Giant red apples freshly picked at a Nagano farm in Japan—take a bite and you might just see “Mount Fuji”

With 16 years of history, Miharashi Farm offers seasonal experiences such as strawberry, grape, apple, and asparagus picking, or even making soba noodles by hand and getting up close with ostriches. These educational and fun activities allow visitors to gain an in-depth understanding of Nagano’s agricultural produce, immerse themselves in nature, gaze at the snow-capped Southern Alps, and unwind.

When reporters visited the farm in winter, the staff said that the apple-picking season runs from August to November. Located at an altitude of 900 meters, the large diurnal temperature variation ensures high sweetness in both vegetables and fruits. There are 13 varieties of apples available for picking, while December is mainly focused on Fuji apples. Visitors can cut and taste them on the spot after picking. Bringing apples home requires additional weighing and payment.

▲ The main type of apple available in December is the Fuji apple.

▲ You can judge the sweetness of an apple by looking at the bottom, or “butt.”

How can you tell which big apple is sweeter just by looking at it? Farm staff say you can identify it by the color of the apple’s base.The yellower the base, the more nectar it contains and the sweeter the flesh—completely red bases are also a good sign. But if it’s yellow with hints of blue, the flesh is less sweet.

▲ After cutting, the apple reveals plenty of sweet nectar.

▲ Fuji apples are full of sweet juice.

Upon cutting one open, you’ll find that the flesh near the center is packed with honey-like juice, forming a beautiful gradient with the light yellow flesh. One bite reveals the striking contrast between dark and light that resembles the shape of Mount Fuji, and the sweet taste keeps you coming back for more！

▲ After taking a bite, the gradient of nectar and light yellow flesh looks just like Mount Fuji.

Fruits at Miharashi Farm are grown using pesticide-free techniques, so they can be eaten without peeling. If you’re looking for a fruit-picking experience different from strawberry picking in Taiwan, consider planning a half-day trip here.

Miharashi Farm
Address:3447-2 Nishiminami, Ina City, Nagano
Fruit-picking seasons by month:
Strawberries:January 1 – early June, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Three different types of strawberries available. Fees: 1,100–1,800 yen for ages 6 and up; 900–1,100 yen for ages 3–5.
Asparagus:Mid-April – June, 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM. Greenhouse picking: 660 yen per person; open-field picking: 550 yen per person.
Blueberries:Early July – mid-August, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM. 1,100 yen per person for ages 13 and up; 600 yen per person for ages 6–12.
Corn:：From mid-July to mid-August, from 10:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Five ears of corn for 500 yen.
：Apple：From late August to late November, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, you can pick and eat as much as you like within one hour. 600 yen per person aged 4 and above.
：Grapes：From early September to late October, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, you can pick and eat as much as you like within one hour. 1200 yen for persons aged 6 and above, 600 yen for children aged 3–5.