When you think of strawberries, they’re a fruit that delights us with their bright red color and sweet aroma in treats like shortcake and parfaits.
In Soja City, Okayama Prefecture, you’ll find “Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm,” where you can pick these appealing strawberries yourself and eat as many as you like.
Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm, visited by many people from inside and outside the prefecture, holds its annual strawberry-picking event, where you can pick fully ripened strawberries grown in greenhouses with your own hands.
The farm also sells sweets made with plenty of freshly picked strawberries, so you can enjoy fresh strawberries.
Here’s a detailed introduction to the strawberry picking and strawberry sweets you can enjoy at Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm.
The information provided was current when this article was published in January 2025. Please note that it may differ from current information.
About Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm
Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm (hereafter referred to as “Nomaru Gardening”) is one of the largest tourist farms in the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, located in Soja City, Okayama Prefecture.
The facility also includes a farm produce and flower shop, as well as barbecues and pizza-making experiences—facilities where people of all ages, from children to adults, can have fun. It is bustling with families throughout the year.
Strawberry Picking at Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm
Nomaru Gardening grows strawberries in its vast greenhouses, and you can enjoy strawberry picking every year from January through May. During this period, it is a popular activity, attracting as many as 40,000 people from inside and outside Okayama Prefecture.
A feature of strawberry picking at Nomaru Gardening is that the strawberries are grown using elevated cultivation, so you can pick and eat them while standing.
There is plenty of space between the strawberry plants, making it easy for wheelchair users and those with babies in strollers to enjoy the experience.
Experience Strawberry Picking at Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm!
Let’s take a look at the strawberry-picking experience. The strawberry greenhouses are at the far end of the Nomaru Gardening grounds.
First, pick up your strawberry-picking admission pass at the general reception, just a short walk from the parking lot.
Strawberry picking is by reservation priority, with reservations accepted until the day before (online reservations must be made 2 days in advance). You can choose from two time slots: 9 a.m. or 10:30 a.m..
You may also be able to join without a reservation, on a first-come, first-served basis (reservations not accepted), as a “same-day slot.”
However, the number of “same-day slots” is set each day, and they are no longer available once capacity is reached. Please note that on weekends and public holidays in particular, they may all be gone as soon as the farm opens at 9 a.m. If you want to be sure you can enjoy the experience, we recommend making a reservation.
Depending on how the strawberries are growing, same-day slots may not be available. Please check the strawberry-picking website for Nomaru Gardening Kibiji Farm.
Once you’ve checked in, walk over to the strawberry greenhouses.
Pay at the reception desk in front of the strawberry greenhouse. The staff will give you a paper cup for strawberry tops and rubbish, and explain the rules for strawberry picking. The all-you-can-eat strawberry-picking session has a 40-minute time limit.
After checking in, it’s finally time to enjoy strawberry picking inside the greenhouse.
Strawberry Varieties
The strawberry greenhouse is spacious, and you may find yourself wondering which strawberries to try first.
A board showing the strawberry varieties is displayed on the ceiling, so it was easy to check which variety I was eating. One feature of strawberry picking at Nomaru Gardening is the wide range of varieties grown there.
The main strawberry varieties in 2025 are shown on the map below.
In fact, other varieties, such as “Star Night,” are also grown, so you may be able to try them depending on the season.
You can enjoy a wide range of strawberry varieties when picking strawberries at Nomaru Gardening. Here are some of the most representative varieties.
Benihoppe
The first variety that caught my eye was “Benihoppe.” It was glossy and brightly colored. It was a little tart when I bit into it, but the balance with the sweetness felt just right, and it was juicy with a refreshing taste.
Kaorino
This variety, “Kaorino,” seemed to have more small berries than the others. Though small, they are very sweet, and you could easily pop one after another into your mouth. Apparently, they’re popular with children, too.
Akihime
“Akihime” strawberries are often large and have a soft texture. The fully ripe parts are especially sweet, and I enjoyed their texture as I savored them by the mouthful. Walking around in search of fully ripe strawberries was exciting, like hunting for treasure.
Hareichigo
“Hareichigo” strawberries were also sweet and firm, with a satisfying bite. They are said to contain more vitamin C than other strawberries.
The time limit is just 40 minutes, but we had a wonderful time walking around until we were full, deciding which strawberries to eat and comparing them over and over.
At Noumaru Engei’s strawberry-picking experience, you can also buy the strawberries you pick to take out, with the price based on their weight. If you find a strawberry you like, it would make a nice souvenir, too.
Depending on the strawberries’ growing conditions, takeout may not be available.
After strawberry picking, take a stroll around the spacious facility.
“Strawberry Decoration,” loaded with large strawberries
The “Gardens Cafe” inside Noumaru Engei offers a wide selection of sweets made with strawberries grown at Noumaru Engei.
This is the “Strawberry Decoration.”
Inside the large waffle cone is rich Hokkaido vanilla soft-serve ice cream, generously topped with large strawberries grown at Noumaru Engei. The homemade strawberry sauce seems to bring out the sweetness of the soft serve and strawberries even more.
It’s quite a generous serving, but at 598 yen including tax, it’s reasonably priced for a dessert. It’s said to be very popular with everyone from children to adults.
In addition to Strawberry Decoration, the “Gardens Cafe” offers sweets made with strawberries grown at Noumaru Engei, including strawberry crepes and strawberry gelato. The “Gardens Kitchen” also sells Noumaru Engei’s specialty, strawberry sushi.
There is also a terrace with around 100 seats (an indoor rest area) on the grounds, so you can enjoy a relaxing time over lunch or sweets with family and friends.
The most popular item! Fully Ripe Strawberry Roll Cake
The grounds of Noumaru Engei also have a “Cake Workshop” selling cakes, tarts, baked goods, and more.
The Cake Workshop’s most popular item, the “Fully Ripe Strawberry Roll Cake,” is made using at least one pack (300 g) of strawberries picked at Noumaru Engei.
The strawberries on top are extra-large—so big you’ll want to take a big bite right away.
The whipped cream between the fluffy, handmade sponge cake layers is packed with large chunks of strawberry, making for a very satisfying treat. The rich whipped cream is not too sweet, allowing you to savor the strawberries’ natural flavor, and is very easy to eat.
It would also make a lovely celebration cake for a special occasion or a souvenir.
Interview with the Deputy Farm Manager
We spoke with Ando Yukihiro, deputy farm manager at Noumaru Engei Kibiji Farm, where visitors can enjoy not only strawberry picking but also a wide selection of strawberry sweets.
What makes strawberry picking at Noumaru Engei Kibiji Farm special
What makes strawberry picking at Noumaru Engei special?
Ando (surname only)
Strawberry picking at Noumaru Engei is done using elevated growing beds, so it’s comfortable even for wheelchair and stroller users.
We also grow at least four varieties of strawberries, so you can enjoy comparing them. We hope you’ll find your favorite variety.
The generous 40-minute time limit lets you enjoy strawberry picking at a leisurely pace.
Please note that bringing in condensed milk and other items is not permitted. We hope you’ll fully enjoy the strawberries’ natural sweetness and flavor.
How to enjoy delicious strawberries
Could you tell us how to enjoy delicious strawberries?
Ando
Strawberries that are red all the way up to the stem, with leaves curling upward, are fresh and delicious.
The tip of a strawberry is where most of its sweetness is concentrated, so if you eat from the stem end first, you can enjoy the sweetest part last.
Gently hold the upper part of the strawberry and pull it slightly toward you as you lift it. The stem will naturally snap off and come away easily, so give it a try.
In fact, the current season (January and February) is the best time of year for strawberries. The season runs until late May, but we hope you’ll visit soon.
Do you have a message for people visiting Noumaru Engei?
Ando
At Noumaru Engei, we offer many different ways to enjoy strawberries, not just strawberry picking.
Our sweets made with plenty of seasonal strawberries are beautifully presented and delicious, as they are made with freshly picked strawberries. We hope you’ll take your time enjoying them on the terrace on the grounds. The farm shop in the same facility also sells fresh strawberries picked that very day. They’re perfect not only for enjoying at home but also as a gift.
We hope you’ll enjoy the unique appeal of strawberries at Noumaru Engei in all kinds of ways!
From the Writer
Inside the spacious strawberry greenhouse at Noumaru Engei, searching for strawberries and wondering, “Which one should I eat next?” was an exciting moment, just like a treasure hunt.
Sweet and juicy strawberries are rich in vitamin C, so they can be expected to help promote healthy skin and are also great for preventing colds.
Why not experience this special taste unique to the season at Noumaru Engei, where everyone from children to adults can enjoy it?
Strawberry Picking at Noumaru Gardening Kibiji Farm Information
| Name | Noumaru Gardening Kibiji Farm Strawberry Picking |
|---|---|
| Location | 411-1 Nishigori, Soja City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | 0866-94-6755 |
| Parking | Available |
| Hours | 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (January to around May) *Ends when the red berries run out |
| Closed | Open daily |
| Admission (tax included) | 40 minutes, all-you-can-eat during the allotted time Adults (junior high school students and older): Weekdays: ¥1,800 (¥1,980 including tax); weekends and holidays: ¥2,000 (¥2,200 including tax) Children (elementary school students): ¥1,500 (¥1,650 including tax) any day Young children (ages 3 and up): ¥900 (¥990 including tax) any day Ages 2 and under: Free |
| Payment methods |
|
| Reservations | Accepted |
| Restrooms | Western-style toilets |
| Childcare facilities | Nursing room |
| Website | Noumaru Gardening Kibiji Farm Strawberry Picking Reservation Web Calendar |
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
Enter a word to search articles on this site
