Here are some spots in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, where you can enjoy a full day of strawberry picking, Hamamatsu Flower Park, and dinner in the evening.
Suzuki Farm, Village of Strawberry
First, we went to "Strawberry Village Suzuki Farm" in Kita-ku, Hamamatsu City, to experience strawberry picking.
It takes about an hour and a half from Nagoya via expressway, so it is easy to get there as a short trip.
Get off at Hamamatsu Nishi IC and it takes about 15 minutes to get to the area.
The location is easy to find because of the potted plastic greenhouses.
Reasons for choosing Strawberry Village Suzuki Farm
After I started thinking that I wanted to go strawberry picking...I looked around many farms' websites.
We decided on Suzuki Farm because of the generous 45-minute time frame and the easy-to-understand information on their website.
The website for mobile phones is cute and easy to read, so it was easy to make a reservation.
QR payment support
The fee was paid on-site on the day of strawberry picking, but I was impressed by their ability to accept credit card and QR payment options in addition to cash.
Smooth thanks to advance reservations
On the day of the visit, there is no waiting in line, and thanks to the advance reservation, we are guided smoothly.
One free bottle of condensed milk per family
Shortly after we arrived, we were given instructions on how to pick strawberries, told the range and variety of strawberries we could pick in the greenhouses, and were offered a free tube of condensed milk per family.
I found it very conscientious that each person was allowed to bring their own syrups, chocolate sauces, etc.
All-you-can-eat meals are started wearing plastic gloves as a precaution against coronavirus infection!
Strawberry varieties
There are two varieties, Akihime and Benihoppe.
Even if you are not familiar with strawberries, the variety was familiar and well-known, so I was able to eat it with peace of mind.
I went in mid-March and it was just sweet!
I hear that the strawberry season is from December to February, and from March to April is when strawberry picking prices are a little lower, but they are bright red, glossy, and really delicious.
There were strawberries of various sizes, but I felt like I was on a treasure hunt, as there were hidden large strawberries I had never seen before and some oddly shaped ones that would not appear on the market.
Enjoy 45 minutes
The setting was such that adults could bend down a little and small children could find the strawberries at just eye level, so both could enjoy them from different angles and spend 45 minutes looking for and eating them all.
I noticed when I finished eating that it was surprisingly warm inside the house, so it would be better to take off your jacket.
Some of the children were sweaty, so depending on the weather, if the temperature is close to 20 degrees Celsius, I would like them to enjoy the event while adjusting their clothing.
I think the best thing about strawberry picking is that it can be enjoyed by all generations of strawberry lovers, whether they are friends, couples, or of course families.
All groups were smiling, taking pictures and comparing the size of each other's hauls, and I felt that this was a happy place with constant laughter.
After eating up for 45 minutes, you may feel that you can't eat strawberries for a while longer, but you may want to taste the goodness of the direct-sale shop as they also carry strawberries for souvenirs.
Hamamatsu Flower Park
After strawberry picking, we went to "Hamamatsu Flower Park.
It takes about 20 minutes to get there from Suzuki Farm.
It was still a little early for the cherry blossoms, but the tulips were at their best and I was impressed by the fact that there were so many varieties other than red, white and yellow, including blackish, pink and orange.
I enjoyed myself to the fullest, making new discoveries by looking at the beautiful flowers as I walked, and occasionally resting on a bench to watch the fountain show.
There is a lawn area, so some children were playing ball freely.
I thought it was a good facility for families in the area to enjoy seasonal flowers all year round if you use the annual passport, as you can lay out blue sheets and relax while viewing cherry blossoms, or bring your own lunch.
With many hills and stairs, circling the large park was a pretty good workout, and I was hungry before I knew it.
After eating strawberries and admiring the flowers, we will drive to "Charcoal Grill Restaurant Sawayaka", the soul food of Shizuoka.
Charcoal Restaurant Sawayaka
It was past noon, around 2:00 p.m., and the restaurant was quite crowded because it was Sunday.
At the store, you will be issued a waiting list number so that you can scan the QR code with your smartphone and get real-time information on how many more pairs are waiting.
I really appreciate this system.
Standard Genkotsu Hamburger Steak
After an hour and a half of waiting in the car, we were shown to our seats and were served the famous "Genkotsu hamburger steak".
The performance of finishing the hamburgers right in front of the customers who are about to eat them is a must-see.
You can adjust the degree of grilling from rare to well-done, so you can create your own hamburger steak.
The other seasonal dessert recommendation was a strawberry fair, which we completely passed over, but it was wonderfully delicious and worth the wait.
Shizuoka Prefecture has many good spots within a good distance from each other. With Suzuki Farm as a base, Lake Hamana and Kakegawa Bird Garden can be reached in 30 to 40 minutes.
I was reminded once again that I would like to visit more places because there are so many places where I can enjoy the seasons.
