Just an hour by Shinkansen from Osaka or Kyoto! Enjoy Peach Picking and Grape Picking in the fruit kingdom of Okayama
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Okayama, which can be accessed from Osaka or Kyoto in about an hour by Shinkansen, is one of Japan's leading areas for delicious fruit. In this article, we'll introduce you to Peach Picking and Grape Picking, which are in season from July to October.
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Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
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Table of Contents
- Why Okayama Fruits are So Delicious
- July and August are the best months to visit: 3 places to Peach Picking
- August to September: Three spots for Grape Picking
- Okayama is about an hour away from Osaka or Kyoto by Shinkansen.
Why Okayama Fruits are So Delicious
Mild climate
Okayama Prefecture is located in a geographical location with the Chugoku Mountains to the north and the Seto Inland Sea Sea and Shikoku Mountains to the south. Due to this geographical characteristic, the summer and winter monsoons bring a lot of rain and snow as they cross these mountains before blowing into Okayama Prefecture, so the prefecture is characterized by little rain or snow throughout the year, warm temperatures, and long hours of sunshine. In Okayama City, the temperature varies from 2°C to 32°C throughout the year, but rarely drops below -1°C or exceeds 35°C. This warm climate is suitable for growing fruit, especially peaches and grapes.
History of fruit growing
The history of fruit cultivation in Okayama can be traced back to the Meiji period. The introduction of "Shanghai Shuimitsu" and "Tianjin Shuimitsu" from China in 1875 was the catalyst for full-scale peach cultivation. Since then, thanks to the warm climate suitable for peach cultivation and the efforts of enthusiastic predecessors, improvements and development have continued, and more than 30 varieties of peaches have been created to date. In particular, the "white peach" that was born in Okayama in 1901 is a variety that is the root of peaches in Japan, and its soft flesh, unique peach fragrance, and overflowing sweet juice made it taste different from any peaches that had come before.
For these reasons, Okayama fruits are widely known for their deliciousness. The warm climate and long history of fruit growing are what support the deliciousness of Okayama fruits.
For more information on peaches and grapes, please see the following articles.
July and August are the best months to visit: 3 places to Peach Picking
Tomomien
This is a spot where you can enjoy picking both peaches and grapes.
Peach Picking: late June to August
Pione picking: mid-August to early September
Muscat picking: early September to early October
Shine Muscat Picking: Early September to early October
Yoshii Farm
This is an experiential tourist farm located in a place blessed with nature. It mainly consists of a peach orchard and strawberry house, where you can enjoy picking seasonal fruits and all-you-can-eat. There are about 80 peach trees, mainly white peach varieties, and there are 13 types ranging from early to late, so you can enjoy them for a long period of time.
Ohara Tourist Orchard
From early July to late November, you can pick peaches, pears, and apples, respectively, and for the entrance fee you can eat as much fruit as you want in the orchard for an unlimited amount of time.
August to September: Three spots for Grape Picking
Kubo Farm
This farm offers a variety of harvesting experiences, including Grape Picking(Muscat of Alexandria, New Pione, and Berry A), chestnut gathering, sweet potato digging, and shiitake mushroom picking. Grape Picking can be enjoyed for an unlimited amount of time with all-you-can-eat options (you can take home anything you don't finish from the first bunch). The cafe offers a selection of classic popular dishes such as hot udon noodles, fried chicken, and chicken nanban.
Ishihara Orchard
This is a historic orchard that has been cultivating fruit for 170 years. During harvest season, you can experience picking a wide variety of grapes, such as "New Pione," "Shine Muscat," and "Goldfinger," as well as the large and mellow "Atago pear," the fragrant and mellow "Yari pear," and "Taiaki persimmon."
Mimasaka Farm
This tourist farm offers strawberry picking from winter to spring and Grape Picking from summer to autumn. In addition to enjoying soft serve ice cream topped with strawberries and grapes, you can also experience using fruits from the farm itself. The farm shop sells processed foods such as puddings, jams, and fresh cream daifuku, as well as freshly picked fruits and vegetables.
Okayama is about an hour away from Osaka or Kyoto by Shinkansen.
Okayama is located in an area with good access to both the Kansai and Kyushu areas. It can be reached in about an hour by Shinkansen from Osaka or Kyoto, about 40 minutes from Hiroshima, and about 1 hour and 40 minutes from Hakata Station.
Okayama Prefecture is located in the Chuo of Western Japan, and is known as the "Land of Sunshine" due to its warm climate and little rain throughout the year. It is conveniently located halfway between famous tourist spots such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, and is also the gateway to Shikoku via the Great Seto Bridge. Okayama is also known as the "Fruit Kingdom," and the fruits that grow in the warm climate of the Seto Inland Sea and sunshine are of the highest quality in terms of sweetness, aroma, and flavor. You can enjoy seasonal fruits such as white peaches, Muscat grapes, and Pione grapes! Okayama is also home to world-famous tourist spots such as Okayama Castle, Okayama Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which are renowned for their history, culture, and art!
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