Sweet, tart, and juicy, it is difficult to think of a fruit more popular and beloved than strawberries. My children love them so much a tray's worth of strawberries disappears within seconds of serving. When the chance came up for us to join an eat-all-you-can strawberry buffet at a nearby strawberry farm, it was a strawberry dream come true.

Joumon Farm is a strawberry greenhouse in Moroyama Town in Saitama Prefecture. Guests can pick strawberries and enjoy them right there and then in a clean, spacious environment, rain or shine. Unlike some strawberry farms where the strawberry plants are ground level, Joumon Farm's plants are at about chest level, making it easier for people to pick the ripe fruit.

There are six varieties of strawberries that you can sample and the varieties differ depending on the season.

The greenhouse environment is much more humid and warmer than outside. It is recommended to wear layers that you can take off if you get too hot inside. I was very satisfied with the measures of the farm for Covid-19 countermeasures. There were ample sanitizers available. We were also instructed to disinfect our hands before picking, to touch only what we were going to pick and consume, and not to eat while walking. There are designated areas for eating. Should we wish to go back to pick more, we were to sanitize our hands again.

For this year, 2022, Joumon Farm is open from January 15 to May 9. The farm recommends making a reservation via Jalan, but walk-ins might be admitted pending crowd size.

Getting there

Joumon Farm is best accessed by car. It is approximately 26 minutes from Tsurugashima IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway, or 27 minutes from the Sayama-Hidaka IC on the Ken-O Expressway. Parking spaces for about 30 cars are available.

By Sherilyn Siy