Here is a look at some recommended fruit-picking spots in Kumamoto City, where you can enjoy freshly picked fruits all year round. From strawberries in spring to pears and grapes in fall to tangerines in winter, have fun picking and eating away to your heart's content!

Surrounded by bountiful nature, Yuhoen Fruits Land can be found in the east of Kumamoto City, about half-way up Mount Kinpo. This farm has been passed down through generations, starting out cultivating fruits like pears and tangerines in the post-war era, and gradually expanding its range of produce over time. In 1970, prompted by a desire to let customers know just how delicious freshly picked ripe fruit can be, Yuhoen started promoting itself as a tourist farm, allowing visitors to pick and buy the farm's produce directly. All of their fruits are sweet and juicy, owing to the warm climate and mountain slopes on which they are grown. In addition to fruit-picking, you can also enjoy digging up mushrooms. You can enjoy different kinds of seasonal fruits throughout the year. The picking schedule is as follows:

December - May: Strawberries

August - September: Grapes

August - October: Pears

September - October: Chestnuts

October - November: Mikan (Japanese tangerines), persimmons, etc.

Furthermore, Somen Kawayuka, a restaurant on the farm grounds which serves nagashi somenand features a fishing pond, was renovated and reopened in August 2020. As well as being able to enjoy nagashi somen, you can catch fish yourself in the pond outside, which are then quickly prepared for you to enjoy with your meal.

Nagashi somen is a way of eating somen noodles, in which the noodles are floated along a bamboo chute in cold water to be caught with chopsticks as they flow past.

In September the same year, a cafe called New Drive-in UFO opened on the grounds, too. The cafe serves fragrant coffees as well as juices, smoothies and sweets made using fresh fruits from the farm. Original meals are also available.

Sweets such as tarts are carefully made one by one by patissiers, who are able to bring out the flavors from the ingredients to the fullest, thanks to their deep knowledge of the farm's fruits. You can also enjoy different flavors depending on the season - something that only a fruit farm can offer. Why not drop by after you've finished picking fruit?

Yuhoen Fruits Land

Kawachimachitake 1144, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto-shi

Tourism Farm Kichijien can be found in Ueki-machi, in northern Kumamoto City. Starting out in 1969 producing mikan (Japanese tangerines), this farm has been cultivating fruits for a long time. These days, the farm operates as a popular tourist spot, and is usually filled with people on holidays.

Thanks to being situated on a low hill, Kichijien also offers excellent views of all of Ueki-machi, and in the distance, the outer rim of Mount Aso can even be seen! Including grapes, apples, mikan, pears and strawberries, you can enjoy seasonal fruit picking throughout the year, surrounded by the sprawling scenery of mikan orchards.

Kudamono no Soft Senmonten KICHIJIEN cafe serves handmade soft-serve ice-cream, parfaits and drinks made using plenty of high quality seasonal fruits. Their popular ice creams are made with Jersey milk and whatever fruits are in season, and topped with homemade fruit sauce and compote. Depending on the season, you can have fun trying different flavors! At Kichijien Fruit Wholesalers, you can also try out and shop for fruits picked fresh that morning as well and other foodstuffs.

There is also a barbecue spot complete with everything you need, including stove and net, tongs, sinks, food counter and toilets (please bring your own food and serving utensils). The barbecue facilities are next to the farm, so that if you go fruit picking first, you can then enjoy eating the fruit you picked as you barbecue your food, an experience that can only be had at a fruit farm.

Tourism Farm Kichijien

Ueki-machi 556-1, Nishi-ku, Kumamoto-shi