Strawberry picking in Tochigi


Why strawberries grown in Tochigi are delicious

– The winter sun makes strawberries sweeter –

Tochigi prefecture has rich nature with much fertile land and streams of clear water from Nikko and Nasu.
The climate features long sunshine hours in winter and a large temperature difference between day and night,
creating the best conditions for growing strawberries.
In greenhouses making the most of the sunlight, the maintained temperature enables slow ripening to grow sweet and delicious strawberries.

Tochigi strawberries are well known throughout Japan

Tochiotome holds the top share among strawberries grown in Japan.
The most beloved strawberry in Japan is Tochiotome, which originated in Tochigi.

Largest strawberry yield in Japan

Tochigi prefecture has had the number one strawberry yield in Japan since 1968 and is worthy of being called the Strawberry Kingdom.
Originally, the best season for strawberries in Japan was spring (May - June). However, Tochigi prefecture effectively used technology to go beyond the traditional shipping schedule. Stable shipment of high-quality strawberries, mainly for the Tokyo metropolitan area, now runs from November to May.
These fruitful results come from growers, agricultural organizations and administrative organizations banding together to improve production, distribution and sales.
In recent years, strawberries can be picked between June and October, enabling enjoying strawberries throughout the year.


Strawberry varieties for Tochigi, the Strawberry Kingdom


Delicious strawberries are grown all over Japan. Among them, the most grown strawberry variety in Japan is Tochiotome, which was developed in Tochigi prefecture.
Tochigi prefecture offers a variety of strawberries including the Sky Berry, which is popular as a luxury gift, and Tochihime, which is an exclusive variety at strawberry farms where you can visit and pick strawberries yourself.

How to enjoy strawberry picking


The best way to enjoy the delicious strawberries in Tochigi is through strawberry picking at strawberry farms.
Tochigi prefecture has many strawberry farms all over the prefecture.
The strawberry picking varies depending on the strawberry farms, but most of them offer all-you-can-eat picking with a time limit.
The following is how to enjoy strawberry picking:

villages in Tochigi and sightseeing spots

Tochigi prefecture is within 100 km of Tokyo and has many attractive rural areas where you can enjoy the rich nature of Japan, sightseeing spots including Nikko and Nasu and many hot springs.
The many delicious agricultural products include many fresh vegetables and fruits. In farming villages in Tochigi where these agricultural products are cultivated, you can enjoy the beautiful and unspoilt landscape of Japan in all four seasons.
When you visit Japan, please come and enjoy the beauty of Tochigi villages.


Tours for international visitors


Directions to Tochigi

From Tokyo, you can reach Utsunomiya, the center of Tochigi, with a short 50-minute Shinkansen ride. Nikko, a UNESCO world heritage site, is also easily accessible with a short trip from Utsunomiya.