A selection of 10 Strawberry Picking farms in Saitama, near and commutable from Tokyo, for the 2023 Ichigo-gari season.
Strawberry Picking near Tokyo
Strawberry picking is called “ichigo-gari” イチゴ狩り in Japanese. Ichigo イチゴ means strawberry and gari means picking or, literally, hunting. In Japan, strawberry picking is predominantly indoors, in greenhouses, so warm and toasty in the winter season! Saitama is a popular strawberry picking destination in the Kanto plain, because it is close to, and commutable from, Tokyo.
The system and cost
Generally the system is a fixed price for 30 minutes all-you-can-eat as you pick. You pay extra – by weight – to bring strawberries home. The prices differ greatly by farm. In 2023, the average price is around 2200 yen per adult, during prime season, for the farms on this list. The cost for children is generally about 800 yen cheaper. Children under two years old are rarely charged to pick. Also, please note that prices often change as the season progresses. That is, January and February is the most expensive time to pick because the strawberries are in their prime. As the weather warms, it is not unusual for the farms to lower the picking price.
Strawberry farms near Tokyo
1. Senbiki Strawberry Gardens (Koshigaya)
Located close to Japan’s largest shopping mall, Senbiki Strawberry Gardens is a favorite among families. They have a basic breast feeding and diaper changing baby area at the farm, which is quite rare for a strawberry picking farm. There is also a rest area with tables and chairs. Most of these farms are on Jalan too, and Jalan has a discount voucher you can use if you book through them. However, in the case of Senbiki, it is cheaper to book from the official website.
Season: January 3rd until around the end of May 2023.
Time: 10 am to 2 pm.
Address: 5 Chome-340 Azumacho, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-0826. View on Google Maps.
Access: About a 15 minute walk from JR Koshigaya Laketown Station.
Official website
2. Ichigo Kobo Kimuraya (Koshigaya)
Due to the accessibility of this farm, and its location near Tokyo, it is popular for strawberry picking among Tokyo dwellers. The farm is also one of the earlier ones to open too, starting their season in December. It generally runs until around Golden Week. Ichigo Kubo actually have two different greenhouses, but this one “Kimuraya” is most accessible by both train and car from Tokyo.
Season: January 3rd until about Golden Week (early May) 2023
Time: 10 am to 3 pm, closed on both Mondays and Fridays.
Address: 320 Onma, Koshigaya, Saitama 343-0033. View on Google Maps.
Access: About a 12 minute walk from Obukuro Station on the Tobu Isesaki line.
Official website
3. Green Peace, Midori ward (Saitama City)
Green Peace opened in the winter of 2017 and has been popular ever since. One reason is its convenience to Tokyo, both by public transport and car. The address is Saitama City, but it is right on the border of Kawaguchi City. Moreover, it is close to both a train station and a highway interchange. The farm is barrier free with raised strawberry beds for ease of picking. Varieties include Benihoppe, Akihime and Amarin, all of which are deliciously sweet.
Season: January 4th until around the end of May 2023
Time: 10 am to 3 pm
Address: 666 Daimon, Midori Ward, Saitama, 336-0963. View on Google Maps.
Access: Just six minutes walk from Higashikawaguchi station, Musashino Line / Namboku Line
Official website
4. Yokoyama farm (Kitamoto)
As this one is a little further away from Tokyo, in a rural area of Saitama Prefecture, it costs slightly less at 2000 yen per adult. This is one farm that didn’t require an advance booking before the pandemic, but requires one now. If you are planning strawberry picking during cherry blossom season, Kitamoto is a great spot for hanami. Moreover, at any time of the year (with an advance booking), you can visit the excellent Glico Pia East for a Pocky Factory tour.
Season: You can make reservations from the 20th of January and picking starts from Saturday 28th 2023 until around Golden Week.
Time: from 10 am to 12.30 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays only.
Address: 2 Chome-103 Central, Kitamoto, Saitama 364-0031. View on Google Maps.
Access: Just two minutes from Kitamoto station
Official website
5. Fujimi Strawberry (Fujimi)
This one is a little more expensive than the average at 2500 yen per adult. They have five different greenhouses at the one site, making it that bit bigger than most picking farms. It also allows them to limit the number of people picking in the one greenhouse at one time, during this time with Covid. Less than a ten minute walk away there is a nice little playground, with some stunning cherry blossoms.
Season: They have opened a few days in January already, but the official season will not start until after January 23rd 2023
Time: 9 am to noon.
Address: 1083 Katsuse, Fujimi, Saitama 354-0031. View on Google Maps.
Access: About a 15 minute walk from Tobu Tojo Line’s Fujimino station, which is just 25 minutes from Ikebukuro station.
Official website
6. Ichigo Sanpo (Niiza)
Located near the prestigious Heirinji, Ichigo Sanpo Barrier Free Strawberry picking farm, is right on the border of Kiyose in Tokyo. It is not only convenient for those coming by public transport, it is easily accessible by car also. Moreover, the trampoline funland “Trampoland” is just down the road. So add this one to the shortlist, if you are looking for somewhere in Saitama and / or near Tokyo, to combine strawberry picking and an indoor activity for children!
Season: from March 14th 2023 for the all-you-can-eat picking season, until around the end of May.
Time: from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm
Address: 3 Chome-4 Nobitome, Niiza, Saitama 352-0011. View on Google Maps.
Access: About a 20 minute walk from Niiza Station on the Musashino Line
Official website
7. Ichigo Ohana (Wako)
Wako City is right on the border of Nerima City, Tokyo. And the Ichigo Ohana strawberry farm is just a five minute walk from Wakoshi station, which is serviced by three different train lines from Tokyo. Its location makes it a popular spot for picking. The pandemic has effected strawberry picking in various ways – at this farm, their toilet is currently off limits and will remain so for the extent of the 2023 season. Wako Jurin Park is nearby.
Season: from January 2023
Time: 10 am to noon on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. (Closed from Monday to Wednesday).
Address: 1 Chome-9 Niikura, Wako, Saitama 351-0115. View on Google Maps.
Access: A five minute walk from Wakoshi Station, which is on the Tobu Tojo, Fukutoshin and Yurakucho lines.
Official website
8. Sekine (Hasuda)
This is one for people commuting by car. It is right beside the Hasuda Service Area Smart Interchange. As such, you need an ETC card to access the farm from the Service Area. However, I put Sekine Farm on the list because it is one of the prefectural approved farms. Moreover, the picking here is for 40 minutes. You can also pick tomatoes at this farm. In addition, they sell other goods, such as gelato and even cakes.
Season: from January 5th until around mid May 2023.
Time: 9 am to 2 pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. (Closed on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays)
Address: 614-1 Kawashima, Hasuda, Saitama 349-0112. View on Google Maps.
Access: 2 minute drive from the Hasuda Service Area Inbound Smart Interchange of the Tohoku Expressway.
Official website
9. Hiro Farm (Kasukabe)
You can use a schedule on their website to book to pick at this strawberry farm. However, there are times that they require you to ring rather than book online. They are marked with a telephone icon on the calendar linked below (official website link). You can also ring to see if they can squeeze you in for a ‘same day’ picking session, if you are looking for somewhere last minute.
Season: from January 5th 2023
Time: 9.30 am
Address: 548ｰ1 Takesatonakano, Kasukabe, Saitama 344-0026. View on Google Maps.
Access: 25 minute walk from Takesato Station on the Tobu Isesaki line.
Official website
10. Florist Kaneko (Kasukabe)
Strawberry picking at a flower farm! The florist is open all year round, selling fresh flowers as well as seedlings. But from mid January to mid May annually you can also pick strawberries. The farm is close to Kawakubo Park along the Furutone River, which has some really stunning cherry blossoms in spring. It is a trainspotting park too, with a quaint train bridge over the river. On the far side of the Furutone River there is also the Ushijima Furukawa Park.
Season: from mid January to mid May 2023
Time: 9 am to 3 pm.
Address: 6 Chome-19-13 Kasukabehigashi, Kasukabe, Saitama 344-0062. View on Google Maps.
Access: About a 9 minute walk from Fujino-Ushijima Station
Florist Kaneko has no website of their own, but they have a web page on the Kasukabe City Official website, which includes the phone and fax number.
You can also find 12 places to pick strawberries in the Western area of Saitama on this blog. As well as a choice of 10 in the Northern area of Saitama. Please note that since the pandemic, even picking farms that used to allow walk-ins, now require advance reservations too. Please bear this in mind when making plans for Strawberry Picking in 2023.