Strawberries are a fruit with an adorable appearance, bright color, and sweet taste.
Which do you eat first, the top or the bottom?
Some people place emphasis on ease of eating and eat by holding the stem and starting with the thinner end, but since sugar accumulates in the thinner part at the bottom, strawberries start eating from the top and taste sweet and sour. It seems that many people enjoy the sweetest taste at the end.
Some people say, “Eating from the side will even out the sweetness,” and each person has their own preferences when it comes to how they eat it.
Today, we visited Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumi in Miyakodamachi, Kita Ward, Hamamatsu City, and talked about strawberry picking, which is especially popular among all the fruits.
Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika is a vast orchard the size of nine Tokyo Domes, where you can enjoy picking about 15 types of fruit throughout the year, including mandarin oranges, persimmons, figs, and kiwis.
Since Tokinosumika, which operates a leisure business in the prefecture, has become the designated manager, the park has become a popular spot in Hamamatsu City, where activities such as barbecues and glamping can be enjoyed.
There is also a free parking lot for 800 cars, and many tourists from inside and outside the prefecture visit.
Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika Ms. Katsuta
When I asked Mr. Katsuta, a local from the fruit park sales department, about the characteristics of strawberry picking, he told me that although it is a fruit park where you can enjoy harvesting a variety of fruits throughout the year, strawberry picking is the only one that offers an “all-you-can-eat” service. that’s right.
The event period is set from December to the end of May, which is a little longer than other strawberry picking gardens.
When I entered the house, where the aisles were wide enough to make it easy for strollers and wheelchairs to enter, the room temperature was 25 degrees Celsius, and even in winter I felt warm and naturally wanted to take off my coat.
Strawberries are grown in two tiers so that even small children can enjoy strawberry picking.
The strawberries on the bottom shelf, placed below the adult’s perspective, are said to be easy for children to reach.
Families love the fact that children under 3 years old are free.
Although it is not possible to specify the variety, you can choose from varieties such as Akihime, Kaorino, Benihoppe, and Yotsuboshi, and be guided to the strawberries that are in the best condition and ripe for consumption at that time of year.
*Opening date, fees, etc. may change depending on the growth condition of the strawberries. Please check the website information or telephone before visiting.
Strawberries are ripening red all over the house, and come out of the green leaves in various sizes.
There was a member of the staff who was working on the cultivation nearby, so I talked to him, and during a break from his work, he kindly explained to me which strawberries are ripe for eating and how to pick them.
It is said to be delicious when the stem is curved upwards and red all the way to the top.
It seems that the larger the size, the higher the sugar content.
On this day, we not only sampled the variety “Kaorino,” which has a low sourness and has a good aroma, but also “Koiminori,” which was named in hopes of a good harvest, and was well received by the woman who accompanied us for the interview.
Please take a look at Sea Lake HAMANA Jenne’s YOUTUBE channel, which introduces strawberry picking at Fruit Park.
「https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3ItzSsxFVU」
Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika Mr. Nakayama
We’ve introduced how to tell when strawberries are ripe and how to eat them, but there’s still plenty of fun to be had, such as eating them with free refills of condensed milk and purchasing seasonal strawberries grown in the park as souvenirs. .
“Night Strawberry Picking”, which is held only during the Christmas season, is a popular event that is sold out every year, and there are many people who enjoy strawberry picking not only with families but also with couples and friends. Some people line up from the front.
In addition to strawberries, I was told that in early spring, almond flowers turn pink and are very beautiful. It would be fun to feel the changing seasons while strolling through the orchard while picking strawberries.
You can spend time in the park together with meals at restaurants and activities, so please stop by if you are in the area.
[Hamamatsu Fruit Park Tokinosumika]
Founded in 1891. Kogiku, a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Hamamatsu, caters to a wide range of generations with its traditional and innovative sweets
Founded 137 years ago.
Kogiku, a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Hamamatsu, reopened two years ago as a factory direct sales store in Kanda-cho, Chuo-ku, Hamamatsu City, with a stylish, modern Japanese atmosphere so that younger generations can easily enjoy Japanese sweets.
The store has been renovated to a “drive-through” style, which is unusual for a confectionery store, and “We have received feedback from regular customers and users alike, such as “It’s convenient to be able to purchase the confectionery you want without having to get out of your car.” says Ms. Iyona Kamei, who is in charge of planning and manufacturing.
After marrying the eldest son of the founding family, Ms. Kamei jumped into the confectionery industry from medical administration. In response to the words of the current president, “I would like to see a breath of fresh air,” the company is working to develop and manufacture new products while preserving tradition.
In this month’s recommendation, we’d like to introduce Kogiku, a confectionery shop that continues to take on new challenges while valuing tradition.
Hamanako Direct Market is an online shopping site that delivers delicious, carefully selected ingredients from around Lake Hamana directly from the source!
Are you familiar with Lake Hamana Direct Market, an online shopping site that carefully selects delicious ingredients from the Lake Hamana region and delivers them nationwide?
This is an online shopping site that sells carefully selected seasonal and delicious ingredients, including live eels marinated in the morning, the mystical white onion, persimmons grown on trees over 20 years old, and fully ripe Mikkabi mandarins.
If you take a look at the official website of the Lake Hamana Direct Market, you’ll see a wide selection of products that are filled with the producers’ passion!
This month’s recommendation is the online shopping site “Hamanako Farmers Market” ☆
Unagi-imo: A One-of-a-Kind Sweet Potato from Hamamatsu, Distinguished by Its Unique Sweetness and Umami Flavor
Uncovering the Unique Appeal of Unagi-imo, Born from Local Pride
There is a quietly growing interest in a unique Japanese sweet potato brand: Unagi-imo. With a name that is hard to forget, this special potato originates from Hamamatsu—a city known for its unagi (eel) culture. It was born out of one man’s passion for agriculture, combined with the distinctive characteristics of the local land and culinary traditions.
In this article, we delve into the origins of Unagi-imo, uncover what makes it truly one-of-a-kind, explore its flavor and craftsmanship, and introduce the shops where you can enjoy it for yourself.