Kashima Harvest, a long-established strawberry farm that has been in business for three generations

 

About a 30-minute drive from Hamamatsu city, you will see a cute strawberry and melon sign in the middle of a tranquil landscape lined with rows of vinyl greenhouses.

 

The hotel is located near Kanzanji Onsen, one of the most popular tourist destinations around Lake Hamana, and is bustling with tourists during the tourist season.

 

We were greeted in front of the shop by Mr. Miyamoto, the owner of Kashima Harvest.

 

Kashima Harvest has been cultivating strawberries in this area for three generations, dating back to Miyamoto's grandfather.

 

 

From cultivating a variety of crops to taking on the challenge of becoming a tourist farm

 

My grandfather, the founder, opened Kashima Harvest at a time when even the term "strawberry picking" was not yet common and the concept of tourist farms barely existed.

 

Originally, he grew a wide variety of crops, including peaches, grapes, and cacti, and is a farmer at heart, but until then his main interactions had been with people at the agricultural cooperative and at the market.

 

When they first started accepting general visitors as a tourist farm, they struggled to communicate with customers.

 

The visitors were also confused as they did not know what to do. Some even ended up taking large amounts of strawberries home with them, and it was a constant struggle.

 

 

 

A passion for the soil and love for Akihime

 

"Kashima Harvest" is a traditional "soil cultivation".This method involves digging furrows in the ground and planting seedlings directly into them.

 

In recent years, strawberry picking has become dominated by "elevated cultivation," in which the berries are grown higher than ground level, but Miyamoto insists on soil cultivation not only because that's the style he's used to, but also because he wants to compete and become number one on this land that has been cultivated since his grandfather's time.

 

We will inherit the foundation and technology built by our predecessors and aim for even greater heights.

 

 

The only variety grown at Kashima Harvest is Akihime, which is characterized by its soft flesh and strong sweetness.

 

The Akihime rice is grown with great care, starting with the soil, using organic fertilizers such as rice husks and rice bran. The sweetness and juiciness that spreads the moment you put it in your mouth is a true gift from nature.

 

However, the strawberry picking experience at Kashima Harvest is not just about tasting delicious strawberries. In order to ensure that customers have the best time possible, we use fun gimmicks such as balloons to get children excited.

 

"Delicious" means different things to different customers. That's why we want our customers to enjoy the experience of strawberry picking itself, and we'd be happy if our strawberries could become a part of their memories," says Miyamoto.

 

 

A blissful moment to enjoy with the whole family

 

What are the strawberry picking experience hours at Kashima Harvest?1Time. Generally30While there are many places where1The time limit is set so that families with small children can enjoy themselves at their own pace.

 

For families with small children, 30 minutes can be a bit hectic,1If you have time, you can take your time and savor the taste of the strawberries. It looks like you can enjoy plenty of fresh strawberries while taking a break.

 

 

 

The warm atmosphere inside the garden

 

"We want to provide our customers with a fun and memorable strawberry picking experience."

 

As the words suggest, the park has a warm atmosphere that brings a smile to the faces of all who visit.

 

One of the attractions of Kashima Harvest is that it has many repeat customers.

 

Miyamoto says that the greatest joy for him is seeing couples who visited before they were married and then return with their children, and seeing their children grow up.

 

What you can experience in this tour

 

The tour takes about an hour. After listening to an explanation about strawberry picking from the farm owner, Mr. Miyamoto, we headed to the greenhouse. Inside, there are places to put your luggage and seats, so you can relax and enjoy your time.

 

Condensed milk to pour over the strawberries and cups are also provided. During the experience, Miyamoto will use balloons to make balloons in the shape of strawberries and characters, so even small children can enjoy it without getting bored.

 

They will also teach you how to identify perfectly ripe strawberries that are hard to find elsewhere, such as at supermarkets, so be sure to use this information to find the tastiest strawberries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guide introduction

 

Toshihiro Miyamoto, Kashima Harvest Tourist Farm

 

 

Originally from Hamamatsu City, he returned to his hometown after graduating from Tokyo University of Agriculture to take over the family business. Through trial and error, he is committed to growing strawberries, paying particular attention to the soil, with the sole desire to "make our customers happier." Kashima Harvest is challenging itself every day with the aim of becoming a special place where the strawberries are not just sweet, but also bring back happy memories.