With early summer here, the leisure season has finally arrived in Hokkaido! Seeing the clear, sunny weather makes you want to go out and enjoy the outdoors, doesn't it?!

And if you're visiting Abashiri City at this time of year, I highly recommend fruit picking!

The strawberry season in the Okhotsk area is right now, from late June to early July, when you can already see a hint of early summer!

This time, we went to Yokoyama Orchard in Abashiri City, where you can enjoy picking various delicious fruits, including delicious strawberries and cherries!

Just a short walk from Memanbetsu Airport! Enjoy magnificent scenery along the way at this orchard.

Yokoyama Orchard boasts excellent access, being only about an 8-minute drive from Memanbetsu Airport! Even with such a short 8-minute journey, you can enjoy truly magnificent scenery that is characteristic of Hokkaido.

Look for the signs with "strawberries" and "cherries" on them as you drive along! You won't get lost.

First, go to the reception desk and then prepare.

Upon getting out of the car, you will first be guided to the reception area. The entrance fee varies depending on the season, and "strawberry and cherry picking" costs 700 yen per adult.

Having unlimited strawberries and cherries is like a dream, isn't it?!

Original postcards are available at the reception desk, which you can take home as a memento of your trip.

After paying the entrance fee, you'll receive a plastic bag to put the stems and seeds in, so please enjoy the park while respecting the rules of etiquette.

Bags and backpacks are not allowed, so leave them in the car before you begin! Let's start fruit picking!

Exploring a strawberry field feels just like a treasure hunt!

The strawberry field, which is 100 meters long and has 10 rows, has an incredible 5000 strawberry plants!

The moment you arrive at the strawberry field, filled with a sweet aroma, you'll find yourself wondering, "Where should I start?" because it's such a vast field!

In addition to the plastic bags mentioned earlier, there are also baskets provided at the entrance to the strawberry field to put the strawberries you pick in, so you can collect plenty!

If you look under the leaves, you might find red strawberries hanging in clusters, or peeking out from unexpected places, or hiding secretly—there are all sorts of things to discover...

Enjoy the seasonal strawberries to your heart's content while chatting, "Oh! There it is!" and "What a huge strawberry in this place!"

Savor the flavors of a variety that can only be found in Hokkaido.

Yokoyama Orchard grows two types of strawberries. Among them is a limited-edition strawberry that can only be eaten in Hokkaido! Its name is "Kentarou".

While strawberries are generally given feminine names due to their cute appearance, this particular strawberry has a masculine name.

Apparently, the name was changed to a more masculine one to make it easier to understand, with the aim of revitalizing agriculture in Hokkaido.

I was surprised by the texture of the strawberries, which I'd never tasted before!

The characteristic of "Kentarou" is that it's large and a little firm...but it's sweet because it has a high sugar content!

When you take a bite, the firm texture is complemented by a sweet strawberry flavor that fills your mouth.

Actually, the "Kentarou" strawberry has a short season, and it's a rare variety that can only be enjoyed for about a month, from late June to early July! That's why we want you to come and try this variety right now!

Because the flesh is firm, one of its characteristics is that it keeps well even after harvesting. Since it's a strawberry that can be enjoyed for a long time, you can take it home and eat it little by little!

Lots of cherry trees! Let's go on an adventure and find some sweet cherries!

Next, we arrived at a huge, long greenhouse large enough to completely enclose a cherry tree. There are cherry trees outside as well, but inside this greenhouse, you can enjoy cherry picking at your leisure, even on rainy days.

The sheer size of the greenhouses is impressive, but what's even more surprising is the sheer variety of cherries they cultivate! From the famous Sato Nishiki to Summit, Nanyo, and Yamagata Bijin, you can compare the tastes of many different varieties.

Using the cherry variety map at the reception desk as a guide, try eating lots of cherries to see which trees have the sweetest cherries, and whether the ones at the top or bottom are sweeter. You might find yourself full before you know it!

Haskap, a native species that is rarely found even in Hokkaido.

These tiny fruits have a sweet and sour taste. I've seen them processed into jams and other products, but even living in Hokkaido, I rarely come across them fresh.

That's because this fruit is very delicate. The sweet and sour taste that hits you the moment you eat it is sure to become addictive.

The name haskap originates from the Ainu word "hashikap" (a tree with many fruits on its branches). In the past, haskap was famous as a fruit that grants eternal youth and longevity, and it contains abundant nutrients.

Of course, you can eat them raw at Yokoyama Orchard, so when you visit, be sure to try this unique Hokkaido flavor!

Strawberry and cherry picking is a delicious activity that everyone can enjoy!

The strawberries and juicy cherries, exclusive to Hokkaido, made for a delicious experience that everyone quickly became engrossed in.

At Yokoyama Orchard, you can enjoy picking various fruits depending on the season, so please give it a try.

When you visit Abashiri City, be sure to enjoy plenty of delicious fruit with your family and friends!

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