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With the arrival of summer following the rainy season, a variety of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, corn, and watermelon are now ripe and ready for harvest. Fukuoka Prefecture, particularly the Chikugo area, offers an abundance of fruits including peaches, grapes, figs, pears, apples, persimmons, and more. This guide showcases 14 public orchards, each offering unique harvests—some specialize in a specific fruit, while others present an eclectic mix. Each of these orchards offers a “pick-your-own” service, providing not only the freshest produce but also a chance to soak up the fresh country air and exercise outdoors.

Fruit Farming in Fukuoka

Fukuoka ranks among the top fruit-producing prefectures in Japan. In terms of yield and production, it holds second place for strawberries and kiwis, and third for persimmons nationwide. The fruit production here is primarily concentrated in the southern Chikugo area, where the gently sloping hills, superior water drainage, and ample sun exposure make cities like Ukiha, Asakura, and Kurume ideal for persimmon cultivation.

Fukuoka has the distinction of being the first Japanese prefecture to grow the slightly larger, sweeter Kyoho grape. These grapes are primarily cultivated in Kurume, Tanushimaru, Ukiha, and Yame. The prefecture is also known for its innovative use of ethylene gas ripening technology to sweeten kiwis before shipping, ensuring they’re delicious and ready for export. Tachibana-machi in Fukuoka is one of the leading producers of these sweetened kiwis.

The fruit farmers of Fukuoka are resilient and innovative, continually adapting to challenging conditions and experimenting with novel farming techniques and superior fruit breeds. The practice of opening orchards to the public for fruit-picking dates back to the 1950s in Fukuoka and remains a popular event for families and individuals today. As the warmth of summer gradually yields to the cool breezes of autumn, consider a visit to one of Fukuoka’s abundant fruit farms.

Fruits Picking Spots near Fukuoka

• Munakata City, Fukuoka (1)
• Buzen City, Fukuoka (1)
• Kyoto-gun, Fukuoka (1)
• Tagawa-gun, Fukuoka (1)
• Kama City, Fukuoka (1)
• Asakura City, Fukuoka (1)
• Ukiha City, Fukuoka (2)
• Kurume City, Fukuoka (3)
• Yame City, Fukuoka (1)
• Yanagawa City, Fukuoka (1)
• Fukuoka City (1)
• Saga Prefecture (1)

Taiyo-en (太陽園みかん狩り園)

Taiyo-en, the closest fruit farm to both Fukuoka City and Kitakyushu City residents, is situated just an hour away from Fukuoka City in Mochiyama, Munakata City. Surrounded by stunning natural beauty, the farm is open during the mikan orange season from October to December, providing a fruit-picking experience. These oranges are noticeably different from the usual mikan you might find at a supermarket, partly due to the use of organic fertilizers in their cultivation. Parking is available for visitors, and you can even take home a full bag of oranges for just ¥1,200!

• Early Oct. ~ late Dec.
• 9:00~16:00 (last entry 15:30)
• Additional facilities: Farmer’s store (9:00~17:00)
• Closed: Never
• Reservations: No reservations required (required for groups of 20 or more only by phone)
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 30 spaces (free)
• 411-16 Mochiyama, Munakata City, Fukuoka
• 0940-37-2957
• https://taiyouen.net/
• https://www.facebook.com/taiyouen.jp/

Mikan (picking)
• Season: Early Oct. ~ late Dec.
• Price: Large bag (approx. 3kg) ¥1,200, small bag (approx. 1.5kg) ¥600

Buzen Fruits Land (ぶぜんフルーツランド)

Situated approximately an hour and forty minutes from Fukuoka City by car, this farm operates year-round, offering various seasonal fruit-picking activities. You can pick grapes from late August to late September, chestnuts from mid-September to early October, oranges from mid-October to late November, and even try digging sweet potatoes from early September to mid-November. Entrance fees apply to individuals aged 3 and above, and charges for unlimited fruit consumption and take-home options are charged separately. BBQ facilities are available upon prior booking at ¥2,000 per person, which includes a set of Wagyu beef, jidori chicken, sausages, vegetables, and two pieces of onigiri. The farm is expected to open around August 20th, 2023. Please call to confirm the schedule before your visit.

• Around 8/20 ~ mid-Nov.
• 9:00~16:30 (last entry 16:00)
• Closed: Irregular (confirmation by phone required)
• Entry: ¥300 (over 3 y.o.)
• Reservations: Required by phone, reservations are not accepted for chestnut picking and potato digging.
• Parking: 30 spaces (free)
• 2024-31 Oaza Shiromaru, Buzen City, Fukuoka
• 0979-83-4622
• http://www.buzenfruitland.com/budou.html

Grape (picking)
• Season: Late-Aug. ~ late Sep.
• Kinds: Pione, Shine Muscat, Queen Nina
• Price: ¥1,500/kg~

Chestnut (picking)
• Season: Mid-Sep. ~ early Oct.
• Kinds: 6 kinds including Tanzawa, Ginyose, Tsukuba, Rihei
• Price: ¥700/kg

Sweet potato (picking)
• Season: Early Sep. ~ mid-Nov.
• Kinds: Beniharuka
• Price: ¥1,000/area (2 m) about 10 plants

Mikan (picking)
• Season: Early Oct. ~ late Nov.
• Kinds: Wase
• Price: ¥400/1.5kg, ¥700/3kg

Matsuki Kaju-en (松木果樹園)

Situated in the eastern part of Fukuoka Prefecture, Miyako Town is renowned for its natural beauty. At Matsuki Kaju-en, fruits are grown without the use of herbicides and exclusively with organic fertilizers. The fruit is allowed to fully ripen on the tree, ensuring an increased amount of photosynthesis compared to fruits harvested early. This results in a deeply sweet taste. To reach the fruit-picking location, visitors are given a charming tour around the garden in the back of a light truck. Adjacent to the garden, you’ll find the Fruit Kobo Efu, a quaint, old-fashioned house-style restaurant. It’s particularly popular for its cakes and parfaits, all made with freshly picked fruit from the garden.

• Mid-Jul. ~ mid-Nov.
• 11:00~16:00 (last entry 15:30)
• Closed: 8/8 ~ 8/15, and irregular (confirmation by phone required)
• Reservations: No reservation required
• Additional facilities: Restaurant
• Entry: JHS and over ¥200, 4 y.o. and over ¥100
• Parking: 40 spaces (free)
• 280-11 Saigawaosaka, Miyako-machi, Kyoto-gun, Fukuoka
• 0930-42-3125
• http://www.matsuki-kajuen.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/matsukikazyuen/

Grape (picking)
• Season: Late Aug. ~ mid-Sep.
• Kinds: Kyoho, Pione, Shine Muscat, Aki Queen
• Price: Kyoho, Pione ¥1,400/kg, Shine Muscat ¥3,500/kg, Aki Queen ¥2,800/kg

Pear (picking)
• Season: Late Jul. ~ early Nov. (*varies on the kind of pear available)
• Kinds: Shinsui, Kosui, Hosui
• Price: ¥900/kg

Orange (picking)
• Season: Late Oct. ~ early Feb.
• Kinds: Unshu, Chubankan
• Price: Unshu ¥400/kg, Chubankan ¥450/kg

Laputa Farm (ラピュタファーム)

This facility is a blend of a nature-rich campground and a café/restaurant with an attached orchard. The establishment operates with a recycling-oriented philosophy, utilizing food scraps from the restaurant as compost for the orchard. The experience of camping and barbecuing amidst beautiful natural surroundings is popular among visitors. Additionally, guests can also partake in harvesting activities, with opportunities to pick fresh blueberries and pears from the orchard.

• Mid-Aug. ~ early Oct.
• 10:00~16:00
• Closed: Mon. (may be closed due to weather conditions)
• Reservations: Required for groups of 10 or more only (phone)
• Entry: Free
• Additional facilities: Cafe & restaurant, (11:30~15:45) , camp site
• Parking: 50 spaces (free)
• 4408-11 Amagi, Kawasaki-machi, Tagawa-gun, Fukuoka
• 0947-47-4000
• http://laputa-f.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/laputafarm/

Grape (picking)
• Season: Mid-Aug. ~ late Sep.
• Kinds: Kyoho
• Price: ¥1,500/kg

Pear (picking)
• Season: Early Aug. ~ late Oct.
• Kinds: Kosui (mid-Aug. ~ late Aug.), Hosui (late Aug. ~ mid-Sep.), Niitaka (late Sep. ~ mid- Oct.)
• Price: ¥750~/kg

Kyushu Ringo-mura Sansuien (九州リンゴ村三翠園)

Kyushu Ringo-mura Sansuien is a unique venture run by a pear farmer who has been farming in Kama City for over a century, in partnership with neighboring fruit farmers. They cultivate numerous fruit trees on the slopes of Umami Mountain, which stands about 300 meters above sea level. The significant temperature difference between day and night creates an ideal environment for apple cultivation.

The farm operates with a focus on sustainability, employing minimal use of agricultural chemicals, organic fertilizers, and avoiding herbicides altogether. With a total of approximately 2,300 fruit trees, they grow pears and apples. These fruits are exclusively available for visitors to pick and enjoy, instead of being sold in the market.

• Early Aug. ~ late Nov.
• 10:00~17:00
• Reservations: Available by phone (required for groups of 10 or more only by phone)
• Closed: Irregular (confirmation by phone required)
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 4 spaces (free)
• 1659 Umami, Kama City, Fukuoka
• 0948-57-2121
• https://www.sansuien-apple.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/sansuien.1237/

Pear (picking)
• Season: Early Aug. ~ early Nov.
• Kinds: Kosui, Hosui, Nijusseiki, Niitaka, Shinko, Akiduki
• Price: 700/kg

Apple (picking)
• Season: Late Aug. ~ late Nov.
• Kinds: Tsugaru, Akagi, Akibae, Yoko, Shinano Sweet, Shinsekai, Shinano Gold, Gunma Meigetsu, Sanfuji, Shinano Hoppe, Kotaro, Pineapple Apple
• Price: 700/kg

Ota-noen (太田農園)

Easily accessible by car from Asakura City, this farm cultivates their succulent Kyoho grapes using clean mineral water sourced from Akizuki, ensuring they’re sweet and delectable. The farm has thoughtfully designed their grapevine trellises to be lower in height than usual, making the grapes easily reachable for women and children. Enjoy the luxury of eating freshly picked grapes under the grape vines. Please note, the farm is conveniently located just a one-minute drive from the Kamiakizuki traffic lights, in the direction of Egawa Dam, Asakura.

• Late Aug. ~ mid-Sep.
• Reservations: No reservation required
• Closed: Irregular
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 30 spaces (free)
• 1742-2 Kamiakizuki, Asakura City, Fukuoka
• 0946-25-0512
• https://bit.ly/3ilGexa

Grape (picking)
• Kinds: Kyoho grapes, Shine Muscat
• Price: Undecided

Meika-en (明果園)

Meika-en is committed to emphasizing the authentic flavor of fruit in their farming practices. They cultivate peaches (available in July) and pears (available from September to October) using a method known as “right crop in the right place,” and they minimize the use of agricultural chemicals to respect the natural environment.

Instead of maintaining a single plot of land, the farm manages various scattered plots, each uniquely cultivated in harmony with its specific species and environmental conditions. As a result, the fields vary depending on the type of fruit and the time of year. To help navigate this unique setup, refer to the map provided on their website.

• 7/6 (Thu.) ~ late Oct.
• 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Reservations: No reservations for peach picking
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 20 spaces (free)
• 777-2 Miharu, Ukiha-machi, Ukiha City, Fukuoka
• 090-1196-7500
• https://www.meikaenfruit.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/meikaen.hada/

Peach (picking)
• Season: 7/6 (Thu.) ~ late Jul. (or as supplies last)
• Price: ¥1,500/kg

Pear (picking)
• Season: 9/10 (Sun.) ~ late Oct.
• Kinds: Niitaka, Shinko
• Price: ¥650/kg

Shunko-en (春光園)

Shunko-en boasts pear trees that are over 70 years old, adding a touch of historical charm to the farm. This locale is a favorite among both tourists and locals for grape and pear picking. The farmers here use knowledge inherited through generations and carefully chosen organic fertilizers to cultivate sweet, irresistible fruit. Visitors can also savor grape juice made entirely from Pione grapes (¥500) and shaved ice (¥600), created from 100% fruit. The shaved ice features strawberries and persimmons harvested the same year, simply frozen and shaved, offering a refreshing treat within the park.

• 7/8 (Sat.) ~ late Nov.
• 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Reservations: No reservation require (recommended for groups of 15 people or more by phone)
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 30 spaces (free)
• 1481-4 Yamakita, Ukiha-machi, Ukiha City, Fukuoka
• 0943-77-4118
• http://shunkoen-ukiha.com/
• https://www.instagram.com/shunkoen15_ukiha/

Grape (picking)
• Season: 7/8 (Sat.) ~ mid-Sep.
• Kinds: Kyoho, Pione, Aki Queen, Kogyoku, Goruby, Shine Muscat (from early Aug.)
• Price: ¥1,400~¥3,300/kg

Pear (picking)
• Season: 7/29 (Sat.) ~ late Oct.
• Kinds: Kosui, Hosui, Akizuki, Niitaka, Shinko
• Price: ¥800/kg

Persimmon (picking)
• Season: Late Oct. ~ Late Nov.
• Kinds: Matsumoto Wasefuyu, Fuyugaki
• Price: ¥600/kg

Eco Farm Yokomizo-en (エコファーム よこみぞ園)

Situated in Minosanroku, a region known for its relatively warm climate and efficient water filtration system, Eco Farm Yokomizo-en provides the ideal conditions for cultivating sweet, delightful figs. Preferring organic methods to chemically-produced fertilizers, the farm’s approach to agriculture has made their fruit an instant favorite among consumers. Spanning an expansive 8,000 m², the orchard houses approximately 1,000 trees that produce three varieties of figs: Dauphin, Hakata Horai, and Banane. The fruit-picking season extends until November, offering ripe, succulent figs for most of the year.

• 8/1 (Wed.) ~ late Oct.
• 9:00~17:00
• Closed: Never
• Reservations: Required for groups of 20 or more only (phone up to 10 days in advance)
• Entry: Free (groups of more than 20: ¥200/person)
• Parking: 30 spaces (free)
• 1844 Masuoda, Tanushimaru-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka
• 0943-73-0808
• https://ecofarm-yokomizo.com/
• https://twitter.com/ecofarm_ykmz

Fig (picking)
• Season: 8/1 (Tue.) ~ late Oct.: Dauphin figs, Banane, 8/25 (Fri.) ~ late Oct.: Hakata Horai
• Price: ¥2,000/kg (take away) / all-you-can-eat (45 min.) ¥2,000, ES & JHS ¥1,500, free for pre-school

Nakano Kajitsu-en (中野果実園)

Situated in Tanushimaru Town, a hub for grape cultivation, Nakano Kajitsu-en focuses on growing a wide assortment of grape varieties. Their secret lies in gently nurturing the grapes using homemade compost and well-balanced, soft soil. Visitors are welcome to enjoy the grape-picking experience across an extensive range of varieties. If you’re unsure about which type of grapes to choose, sampling is available. Nakano Kajitsu-en also offers 100% grape juice, made from grapes harvested in their own garden. The juice can be enjoyed on-site for ¥100 per glass or taken home in an 800ml bottle for ¥1,100.

• 8/1 (Sat.) ~ end of Nov.
• 9:00~18:00 (last entry 17:30)
• Closed: 12/30 ~ 1/2
• Reservations: Recommended by web
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 8 spaces
• 343 Ishikaki, Tanushimaru-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka
• 080-8853-1864
• http://www.nakanokajitsuen.jp/

Grape (picking)
• Season: 8/1 (Sat.) ~ end of Sep.
• Kinds: Kyoho, Aki Queen, Ryuho, Red Queen, Rosario Bianco, Pizzutello Bianco
• Price: ¥1,500~2,000/kg, ¥2,200/kg (take away)

Persimmon (picking)
• Season: End of Oct. ~ end of Nov.
• Kinds: Fuyugaki
• Price: ¥650/kg

Fruits Farm Juran (フルーツファーム樹蘭)

Kyoho grapes, known for their noticeably larger size and sweet taste, are considered the king of Japanese grapes. Tanushimaru holds the distinction of being the first successful location for full-scale Kyoho grape cultivation. It’s also the town that introduced grape and persimmon fruit-picking in Japan. This 2,000m² orchard cultivates several varieties of grapes, including Kyoho and Shine Muscat, all of which are available for picking until the end of September. The farm eschews chemically-produced fertilizers, opting instead for organic cultivation methods that yield fruit with a sweet, unforgettable taste. Just a couple of minutes’ drive from the vineyard is the restaurant Fleur. Here, visitors can indulge in crepes and cakes made with fruit freshly picked from the farm.

• 8/16 (Tue.) ~ late Sep.
• 9:00~18:00
• Closed: Never (Aug. ~ Sep.)
• Reservations: Available by phone (required for groups of 10 or more by phone)
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 10 spaces (free)
• 482-1 Ishikaki, Tanushimaru-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka
• 0943-72-4528
• http://www.juran-fruit.com/farm.html

Grape (picking)
• Season: 8/16 (Tue.) ~ mid-Sep.
• Kinds: Kyoho, Shine Muscat
• Price: Kyoho ¥1,500/kg, Shine Muscat ¥3,000/kg

Hirai Kanko Farm (平井観光農園)

At this farm, you have the opportunity to enjoy fruit-picking activities throughout the year. Between January and May, you can pick strawberries and tomatoes. Summer is the time for grape harvesting, while autumn sees the farm ripe with sweet potatoes. Grape picking begins in late August, with the harvest of Queen Nina and Shine Muscat varieties. And the best part? Tasting these freshly picked grapes is included in the experience! With this farm, there’s something to pick and enjoy in every season.

• 8/22 (Tue.) ~ late Sep.
• 10:00~16:00
• Closed: Irregular
• Reservation: Required (phone or web)
• Entry: Free
• Additional facilities: Farmer’s market
• Parking: 60 spaces (Free)
• 54 Mukaide, Yoshida, Yame City, Fukuoka
• 080-4279-7716
• https://hirai-tourist-farm.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/hirainouen/

Grape (picking)
• Season: 8/22 (Tue.) ~ late Sep.

• Kinds: Shine Muscat, Queen Nina, BK Seedless
• Price: ¥800, 4 y.o. ~ ES ¥500 (incl. sampling), free for under 3 y.o. / take away: ¥2,000~/kg

• Kinds: Shine Muscat
• Price: ¥4,000 (incl. sampling, two bunches of grapes and Amao strawberry ice cream)

Yanagawa Kanko Grape Farm (柳川観光農園)

Bathed in the sea breeze and sunlight of the Ariake Sea, the grapes grown here are exceptionally sweet. The vineyards, situated on reclaimed land facing the sea, benefit from the mineral-rich soil abundant in salt, resulting in some grape varieties achieving a sugar content of over 20 degrees! Adjacent to the vineyards, “Mutsugorou Land” offers visitors the chance to camp and experience local culture through activities such as nori-suki (nori making) and salt production. The area is renowned for its beautiful sunsets. After a day of grape-picking, you can unwind by watching the sunset over the Ariake Sea, rounding off a truly unique and satisfying experience.

• 8/10 (Thu.) ~ end of Aug.
• 8:30~11:30
• Closed: Mon. (or the next day if it is a holiday)
• Reservations: Required (phone or web)
• Entry: free
• 512-1 Hashimoto-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka
• 0944-72-0819 (Yanagawa Mutsugoro Land Office)
• https://ariake-mutsugoro.jp/
• https://www.facebook.com/ariakemutsugoro/

Grape (picking)
• Picking Experience Date: 8/19 (Sat.), 8/20 (Sun.), 8/26 (Sat.), 8/27 (Sun.), 8:30~11:00
• Kinds: Kyoho
• Price: ¥1,300/kg

Grape (sales)
8/10 (Thu.) ~ end of Aug. 10:00~15:00
Yanagawa Mutsugoro Land (389 Hashimoto-machi, Yanagawa City, Fukuoka)

Kanatake Kanko Grape Direct Sales Outlet (金武観光ぶどう直売所)

Located about 10km from the city center of Fukuoka, the Kanatake district has long been known as a prime agricultural area. At the foot of Mount Iimori, grapes are widely cultivated. During the grape harvest season, grape picking and sales are usually conducted under the sponsorship of JA Fukuoka City, but this year, sales will be held only at the direct sales outlet. The specially designated outlet near Kanatake intersection opens at 9:00 AM.

• 8/10 (Thu.) ~ mid-Sep.
• 9:00~18:00 (closes when grapes are sold out)
• Closed due to weather conditions
• Parking: Approx. 20 spaces
• 1901-16 Kanatake, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka
• https://www.ja-fukuoka.or.jp/infos/detail/?id=528

Marujun Ringo-en (まるじゅんリンゴ園)

Beginning with a modest few dozen apple trees in 1982, Marujun Ringo0en has since expanded to more than 300 trees, cultivating over 15 different apple varieties. To ensure the quality of the fruit, each apple grown in the open air is individually bagged to protect against pesticides and insects. This allows visitors to enjoy the unique experience of biting into freshly picked apples right from the tree. The orchard also offers a range of homemade apple-based products for sale, including apple juice, apple pie, fresh apple caramel, and other delightful apple sweets.

• Sep. ~
• 9:00~17:00 (last entry 16:30)
• Reservations: No reservations (required for groups of 20 or more only by phone)
• Closed: Irregular (confirmation by phone required.)
• Entry: Free
• Parking: 30 spaces (free)
• 2377 Fujibaru, Mitsuse-mura, Saga City, Saga
• 0952-56-2244
• https://marujun.wixsite.com/marujun

Apple (picking)
• Season: Sep. ~
• Kinds: Tsugaru, Kogyoku, Wasefuji, Akibae, Akiakane, Shinano Sweet, Orin, New Jonagold, Fuji
• Price: ¥700/kg (take away) / all-you-can-eat (no time limit) ¥500, 4 y.o.~ ES ¥400

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NOTE: The information presented in this document was gathered and compiled by the Fukuoka Now team. We strive to ensure accuracy, but there may be some errors or details that have since changed. If you find any inaccuracies or updates, we would appreciate it if you could inform us. This report was originally written in July 2023.