Strawberries as big as your palm—eat unlimited for 30 minutes for just 500 yen, with one guest devouring 100 in a row

Reported by Chen Ruizhong / Mie, Japan

Sweet and tangy strawberries are a favorite fruit for many. When the harvest season arrives each year, numerous travelers head to places like Dahu to enjoy the experience of picking fresh strawberries. Unlike Taiwan’s weight-based pricing, the strawberries at Seirinji Lake in Iga, Japan, are not only sold individually but also feature the highly popular “all-you-can-eat strawberry” event during the harvest season, attracting strawberry lovers from far and wide to indulge to their heart’s content.

▲ Plump, juicy strawberries can be eaten unlimitedly within 30 minutes. (Photo by Chen Ruizhong, same below)

From January 3 to May 31 this year marks the annual strawberry season at Seirinji Lake. During this period, various strawberry farms offer all-you-can-eat events, where for just 1,700 yen (approximately 500 NTD per person), visitors can enjoy unlimited fresh-picked strawberries from the farm within 30 minutes.

▲ Amaou strawberries have a soft texture and a delicate fragrance.

The Seirinji Lake Sightseeing Orchard uses high-rise hydroponic racks instead of traditional soil cultivation, utilizing hidden piping to deliver the nutrients and water strawberries need. Looking around, the greenhouse is filled with neatly arranged strawberry racks, with plump strawberries hanging among the green leaves—a truly spectacular sight. The elevated design means visitors don’t have to bend over or worry about dirtying their shoes, allowing them to easily enjoy the fun of fruit picking. Moreover, the strawberries here are all “pick and eat”—just pick and enjoy immediately, without the need for washing, making it incredibly satisfying.

▲ Amaou strawberries can grow as large as half a palm—very satisfying.

The strawberries grown in the orchard are of the “Amaou” variety, which can grow up to 8–9 cm—almost half the size of a woman’s palm. Their fresh, dewy appearance shines in a vibrant crimson red, as if whispering, “Come eat me!” If the strawberries in Dahu, Taiwan, have a texture that’s soft yet slightly crisp with a sweet-tart flavor, then Amaou strawberries are tender, sweet, juicy, and carry a faint, refreshing aroma—not cloying or biting, making it hard to resist taking bite after bite without a care for appearances.

▲ A sea of strawberries.

Amaou strawberries are typically sold at 500 yen per box at the source, which includes about 12 large strawberries. But the “all-you-can-eat mode” fully satisfies guests’ cravings for strawberries. According to Kashiwabara Kenji, head of operations at Seirinji Lake Sightseeing Village, there has been a guest who ate over 100 strawberries within 30 minutes—a record that still stands at the orchard.

▲ Amaou strawberries sold at regular retailers are priced at around 500 yen for 12 strawberries.

Kashiwabara Kenji also noted that besides the strawberry season from January to May, the grape season runs from July 20 to October 31 this year, with an all-you-can-eat grape-picking event also available—welcome everyone to come and experience it.

▲ High-rise strawberry gardens mean no bending over and no dirty shoes.

2016 Seirinji Lake Strawberry Season
Dates: January 3 – May 31
Location: Seirinji Lake, Nabari City, Mie Prefecture, Japan
Adult price: January 3 – May 10: 1,700 yen per person; May 11 – May 31: 1,150 yen per person.