and December.

Strawberry types: Beni-hoppe (firm and higher acidity,) Akihime (soft and lower acidity,) Koiminori (firm and lower acidity)

Picking method: 30-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking

Reservation: Reservations are not essential, but due to the high popularity of the farm, we recommend making a booking online in advance. Payments have to be made in cash on the day of your visit.

Fee: It’s JPY 2,800 on weekdays, and JPY 3,000 on weekends and holidays. Children aged 3-5 pay JPY 1,800 on all days, while infants at the age of 1-2 pay JPY 500. Condensed milk is not included, but can be purchased at the on-site shop.

Sayama Berryland
Address: 1262-5 Horigane, Sayama-shi, Saitama Prefecture
Access: 9-min bus ride from Shin-Sayama Station (Seibu Shinjuku Line) to Shin-Sayama Heights bus stop, from there it’s a 10-min walk
Official website: https://www.sayama-sb.com/en/

Download our strawberry-farm map before heading out

Book strawberry-picking experiences across Japan

There are many strawberry-picking farms located all over the country. Book your experience easily through WAmazing when exploring Japan.

Explore more of Japan by using one of the many different transportation passes.

*The information in this article, such as prices and business hours, was accurate at the time of publication but is subject to change. Please refer to the official website(s) for the latest information.

Tokyo Subway Ticket (24/48/72 hours)

・Unlimited rides on all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway lines.
・Pick up your ticket at all Tokyo Metro and Toei Subway line stations by scanning a QR code.

Strawberry picking at Morinouen in Kanagawa Prefecture

・Enjoy 30-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking.
・Savor various kinds of strawberries such as Beni-hoppe, Akihime, and Koiminori.

Strawberry picking at Andersen Strawberry Farm in Chiba Prefecture

・Enjoy 35-minute sessions of all-you-can-eat strawberry picking.
・Savor various kinds of strawberries such as Beni-hoppe, Akihime, and Kaorino.

Book strawberry-picking experiences across Japan

・Enjoy all-you-can-eat strawberry picking at different farms across Japan.
・Savor various kinds of strawberries such as Beni-hoppe, Akihime, and Kaorino, and more.